BIBLE TEXT: 1 CORINTHIANS 1:18

“The message of the Cross is the power of God to us who are being saved”

St. Paul brings out the true meaning of the Cross of Christ. The Cross in its modern time has lost its true relevance. For some the Cross has no meaning and is just a means on which Jesus died. For some it is a good locket to decorate the golden chain. For some it is a fashion symbol. But for St. Paul, the Cross has a message not just for the people of that time but for the people of all ages. The ‘message of the Cross’ has two results. For the ones who are perishing, the cross is a foolishness, for they reason with their intellect. Who wants a crucified king? For the ones who are being saved, present tense, the Cross transforms them with the power of God by a process. The people of all ages will stand in either category, i.e. of those who are perishing or of those who are being saved. The Orthodox Churches give due place to the Cross of Christ. What is the message of Cross? The empty Cross placed inside the Church is full of message for the one who is being saved. (1) The church fathers understood the cross as the throne of Christ. (2) It is a reminder that our savior died on the cross for our salvation. (3) It reminds us that once a symbol of shame is now a symbol of life. (4) It reminds that death is a defeated foe. (5) The empty Cross promises our resurrection. (6) It reminds of power of God over the power of Satan. (7) It is the assurance of forgiveness of our many and innumerable sins. That is why the Cross is exalted in the Holy Church. In all main feasts of the Church, the Cross is not only exalted but is raised in all direction to bless the created universe. For those who say keeping Cross is an idolatry, denies the very message of Cross. When you bow down before the Cross, you are not worshipping the cross kept there but the Cross on which the savior died. The drawing of the sign of Cross on oneself is a symbolic way of confessing the Cross of Christ and the readiness to walk in the way of the cross. St. Paul emphasizes that the message of Cross is the power of God. The message of Cross is still living because it has the power of God. The message of Cross still attracts people because of God’s dynamic power behind it. “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself” (Jn 12:32). Many were lifted up before Jesus being lifted but only Jesus could attract and draw people, because of God’s power. It is when we surrender ourselves to the power of God that we understand the real message of the Cross of Christ. Don’t make Cross a fashion symbol for your necklace. Understand the meaning of wearing it. The Cross has a definite message; it is the power of God, but only for those who are being saved. Being saved is present tense, which implies that a Christian is always in the process of transformation, growing day by day in the Lord until His second coming. One should not think that everything is achieved in Christian life, but should learn to grow in the Lord.

THE CROSS IS TO BE ADORED, FOR WHEREVER THE SIGN MAY BE, THERE JESUS WILL BE. 

Prayer: - Lord, I adore the Cross on which you gave your life for my sake. I take refuge in that Cross. Help me to abide by the message of the Cross and follow you. Thank you, that by your lifting up, I was fortunate to be drawn to you. I surrender to the power of God. Amen.

BIBLE TEXT: PSALM 119:37

“Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, and revive me in your ways”

There is no one apart from David who can better understand the need of turning eyes to the Lord God. David who led a very sober life in the sight of the Lord committed sin when he kept on looking Bathsheba having bath. The lust of the eyes gripped him and he longed to achieve her at any cost even when he came to know that she is a married woman. The lust of the eyes led to the lust of the flesh. He misused his position given by God and hence was drifted away from God. “But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord” (II Sam 11:27). The love for momentarily pleasure earned him the displeasure of the Lord. The child born of this relationship died. It is only then that David realized the worthlessness of looking at worthless things. The television shows, internet sites, books and magazines all cater bathing Bathsheba. Children as well as adults irrespective of man or woman are under the slavery of the lust of the eyes. The daily newspaper in Kuwait itself reports of the seizure of thousands of porn movies everyday. This shows the demand of such movies in spite of strict restriction by the law. Parents should not leave the children to watch T.V or internet without proper guidance. Sex, violence and other evil acts in the movies thrills us. This has now become a part of entertainment. Beware of with what you entertain your eyes. One cannot live in this world with closed eyes, but can definitely live with eyes opened but focused on the Lord. That is why Jesus likened the eyes with the lamp. As the lamp shows the light, so is the eye, which lightens the body. What we see is more effective than what we hear. The things we see are the things we think and what we think is what we do. When one looks at good things, thinks about good things and thus do good things. Whereas when one looks at worthless things, thinks of worthless things and do worthless act. St. Paul urges the Church of Colosse to focus their eyes on heavenly things. “Seek those thing which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of the Father” (Col 3:1). The eyes of a Christian should always be focused on the things above, then only can he think of heavenly things and pursue for it. Solomon asks, “Will you set your eyes on that which is not?” Often our eyes are set on things that are not. St. James says that the lust of the eyes is not of the Father but is of the world (Jam 2:16). God through the prophet Isaiah gives a marvelous promise to those who refrain from seeing evil, “He who shuts his eyes from seeing evil, will dwell on high; his place of defense will be fortress of rocks; bread will be given him, his water will be sure” (Isa 33:15f).

OPEN YOUR EYES AND SEE THE WONDERS OF THE LORD. 

Prayer: - Lord, open my eyes to see and witness your wonderful acts. Let me not see and watch that is not befitting for a Christian. Help me to focus on the things above and thus pursue for it. Forgive me for my sins that I have committed through my eyes. Let my eyes always lighten my body. Amen.

BIBLE TEXT:ST. JOHN 3:3

“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God”

Chapter 3 of the gospel narrates a discussion between Jesus Christ and Nicodemus, a true Pharisee and a member of Sanhedrin. He came to Jesus by night. He expressed that Jesus is from God and a teacher. The above verse is what Jesus replied understanding his inner curiosity. The word ‘born again’ is one of the most misunderstood and misinterpreted in the Christendom. The so-called modern evangelical movements (born again) argue that the baptism administered by the Episcopal churches does not lead to born again experience as it is with out the consent of the candidate. Let us see what exactly Jesus meant while he said that you must be born again to enter the Kingdom of God. Jesus definitely is speaking about the sacrament of Holy baptism but it is not against infant baptism administered by the Church. Does infant baptism gives born again experience? It is an important question to be addressed. The very reason the Church administers infant baptism is that the candidate is the child of a faithful. “For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the believing wife and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the believing husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy” (1Cor 7:14). Here, St. Paul emphasizes the very fact that with one believer (father or mother) in the family the children also attain sanctity and thus become holy. And since such children are holy, the church administers Baptism to the children. The term baptism in the New Testament speaks inclusive of infant and adult baptism. There is only one baptism in the Church. If it is administered to an adult who comes to the Church receives adult baptism otherwise infant baptism (children of the faithful). “For as many of you as were baptized in to Christ have put on Christ” (Gal 3:27). Through baptism we come closer to Christ. In Roman 6:2-4, St. Paul says that baptism is experiencing death and resurrection with Christ. This experience is termed as “walking in the newness of life” by St. Paul. To “walk in the newness of life” gives the exact meaning of born again. St. Paul uses the term “washing of regeneration” for baptism and “renewing of Holy Spirit” for Chrismation (Titus 3:5, 6). Chrismation is the sealing of the forehead of the candidate with the Holy oil (Mooron). “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (II Cor 5:17). Christian life is a process of growth in the newness of life attained in the baptism. So, In 1 Cor 10:2f, St. Paul states those who are baptized should continue to live in Christ. Even though one is baptized, there is all possibility to commit sin. There is no need of re-baptism but confession. 

                                                                                                         Joji achen

BIBLE TEXT:2 CORINTHIANS 10:7

“Do you look at things according to the outer appearance? If anyone is convinced in himself that he is Christ’s, let him again consider this in himself…”

St. Paul is discussing about his authority in Christ. The church of Corinth was engulfed with many heretic as well as behavioral problems. In this section, St. Paul is countering some of the teachers in Corinth who claimed to have a special knowledge or an esoteric relationship to Christ. They boasted of this relationship and misguided the faithful of the church leading them away from church and creating a mistrust about Paul. St. Paul counters this not to boast about himself but to expose such false teachers and their followers. Often, we tend to judge or evaluate certain things or person based on outward appearance, which often leads to wrong conclusions. The faithful of the Paul’s time also judged these movements from its outer propagandas and appearance that were very appealing and followed them blindly. Today also, many faithful of our church are being deceived or already deceived by such false teachers. The practice and faith of the Holy Church may not be appealing in its outer appearance but is the true one. It is like advertising. No matter how bad the product is, if it has a good package (outer appearance) and advertisement, the product will gain market. It is only after a while one realizes that he has been deceived. Don’t judge anything from outside. Samuel when asked by God to anoint a king for Israel was about to make a mistake by electing a person on the basis of outer appearance but God himself took the initiative to correct and directed him to how God looks into a person. To be in Christ is not an easy task. St. Paul urges to all those who claim to be of Christ’s to reconsider their own convictions. Mere Christian name or family background does not make a Christian. One should be convinced of being in Christ. Conviction should not be restricted in the level of speech but should come to the level of praxis. As Christians, we should renew our conviction in Christ. Everyday we should find out time to reconsider our Christian life to see how much Christian I was today. Through the Holy sacrament of Baptism, we are joined to Christ, but that is not the guarantee of being in the Lord. It is through our continual life in Christ that this experience comes in effect in life. That is why Jesus warns us to be alert in spiritual life. To be alert is to continually reconsider our Christian life and to make appropriate changes wherever needed. One should not be satisfied and sit back thinking all is enough. Our life should grow in Christ. Judas was deceived in a moment but it was too late when he realized what he had done.

REASSURE YOUR CONVICTIONS SO AS NOT TO BE DECEIVED.   

Prayer: - Lord, you searches our inner soul and is not satisfied with outer appearance. Help me to be worthy of you in my inner self. Let me not be deceived by the superficial spirituality of the world rather help me to stick to the holy Church. Strengthen me to change those aspects of life which are unworthy in your sight. Let me be in you. Amen.    

BIBLE TEXT: COLOSSIANS 3:19

“Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them”

Husband and wife relationship is the first relation that God established after creation. This is the only relation where two people of two different background, different caliber, different thinking become one through a sacrament. This is also the most delicate of the relationships. Life in the home is in the Lord; the family is a little church and is to live according to the will of God. Duties are reciprocal, everyone having the same standing before the same master. St. Paul often speaks of the spirituality that has to be maintained at home. He speaks of the role of the husband and advices them to treat their wives properly. It may be because that Christian men, used to the Roman custom of giving unlimited power to the head of the family, were not used to treating their wives with respect and love. Real spiritual leadership involves service and sacrifice. Daily newspapers are witness of how the women are ill-treated at home by husbands. The husbands use their authority to subjugate wife in every matter. The stories are no different in Christian homes. All the more it is becoming worse in Christian homes. Husband is the head of the family but that is no privilege to do what they want. What is the true meaning of a husband? Firstly, a “husband is the head of the wife as also Christ is the head of the Church” (Eph 5:23). Being head of the Church, Christ is the savior of the body. The head controls the body and gives necessary instruction to the body to function. It will never command something that destructs the body mechanical system. This does not mean that the husband is “lord” over the wife. Our concept of submission must come from that which exists between Christ and the church. A wise and Christ honoring husband will not take advantage of his leadership role, and a wise and Christ-honoring wife will not try to undermine her husband’s leadership. Secondly, a “husband should love his wife just as Christ loved the church” (Eph 5:25). Husbands are called to love their wives with the same love Christ showed to the Church. That Christ gave up his life for the church indicates a sacrificial, substitutionary surrendering of himself to death. Christ sacrificed himself for the church because of his love for it. Husbands, then, should be ready to make whatever sacrifices are necessary for their wives. Marriage is a holy union, a living symbol, a precious relationship that needs tender, self-sacrificing care. Thirdly, a “husband ought to love his wife as his own body” (Eph 5:28). This denotes the spiritual as well as physical depth of the relationship. The spiritual and physical union between a husband and wife is as total and complete as the union a person has with his or her own body. When a man loves his wife, he is actually loving himself for she is so much a part of him. Husband and wife must accept mutual subordination in God’s hierarchy. Husbands should thank everyday for the wife god has blessed him with. Husbands should not give place to bitterness in this relationship. They are called to love only. Elkanah loved Hannah even though she was barren. When love reigns in the family, it becomes a small church and the best sanctuary.

TRUE LOVE IS NOT “BECAUSE OF” BUT “IN SPITE OF”. 

Prayer: - Lord, I am grateful for blessing me with a good life partner. Help me love my wife as I love myself. Help me to follow your sacrificial love you had for the church. Forgive me for my bitterness if any in the past towards my wife. Let me to be a wise and Christ-fearing husband. Amen.

BIBLE TEXT:PSALMS 71:17

“Since my youth, O God, You have taught me; I will declare Your marvelous deeds in all the days to come”

A Psalm of king David who rejoices remembering the very old days of youth when God led him marvelously. Looking back to those days, he cannot hold back those experiences and is declaring it before all. An ordinary shepherd being raised as the king of Israel. David could make it because he since his youth he gave ears to the word of God sincerely. David writes about the promise of God as, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with my eye” (Ps.32:8). God instructs, teaches, and guides us. David consented to give heed to the ways of the Lord and hence was exalted to the highest position. It is the duty of the parents and the Church to teach the children the ways of God. God commanded, “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up” (Deut 6:6f). Many of our children and youth are distracted to many wrong ways of the world because of the lack of knowledge of the ways of the Lord. God’s ways are to be taught while sitting, walking, sleeping, and while rising up. In short, the children should be made aware at each step they take. But it is pathetic that parents hardly find time to teach their children about God. While they are small a parent take interest to tell them biblical stories but as years goes by the intensity decreases and they are left on their own ways. It is when they are in their adolescent period that they need our guidance. Don’t leave everything to Sunday School. It is only a guideline they get here but it is the family from where they should experience God in their life. It is not enough as a parent to be happy in their physical and mental growth but should also see that they grow spiritually. One who gives heed to the word of God since his youth will never be distracted to the worldliness. God’s ways may not be so easy to walk but one need to trust in the Lord. Even though God allows us to go through hard ways, never forsakes us but diligently guides us through provided we are not deterred. There may come many Goliaths fully armored challenging our christian life but again victory will be ours if we are in the ways of the Lord. Because it is the Lord who fights for us against such foes. One may come across many Saul who will attack us with jealousy but no worries Jesus is with us. David faced even risk of life but after many years while looking back he could not see any merit of his own but in everything the marvelous hand of God. Solomon says, “Remember now your creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come” (Eccl 12:1). The word “now” suggests there is no tomorrow but the most appropriate time is now to seek the Lord. Don’t waste your youth but seek the Lord so that in the difficult days you can withstand. Let us look back and we too will have the same to say, “I will declare His marvelous deeds in all the days to come”.     

TEACHINGS OF THE LORD ARE A SHIELD IN THE DIFFICULT TIMES. 

Prayer: - Lord, I offer my thanksgiving for marvelously guiding me through out the past years. Thanks for teaching, instructing your ways. Help me to follow those ways till the end of my life. Help me to teach my children your word and ways while they are young. Let me be a witness for you for your kindness. Amen.  

BIBLE TEXT: JAMES 1:20

“For the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God”

Yesterday, we reflected on how very angry intentions of ours are equivalent of committing murder. Here, St. James is speaking of the uselessness of getting angry, as it does not bring forth any good result. In the confessions anger as a sin top lists the ranking. That is why St. James recommends that man should be “slow to speak, slow to wrath” (vs.19). The wrath of man is unjust, ungracious, and severe. It proceeds from uncontrolled anger and it is not God’s judgment. Anger accounts nothing to us rather leads us to the danger of falling into sin. “Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of the fools” (Eccl 7:9). Solomon also asserts this and says, “A quick tempered man acts foolishly, and a man of wicked intentions is hated” (Prov 14:17). St. Paul puts “outbursts of anger” (Gal 5:19) among the sins that deprives us from inheriting the Kingdom of God. But we hardly care for such attitude. Solomon again says, “Wrath is cruel and anger is torrent” (Prov 27:4). Wrath and anger always brings with it destruction. Many relationships are spoilt because of this momentary foolishness. Everywhere we find ourselves getting angry with or without reason. Pride, prestige, jealousy, and selfish attitudes are some of the causes of anger. Naaman got angry to Prophet Elisha when he asked him to bathe in the river Jordan for healing (II kings 5:11-12). His anger would have accounted nothing to him if he had not given ears to his servants. Cain murdered his brother Abel out of anger, which was the result of jealousy. God views anger seriously. Moses was denied entry into Canaan because of anger (Num 20:10-12). King Uzziah was struck with leprosy because of his fury over the priests (II Chr 26:17-20). The brother of so-called ‘prodigal son’ left the palace of his father in anger (Luk 15:27f) without understanding the forgiveness of the Father. Solomon says, “The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, and his glory is to overlook a transgression” (Prov 19:11). A person who is rooted well in the Lord will always be slow to anger. Slow to wrath shows a person’s spiritual maturity. “He who is slow to wrath has great understanding, but he who is impulsive exalts folly” (Prov 14:29). Even if we are angry, it should last before sunset (Mat 5:23f).

THE WORD A-N-G-E-R IS SHORT OF JUST ONE ALPHABET IN D-A-N-G-E-R 

Prayer: - Lord, help me to be slow to anger. I feel sorry for the many relationships that I have spoilt because of my short temperedness. Help me to be wise in my attitudes and not sin by getting angry for silly reasons. Let not jealousy, pride, and prestige guide me rather let submissiveness rule me. Amen.

BIBLE TEXT: EXODUS 20:13

“You shall not murder”

The sixth commandment of the Decalogue forbids killing. Killing was very rampant in the then society. The law always emphasized action and sin was only understood in terms of action. The law forbids man to kill fellow human who is also created in the image and likeness of God. But this law was not enough to establish peace and accord in the society. Jesus Christ found out the root cause behind murder and gave a new interpretation and dimension to the old law. “You have heard that it was said to those of old’ ‘you shall not murder, and however murderers will be in danger of the judgment’, but I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘you fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire” (Mat 5:21-22). It is to emphasize the very fact that murder begins at heart. If what Jesus said is to be believed then all of us are in the danger of judgment. So, murder is not just an aspect of action but also an aspect of intention and thought. Human being is becoming more and more impatient day by day. Even a simple offence or cause ignites hatred and strive. Jesus sites three things equivalent of committing murder. 1) Getting angry to brother, 2) belittling the brethren, 3) calling brother a fool. All these deserve the same punishment. Often, we don’t even recognize these as sins whereas Jesus places them in the category of deadliest sins. St. John says, “Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him” (1Jn 3:15). John Cassian writes in his ‘on the three vices’, “If then we wish to receive the Lord’s blessings we should restrain not only the outward expression of anger, but also angry thoughts. More beneficial than controlling our tongue in a moment of anger and refraining from angry words is purifying our heart from rancor and not harboring malicious thoughts against our brethren. The Gospel teaches us to cut off the roots of our sins and not merely their fruits. When we have dug the root of anger out of our heart, we will no longer act with hatred or envy. ‘Whoever hates his brother is a murderer’, for he kills him with the hatred in his mind. The blood of a man who has been slain by the sword can be seen by men, but blood shed by the hatred in the mind is seen by God, who rewards each man with punishment or a crown not only for his acts but for his thoughts and intentions as well”. How often we fall prey to this sin of bloodless murder. Let us not give place to anger or hatred in our life as it deprives us of the Kingdom of God.

AVOID MURDEROUS THOUGHTS AND BE THE HEIRS OF THE KINGDOM. 

Prayer: - Lord, I am weak and feeble to follow your ways. Fill me with your strength to live according to your will. I seek forgiveness for the numerous times when I got angry, belittled, and called fool my brother. Help me be to slow to anger. Help me to dig out the root of all sins from my life. Amen. 

BIBLE TEXT: ROMANS 13:2

“Those who refuse to obey the laws of the land are refusing to obey God”

Many Christians think it enough to abide by the law pronounced in the Bible and all the way ignore law of the land. As Christians, we are all bound to obey the rules and regulations of the land. St. Paul gives a lot of emphasis on civil obedience. The verse 1 says, “Let every soul be subject the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God”. He sternly believed that it is God who is in control of everything and hence the governing bodies are appointed by God. Therefore obeying civil authorities is obeying God. If all the people abide by the law of the land, the land would have been a heavenly experience. The troubles and problems in the society are due to lack of proper adherence of the law. St. Peter also emphasizes this aspect in his epistle, “Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by Him for the punishment of the evildoers and for the praise of those who do good” (1 Pet 2:13-14). He further says, “Fear God. Honor the king” (vs.17). Jesus himself abides by the law of the land. When questioned concerning paying the tax, Jesus asked Peter to go and fish and give the tax so that there is division in the society. He very firmly stated, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Mat 22:19). Are we bound to obey everything? No, but certainly to obey those that are good and beneficial for the society. One of the allegations on the early Christians were of civil disobedience. They rejected the law that were against Christian spirit and values. The midwives disobeyed the decree of the Pharaoh of killing all male born (Exod 1:14-15) which is no wrong. But, how often we ignore the rules of traffic, tax payment, cleanliness, considering it as silly and as if it does not concern us. How easily without any conscience prick, we bribe to get our work done against the law. How easily with the money power and influence power do we alter the rules for our personal benefits. How easily we get our customs cleared by bribing the officers. We think what is wrong in giving when somebody is ready to accept. Are only those who accept are at the fault? What about we who give? What difference we as a Christian can make? We often think what change can it bring if alone I do what is right and rest engage in corruption. What is our attitude in our work place? Are we obeying our superiors? Our work is a gift of God and we are answerable to God more than any one else. Don’t ever try to please men rather please God in everything. St. Paul urges the Christian community to pray for those in authority.

DISOBEYING THE LAND LAW IS DISOBEYING GOD’S LAW. 

Prayer: - Lord, thank you for the civil authorities and the government over me. I pray that you grant them your wisdom to lead the people. Forgive me for all the trespass I committed against the law. Help me to abide by the law of the land and not to do anything against by using money or power. Strengthen me to make a difference in my own little way in my work place. Amen.

BIBLE TEXT: MALACHI 1:4

“If then I am the father, where is my honor?

Every biological father in this world expects one thing from their children i.e. their children should honor him in all aspects. To honor father is to walk in the ways taught by him. To honor is more than any other act. God, the heavenly father expects the same from his children that they should honor Him in all aspects. Here through the prophet, He is demanding the honor he deserves. One of the Ten Commandments teaches us to honor the parents. It is in the same language God is asking to honor Him. We honor our biological father then how much more honor does our heavenly father deserves. But we often fail to give honor to our heavenly father. One of the main theme of the prophets is to give due honor to God. Isaiah very clearly presents our rebellion nature. “Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth! For the Lord has spoken: ‘I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me; the ox knows its owner and the donkey its masters crib; but Israel does not know, my people do not consider” (Isa 1:2,3). Israel the chosen people of God enjoyed all the privileges from father but renounced His ways. They brought offerings on the altar but then God despised it as it could not substitute the honor God demands and in which Israelites failed. We often choose the way of the Israelites. We don’t honor Him by not walking in the ways taught by Him and rather think of pleasing Him by giving offerings and big donations for Church buildings and charity. God is not pleased by such offerings. He accepts the offerings of the righteous. He accepts the offerings of those who honor him. The above verse shows the concern of Father for His children who left His ways and follows the world. The Ox and the Donkey listen to the voice of their masters and they know their masters crib but the human being whom he created in His “own image and likeness” and nourished as His own children do not recognize Him, neither listen to Him nor knows their master’s crib. Psalmist says, “Sing out the honor of His name”(Ps.66:2). To sing out the Honor is to maintain the honor of God in our life and through our life. Our Lord Jesus Christ though very God of very God and although being of the same substance with the Father, always honored the name of His Father. Jesus says, “I honor my Father” (Jn 8:49). Jesus honored His Father by walking in the ways instructed by Him. He never did anything beyond the will of His Father. Do not forget the love of the Father in which He didn’t hesitated to even sacrifice His only begotten Son Jesus Christ for us. Honor the Father who has redeemed us through His Son. We as Christians are bringing dishonor to father today. Every sort of evil is rampant among us. Evaluate! What is your witness in your work place as a Christian? What is your witness in your society? What is your witness among your friends? If you have a good witness, you honor your heavenly father. If not, ………….

LIVING UPRIGHTLY IS HONORING GOD. 

Prayer: - Lord, I thank and praise you for your loving kindness towards me. Forgive me for bringing dishonor to your name by my evil doings. I failed in keeping a good witness for you. I decide today to honor your Holy name in my life. Strengthen me walk in your ways so that your name be honored. To you belongs all praise and honor. Amen.  

BIBLE TEXT:ST. LUKE 12:21

“So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God”

Jesus Christ is dealing with one of the most common distraction that leads us away from God i.e. the love for money. There are numerous examples in the Holy Bible where rich people choose money rather than God when came to choose one. Jesus never spoke against the rich or against possessing wealth, but He always condemned the mentality of the rich and spoke of the ills that wealth leads to. Jesus had quite a few rich people as friends. Simon, Zacchaeus, Mark were all rich people of the time. In this section, Jesus says a parable of the rich fool. Why Jesus addressed him as a fool? Is it just because he was a rich? Did he commit any crime to become rich? No, the Bible never accuses him of as snatching anything from anyone. He labored in his land and he was blessed with a big harvest. When he saw this great harvest, he was blown out of his mind. He didn’t knew what to do of this. Now comes the sad part of his life. He became self-centered and forgot certain facts. Indeed, he labored but forgot that it is God who blessed him with the big harvest. His subject of meditation was “I” and “my”. Many of us go through the same state of life. Once we achieve something, our attitude changes and often lead to self-centeredness. We forget our human relationships, relation with God and try to live a secluded life. When we have plenty don’t forget the days when we were empty. Don’t forget the many who helped us through prayers and monetary helps. The rich man forgot God, his own people, his workers and all his relationships, when money came in. Carefully reading the passage we find that the rich man uses “I” eight times and “my” six times. The sole motto of his life was changed. “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, and be merry” (vs.19). We are often led by such thoughts without thinking of the death that could take place any moment. He thought of many more years of easy life. For him this big harvest was the finality of everything. Instead of dependence on God, he depended on his wealth for sustenance. He forgot that God is the sole author of life and death. He was a fool not because he was rich in wealth but because he was poor in spirit. Jesus concludes by stating who really is rich in the Kingdom of God. The standard of the Kingdom of God is just opposite to that of the standards of the kingdom of earth. The earthly kingdom decides the rich according to the quantity of the money one possesses, whereas the heavenly kingdom rejects the idea. It is “blessed are the poor”, who are rich in the heavenly kingdom. Our wealth or possession has no rating in God’s sight. God has appointed the rich as the stewards to help those who are in need. Let us not allow money to master us rather we be masters of it.

 MONEY IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL. 

Prayer: - Lord, give me the right approach towards money. Let me always remember that everything I posses is a gift from you. Help me not to depend on money but on you for sustenance. Help me to bring good offerings before you for all the abundant blessings. Amen.   

BIBLE TEXT: ST. LUKE 1:42

“Blessed are you among women”

St. Mary is adored and venerated as a saint in the Holy Church. The Bible has lots of reference (if read in its true meaning) which points towards the fact that she indeed led a very holy life in Christ and is worthy to be adored as a saint. The Church has rightly adorned her with the title “queen of saints”. The fifteen days lent is in commemoration of her assumption to heaven in body. She is the most blessed person in this world because she had the privilege to bore the very Son of God, the very God Jesus Christ in her womb for nine months. She fed the Lord from her body and could serve Him for thirty-three and half years. When Elizabeth addressed her as ‘blessed’, it was an address Mary had to retain for her whole life and in fact, she did so. Her life is an exemplary model of Christian living. She is not just blessed among women; she is blessed among the whole humanity. Tradition says that she was taken in body to heaven and even St. Thomas who was in India witnessed the very event. When Mary died in Jerusalem, Thomas was in India. The Holy Spirit announced the news of demise of St. Mary and asked him to reach Jerusalem at the earliest to attend the funeral. Immediately a cloud surrounded him and he was taken to air. In the mid air, he saw the angels carrying the body of St. Mary to heaven. St. Thomas requested them to wait for a moment so that he may receive blessings from St. Mary. The angels paused for a moment and St. Mary blessed him and as a sign she gave him her hand towel (kailes) and belt (ara-kettu) as a proof of their meeting. He praised God along with all the angels for St. Mary. Immediately the cloud took him to Jerusalem near the tomb of Mary where all other disciples were gathered. He requested the other apostles to open the grave so that he could see the body. The apostles were astonished when they opened the grave, as body was not there. It is then St. Thomas narrated that she has been taken to heaven and told them that had happened. He showed them the towel and her belt, which she had given him as a sign of assumption. All the apostles praised God for honoring the demise of St. Mary. She is with God ever worshipping with other holy people and interceding for the humanity to her son, our Lord Jesus Christ. She was an ordinary woman but her dedication and commitment to the Lord made her extra ordinary woman. The angels and humans together called her blessed. Let us seek her intercession and try to be like her in following Christ.

FOLLOWING CHRIST IS BLESSEDNESS. 

BIBLE TEXT: 1 JOHN 5:21

“Keep yourselves from idols”

The term ‘idol’ is an abomination among the Christians. The very mention of idol brings in our mind ‘an image of something carved in wood or with mud’. Bible speaks strictly against idolatry and idolaters. The first of the Ten Commandments is not to carve any image or worship it. The Old Testament is full of condemnation for those who follow idolatry forgetting the living Lord. Does idol has only one implication of carved image? Is God forbidding only the seen carved images? The very first commandment makes the meaning of idol clear. “You shall not bow down to them nor serve them” (Exod 20:5). According to this if one bows before anything other than God, then that is an idol and one is committing idolatry. If one serves anything else other than God, then it is idolatry. When we call people of other faiths as idolaters, let us introspect ourselves whether we are free of this sin. Idolatry is not merely standing before a carved image and idol is not just an carved image. Satan provoked Jesus to bow and serve three invisible images after Jesus fasted for forty days. There was no carved image and yet giving to those provocations would have been an idolatry. When we give place to anything else other than God in our lives, is an idolatry. If this were case, no one is an exception in this world. Everyday we fall to so many temptation of Satan and thus replacing God from our lives. Locate the idol you worship and bow before in your lives. Our physical appearance may be the idol. Some of us love our body so much that we spend good amount and time in grooming it. For many the physical preparation is more important than spiritual preparation while going to church. Giving importance to body than spirit is idolatry. For many intellect becomes an idol. One spending whole of time in gaining knowledge even at the cost of prayer and church time. Replacing God with intellect. For many entertainment is an idol. One spends whole day and night in viewing T.V and cinemas. Adjusting prayer timing according to the time of the favorite T.V serials is common today. T.V is replacing God. Jesus himself speaks of one of the most visible form of idolatry i.e. bowing and serving mammon. In one or other way, knowingly or unknowingly, we all fall into this idolatry. “No one can serve two masters;….You cannot serve God and Mammon” (Mat 7:24). These are few examples to mention. When one have a proper introspection of life, will find idolatry of varied type and forms. When any other “things” becomes priority in life other than God, one should understand that he is committing idolatry. One of the most dangerous form of idolatry is self- love. The attitude of “I” replaces the true and living God and I myself become my God. Don’t judge others as idolaters when we ourselves are worshipping and serving so many of idols. “Keep yourselves from idols” is to give away all sorts of sin and to give due place to the living God in our lives.

IDOLATRY IS A SIN LIKEWISE, SIN IS IDOLATRY. 

Prayer: - Lord, help me to detect all the idols I serve and worship in my life. Forgive me for not giving priority to you and instead following my own ways. Help me to destroy every idol that I have created in my life and worship You with all of my heart, mind, and soul. For to only belong glory, honor, and praise. Amen.

BIBLE TEXT: GALATIANS 2:20

“It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me”

This verse is what it is meant to be a Christian. There is probably no other person other than Paul who understands better what he says, “I have been crucified with Christ”. Saul was a mighty warrior, a learned and devoted to Law, a Pharisee of high caliber. He had all the privilege and enjoyed all the privilege in the society. His zeal to safeguard the Law made him all the more a hero figure in the society. For him Christ and his followers were traitors and heretics of the Mosaic Law. He was committed to pluck out the roots of the infant and upcoming Church. Saul stands as a witness while the first martyr St. Stephen was being stoned to death. Cross might have been a joke for him. His encounter with the resurrected Christ made all the difference in his life. It was after his encounter with Jesus that he realized his real self. This encounter was the crucifixion experience for Saul and he was christened as Paul. To be crucified with Jesus is to crucify our sinful passions and desires. This is not the crucifixion of human nature, but of the flesh, the corruption into which humanity has fallen. This crucifixion must be willingly and freely accepted, just as Christ freely accepted His death. Crucifixion is essential for resurrection. For St. Paul, the sacrament of baptism is the death experience and the experience of resurrection. “Therefore, we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in the newness of life” (Rom 6:4). The more the “I” lives in us, Christ lives farther from us. “I” and “Christ” cannot dwell together in us. It is when Saul crucified his “I” that “Christ” dwelt in him. The first condition laid by Jesus during the selection process of his disciples was, ‘one should be ready to deny oneself’ or in other words should be ready to crucify “I” in them. We are called to be perfect in this life. Jesus says, “Be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect” (Mat 5:48). This call cannot be fulfilled as long as “I” lives in me. I cannot be perfect by myself but by Christ. “For in Him dwells all the fullness of the God head bodily; and you are complete in Him” (Col 2:9f). We can achieve perfection only through Christ for in Him dwells all the fullness. In the sacrament of Baptism, one most important aspect is the rejection of Satan and his forces, which constitutes “I” and acceptation of Christ in us that makes us perfect. One should make it sure that Christ always dwells in our lives. That is St. Paul asks, “How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” (Rom 6:2). Once we who rejected our old selves should not seek it again.

WHO DWELLS IN YOU: “YOU” OR “CHRIST”?  

Prayer: - Lord, I open my heart for you. Come and dwell in me forever. Forgive me for giving space to my old self, replacing you from my life. Strengthen me to deny myself always so that You always dwell in me. I offer up thanks to you for making me complete and perfect. Amen.

BIBLE TEXT: JOB 6:24

“Teach me, and I will be quiet; show me where I have been wrong”

The righteous man Job was visited by three of his friends. They came to mourn with him and to comfort him in his tough times. This was said by Job in response to what his friend Eliphaz has said as the reason of his suffering. Even in midst of all the troubles and pains, Job had a learning heart. He never accused God for all his miseries but his words were definitely of a person who is crushed in spirit. He is eager to know his mistakes so that he can rectify them. When we are faced with tough times, our frustration is expressed in agitation and anger, whereas, Job is keeping his cool and selective in his speech. Tough time always teaches us something new, but we fail to learn the new lesson because of our aggressive nature. God is the best teacher of life as He is the sole author of life. Job wanted God to take his life away because of the miseries, the one thing God doesn’t want Satan to do i.e. touch his life. Israelites faced very hard and tough times during their journey, but the ultimate was the land of Canaan where flows milk and honey. God is not pleased when we suffer, but He allows suffering for correction, teaching, and testing. It is when we are quiet in heart and mouth that we learn. One can see reflection in a steady water. When a small pebble is dropped in it, the vibrations make our reflection shabby. A still and quiet person can only learn properly the lessons of life. An agitated heart is like the still water that is disturbed by a pebble and everything seems unclear. Psalmist says, “Let the righteous strike me; it shall be kindness. And let him rebuke me; it shall be as excellent oil; let my head not refuse it” (Ps. 141:5). David prays that he should not refuse if a righteous comes and teaches him. It is when we think very high of ourselves that we fail to learn. David even though was a king had a humble attitude to learn from God and from those who are righteous. It is always that a person learns from his mistakes. That is why Job is submitting himself to God to know what went wrong in his life. As Christians, we should always be eager to know what went wrong in our life. We should learn from mistakes rather than justifying them. Mistake should not lead us to another mistake rather should become a stepping- stone to correction and hence perfection. David says, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Ps. 139:23f). It is when we are quiet that God teaches us. And it is when we are ready to be taught by God that He shows our shortcomings.

LEARN WHEN HE TEACHES; SEE WHEN HE SHOWS. 

Prayer: - Lord, give me the right attitude to learn from you. You are my master and I give myself before you. Search me and lead me to the way everlasting. Let me not be aggressive in tough times rather help me to be patient and know what you want me to learn from it. Help me to learn from my mistakes and correct them. Amen.      

BIBLE TEXT: ST. MATHEW 5:37

“Let your yes be yes, and your no be no; for whatever is more than these is from the evil one”

The Sermon on the Mount deals with every aspect of human behavior. It gives a clear understanding of how a Christian ought to live in this world. Chapter 5:33-37 speaks of very important aspect in Christian living: falsely taking the name of the Lord i.e. taking oath. The Ten Commandments forbids taking the name of the Lord God in vain. “You shall not take the name of the Lord Your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain” (Exod 20:7). Jesus speaks against casual use of God’s name and superficial oaths. The words of Jesus have not only a negative meaning, but a positive one also. They not only forbid us to swear, that is, to bind ourselves with an oath, they also command us to speak the truth and to keep our promises. Often knowingly or unknowingly, we swear by the name of God and we don’t even realize what we have said. Swearing by the name of God is unchristian. Jesus says, “Do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by earth, for it is His footstool…” (vs.34). Jesus forbids any sort of swearing in the name of anything. Further Jesus says, “Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black” (vs.35). Everything is owned by God and therefore man has no right to swear by anything. Often we swear in the name of husband, wife, parents, and children, which again is not a healthy practice. If we examine our lives, one will find so many oaths taken for no reason. When a political leader is appointed as a minister, he swears in the name of God Almighty that he will do his duty without corruption and with all willingness. How many of them can justify themselves? Not only them, we all take oaths in the name of God and forget it. “Let your yes be yes and your no be no”. Truth should become a reality in life. One should hold on to truth no matter what may come. One should learn to say yes for yes and no for no. It is when yes becomes no and no becomes yes, we swear in by God’s name. Whatever exceeds yes and no is from the evil one. That “what exceeds” are lies, false statements, exaggerations, and false allegations, which is from evil. Jesus commented about Satan as, “He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it” (Jn 8:44). As Christian one should know how to speak to others. St. James also quotes the same verse and adds another aspect to it. “But let your yes be yes and no be no, lest you fall into judgment” (Jam 5:12). Those who swear in vain by the name of the Lord or anything else shall face judgment.

TRUST IS SECURED NOT BY AN OATH WHICH EXCEEDS YES AND NO, BUT BY INNER INTEGRITY. 

Prayer: - Lord, your name is Holy. Let me not take your Holy name in vain. Forgive me for the numerous oaths that I have taken in your name and for not fulfilling them. Help that I always stand by the truth and say truth in my life. Strengthen me to say yes for yes and no for no. Amen.

BIBLE TEXT: 1 JOHN 5:14

“This is the confidence we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us”

Prayer and supplications are two very important aspects of Christian devotional life. The steadiness of the spiritual life depends upon these two factors. Prayer and supplication are two different things, but today supplications have replaced prayer. The spirituality based on ‘supplications only’ is not fully in line with the teachings of the Bible and the Church. God has bestowed in us the spirit of sonship that we may approach Him calling “Abba Father”. In the Holy Bible, we find so many supplications, many answered and many not answered. God has a certain plan for each one of us. He works according to that plan for He knows us better than we know ourselves. Our supplications should be according to the will of God. When we ask as per His will, we find confidence in Him. Often our supplications are confined to our temporal needs. In fact, one should come in the presence of God to ask for daily bread, but that should not become the sole aim of coming in the presence of God. The prayers said and written by early Church fathers never highlighted our temporal needs rather highlighted the need of our union with God. Our supplications should come up to the level that God expects. The subjects of our supplications are often food, clothing, shelter, and things related to me and my family, but Jesus says, “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘what shall we eat?’ or ‘what shall we drink?’ or ‘what shall we wear?’ For after all these things the gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things” (Mat 6:31,32). But we repeatedly keep on asking the same things. This is what Jesus refutes before he teaches Lord ’s Prayer, “And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. Therefore, do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him” (Mat 6:7f). But the Pentecostal groups misinterpreted this for not using the Lord’s Prayer and keeps on babbling for temporal needs. Have confidence in the God you believe, He is a living God who nurtures us with everything we need in this earthly life. Why then are we so bothered about such things? If we are bothered, that shows our disbelief in the Lord. When Jesus says, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you”, he very clearly meant to ask for the Holy Spirit. But again, we claim this for our daily needs. We need to discern God’s will so to pray according to His will. As Christians we need to grow daily in Lord. Many of us just ask for our pleasures and desires. St. James says, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures” (Jam 4:3). God knows when to say yes or no. When we commit our spirit in His hands for His “will be done”, our prayers will be answered.

THY WILL BE DONE THROUGH ME. 

Prayer: - Lord, teach me to pray. Help me to pray according to your will. Let me always stand with confidence in your presence. Let me not always bother about temporal things of this world because I know you care for me. Give me steadfast faith in you and your words. Let me not ask anything for the gratification of my pleasures. Amen.

BIBLE TEXT: ST. MATHEW 18:21

“Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?”

St. Peter asks a very practical question to Jesus Christ. According to the teachings of rabbi, a person can be forgiven for three times. St. Peter doubles the number and adds one more it and asks is it enough to forgive him seven times. Peter was trying to show his generosity to Jesus. But Jesus’ answer might have shocked him. “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven” (vs.22). Jesus did not intent to count seventy times seven rather intended unlimited forgiveness towards each other. Forgiveness is the basic of Christian life. Sin is depicted as debt to God. It is the forgiveness of sin that enables us to come boldly in the presence of God. It is because we were forgiven by His grace that we are called to be His children. Jesus reminds the fact that we are in constant debt to God, everyday God forgives us of huge debts, and we find it difficult to forgive small debts to fellow brothers. “For you, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You” (Ps. 86:5). Jesus Christ taught us to pray; “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us” (Mat 6:12). This sentence is a sort of covenant that we make with God. Everyday we renew this covenant as we say the Lord’s Prayer. Jesus explains the most important aspect of the prayer immediately after teaching the prayer. “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Mat 6:14,15). Forgiveness is the essence of Christian life. Envy, strife, babblings, jealousy, etc. is because we fail to forgive certain people. Many a times we forgive them in words but not from heart. “Forgive, and you will be forgiven” (Luke 6:37), is what Lord teaches us. Without forgiving, a Christian is not supposed to come before God in prayer, for God rejects the prayer of unforgiving heart. “Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent’, you shall forgive him” (Luke 17:3f). Jesus is the supreme example of forgiveness. On the Cross, He prayed for those who beat him, spat at him, hit him, and finally, crucified him. We find it difficult to forgive because of our selfishness and hard heartedness. For us sometimes it becomes impossible impossibility, but Jesus made it a possible possibility. Keep Jesus in your heart and He will forgive everyone. You cannot forgive but Jesus can forgive. So forgive in the name of Jesus.

REMEMBER WE ARE DEBTORS BEFORE GOD.  

Prayer: - Lord, thank you for forgiving me my trespasses. I find it difficult to forgive my fellow beings but today I forgive (Say name) in your name. Help me to forgive not in words but deep from my heart. Fill me with your spirit so that I can come into your presence with purity of mind, soul, and body. Amen. 

BIBLE TEXT: JOB 13:15

“Though God slay me, I will hope in Him”

The righteous Job even under utter despair of loss of material and own people laid his trust in the God. This is a philosophy of life, which many of us are not acquainted with. We live in an age where the philosophy is give-and-take. A benefit/ profit oriented philosophy is what we follow. We give to those who give us and we give with the same measure we receive. We always run for blessings after Jesus. Once Jesus openly commented to the crowd who followed Him to Capernaum, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled” (Jn 6:26). This run still continues. The more you will give more will I praise you. The wife of Job suggested him to curse God and die. Her approach to God was benefit oriented. We are tuned to see only one side of the problems and sufferings we go through. But Job could see the better side in his pain and agony. Israelites were redeemed from the slavery of Egypt and were guided by God in a miraculous way through the deserts, even then they murmured when faced with slight problems. They made gods for themselves and started worshipping it. When God fulfilled their needs, they praised God otherwise sought their own way. Are we any way better than these? Our faith and belief in God is not to be based on the material blessings we receive. It is not to be established and built upon “benefits”. The three brave Hebrew young men pose a challenge before us. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego standing in front of the furnace that was heated seven times declared to king Nebuchadnezzer, “O Nebuchadnezzer, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God who we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us from your hand. But if not, let it be known to you, O King, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up” (Dan 3: 16f). If we introspect, we will find so many of gold images that we ourselves have set up in our lives.  Nebuchadnezzer is more justified than we are because he had been faithful to the gods he knew. But we even though know the true God make ‘gold images’ and worship it along with God. The image of social security, benefits, and profits etc. God is used as a mean to fulfill our ends. We all sing a song based on this verse, “Dukhathinte panapathram, kartaav ente kaill thannal, santoshatode athu vaangi halleluiah paadidum njan”. Do we mean it? St. Paul says that nothing can take us away from the love of Christ, not even suffering. If God is allowing some problems in life, believe that God has some purpose in it. He does everything with a purpose. But only a true Christian can understand the purpose and stand by it. Job trusted God unconditionally. You may be distressed because you don’t have a proper job, family problems, and financial crisis and lot others. Say boldly, I trust in the Lord. The things will turn in your favor.

TRUST IN THE GOD WHO TRUSTS IN YOU. 

PRAYER: - Lord, I thank you for being by my side in every moment of my life. thank you for holding my hands and carrying me at the time of distress. Forgive me for not trusting you when problems surrounded me, yet you cared for me. Your love is so great. Amen.  

BIBLE TEXT: LUKE 1:38

“Behold, I am the maidservant of God; let it be to me according to your word”

From 1^st August starts the fifteen days lent. The Church as a whole commemorates virgin saint Mary’s assumption. The tradition says that she was taken into heaven in body. St. Mary was a subject of debate from early centuries itself. The early fifth century witnessed a big debate as of whether Mary is Christ bearer or God bearer. The Ecumenical synod of Ephesus convened at 431 AD reiterated the Apostolic faith and bestowed her with the name “Theotokos” i.e. Mother of God. But there were none who questioned the virginity of St. Mary. The Apostolic faith held her as a saint, who devoted her life in the ways of God. The rise of Protestantism came with the devilish concept questioning the virginity of Mary. They started teaching that she remained virgin until the birth of Jesus and later married Joseph and gave rise to other children. If this has been true, at least one of the early church fathers would have mentioned it in their writings, but there is none such material available. All have revered her as a saint. The Orthodox Churches mentions her as “queen of all saints”. Just on the basis of one verse from the bible and references to “brothers of Jesus”, few so-called reformists after 1800 years of time gap, propagated that she was married. What an allegation on her character? A true Bible reading Christian will not accept this allegation. She is ever virgin St. Mary. The Roman Catholic Church gives extra emphasis to mother Mary and is now in a process to declare her as Co- redeemer, which is again diversion from apostolic teaching. They believe in immaculate birth of Mary, which is again exaggeration of facts. The Orthodox Churches rejects both extremisms of Catholic and Protestant believes about Mary. She is not worshipped but is adored in the Church. We seek intercession of her to her son. Why St. Mary is so important? Mary’s was an obedience par excellence. The virginal conception was not easy for her to understand. But she accepted it. The humility reflects in her reply to the angel of God. “Behold, I am the maidservant of God”. How many of us have such an lowly attitude? We all are capable of speaking big things, but how many of us can accept such a request (if ever) from God? If we introspect our lives, we will find that we fall short in minutest of the demands of God. How can then we accept such a big demand that risks life. St. Peter and other disciples ran away when it came to their life. St. Mary stood firm in her faith. Those who put allegation on St. Mary should have a thorough introspection as where they will stand in their real faith test. She reckoned the power of God’s word. She accepted the word of God in its face value. The song of Mary shows her devotion and her understanding to God almighty. She did everything according to the Law of the Lord. The statutes of the Lord were the song of her life. She is in the presence of God almighty. She intercedes for us. She is no God. She is the Mother of God and yet a servant of God. St. Mary is an epitome of Christian living. Let us take refuge in her intercession.

“BLESSED ARE YOU AMONG WOMEN” 

Prayer: - Lord, help me to follow you as St. Mary did. Give me the strength to abide by your word even if it risks life. The true life is in you and as Mary found that true life let me also be grafted in you and find the life eternal. Bless me through the prayers of your mother. Amen.  

BIBLE TEXT: PROVERBS 24:16

“For a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again”

Righteousness is an attribute of God. God is righteous in all His dealings. A righteous man is what God is looking in us. The city of Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed because God could not identify a single person who was righteous. As Christians, we should be righteous and that is why St. Paul urges to put on the “breastplate of righteousness” (Eph 6:11f) to safeguard ourselves from the weapons of Satan. The beatitudes speak twice of righteousness. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled” (St. Mat 5:6) and “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of God” (St. Mat 5:10). Jesus Christ exhorts us to long for being righteous because God is pleased with such people. God was pleased to Joseph because lived uprightly (righteously) before God (St. Mat 1:19). He promises that if one seeks righteousness, he will be filled. Secondly, Jesus foresees persecution for the righteous ones, but promises them to be the heirs the Kingdom of God. Solomon says that even if a righteous falls he will rise up again. Righteous people will come across lots of temptations, trails and are chances of falling in that, but they will rise up again because of their righteousness. Many of us live a defeated Christian life because of failures one encounter in life. Failure never means defeat. It is always through failures that we learn more. Failure should upgrade us one more step closer to success. Failures should not discourage and disappoint us. In our efforts to live holy, there may be shortcomings, but we must persevere to overcome those shortcomings in next attempt. One may fail to observe lent once that does not mean that we have to wait for next year to start again. Past is past, the next day should be a new day in our effort. When we are sincere, God will not desert us. “The Lord upholds the righteous” (Ps. 37:17). David further says, “I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread” (Ps. 37:25). The reason being, “The Lord loves the righteous” (Ps. 146:8). Judas Iscariot and Peter in their own ways rejected and betrayed Jesus. They encountered failure in their spiritual life. Judas betrayed only once whereas Peter denied thrice. Judas took his failure as defeat and committed suicide. He was not ready for persevere, whereas Peter made failure a stepping-stone to come closer to Jesus. Peter understood the fact that only through regular attempts, in spite of failures can help him to grow in Christ. Everyday we are in a process of being molded into vessel. God is still in work with us to give us a final shape. Let us cooperate with God in this process of being molded into suitable vessel. Failures should not deter us in pursuing our aim.

THE RIGHTEOUS ARE BOLD AS A LION. DON’T GIVE UP. 

Prayer: - Lord, let me pursue righteousness in my life. Help me to be righteous in my dealings. Give me the strength to claim the promises of a righteous man from you. Help me not to give up when surrounded by failures. Help me to persevere like Peter to grow in you. Help me to be an heir of the Kingdom of God. Amen.

BIBLE TEXT: 2 TIMOTHY 2:23

“Don’t get involved in foolish and ignorant arguments that only start fights”

Chapter two of the second epistle to Timothy speaks of apostolic conduct and teaching against error. These are personal instructions given to young Timothy for a victorious Christian living. St. Paul urges Timothy to refrain from foolish and ignorant arguments in conduct and in matters of faith. Foolish and ignorant arguments lead to ungodliness. The Christendom today is full of arguments and counter arguments about faith matters. In the early centuries, the heresies gripped the church and tried to shatter the apostolic faith. In that period came lot of writings known as “apologetic” writings, which explained the true faith of the church to the rulers. The history is repeating and again we witness so much of heretic teaching after the rise of Protestantism. The Protestants had nothing to loose all was gain. The faith is diluted as never before. The apostolic churches are again in the efforts to safeguard the true faith as transmitted by the Apostles. Jesus once warned the disciples to be aware of the ‘leaven’ of Pharisees and Sadducees. It was pointed to their perverted teaching and interpretation of the scriptures. It is better not to touch the leaven. Today, many pastors and self-appointed leaders approach us for prayers at home. Once you let them in, they will get you out. Have faith in God and the prayers you say. Don’t let leaven enter your house. It is dangerous. They lead you to unnecessary discussions about faith and misguide you about the faith you practice. There are people who once served in the altar and now being deceived by Satan follows heretical teachings. St. Paul urges Timothy to rightly divide the word of truth (vs.15). Our church rightly divides the Word of God, believe in it, and live accordingly. “But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness” (Vs.16). Don’t engage in unfruitful discussions because “their message will spread like cancer” (vs.17). Many are victims of this dreadful disease. The heretical teachings have cancerous effect, no guaranteed cure. There are many “Hymenaeus and Philetus” (vs.17), who propagate wrong faith among the faithful. Those who do not conform to the teachings of the Church are “proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words …” (1 Tim 6:4). Beware of them. Live a good Orthodox Christian life, established in the faith. In conduct also, one should be careful not to enter into unnecessary arguments. This gives rise to envy, strife, reviling, and evil suspicions. Newspaper reports of many murders that were consequences of mere arguments. “And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all,…” (Vs.24). Humility is the only solution to avoid arguments. Jesus stood silent when people were charging him of offences that he has not even committed.

LET US HOLD FAST TO APOSTOLIC TEACHINGS AND CONDUCT. 

Prayer: - Lord, help me to hold fast to the apostolic faith and conduct. Let me not fall into the traps of deceivers, who deceives by words. Thank you for blessing the Church with apostolic teachings. Let everyone who erred may come back to the faith of the One, Catholic, Holy and Apostolic Church. Amen.

BIBLE TEXT: ISAIAH 6:8

“Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?”

An incidence related to the call of Isaiah for the prophetic ministry. Isaiah was in the temple of the Lord, and was purified by the angel of the Lord. After being sanctified came the voice of the Lord asking, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” God is capable of doing everything yet is looking out for people to work in his vineyard. The above question shows concern of God towards the perishing Israelites. God doesn’t want any of us to be perished. He is looking out for people to work for Him. The same concern could be seen in the public ministry of Jesus. Even though, He was very God of God, willed to select disciples for Him to be a part of his ministry. Jesus expressed His concern for the perishing by saying, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore, pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest” (Luk 10:2). Again, in the region of Samaria, Jesus encourages His disciples to see the harvest, “Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest” (Jn 4:35). The call of God is very challenging. Today, the orientation to get into the ministry has decreased. We all look for a promising job that can fulfill all our desires. In early times, the parents use to encourage their children to take up the ministry. But today the scenario is changed. Even such a thought is not put in their minds when they think of a carrier. The church is in dire need of workers who will reach out to the unreached. The ministry today is confined to only ordained ministry, but there are various avenues where we can contribute. God has blessed each one of us with various talents and gifts and it is our at most duty to use those talents and gifts as ministry and serve the Lord. Our tirumeni H.G. Stephanos Mar Theodosius recently started a mission training institute, at Makkodia village to train youngsters to go out and work as missionaries. He even promised better salary. Of the 2.7 million population of church members, not a single person approached for the task. That is all our missionary concern. Then, we are all who sit by and say that church has failed in propagating the Gospel of Christ. Our church is not a missionary church. Whom are we waiting for? We all want “others” to do. Who are these others? Of the many who criticize the church, neither contributes their talents or their time, money for the ongoing work, but gives in plenty to para-organisations. Who is to be blamed? Is there no one who can take up this challenge? Our convents are dying day by day. No girls coming up to serve the Lord in full time ministry. God’s voice is still in the air asking, “Will you go for me. Shall I send you?” Isaiah said, “Here am I, send me” (vs.7).

WILL YOU GO FOR HIM? 

Prayer: - Lord, let your voice challenge me. Help me to accept your invitation to work in your vineyard. Forgive me for sitting back and criticizing. I decide to contribute my talent, my time and money for the ministry done by the church. Mould me as you like. Amen.

BIBLE TEXT: PSALM 119:54

“Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage”

A verse that is pasted on every door of our parish members’ house. True reminder of our exact position in this world. Psalmist realized very early that nothing is going to be permanent in this world except the statutes of the Lord. The biggest dream of an individual is to have a beautiful house. We spend a very good amount and time in building up our dream house. We put all our ideas to make it as beautiful as possible. Our own house gives us a sense of freedom and achievement. Wherever we may be, when required to fill the column ‘Permanent address’ in official forms, we firmly put the address of our house at hometown. We become relaxed of a major burden in life when we own a house. In midst of all these, we forget that no matter how big or small is our house we are still pilgrims in this world. Our permanent residence is with our Lord. We are in a pilgrimage towards that permanent house promised by our Lord Jesus. “In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (Jn 14:2, 3). Jesus reminds us of the temporal nature of our life in this world. It is His will that we leave this temporary abode and be with Him forever. David, even though was a king with all luxury at his feet never considered it as the ultimate, whereas took refuge in the statutes of the Lord. The statutes of the Lord are eternal and therefore one who takes refuge in it will easily complete the pilgrimage. For David the statutes were songs that were sung everyday in house. What are the songs sung in our houses? Are His statutes the songs of our house? The music plays a very vital role in our lives. Even medical field is now experimenting “music therapy” for cure of certain diseases. The T.V channels are flooded with music channels of all sorts. The new music systems had made music all the more enjoyable and delightful. The CD and cassette racks are full of cinematic albums and songs. The lips of children are flooded with such songs. What is wrong in it? These songs are replacing the “songs” that David mentions. The songs of the statutes of the Lord have become “occasional” songs sung only in prayer meetings and church services. They are no more song of my house. Is that not pity? Is this not wrong? Psalmist says, “And in the night His songs shall be with me—a prayer to the God of my life” (Ps 42:8). Many of us are able to sleep without prayer but many find it difficult to get a sleep without music at their ears.

LET THE STATUTES OF THE LORD BE THE SONG OF YOUR HOUSE. 

Prayer: - Lord, thank you for reminding that I am a pilgrim in this world. Help me to detach from this world and long for the permanent abode that you have prepared. Let Your statutes be the song of my house. Help me and my family to take refuge in it and sing for you always a joyous and new song. Amen.

DISCERNING GOD’S WILL—BY ST. JOHN CLIMACUS

The victory of Christian living lies in the fact of discerning God’s will in ones life. Christian living is to tune ourselves to the will of God. Our life becomes a failure when we fail to know God’s plan for our life. God’s will is to be discerned not just in some aspects but in every aspects of the life. St. John Climacus says, “Among beginners, discernment is real self- knowledge; among those mid way along the road to perfection, it is a spiritual capacity to distinguish unfailingly between what is truly good and what in nature is opposed to the good; among the perfect, it is a knowledge resulting from Divine illumination, which with its lamp can light up what is dark in others. To put the matter generally, discernment is – and is recognized to be – a solid understanding of the will of God in all times, in all places, in all things; and it is found only among those who are pure in heart, in body and in speech.” With out purity in life one cannot approach god for guidance. Don’t be choosy in discerning God’s will. How are we to live our lives? What are we to do? In a moment of crisis, when a decision has to be made and made quickly, what does God wants us to do? What will please him? What will bring us heavenly rewards? Am I hearing the voice of God or the voice of self—or, worse still, the voice of Satan? How do I know? St. John speaks very practically to this longing. Out of his own tried and trusted experience, he offers advice for those who would know God’s will. “Those who wish to discover the will of God must begin by mortifying their own will. Then, having prayed in faith and simplicity, all malice spent, they should turn humbly and in confidence to their fathers or even their brothers and they should accept their counsel as though from God himself, even when that counsel goes against the grain, even when the advice comes from those who do not seem very spiritual.” He means to say that it is easy for us to say that we want to know God’s will when, in fact, we really only want our own will. It is easy for us to convince ourselves that what God wants is what we want, and then to imagine that our voice is the voice of God. This deception leads us to hell. Humility, the recognition that our will is confused and confusing, is necessary prelude to knowing the will of God. When things happen as per our wish, we feel that that it is God’s will being carried out, whereas the fact remains that we never consulted God about it. Many of us live in such deception. To discern God’s will is to accept even those things that are contrary to our will. But often we fail to accept and do what is contrary to our will, even though we are sure it is God’s will. “An active soul is a provocation to demons, yet the greater our conflicts the greater our rewards. There will be no crown for the man who has never been under attack and the man who perseveres in spite of any failures will be glorified as a champion by the angels”

DISCERNMENT OF THE VIRTUES IS A LIGHT TO ALL THE MIND. 

Prayer:- Lord, let your will be made known to me. Let your will be done in my life. Help me to accept your will and work accordingly. Forgive for treating my wishes as yours and knowingly avoiding your Divine will. Lord, rule over my life and let my life be your kingdom. Amen.

BIBLE TEXT: PSALM 119:105

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path”

Psalm 119 speaks exclusively of the various aspects of the word of God. Psalmist rejoices in the word of God and gives many new dimensions to the word of God from his experience. Here, he is likening the word of God to a lamp and a light. King Solomon also mentions it in his Proverbs, “For the commandment is a lamp and the law a light” (Prov 6:23). The main function of lamp is to give light so to dispel darkness and to show the way in darkness as not to stumble. The word of God also has these two functions: to dispel the spiritual darkness and to show the right path in this world darkness (evil). Many of us are spiritually dead because we are ignorant of certain facts about God, about ourselves. But ignorance cannot be sighted as an excuse because God has given his word to dispel it. “The entrance of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple” (Ps.119:130). The word of God gives understanding to us when we look into it sincerely. “You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies” (Vs. 98) and further says, “Through Your precepts I get understanding” (Vs.104). The word enlightens our mental darkness and leads us to true understanding about life. We should be cautious when we approach the word of God. Many of us are often tempted to approach the Word as a master of it. Remember God is the only master of His words. We should humbly and with reverence approach it and that too with a teachable heart. Psalmist says, “Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes.” (Vs.33). Secondly, the word dispels darkness in our practical life leading us to the paths in which a Christian is supposed to walk. The world is full of evil and is a synonym of darkness. It is very difficult to find the correct way, for every way is very attractive and appealing to our senses. It is the path of God’s commandments that leads us to victorious life. One who takes delight in His word and precepts can only identify it. The true life is not in anything else but in His word. “For Your word has given me life” (Vs.50). When we abide by the word and believe in it, we will be convinced of its truthfulness. “Therefore all your precepts concerning all things I consider to be right; I hate every false way” (vs.128). In whatever we do, see, hear, think, we should see if it is in line with God’ s precepts. If not, have the courage to shun it. Because everything in His word is right and leads us to life eternal. For the Psalmist the word is “the way of truth” (vs.30). The word gives us the strength to leave aside every wrong ways. “How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word” (Vs.9). How can we take heed in the word of God? “I will meditate on Your precepts, and contemplate Your ways” (Vs.15). Meditate and contemplate his words and deeds and we will experience the great light coming from his word leading us to truth and righteousness. “Establish Your word to your servant, who is devoted to fearing You” (Vs.38).

ARE YOU DEVOTED TO FEAR HIM? 

Prayer: - Lord, I pray that you establish Your word in my heart so that I may not sin against you. Help me to find delight in Your word. As you guided the Psalmist, guide me also in your wondrous ways. Let your word be light and lamp for me. Dispel all sorts of darkness from so to live in light. Amen.

BIBLE TEXT: PSALMS 19:8

“The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart”

Last few days we have been reflecting on the various aspects of the word of God. The word of God enlightens us because these are the statutes of God. Psalmist emphasizes that they are right. The word of God is right because these are spoken by God to human being. The Lord spoke so that the human being may be reinstated to the lost glory. Adam and Eve did not abide by the word of God and fell from the communion of God. But the love of God did not cease for the humans whom He had created in His own image and likeness. He continued to speak through His elect people. Those who accepted the Word were enlightened. “The commandments of the lord is pure, enlightening the eyes” (Ps.19:8). Prophet Ezekiel aptly writes his experience when he was called by God for prophetic ministry. It was the word of God that strengthened him to set out for ministry. God spoke to him, “Son of man, eat what you find; eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel” and further says, “Son of man, feed your belly, and fill your stomach with this scroll that I give you” (Ezek 3:1, 2). The scroll was God’s message and the eating of the scroll suggested the assimilation of the message. The food we eat gives us energy when it is chewed and digested properly, likewise, the word is to be read and meditated properly so to give us spiritual strength. We need to feed ourselves spiritually just as we do physically. “Son of man, receive into your heart all My words that I speak to you, and hear with your ears” (Ezek 3:10). In spite of the message of judgment, the scroll was “sweet as honey” because it was the word of God. If we digest God’s word, we will find that not only does it make us stronger in faith, but its wisdom also sweetens our life. Psalmist adds that it is not just right but also is rejoicing the heart. A general principle is that what is right, rejoices our hearts. There is nothing more pure and right than the word of God. One who uses it properly will ever rejoice in it. “More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb” (Ps 19:10). A sincere Christian will join the psalmist in saying, “Moreover by them (Word of God) Your servant is warned, And in keeping them there is great reward” (Ps 19:11). Abide by the word and wait for the reward.

MAKE DIGESTING GOD’S WORD A REGULAR PART OF LIFE. 

Prayer: - Lord, thank you for speaking to us through your word. Help me to be like the Psalmist who rejoices in your word and accepts the warnings in it. Help me to assimilate Your words in my heart. Enlighten my spiritual eyes to see the beauty of Your Divine word. Amen. 

BIBLE TEXT: ST. JAMES 1:23

“For if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror..”

St. James gives a new dimension to the word of God. The word of God is a mirror. All of us spend a good amount of time before a mirror everyday. The characteristic of mirror is that it reflects every image that comes in its vicinity. Human beings are very much concerned about their physical appearance. We try our level best to give ourselves the best look possible and this is impossible without a mirror. In olden days, when mirror was not there, people used still water as a medium to have a look. We put ourselves before the mirror to see whether I am presentable, and good looking. If we are not ready to change that, what is not presentable and apt there is no use of the mirror. The mirror is a corrective medium. Likewise, the word of God is the mirror for our spiritual appearance. But, we are least bothered about our spiritual appearance. Some people take a casual look at God’s word without letting it affect their lives, like the person who looks  so quickly into a mirror that flaws go undetected and nothing is changed. Some approach the word of God as any other book and go through it very casually. They listen but don’t act. They are very reluctant  for change and word of God makes no change in such lives. The other approach is the intent look, the deep and continued study of God’s word that allows a person to see flaws and change his/ her life in line with God’s standards. The kind of mirror that God’s word provides is unique. It shows us our inner nature in the same way that a regular mirror shows our exterior features. Both mirrors reflect what is there. When God’s word points out something in us that needs correction, we had better listen and act. Jesus repeatedly reminds, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear” (Mat 11:15). The word of God is living, powerful, dynamic and can change lives provided we submit ourselves to it. It is good for correction and reproof provided we see through this mirror and correct ourselves. St. James continues, “But he who looks in the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does” (vs.25). God blesses those who are corrective and receives the Word of God in its real sense.

WORD REFLECTS OUR REAL SELF: SPIRITUAL SELF. 

Prayer: - Lord, your word is living, powerful, and dynamic. It is a mirror that reflects my inner self. Help me to look into this mirror everyday and change that is not apt and good for my spiritual life. Help me not to just pass by after looking into the mirror. Amen.

BIBLE TEXT:ST. LUKE 24:32

“Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road and while He opened the Scriptures to us?”

The Word of God is living, powerful, and sharper than two-edged sword. Another very important aspect of the Word is that it burns the heart. Yesterday, we have seen that the Word pierces the heart. The Word of God is fire and hence burns us when we read it sincerely. The above incidence took place after the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Two disciples of St. John were going back to their village Emmaus discussing about what had happened in Jerusalem. They were broken down with the crucifixion of Jesus as they thought that He was the messiah. Jesus joined them in their journey and expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Him. Their hopelessness was turned to joy after listening from the scriptures. The main function of fire is to give light and purification. The Word purifies us every day. The real and pure Gold is obtained when it is repeatedly put in fire. The fire removes all the impurities and we get the purest of them. The sole aim of Christian life is to become holier and purer everyday in relation to Jesus. Jesus Christ sanctified us with His precious blood and gave His Word for us so that we can sanctify ourselves everyday. The more we are exposed to the Word, the more purer we become. All impurities lie in our heart and until and unless our hearts are exposed to it, we cannot become pure. Often our lips only are exposed to the word and not our heart. Psalmist says, “Your Word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against you” (Ps. 119:11). Only when we keep the word of God in our hearts can keep ourselves away from sin. The prophet Jeremiah says, “But His word was in my heart like a burning fire” (Jer 20:9). The word of God should burn all our iniquities. King David committed sin and he could rectify only when the Word of God reached him through Nathan. The Word burnt away all his iniquities and he was restored back in relation with God. In our service the breaking of the Word is kept earlier to the breaking of the bread. Before we receive the Body and Blood of Christ, the Word should purify us from all our sins. Then only our eyes will be opened to see Jesus.

LET THE WORD PURIFY US. 

Prayer: - Lord, I thank you for cleansing me through your word. Let my heart burn as it burned the hearts of the disciples. I desire to keep your Word in my heart. Let your word always abide in my heart. Purify me and let me come out purer everyday. Amen.   

BIBLE TEXT: HEBREWS 4:12

“The Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two- edged sword”

In the last three reflections, we have been trying to understand the correct attitude one should have towards the Word of God. The Bible is to be read and meditated daily as it is divinely inspired but with an alert eye not to fall into wrong      interpretation. A sincere Christian can never avoid reading Bible. This is daily bread for those who really want to grow spiritually. For St. Paul the Word of God is sword (Eph 6:11) and in this passage it is two-edged sword. He very well puts forward the dynamism of the Word of God. Firstly, the Word of God is living—emphasizing the capacity to communicate. The Word of God speaks to us. When we read it with at most sincerity, can experience the communicating power of God through it. Only a living being can communicate and the dead has no power to communicate. God speaks to us through His Word. Secondly, the Word of God is powerful— The Word is not just living, but is powerful also. We know the power of the words uttered by God. He created everything by His command (Word). Psalmist says, “He sends out His command to the earth; His word runs very swiftly” (Ps 147:15). His words are the written statutes for us as people of God. It has the power of healing, changing lives. Thirdly, the word of God is sharper than two-edged sword—the sword in general is weapon of a soldier. It is used for self defense; likewise, the Word is a weapon for every Christian soldier who is in constant fight with the principalities and powers of the darkness of this age. Jesus used this sword to defeat Satan when He was tempted after forty days of fasting. The Word is two-edged as it has the power to affect both the speaker and the listener at the same time. The sword is capable of cutting the physical body and the Word is capable of piercing the soul and the Spirit. When St. Peter spoke to the people gathered on the Day of Pentecost, “they were cut to the heart” (Acts 2:37). When John the Baptist spoke to the multitude, there was a great revival. They all asked, “What shall we do?” (Luke 3:10,12,14). Their hearts were pierced and had transformation in their lives. Fourthly, the Word is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart—the Word discerns our innermost thoughts and intents. It is “profitable for reproof and correction” (2Tim 3:16). That is why we experience a prick in our conscience and a feeling of guilt while reading the Word. Jesus always pointed out what is going in a person’s heart and corrected whenever required. If we harden our heart, the word will be of no benefit for us. A sincere reader, seeker, and listener can only experience the power of the Word.

READ THE WORD AS IF YOU ARE LISTENING TO GOD SPEAKING TO YOU 

Prayer: -  Lord, thank you for speaking to human kind. Help me to listen to your voice in the written Word. Your word is a sword and I lay my life before you. You know my thoughts and every aspects of life. Let your word cut and prune the unwanted from my life. Strengthen me to correct according to your word. Amen.

BIBLE TEXT: ISAIAH 34:16

“Search from the book of the Lord, and read it”

The Bible is definitely the Word of God and in the last two reflections, we have understood the importance of reading, meditating the scripture as well as the Divine nature of the Bible. The biggest ongoing debate is about the authority of the Holy Scriptures. A very wrong notion has swept throughout the Christendom in the recent times that Bible has authority over the Church. In fact, it is the other way. The church, as God’s people inspired by God, wrote the Bible. The church produced the Bible. The Bible did not produce the Church. Therefore, the Holy Scripture cannot be completely, truthfully understood unless they are understood within the context of the Church that produced them, that declared them to be what they are. Today, everyone is a champion in interpreting the scripture. This has diluted the teachings and doctrines of the Holy Church leading to so many break ups and divisions. Philip, as a representative of Church was sent by God to the Ethiopian eunuch to interpret the Scripture correctly (Acts 8:26ff). Correct interpretation is as important as reading the Scripture. St. Vincent of Lerins, 5^th century says, “Every care should be taken to hold fast to what has been delivered everywhere, always, and by all. This general rule will be truly applied if we follow the principles of universality, antiquity, and consent. We do so in regard to universality if we confess that faith alone to be true which the entire Church confesses all over the world. We do so in regard to antiquity if we in no way deviate from those interpretations which our ancestors and fathers have manifestly proclaimed as inviolable”. The message of the Bible is one and it cannot change with time. We should not approach Bible casually in deriving its meaning. The writers in the Bible never aimed their writings to become a scripture, but they were addressed to individuals and churches giving them directions of Christian living and faith. St. John of Damascus, 7^th-8^th century says, “Let us not knock casually (at the door of the scriptures), but with eagerness and persistence, and let us not lose heart while knocking, for so it will be opened to us. Should we read once and then a second time and still not understand what we are reading, let us not be discouraged. Rather, let us persist, let us meditate, and inquire, for it is written; ‘ Ask thy father, and he will declare to thee; thy elders and they will tell thee’ (Deut 32:7)”. It is not necessary that as Christians we must understand every passage of the scripture. We should not deliberately try to find an interpretation for every passage. One should not put their own ideas in the scripture and elaborate it. St. Irenaeus , 2^nd-3^rd century says, “If, however, we are not able to find explanations for all those passages of scripture which are investigated, we ought not on that account seek for another God besides Him who exists. This would indeed be the greatest impiety. Things of that kind we must leave to God, the One who made us, knowing full well that the scriptures are certainly perfect, since they were spoken by the Word of God and by His Spirit”. Metropolitan Philaret of Moscow, 19^th century has rightly said, “First, one must read (scripture) with reverence, as the Word of God, and with prayer for understanding it; second, one must read it with pure intention, for establishment in the faith and motivation to good works; third, one must understand it in accordance with the interpretation of the Orthodox Church and the Holy Fathers”. Don’t take any text out of its context for it is pretext. Don’t read the Bible in between the lines.

INTERPRET BIBLE THROUGH THE EYES OF THE HOLY CHURCH.

Prayer: - Lord, your Word is very valuable. It pierces the hearts. Give me the correct understanding of Your Word. Let me not dilute the teachings for my benefits. Let your Holy Spirit guide me as I read the Word. Let me not follow those who misinterpret the Bible, but help me to stick to the interpretation of the Holy Church. Amen.

BIBLE TEXT:ISAIAH 34:16

“Search from the book of the Lord, and read”

Yesterday we have seen the importance of reading the scripture and how is it beneficial in our spiritual growth. To ‘search from the book’ does not mean to look for verses here and there and join any number of verses without understanding the specific background of the verse. The curse of Protestantism is the exploitation of the scripture by any Dick and Harry. Bible is being idolized which itself is a sin. Today let us see and understand about the divine nature of the Scriptures. “No prophecy of scripture is of any private interpretation for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Pet 1:20, 21). The Bible is the Word of God, but the Word of God was not written directly and personally by God. The Holy Scriptures did not fall from heaven in a fully complete written form. They were written by human beings who were inspired by God. The Word of God is divinely inspired and humanly written. The protestant theologians often forgets this human aspect of the Scripture which is injustice to ones who have written it. The Church fathers understood the scriptures as divinely inspired. St. Clement of Rome, 1^st century says, “Brethren, be contentious and zealous for the things which lead to salvation! You have studied the Holy Scriptures, which are true and are of the Holy Spirit. You well know that nothing unjust or fraudulent is written in them”. Church fathers were absolutely clear that Scripture is God personally speaking to us. “When you hear the words of the Prophets, spoken as it were personally, do not imagine that they are spoken by the inspired persons themselves. It is the divine Word who moves them”, says St. Justin Martyr, 2^nd century. The very proof of the Word of God being divinely inspired is that even though it were written over 1600 years, it has a unity in message. St. Theophilus of Antioch, 2^nd century says, “Moreover, in regard to the righteousness which the law enjoyed, the prophets and the Gospels are found to be consistent with each other, because they all spoke as being inspired by the one Spirit of God”. The people of Berea received the Word of God with all readiness. “They received the Word with readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. Therefore many of them believed…” (Acts 17:11). We should accept the Word not as coming from the mouth of human but of God. Don’t read the Bible superficially. Go deeper into it and find the treasure hidden in it. What is hidden is not readily available on the table to be picked up. One of the flaws seen in Bible reading is a tendency of choosy reading. We read certain books and ignore others. Read Bible fully to get the full message of it.

HOLY BIBLE IS DIVINELY INSPIRED AND HUMANLY WRITTEN. 

Prayer: - Lord, your word is a light to my feet and lamp to my ways. O’ Holy Spirit, guide me to the truth as I read the Word. Help me to accept the word with readiness of heart. Help me see my life in it and do the needful correction, so as to come closer to you. Amen.  

BIBLE TEXT: ISAIAH 34:16

“Search from the book of the Lord, and read.”

The Bible is the Word of God. The Holy Scriptures are the principal and most honored written record of God’s revelation to His people. In the next few days, I will be sharing the importance of the Word of God in the light of the experience of Orthodox Church fathers. Today let us reflect on the importance of ‘reading the Holy Scripture’. One cannot be a complete Christian until and unless read and meditate from God’s word. “The Bible is the mother of all books, just as it is the prayer above all prayers, and the guide to the Kingdom of God. it leads men on earth to the understanding of the truth, and enables one to see God with the heart while still in the flesh, and in time to come allows one to enjoy face to face the sweet vision of the Holy Trinity”, says Parthenios of Kiev, 19^th century. No other Church other than ours reveres the Holy Scripture so much in every aspect. Outwardly, the Holy Scriptures occupy a position of great prominence in worship. Covered with a protective veil, the Gospel Book rests conspicuously on the Holy Altar throughout the week. During Divine Liturgy it is carried in a dignified procession by the clergy, preceded by incense, candles etc.  Bishop Kallistos Ware says, “The Christian Church is a scriptural Church. The Bible is the supreme expression of God’s revelation to the human race, and Christians must always be ‘People of the Book’”. The biggest set back to our Church is that we rarely open Bible to read and even if we read it is because we have to read while praying. The usual tendency is to open any part and read which itself is a very wrong attitude. Either begin from the first book or take any one book and read it fully. If the bible is to get into us, we must get into it. St. Paul stresses the importance of Scripture reading, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Tim 3:16-17). Why should we read the Scripture? “It is necessary to satisfy the soul with the Word of God. One must train one self in such a way that the mind, as it were, swims in the Law of God, by the direction of which one must order one’s life. For this exercise alone, apart from other good works, the Lord will not leave a man without His mercy, but will fulfill his gift of understanding” (St. Seraphim of Sarov, 19^th century). St. Tikhon of Zadonsk, 18^th century says, “Holy Scripture is given by God not only to humanity in general, but to each individual, to me, to you, to every one. Every time we either read it ourselves, or hear it read in Church, we hear our God conversing with us”.  But how many of read with this commitment? He further comments, “If you, Christian, wish to learn to live holy and truly Christian life, set before yourself the Holy Gospel and the irreproachable life of Christ, and learn from it”. St. John of Kronstat, 19^th century says, “A person striving for spiritual renewal can obtain so much (from reading bible) guidance in being reborn from evil to good”. Reading the scripture takes us to the realm of the angels and helps us to glorify God in a more meaningful way. That is why in our Divine Liturgy, all the Scripture portions are read at the beginning itself. “For the soul who has chosen to meditate day and night on the law of God, nothing can be more beneficial than to search the Holy Scriptures. The design of the grace of the Spirit to be found therein overwhelms the senses of the mind with fulfillment, by removing it completely from earthly realities and visible things, taking it to the level of the angels and associating it with the life of the angels themselves” (St. Symeon the New Theologian, 10^th-11^th century).

READ BIBLE—THIS IS THE ONLY LIGHT OF OUR LIFE.

Prayer: - Lord, thank you for the Scriptures you have gifted to the Church. Forgive me for showing negligence in reading it, searching it, and following it. I decide to read the Word every day. Enlighten me also as you enlightened our spiritual fathers. Amen.

BIBLE TEXT: HEBREWS 10:25

“Let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage each other”

St. Paul stresses on one of the most important aspects of Christian life i.e. worship. He stresses on the need of regular corporate worship. The assembly (meeting) in the Old Testament (Heb: koheleth) is translated ekklesia in Greek, which we translate as Church. Believers are encouraged to assemble in the Church on a regular basis to worship God. The early Christians derived spiritual strength to face the hostile world from their regular meetings. Even when Christianity was stamped ‘religio illicita’ (illegal religion), the believers used to assemble under the leadership of apostles and later the elders. “And they continued steadfastly in the Apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42). Fellowships play a very important role in ones life. But one must be careful while choosing the fellowship. The Bible is not speaking of the sectarian fellowships (as we witness today), but fellowship of the believers strengthened in the doctrines of Apostles and the Church. Coming together of believers is a sign of their oneness in Christ. It reminds that we all are sojourners in this world. All our differences (financial, caste, colour) are nullified when we come together in Christ. The sole aim of fellowship meeting is to encourage each other in faith. Not all are equally strong in faith, but in fellowship, he also participates with others and gains faith. Corporate faith and worship strengthens individual faith. One of the set backs of our church people is the willful negligence of prayer meetings. Many are satisfied with the Sunday service. Holy Qurbana is a time of worship whereas the prayer meeting is a time of learning. With out proper learning there cannot be proper worship. “The Churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily” (Acts 16:5). When a piece of coal is burnt alone, the fire burns out fast, whereas when many pieces kept together, it burns for a longer time. The early Church faced the same problem as we face today. Many abstained from the regular meetings. Such people leave the true faith and go here and there. The sad part is we are not bothered about those who leave us. Where is the Christian Spirit of encouraging each other in true faith? Encouraging each other in true faith is a ministry and St. Paul advices Timothy to encourage the fellow believers in the faith he has taught him. Let us decide to come together as is the wish of God, encourage each other, and build up a new community strong in apostolic doctrines and faith in Christ.

WIIL YOU BE A PART OF CHRISTIAN MINISTRY?

Prayer: - Lord, forgive me for not being in the fellowship of co-believers. Help me to lead good Christian life and let me encourage many to live in the faith of apostles and of the Church. Help me to be in the company of saints. Help me to learn from my fellow beings. Amen. 

            BIBLE TEXT: ST. MATHEW 12:32

“….Whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come”

This was said as a part of major confusion that Pharisees and scribes had about whether Jesus is from God. They very well realized and knew that Jesus is from God and yet denied the very fact for their benefit. They charged Jesus of having Beelzebub and not the Holy Spirit. Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is blasphemy against the divine activity of the Spirit—the accusation that Jesus healed the demoniac by demonic powers rather than the power of the Holy Spirit. Blasphemy against the Son of Man can be forgiven, because the Jews do not yet know much about Him. But blasphemy against the Spirit, whose divine activity they know from the Old Testament, will not be forgiven. This blasphemy is willful hardness of heart. The Church has pronounced six sins that are against the Holy Spirit. (1) Deliberate thinking that God will show mercy no matter what sin one may commit—i.e. to say that since God is merciful, one can commit any sin. Ultimately, God will forgive us out of His divine mercy. This is a false thought catered in our minds by Satan. Yes, God is merciful, but that is not a license for us to commit sin. Remember, He is a righteous judge also. (2) Hopelessness— hope is the message of the word of God. Hope was the mission of Jesus. The incarnation in itself was the message of great hope in the hopeless world. As Christians, we are encouraged to keep hope in Jesus Christ. Hopelessness is a way of showing our mistrust to the providence of God. St. Paul says, “Rejoice in the Lord always” (Phil 4:4). (3) Denial of truth—truth is the only absolute in this world. Truth will only reign in the end. Often we deliberately close our eyes and ears to the truth. We must accept the truth and stand for the truth. Pharisees knew the truth and yet stood with the untrue. (4) Spiritual jealousy—i.e. to be jealous of spiritual growth of your neighbor. To grow spiritually is everyone’s dream, but only few make it so. It is a “sadhana” and cannot be achieved easily. St. Paul writes to Timothy that he should encourage the believers to grow in the Lord. We should not be an obstacle in their spiritual growth. Equally wrong is spiritual pride. (5) Willful sins—i.e. the sins that we commit knowingly and willingly. From the very childhood we are taught about what is right and what is wrong yet we desire to get into wrong for momentary  pleasures. We know it is wrong but we do it. There we negate and ignore the voice of Holy Spirit and do what is pleasing in our eyes. (6) Lack of true repentance/ confession—God calls us for true repentance but willingly we ignore it for meager benefits. Even we are not true to ourselves in the sacrament of confession. We don’t open our heart to God. That is why many a times we don’t grow spiritually as we desire. Sins always keep us away from God. Even if we confess, we are continuing in the same sins. Will that bring good result? Absolutely no. What to do?

OPEN YOUR HEART TO LISTEN TO THE VOICE OF HOLY SPIRIT.

Prayer: - Lord, forgive me for I fall short in everything that the church teaches about sins against Holy Spirit. Strengthen me that I may come to you with true repentance. Let me always abide to the voice of Holy Spirit. Help me to rejoice in you always. Holy Spirit, come and sanctify me as your temple. Amen. 

BIBLE TEXT: PROVERBS 4:23

“Guard your heart with all diligence; for out of it emerges issues of life”

Heart has a physical, psychological as well as a spiritual dimension. The Holy Bible deals more of it in terms of psychological and spiritual aspects. The ‘heart’ in the Bible portrays the personality of a person. “As in water face reflects face, so a man’s heart reveals the man” (Prov 27:19). A person is righteous or wicked, just or unjust, is all an aspect of heart. Heart is the centre of emotions. Our heart-our feelings of love and desire-dictates to a great extent how we live because we always find time to do what we enjoy. Therefore, Solomon tells us to guard our heart above all else, making sure we concentrate on those desires that will keep us on the right path. God always looked for the motives and intentions rather than actions. “I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways….” (Jer 17:10). Our action could be justified only if intentions are pure. Lord spoke to Samuel while he was confused about whom to anoint as king of Israel saying, “For the Lord does not see as man sees; for the man looks at the outer appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Sam 16:7). Jesus always read the hearts of his disciples and of the general people and commented on what they were thinking. Because God knows that, “the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” (Jer 17:9). Our hearts belong to God. It should be the throne of God. That is why in our Holy Qurbana it is reminded that our hearts be lifted up above where Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father. All of us at some point or other might have declared Jesus as the king of our hearts. What is the present condition? Is Jesus still the king of your hearts? It is easy to say but difficult to maintain. Again not impossible. It is when the love for the world exceeds than that for God, we replace God with X,Y,Z. It is time to repent and give back God his place in our lives. God promises “You will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul” (Deut 4:29). Put boundaries on desires. One should not go after everything one sees. All evil originates and proceeds from the heart. We should allow God to search our hearts and show our willingness to correct the wrongs. David says, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Ps. 139: 23,24). Heart is the door of our life and Jesus stands patiently knocking at it for us to open the door of our heart (Rev 3:20).

WILL YOU OPEN YOUR HEARTS TO JESUS?

Prayer: - Lord, I know you look to my intention and motives. Forgive me for I have been not good at my heart often. You are the king of my heart and of my life. Help me not to love anything else more than you. I open the door of my heart. Come in and dwell in me forever. Amen.

BIBLE TEXT: GENESIS 24:27-67 (READ)

 “…. So Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.” Vs.67

Sarah died and was buried and Abraham sought a wife for his son Isaac. Isaac married Rebecca as per God’s will. A wonderful testimony of Rebecca as a wife is given in vs.67. After his mothers death Isaac was shattered and probably depressed and that loss was nullified with the coming of Rebecca in his life. The role of a woman in Christian family is of a great value and is a big responsibility. Bible witnesses women of various characteristics and is a proof that a good wife is really a gift from God. Wife should be god fearing, obedient and true to her husband in all phases of life. The blessing of a family more or less depends on the woman of a family. Eve led her family away from god. Job’s wife asked him to reject god at the time of distress. Lot’s wife was greedy, that took her to destruction. Herodias prompted her daughter to ask the head of John the Baptist. On the other hand there are numerous examples of virtuous women. Manonah and his wife were righteous in the sight of god. Hanna was a woman of prayer. St. Paul commends Timothy’s mother and grandmother for raising him in godly ways. Ruth was trustworthy to her husband’s family forever. Elizabeth never deserted god for not blessing them with children. All these families were blessed because of the woman. “ Your wife shall be like a fruitful wine in the very heart of your house” (Ps.128:3). Are you a fruitful wife for the family? Pray for being like one. Wine refreshes mind and body and that is the role of wife in a family. “ An excellent wife is the crown of the husband, but she who causes shame is like rottenness in his bone”(Prov 12:4). Solomon further writes, “Houses and riches are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the lord” (Prov 19:14). She is valuable than the Rubies (Prov31: 10). Are you a comfort to your family?  

Prayer: - Lord, thank you for my family. Help me to be trustworthy to my family. Thank you for the husband you have blessed me with. Help me to be the crown for him. Give me the strength to be a comfort for my family. Amen.

BIBLE TEXT: ST. MATHEW 6:22

“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light”

Jesus refers to things within the reach of the senses so that we might more easily grasp His teachings. The perfect state of human being is a condition where he is in control of his senses. This is what is called a state of self-actualization. When we control the outer or external gates of senses, we open the inner or spiritual gates within us. But when outer gates receive more from outside, our inner gates get closed. This is an automatic process. Jesus speaks of one of the most important senses i.e. the eyes. Jesus described the “spiritual vision” his disciples should have, requiring us to see clearly what God wants us to do and to see the world from His point of view. Solomon very clearly states, “The ear that hears, and the eye that sees- the Lord has made them both” (Prov 20:12). The world caters everything that our eyes desire to see. The one who could restrict eyes from the evil catered can maintain the sanctity of life. Because it is what we see, that we think about and what we think about is what we do. The lust of the eyes is a problem for many of the believers. It makes difficult to maintain sanctity of Christian life and it fills us with guilt. Eve committed disobedience because of the lust of eyes. The fruit was very appealing to her eyes and therefore she possessed it. Sex, violence and other stuffs are easily available on a click of keys. Some people especially young people ask  what is wrong in watching? We just see as time pass, we don’t take it to heart. Good justification but with no essence. Children are glued to cinemas and as Solomon says, “The eye is not satisfied with seeing” (Eccl 1:8). Not just children and youth even grown-ups are under the slavery of lust of eyes. “Eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth” (Prov 17:24). Whereas the eyes of righteous “are ever toward the Lord” (Ps. 25:15). Bible talks of “eyes of the wicked” and “eyes of the righteous”. As Christians, we need to have the ‘eyes of the righteous’, because he always keeps his eyes focused on God and His commandments. God says to Israelites, “you shall not at all do whatever is right in your own eyes” but “to do what is right in the eyes of the Lord your God” (Deut 12:8 ; 13:18). The only way to resist the lust of eyes is to shun and ‘run away’ from all such things that tempt us. Why? Because no one can fight against lust and come out victorious. It is like fire. Can a man take fire in his bosom and his clothes not be burned? We cannot close our eyes and walk in this world. We cannot avoid first look, but definitely the second look. It is always the second look that is with hidden agenda. Job says, “I have made a covenant with my eyes; why then  should I look upon a young woman?” (Job 31:1). As Christians let us make a covenant with our eyes not to see anything that is not befitting to a Christian. Let our eyes be enlightened by the commandments of Lord, which is pure (Ps.19:8). Let us pray like David, “Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from your law” (Ps.119:18). 

IS YOUR BODY IN LIGHT OR IN DARKNESS?

Prayer: - Lord, forgive me for following what is pleasing in my eyes. Help me not to watch what is abominable in Christian life. Let me focus my eyes unto you and to Your commandments. Help me to run away from the lust of eyes. Let Your commandments enlighten my eyes that I may see the world as You like. Amen.

BIBLE TEXT: ST. JOHN 3:30

“He must increase, but I must decrease”

The preaching of St. John the Baptist was a revolution in the spiritual life of Israelites. He initiated a new dimension in spirituality, which was beyond the superficial ritualistic religion the Jews were practicing. He became a known figure in the region because of his typical way of dressing and the powerful message he delivered. People were going out to meet him and listen to him. “Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him” (Mat 3:5). There was a spiritual revival in the region and St. John the Baptist was revered very much. If he wanted, he could have exploited this favorable condition to become a leader and become a heroic figure, but he never tried that. He employed a beautiful metaphor to depict the way he saw his relationship with Jesus. He liked to be called and known as “the friend of the bridegroom” (Jn 3:29), or as we would say today, “the best man”. As the best man, John enjoyed seeing his friend, the bridegroom, honored. He insisted that all the attention should go to the bridegroom and his bride. He is so different from the modern preachers of our times who always project themselves and their ministries in the name of Christ. Not just preachers, we all are attention seekers. In every small things, we like to project ourselves more than the cause. Jesus testifies about the Baptist that, “he was the burning and shining lamp” (Jn 5:35). Today, God is looking for people like the Baptist, who will burn out for God. What a realization John had! He knew that his work was destined to become less and less- he himself would have to decrease. His willingness to decrease that Jesus would increase reveals unusual humility. The forerunner expresses profound humility and acceptance of his role in the service of God. He renounces all earthly glory and reputation and glories only in Christ. This is in its true meaning “self denial”, the first step to discipleship. Jesus told to his to be disciples, “if any of you want to follow me, let him deny himself…”. Without self-denial, there is no discipleship or in other words, the first cost to be paid to be His disciple is denying oneself. Dying to self is not an one-day affair. It’s a lifetime exercise. Self-denial is the supreme sacrifice. Every act of self-denial takes us forward in Christian life. As a man goes down in self, he goes up in God. It is our sense of “I” that is the biggest hindrance in ministry and Christian life. We should work out every day to analyze whether God’s name is glorified through us. We are always carried away by the name and fame criteria. We first look for position to serve in the church. Let us not use His name for our name to be glorified.

UNLESS I DECREASE, CHRIST IN ME CANNOT INCREASE.

Prayer: - Lord, help me to be a burning and shining lamp. Help me to deny myself so that you increase in me every day. Let me not look for positions to serve you. Guide me in true Christian way of living. Let me always hold on to the virtue of humility and   glorify your name. Amen.   

BIBLE TEXT: JEREMIAH 23:29

“Is not my word like fire and like hammer that breaks the rocks in pieces?”

The Lord is speaking through Jeremiah against the prophets and shepherds who were misleading the people of God. They were self-appointed prophets and shepherds who claimed to be from God. They claimed new visions, revelations, and dreams from God. They spoke the word as if got directly from God. They were the preachers of prosperity with sole aim to please people. God is condemning them. He refers them as ‘chaff’ and ‘straw’ that cannot withstand a small wind. The spiritual degradation of twentieth and twenty first century is also result of such superficial spirituality professed by a large number of self-appointed preachers. They have only one message i.e. prosperity, a prosperity (in terms of health, money, peace) that can be yours with twinkling of eyes. God is condemning such message. (Jer 23:17).  People are exited when preachers talk about dreams and visions. Huge crowds rush to such meetings. Every message ends with a convincing appeal for the financial support for the ministry. Every one is happy. The outcome is that the moment they are out of campus, they are heard speaking of the melody of the choir, the sound arrangement, about the preacher, his style, and miracle if any. No body talks of the message because literally there was no message, but his/her few experiences in different places. Their language is exactly as that of the prophets of Jeremiah’s time. God says, “They fill you with emptiness; visions of their own fancy, they speak not from the mouth of the Lord” (vs.16). Beware of the enticing phrases used by modern preachers, like, my Bible says; While I was praying for what I should speak to the people today, God spoke to me and told me; Holy Spirit is speaking to you, etc. These are all very appealing. Not all are false but majority are fake. The word spoken seems like fire but is not burning the hearts, it sounds as hammer but is not breaking the hard stones in the heart. But the Word of God is true fire and is a hammer. Jesus at the age of twelve was thorough with the scripture, yet He waited another eighteen years to begin his ministry. Today, everyone who knows few verses from Bible is a preacher and teacher. A very wrong approach to the scripture and injustice to the Word of God. God will separate straw and wheat. “What has straw to do with the wheat?” (vs.28). That is why so many ministries faded away over the time. They proved to be mere straw. St. Paul predicts this in his epistle to Timothy and says, “For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine but, following their own desires and insatiable curiosity, will accumulate teachers and will stop listening to the truth and will be diverted to the myths” (1 Tim 3:3, 4). The Church is custodian of sound doctrines. Remain faithful to your Church and pray for it.

STICK TO THE TRUTH AND TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE.

Prayer: - Lord, thank you for the sound doctrine that our Church safe guards. Help me not to be driven away by false doctrines and preachers. Let your Holy Spirit always guide me in truth. Give me the discerning power to distinguish between chaff and wheat. Sanctify me with your Word. Amen.   

BIBLE TEXT:  CORINTHIANS 3:17

“If anyone destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him”

The personality of a person consists of Body, Mind, and Soul. Among the three, it is the body that which is visible. It is in the epistles of St. Paul that we find so much stress on body as very important as soul and mind. We witness two extreme approaches in the way body is dealt with. There is one set of people who love their body so much that they are ready to fulfill every desire of body and another set comprises of those who are least bothered about their body. In midst these extremisms, St. Paul reminds that our body is a temple of God. Our approach to body should be like that of our approach to the temple of God. Today, we have taken for granted that we can do anything with our body. Body has acquired a very important place in this age of globalization and consumerism. Body itself has now become a globalized product. Most of the products are body oriented. Body is the major means in advertising world. Whether it is the Ad of shoes, soft drinks or be it any product, exposure of body (men and women) has become mandatory. The clothing sense has changed. Clothing is more of exposing and revealing than hiding. Smoking, drinking, drugs are consumed to fulfill the craving of body. The argument put forth is a misinterpretation of the words of Jesus, “Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man” (Mat 15:11). Unlike drinking, Smoking was not perhaps known in Biblical times and that’s why it finds no reference in the Bible. But the statutory warning in every cigarette packet is good enough. Youth starts it for a thrill or under peer pressure and later becomes addicts. Such habits have become status symbols. You are odd one out if you refuse to accept a drink or a puff of smoke in so-called elite society. What is the ultimate result? A man becoming a lump of diseases. St. Paul asks the church of Corinth, “Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ?” (1 Cor 6:15). He teaches that we must surrender our bodies also to Him (Rom 12:1). We have no right to destroy our body or use our body as we like, for the reason that “you were bought at a price”. He, therefore, asks to “glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Cor 6:20). St. John wishes, “you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers” (3 Jn 2). Our wrong habit enslaves us and no more are we enjoying the freedom in Christ. We should not allow our body to master us rather we should have control over our body. St. John Chrysostom writes, “We have many improper wishes, but we must repress them, for we can”. Will we allow anyone to defile our Church (building)? Definitely not, then how can we dare to defile our body, which is the living temple of God? Come to Jesus for deliverance. Get addicted to Jesus.

DEALING WITH SIN MEANS CONTROLLING OUR BODIES.

Prayer: - Lord, thank you for redeeming my body also from the clutches of sin through your crucifixion. Help me to leave aside all bad habits that destroy my body which is your temple. Let your spirit always dwell in me. Help me to magnify your name in my body and in spirit. Bless me with good health. Amen.

BIBLE TEXT: JOB 2:10

“Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?”

During hard times we often say, why this pain and agony to me? I have not hurt any body even in my thoughts. Why God is so cruel to me? All these questions props up in mind while going through tough times. Tough times may be financial crisis, health crisis, life full of tension, and crisis in work field etc. We all like to have an easy go life. We always expect God to favor us with riches and blessings no matter how we lead life in the world. Indeed good things are a blessing from God and we should be ever thankful to God for it. But it is not befitting for us to question or curse God during hard times. God is sovereign and it is when we accept His sovereignty and believe that nothing goes beyond His control and happens without His permission, we can sing praise to God. King Solomon says, “Enjoy prosperity while you can. But when hard times strike, realize that both come from God. That way you will realize that nothing is certain in this life” (Eccl 7:14). Job was a righteous man and enjoyed all sorts of blessings from God. God permitted Satan to test Job by giving all possible pain (mentally and physically). Everything was taken from him. He was afflicted with bodily pains. His wife asked him to curse God and to die. But Job was never disappointed by this. He could boldly say, “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21). Today, we are so feeble in our faith that a little pain or trouble is enough for us to denounce the faith of our church and to run after places and people. Do the God who gives has, no right to take it back? God says, “I am the Lord, and there is no other. I am the one who creates the light and makes the darkness. I am the one who sends good times and bad times. I, the Lord, am the one who does these things” (Isa 45:7). We should accept God’s will immaterial of whether it is a blessing or affliction, in our lives. We should abide by the love of God. As St. Paul says, “What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril or the sword?” (Rom 8:35). God has no pleasure in our suffering, but he uses this rod to correct us from our wrong ways. Psalmist says, “The suffering you sent was good for me, for it taught me to pay attention to your principles…” (Ps 119:71). Suffering should not be always viewed as a negative phenomenon. Our Church teaches to pray for help from God to use the time of suffering and pain as time of prayer and introspection. We should always remember that it is through the suffering and crucifixion of Christ that we are saved. St. Paul writes to Hebrews these timeless words: “Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterwards it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it” (Heb 12:11).

ADVERSITIES: ACCEPT IT AND FIGHT IT WITH GOOD FAITH. 

Prayer: - Lord, give me the courage of Job so to with stand all adversities in my life. Nothing could take me away from your love. Give me the strength to accept everything even if suffering, in my life. Help me not to reject and curse you at times of trials and tribulations. Let me persevere in suffering. Amen.

 BIBLE TEXT: ISAIAH 43:1

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine”

In spite of Israel’s unfaithfulness, God promises to redeem and restore the nation from Babylonian exile. Prophet Isaiah makes known the love of God to the people of Israel in 43:1-7. Exile was a punishment from God for the iniquities of Israelites, but then also God loved them. Adam and Eve were exiled from the Garden, but His love for them forced Him to send his only begotten Son to this world to restore them back in the original state. God’s love is incomprehensible by human mind and it is incomparable. The measure of God’s love for us is that, “The very hairs of your head are all numbered” (Mat 10:16). In spite of numerous mistakes we commit, God loves us. Even if he strikes us, His love stands by us. God’s rejection of Israel was because of their untamed ways in spite of His immense love for them. They tested God and His love repeatedly, but failed to summon to the will of God. Don’t test God and His love, instead summon yourself to God. He assures us not to be afraid for He is with us and that He has redeemed us. We are God’s redeemed people and therefore we should live a life of redeemed people. Another measure with which God loves us is that He calls us by names. Our names are very dear to us and we like to be called by it and with correct pronunciation. We dislike people who cannot call our name properly. Recognizing name is a sign of our unlimited love to a person. We come across so many people but we remember very few by name. God calls us by name. God called Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Samuel, Isaiah and all others by name only. This shows the magnitude of His love for each one of us. Jesus says that a good shepherd “calls his own sheep by name and leads them out” and further says, “I am the good shepherd; and I know my sheep, and am known by my own” (Jn 10:3,14). He knows us personally and deals with us personally. This is the true depth of love. God expects this love from us towards Him and towards fellow beings. Finally, He says that “you are mine”. All the above mentioned gestures point out to one thing that He wants us to be His own. Jesus said, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you” (Jn 15:16). He chose us to be His own. Bible is witness of the fact that through out human history God initiated in various ways to remind His people of his abundant love for them. Jesus says, “How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing” (Mat 23:37).

ARE YOU WILLING TO COME UNDER THE WINGS?

Prayer: - Lord, I thank you for your great love for me in calling me by my name. Help me to love you and my neighbors with the same measure. Help me to recognize your voice and respond to you. Help me not to go astray from your flock and to find refuge under your wings. Amen. 

BIBLE TEXT: ST. MATHEW 19:6

“What God has joined together, let no man separate”

Marriage is a sacrament, a mystery that involves an initiation in to a new life by two persons. Initiation implies participation by one in the life of the other. True participation involves the love that Christ has for His bride, the Church. Marriage relationship at its best is mutual self-giving love. Family is God’s eternal idea. It’s God’s basic unit of creation. Jesus very well clarifies the concept of marriage in this section as an answer to the question raised by the Pharisees, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?” (vs.3). In Christian understanding marriage is not a contract between two persons rather, it is a sacrament. A sacrament instituted by God himself in the Garden of Eden. God blessed the first family commanding Adam and Eve to be fruitful and multiply. The yearning of a husband and wife for one another was planted in human nature by God before the fall. The harmony of Adam and Eve with God and with each other was a great virtue. Adam considered Eve a part of himself (Gen 2:23). Marriage was indissoluble in God’s plan. Divorce or separation was not at all there in this eternal plan. But it was the hard heartedness of the men that Moses made law for divorce to save the victims (women). The devil is all out to destroy families. More and more families are breaking up. Marriage has become more or less a contract between persons. The concept today is, as long as we satisfy, make happy each other let us be together. Marriage has fallen short of God’s plan. Today man and women agree to stay together with out the bond of marriage so that they can quit the moment they feel its enough. The concept of family is changing everyday. In God’s plan, a family consists of husband, wife and children. Whereas today single parenthood is alarmingly increasing. Faithfulness to one partner is becoming an obsolete concept. Marriage is becoming boredom. People change partners as one changes clothes. We live in multi-marriage era. The saddest part is that all these are happening in so-called Christian world. It is among Christians that divorce rate and single parenthood is increasing. The society sees us as an open-minded society. We often forget that married life is a special vocation requiring charisma from the Holy Spirit and this gift of grace is conferred in the sacrament of matrimony. Instead of looking for reasons to leave each other, couples should concentrate on how to live together. Husband and wife should consistently grow in mutual love and respect by spending quality time with each other. Pray, meditate the Bible and enjoy things together. True love means faithfulness, forgiveness and forbearance. Family prayer should not be sacrificed for anything. Throw away the television or any pastime which steals away the family prayer time. The family altar would alter many a family.
MARRIAGE IS NOT ONLY A STATE OF NATURE, BUT A STATE OF GRACE.

Prayer: - Lord, thank you for the life partner and the family you have blessed me with. Help me to be faithful in my marriage relationship. Let your Holy Spirit always strengthen our bond as a family. Keep my family safe from devil’s weapons. Amen.

 BIBLE TEXT:1 TIMOTHY 6: 10

“Love of money is the root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows”

Often it is said that the money is the root of all evil. But in reality, it is the love of money that is root of all evil. Money itself is not evil. Bible does not speak against money but it refutes the attitude towards money. Here St. Paul is also speaking against the “love of money”. A young man was boasting before Jesus that he had kept all the commandments of God from his youth, and he asked what he still lacked.  Jesus answered him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, and follow me” (Mat 19:20, 21). But the young man went back saddened. Jesus was trying to correct his attitude towards money. The awefulness of the love of money is rarely preached these days. Jesus referred to this subject so often in His discourses. “You cannot serve God and mammon” (Mat 6:24). Jesus calls mammon a master, not because it is by nature evil, but because of the absolute and wretched servility it exacts. The problem happens when money controls people. People who love money are controlled by a ruthless, insatiable master, for the love of money can never be satisfied. Loving money is at the root of all kinds of evil: marriage problems, illegal acts, blowups in partnerships, envy, immorality, lying, ruthlessness, stealing, and a willingness to even hurt others if it makes money.  It was stunning to read in news paper that a man murdered his friend for mere fifty Paise. It would be a mistake to conclude that St. Paul is teaching that we should not be concerned about money. St. Paul urges in his epistles to donate generously for the functioning of the Church, for the work of Gospel and for the aid of the poor and needy. The worst scenario, of course, is that money replaces God in a person’s life. These greedy people found themselves pierced with many sorrows. It was the love of money that led Judas Iscariot away from God. He deceived Jesus for mere thirty pieces of silver coins. He might have expected happiness out of it but it brought grief and committed suicide. As christian one should have a right approach towards money. Don’t run after money at the cost of your soul. Many of us don’t even find time to sit for few minutes in the presence of God in a day because of our run in accumulating money. Is this run for money right? “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mat 16:26). It is the love of money that makes us very selfish and self-centered.  Money can build a house but not a home. Money can buy things but not happiness.

LOVE OF MONEY CHOKES THE PLANT OF OUR LIFE AND MAKES IT UNFRUITFUL.   

Prayer: - Lord, help me to have a right approach towards money. Help me to earn it in a proper way. Let me not go away from you by being greedy. Let me utilize my money in a Christian manner. Help me to value my soul more than my body and hence enrich my soul with the oil of devotion, worship and prayer. Amen.

BIBLE TEXT: ROMANS 2:29

“For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh” 

St. Paul criticizes the superficiality in the religion and faith matters. True religion and faith is more of inner aspect than outer expression. Outer expression and rituals have meaning when it evolves from the depth of heart. The failure of Jewish people was in the fact that they gave more importance to the rituals and the Law without understanding the spiritual implications. They were proud in their bodily circumcision and forgot the more important spiritual circumcision that God demands. God through out reminded them that He is not pleased in their outward and superficial religion and He expects a real commitment from them. God warned the Israelites as they were about to leave Jordan and were to enter the Promised Land. God spoke through Moses, “Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and be no longer stiff-necked” (Deut 10:16). God demands circumcision of hearts. He is going beyond bodily circumcision and says, “And now, Israel what does the Lord, your God, ask of you but to fear the Lord, your God, and follow his ways exactly, to love and serve the Lord, with all of your heart and all your soul” (Deut 10:1). Bodily circumcision was no parameter of ones love to God likewise, for Christians baptism is no parameter of ones love to God. Baptism joins us to the Lord but the true grafting takes place when we are baptized internally. Many of us live a life of baptized non-christians. Even though baptized, we are not able to put off the old self.  Outward Baptism will earn us no favor in the judgment day. Moses proclaimed, “For the Lord your God, is the God of gods, the Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who has no favorites, accepts no bribes” (Deut 10:17). God spoke again through his prophet Jeremiah, “For the sake of the Lord, be circumcised, remove the foreskins of your hearts, lest my anger break out like fire and burn till none can quench it, because of your evil deeds” (Jer 4:4). Israelites even though were God’s own people led a life miserable than gentiles. Bible defines a gentile as the one who is uncircumcised both in heart and in flesh (Ezek 44:7). As we live in this world let us live wisely in God’s way with a baptized and circumcised heart. When we submit ourselves to God, He will change us. God says, “I will give them a new heart and put a new spirit within them; I will remove the stony hearts from their bodies, and replace it with a natural heart, so that they live according to my statutes and carry out my ordinances” (Ezek 11:19, 20).

ALLOW GOD TO WRITE HIS STATUTES IN YOUR HEARTS.

Prayer: - Lord, you are Lord my God. You desire a circumcised heart. Help me circumcise my heart so that your ordinances remain in me and I live according to it. I submit myself to your feet. Fulfill your promise in me by removing stony heart and replacing it by a natural heart. Help me to be a true Christian. Amen

              BIBLE TEXT: NUMBERS 22:7-18 (READ)

“Though Balak were to give me a palace full of silver and gold, I would not go beyond the word of the Lord my God” Vs.18

Response of Balaam when he was enticed by the princes sent by Balak so to come to him and curse the Israelites who were settling in the plains of Moab. Balaam could have accepted the offer of the king Balak and lived a very comfortable life there after. But he valued the word of God more precious than the silver and gold. For him obedience to God was more important than any valuable things of this world. He rejected the offer because did not want this to be done. This one virtue of Christian life is loosing its ground in this materialistic world. We are ready to grab any opportunity for financial gain even at the cost of our soul. This is one of the gross errors at the root of the modern health and wealth gospel. Often obedience is understood in terms of receiving God’s blessings only. Truly, God blesses those who obey him, but the very motive of obedience should be to please God. I may or may not be blessed; but God must be pleased. We should obey God not for any other reason but that He is Lord our God. According to St. John Climacus, obedience does not earn us anything. Rather, the act of obedience changes us and makes us ready to receive the love which God has already given to mankind in Christ. The Bible projects Abraham as the epitome of obedience. He was abundantly enjoying the earthly blessings in Ur. But to him obeying God was more important than holding on to the comforts of a settled life. Isaac was a blessing Abraham had longed for. But again obeying God was far more important to him than holding the cherished blessing tight against his bosom. It is God who blesses us with everything and it is so disappointing that we forget God who blessed us. Our material blessings become a hurdle in obedience to God. Is not the blesser more important than the blessings? We console ourselves by offering a portion of our material benefit to God or in any charity purpose. We should be very careful in what we are offering it to God. Today, the terminologies are fast changing. The so-called ‘bribe’ is now polished as ‘commission’ or ‘incentives’. Tithing and offering from dishonest gains is abominable to God (Rom 13:1-7). The devil is after us with his attractive offers. They are ours if only we can make some compromises. A promotion will be easy if done manipulation as per the wish of boss. Anything could be gained if compromised with the principles. Today, Balaam would have been termed “a fool” to reject a marvelous offer of life long comfort. Let what he said to Balak be a guideline in all our effort in this world.

WHOM DO YOU CHOOSE: BLEESER OR BLESSING?

Prayer: - Lord, help me to obey and love you with all of my heart, soul and mind. Thank you for all the material blessings. Help me to obey you always no matter how much I gain materially. Let me not compromise with Christian principles for material gains and help me to offer unto thee the fruits of my sweat and labor. Amen.

                      BIBLE TEXT: ROMANS 8:28

“We know all things work together for good to those who love God, who are called according to His purpose”

St. Paul makes clear that as Christians we all are called with a purpose. There is none who is being called, with out a purpose. The most important area of Christian life is to identify God’s purpose through us. One should be clear about the calling of God. Today, the term “calling” is much associated with a call to the ministry (to be a priest, evangelist) of God. But the Bible clearly associates it as well with the call to the people of God in general. The ultimate purpose for us to be called is to be conformed to the image of His Son (vs.29). The people of the Bible make it clear that there is a purpose with each one of us. Not every one were called to the active ministry in the tabernacle or in the Holy of the Holies, but still God used so many people in his own way and time for certain purposes. All are called, but not all respond. The call of God is optional. For God is free and man is free. For every one of us comes a point in life when we stand over the crossroad with no idea where to go and what to do, because we are not clear about the purpose of life. It is here that we should spend time with God so to know the purpose. When we deviate from God’s purpose knowingly things go drastically out of control. That is what we can witness in the life of Jonah. He was clear of the purpose and yet deviated from it and things gone out of control. For those who deviate unknowingly, God gives signs and opportunities to come back to the purpose. But God never compels. St. John of Damascus says, “God does not will evil to be done, nor does He force virtue.” How are we called? “…called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began” (2 Tim 1:9). The sign that one has accepted the call of God and that he has accepted the purpose of God is his love for God. To love God is to abide by Him and to abide by His words. For those who love God all things work together for good. What happens may not itself be “good”, but God will cause everything to work together for the ultimate good of his children, to meet his ultimate purpose for their maturity. God works all things for good, not all things work out. Setbacks and difficulties there will be, but God turns them into “light afflictions”. St. Paul in midst of suffering says, “Therefore, I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2Cor 12:10). He knew these would work for good in his life. Sometimes one may witness this “good” immediately, but there will also be events whose results for good will be in eternity.

HAVE YOU IDENTIFIED GOD’S PURPOSE IN YOUR LIFE?

Prayer: - Lord, thank you for calling me with a holy call. Help me to abide by you and love you. Reveal your purpose for me so that I may work on it. Forgive me if I have deviated from my purpose. Help me to conform to the image of Your Son. Amen.

BIBLE TEXT: GENESIS 24:1-26 (READ)

“……..That you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites,…….” Vs.3

One of the most important selections in ones life is of the life-partner. A very old saying that marriages are made in heaven and materialized on earth has lost its relevance and instead now the apt saying would be marriages are made on earth and is sent to heaven for approval. The concerns of Abraham for his son Isaac may be an out dated and out of trend and very closed mind approach, but a genuine and practical approach. Marriage is not a contract between two individual rather a sacramental bond between the two. People with different mental caliber can coexist, people with different physical caliber can coexist, people with different color can coexist, people with different monetary status can coexist but two different spiritual ideologies find it hard to coexist. The reason is, spirituality or religious ideologies plays a very vital role in ones life and is very difficult to leave and accept other just for the sake of marriage. Marriage is the feeling of oneness in everything and feeling of oneness in spiritual life is very important for a healthy marital life. Today many such inter religious or cast marriages ends up soon in divorce because of attitudinal difference of looking into certain things, which has a religious inclination. Even inter denominational (Christians) marriages have its own strain. The one coming from other denomination finds it hard to accept our tradition and vice versa. For Isaac’s marriage the servant is 1) Praying 2) seeking God’s will 3) looking a bride from own community. God reveals when one seeks until that time pray and be patient. A Christian family is where Christ is the Head of the family and Christ is the focal point. 

Prayer: - Lord, I seek a life partner for my life. Like Abraham I leave this most important decision to you. Help me to find one according to you will. Help me to be patient until you reveal your will for me. Bless me with a family like that of Abraham and that of Isaac. Amen.

BIBLE TEXT:ISAIAH 38:5

“I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears”

The words of comfort and consolation from God that reached Hezekiah while he was sick and was praying for healing. Hezekiah was at the verge of death and hence he cried out to the lord for deliverance. The Lord heard his prayers. His life was extended for another fifteen years. The mourning was changed to delight. Sincere prayers are always answered. Often sincerity in prayer comes when we are in distress, agony and pain. Otherwise, we see prayer time as the most casual one. Prayer is communion with God and this could be achieved only through regular prayer life. Moreover, prayer is not that we just put in words but our life should become a prayer in itself. Hezekiah’s prayers were not answered just because he turned to God the moment he realized that he was about to die. His own testimony reveals that his life was a prayer in itself. What is life becoming a prayer? Hezekiah cried to the Lord, “Remember now, O Lord, I pray, how I have walked before you in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what is good in your sight” (vs.3). The true prayer is leading a life according to the will of God. It is to walk in truth, have a loyal heart and doing what is good in God’s sight. The history mentions, “He trusted in the Lord God of Israel, so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor who were before him. For he held fast to the lord; he did not depart from following Him, but kept His commandments” (2kings 18:5,6). God regards our prayers and tears for He is a merciful God. David says, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart- these, O God, you will not despise” (Ps 51:17). David was forgiven for his grievous sin of committing adultery when he came in the presence of God with a broken spirit and with a contrite heart. God heard the prayers of Ninivehites when they approached God with a broken heart. Their sins were forgiven and they were saved from the impending destruction. That is why orthodox churches practice worshipping in standing posture and prostrate  as a gesture of broken heart and spirit that God regards. We cannot be perfect but still we should strive to be perfect. It is in our initiative that God pleases. It is wrong to think that I will pray, fast or go to church when I will be perfect. That day will never come. It is deception from satan. We do all these to attain perfection. Everyday prayer should lead us closer to God. Jesus said whatever you ask in my name to the father, it will be given to you. This does not mean that we are to ask ‘anything’ and that ‘anything’ will be given. Bible at the same time reminds us to ask according to God’s plan for us. He will answer according to His plan and in His own time. We should be prepared to accept His will and at the same time be patient for His time. 

IS YOUR LIFE A PRAYER?

Prayer: - Lord, I thank you for you answers prayer and regards our tears. Teach me to pray according to your plan for me. Let my life be a prayer in your sight. Help me to walk before you unblemish as Hezekiah walked. Help me accept your will in my life. Amen.

BIBLE TEXT: 2 CORINTHIANS 9:7

“So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver”

“Tithing” is one aspect that we often dislike to think about and hear about in sermons. But the Word of God speaks very boldly about tithe in the Old Testament and with a different tone in the New Testament. Is tithing compulsory, is a question that we need to address. The people (those who keep tithe aside) of our times as well as of the olden days testifies the blessing received in turn of tithe. Only a thankless heart can think of tithe as a burden. Of all that God has bestowed upon us, the tithe, i.e. the one tenth, is the minimum we can give Him to thank and honor him. Abraham offered tithe to God (Gen 14:20) and worth noting is that at that time there was no law for tithing. He offered tithe voluntarily as an act of thanksgiving. In Gen 28:22, we read about Jacob who vowed at Bethel, “And of all that you give me I will surely give a tenth to You.” Initially it was an voluntary act but later this become law for all Israelites. God asked Moses to convey this law which says, “And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s. It is holy to the Lord” (Lev 27:30). The practice of tithing reminds us of the fact that we are not the owner of what we get but that we are the stewards of what we get.  We as christians should learn to keep aside the tithe when we get our salary. This is mandatory for all priests and faithful alike. When we come towards the New Testament, we don’t find a direct reference of giving tithe but in a more reformed way. Jesus condemns the tithe of scribes and the Pharisees because it was not accompanied by love (Math 23:23). Jesus emphasizes a tithe not out of compulsion but out of love. New Testament uses other terms such as: cheerful giving (2 Cor 9:7), liberal giving (2 Cor 8:2), sacrificial giving (2 Cor 8:3).  The purpose of tithing well put in the book of Deuteronomy “..that you may learn to fear Lord our God always” (Deut 14:23).  The prophet Malachi issues the boldest of the statement for those who didn’t paid tithes. He addresses them as robbers. Along with it, he puts the promise of God for those who pay tithe, “bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this. If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it” (Mal 3:9, 10).  We are to give God the first and best of what we earn. Giving the first part of our pay to God immediately focuses our attention on him. it also reminds that all we have belongs to him. A habit of regular tithing can keep God at the top of our priority. Lord appreciated the poor widow for her contribution though her gift was by far the smallest. The value of gift is not determined by its amount, but by the spirit in which it is given. Every tithe immaterial of high or low salary is acceptable to the Lord when is given out of gratitude and a spirit of generosity.  

TITHE BELONGS TO GOD. GIVE TO GOD WHAT BELONGS TO GOD. 

Prayer: - Lord, thanks for your abundance of blessings upon me. Forgive me for not being sincere in giving tithe. I decide today that I will pay my tithes regularly in your presence. Help me to stand firm in my decision. Bless me lord. Amen.

BIBLE TEXT:2 TIMOTHY 2:5

“And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he completes according to the rules”

St. Paul is teaching Timothy of the basics of Christian life. Christian life is not to be led as one likes. It has certain prescribed ways that one is suppose to abide by. St. Paul uses the athlete as an example. Every Christian is an athlete and Christian life is a race. An athlete cannot be an athlete in its true sense until and unless he is disciplined. A disciplined athlete can only achieve success. An athlete should know the rules of his event, train diligently with an understanding of those rules, and finally compete according to the rules. Every event is governed by rules and boundaries. Without abiding the rules, one cannot be victorious. The whole world was taken to nerve when Ben Johnson made history in 100 meters, but later the disgrace followed as he was stripped off the medal for not abiding by the rules. Rules play very important role in our life. St. Paul wanted Timothy to be aware of the Christian rules so to be a victorious Christian. It does not mean a legalistic way of life but certainly, we live under the rule of Christ. The rules of Christian life are mentioned in the Word of God and are pronounced by the Church. Discipline is expected not just in personal conduct but also in the matters of worship. “Let all things be done decently and in order” (1 Cor 14:40). Chapter 14:26-40 exclusively speaks of the true nature of worship and exhorts Christians to have an order of worship and not to do and say what one feels. This is an indirect reference to the liturgical form of worship. St. Paul thanks God for the Church of Colossians for their orderly worship. “For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ” (Col 2:5). Discipline in personal conduct is as important as the discipline in worship. Athlete’s performance largely depends on his personal way of life. If an athlete is careless about his diet, training, maintaining his body figure, mental strength and other physical aspects he can never compete. Likewise, a careless Christian cannot be victorious. God expects us to be alert and watchful of our spiritual life. As an athlete takes care of his physical attribute, a Christian should take absolute care of the soul. It is not important that one is leading a Christian life but how one is leading a Christian life is important. Let us abide by the rules set by our spiritual fathers and be victorious in Christian life.

ARE YOU ON THE PROPER TRACK?

Prayer: - Lord, help me to run a good race and be victorious at the end. Thank you for revealing the rules of Christian life through your Word and through Church. Help me to abide by those. Strengthen me to be patient in my daily endeavor as I run this race. Amen.

BIBLE TEXT: ST. Luke 12:13-21 (READ)

“Take heed and beware of covetousness” Vs.15 

Jesus used man’s request as an opportunity to teach one of the very important kingdom value. He is teaching his listeners the pitfalls of being greedy. ‘Greed’ is the excessive and consuming desire to have more possessions and wealth. Covetousness or greed has now become a hallmark of the society. Everyone is running after money and it seems that the sole aim of ours has become making money. Money mindedness is taking us away from God. One of the Ten Commandments says, “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house” (Exod 20:17). Covetousness of any sort is refuted in the word of God. One should learn to be contended with what one has. This does not mean that being progressive is a sin. Jesus says, “For one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses” (vs.15). Abundance (only) is not the sign of good life. God’s blessing is often misunderstood in terms of prosperity and abundance only. St. Paul alerts Timothy “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (1 Tim 6:9-10). As Christians, one should always take heed not to fall in the snare of the evil. Solomon says, “He who hates covetousness will prolong his days” (Prov 28:16). We should depend on God for all needs and we should be assured that God is there to help us in all our needs. It is when we forget God is our provider and sustainer that we tend to be greedier and inclined towards making more money by hook or crook. We are so busy that we hardly find time even to pray everyday. Is this what is Christian life is all about? Jesus sites example of a rich man who was so immersed in making money that he forgot God. There is no mention that he made money through wrong ways, his harvest was a bumper one. But his thought was, “take your ease; eat, drink and be merry” (vs.19). This is where we go wrong. St. Paul says, “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Heb 13:5). Our possessions can enrich our body but not our soul. Let us enrich our soul being in constant communion with God. Covetousness is a trap of the evil one, once trapped is difficult to come out of it.

Let us say together with David:

“THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD, I SHALL NOT WANT”

Prayer: - Lord, often I am tempted to make possessions at the cost of my soul. Forgive me for this attitude. Help me to rely on you for my needs. Thank you for your assurance for being with me at every moment of my life. Help me to shun covetousness and say boldly, the lord is my helper; I will not fear. Amen.

BIBLE TEXT: 2 CORINTHIANS 6:17-18 (READ)

“Come out from among them” Vs.17 

St. Paul continues to exhort Christians for a refined life to be lead in the sight of the Lord. Yesterday we have seen the how God calls us to be his own people and His desire to be our God. Now again St. Paul  sights verses from the Book of Prophet Isaiah and Samuel  that appeals for a much closer relationship between God and His people. From God and people relation to Father and children. God’s call is very clear that says, “Come out from among them and be separate” (vs.17 cf. Is 52:11). This was the call of God to the Israelites when they were in Babylonian exile. They should leave every pagan objects related to pagan gods and come out. St. Paul associates this call to the church of Corinth to dissociate from all pagan traditions surrounding them. To ‘come out’ is not a call to be exclusive of the world but to be exclusive of the worldly ways. Even though christian dwells in this world, he should not associate himself with the world. To ‘come out’ is a call for rejection of the worldly attitudes in us. ‘Be separate’ is to be different from others. God has placed each one of us according to a plan. Wherever He has placed us, we should be different from others.  Our presence should make a difference in every way. Today the mark of a christian in films and media are liquor, fashionable dresses, a big Cross and other negative attitudes. We are recognized by these factors. Christians are considered open minded because they don’t mind drinking together (as a family), are very open to accept any new trends that emerges, don’t mind illicit relations, and now even churches are conformed to the trends of the society. Is that what it means to “be separate”? God’s call was not merely to come out and be separate but even “not to touch what is unclean” (vs.17). When we do all these things, God will receive us (vs.17). Now no longer we will be just His people but He desires to be our father and wants to adopt us as His children. “I will be a father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters” (vs.18 cf. 2 Sam 7:14). God always initiates a closer relationship with us but we go astray from him. A major shift from God to Father and us from mere people to sons and daughters. St. John says, “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God” (1 Jn 3:1). Let us come out of our old ways and let us separate ourselves from uncleanness. Let us be children of God.

‘COME OUT’ FROM WORLD IS ‘COME IN’ TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD. 

Prayer: - Lord, help me respond boldly to your call for coming out of the world. Strengthen me to face all hostility of the world when I do so. Help me to lead a good christian life as is pleasing to you. Accept me as your son/ daughter. Let me make a difference with my christian identity. Amen.

BIBLE TEXT:1 CORINTHIANS 6:16 (READ)

“I will be their God” Vs.16 

St. Paul’s Epistles to the Corinthians stresses highly on the purity in Christian life. Purity not just in one particular aspect but in every aspect of life is appealed. St. Paul is sighting some of the Old Testament verses to bring out his point. He is comparing Christian life with other aspects of the world and concludes that Christian life is incomparable. Worldly aspects cannot go along with christian life. As building blocks of God’s temple, each individual had to maintain a holy life’ set apart to God. There was no room for any mixed loyalties. It is because a Christian is the temple of the living God. No compromise or agreement had been made between the true God and idols. St. Paul sights from the book of prophet Ezekiel, “I will dwell with them, and walk among them. I will be their God and they shall be my people” (Ezek 37:27). This was the promise of God to the people of Israel if they turn from their iniquities, ungodliness and idolatry of every sort. When God brought the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage, he made them his holy people. He had them construct a tabernacle, where his glorious presence would reside in its inner sanctuary. In this sense, God would live in them, even walk among them. He wasn’t going to be a far-off God, who watched the Israelites from a distance. St. Paul says that this promise is fulfilled in the church of Corinth. This same promise is reiterated to every Christian. Our body and home should become a tabernacle. It is the desire of the living God that He wants to (1) dwell with us—He want to dwell in us and with us, individually and with our family. He wants to become a member of our family provided we do the will of God. (2) walk with us—to walk with us to participate in our day today activities. He wants to be with us in our daily struggles of life and to help us lead a good life. Jesus said, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word; and my father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him” (Jn 14:23). Our homes should become residence of Holy Trinity. Very often, a quote is seen framed beautifully and hanged in the visitor’s room of house that reads, “Christ is the head of this house. He is a silent listener to every conversation.” How much we mean it is a big question. If truly Christ is the head of family there will be nothing unchristian in the family. If we claim Christ to be the head of our family and engage in unchristian act, we are defaming the name of our Lord. God says, “I will be their God and they shall be my people”. What a promise and what a privilege for each one of us. A promise of Him being our God and a privilege for us being his people.

DO YOU WANT TO CLAIM THIS? 

Prayer: - Lord, thank you for your great offer to me. Help me to be a tabernacle for you where dwells your glorious presence. Come into my life and in my family. Dwell with me and walk along with me in this evil world. I want to claim your promise. Amen.

BIBLE TEXT: ST.LUKE 6:43-49 (READ)

“But, why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” vs.46

The very essence of Christian life is in living the Word of God. Preaching and reading the Word of God is easy but living is a real challenge. The one who accepts this challenge is a real Christian. Today Christian spirituality is summed up in making lots of sound and calling on name of the Lord in vain without following the real thrust of Christian spirituality. One of the Ten Commandments warns us not to take the name of the Lord in vain. The power of the word of God is not in the intensity of the sound of the speaker but in the way of life one leads. “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” (Luke 8:8). Every one today is eager to hear but very less to listen. Spirituality is a tug of war between ‘hearing’ Vs ‘listening. Hearing leads to listening and listening leads to practicing. Today we read the Word of God for God to hear rather than for us to listen. Jesus includes everyone to a wider family of God; those who do the will of God i.e. listen to the Word of God (Mark 3:31-35). The true essence of witnessing is not in preaching but in living the Word of God. The world needs no more preaching Christians rather need practicing Christians. Which one are you? Ezekiel prophesizing against the tribe of Judah proclaimed their sin as, “which has the eyes to see but does not see and ears to hear but does not hear; for they are a rebellious house” (Ezek 12:2). Those who hear the word of God and do not listen are rebellious and God shuns them. “Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you..” (Mark 4:24). One should be alert when the word of God is read. The very reason for not able to live the Word is, “To whom shall I speak and give warning that they may hear? Indeed their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot give heed. Behold the Word of God is a reproach (scorn) to them; they have no delight in them” (Jer 6:10). What can one do? Listen to the word of God, words most sweet, which pass all the wisdom of philosophers and of this world. The words are spirit and life and are not to be estimated by human sense. They are not to be used to gratify a vain complacency, but they must be heard in silence and received with all humility and with great affection. Don’t be deaf and unruly to the Word of God. “Today if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion” (Heb 3:15). One has no right to call on the name of the Lord without listening him.

Are you there to listen? 

Prayer: - Lord, help me to be a practicing Christian. Let you Word always dwell in my heart and let me take refuge in it at hard times. Give me a sincere heart to listen and obey so that I may be one among the blessed who belongs to you. Give me the humility to listen and correct myself. Amen.

BIBLE TEXT: ST. JOHN 4:46-54 (READ)

      “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe.”Vs.48

Miracle based spirituality or spirituality based on signs and wonders. A contemporary spirituality of our time. Christian spirituality has now been confined only to signs and wonders in the name of worship. Jesus did perform miracles not to the believers but to the unbeliever. Miracles itself were the sign of manifestation of Kingdom of God on earth. Miracles are not kingdom spirituality. Faith is beyond sign, wonders and miracles. Faith based on temporary miracles is like a house built with shallow foundation and this faith will survive only when one keeps on seeing or witnessing such things. A true Christian faith does not need miracles. Blessed are those who believeth without seeing was the comment to Thomas when he doubted. This Pseudo-spirituality is getting its hold in the mind of Christian. BEWARE. Bible is witness that there is no need of miracles to believe. Abraham never asked any sign to believe what God said. God worked miracle because of his faith. Jacob, Isaac, prophets and others never asked for miracle repeatedly so to believe. Don’t followJesus for miracles. Jesus never encouraged miracle ministry on people demand. “For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom, but we preached the Christ crucified” (1 Cor 1:21-22). As for Paul, every Christian should seek Christ rather than sign or miracles. Christ rebuked the crowd who followed him after they were fed in the wilderness because he knew the intention of the crowd that they were not seeking him but that to see another miracle. Jesus denied the request of rulers to show a sign so that they can believe in him. Many followed Jesus to the Cross in an expectation of seeing a miracle. One of the thieves even requested Jesus to perform miracle and to save their lives. Don’t follow the perverted Christian spirituality catered by sectarian groups. They still test Jesus. It is devilish. Believe in the Lord who called you by name. Today even our prayers are also for miracles to take place. The greatest miracle, which one does not realize, is God’s gift of life for which one should be ever thankful.


Prayer: - Lord, forgive me for not believing and asking continually for miracles. Help me to trust you as our spiritual fathers did. Help me to develop true Christian spirituality in my life and that I may not fall into false worship and spirituality. Amen.

            BIBLE TEXT:ST. JOHN 6:51-59 (READ)

  “For my flesh is food indeed and My blood is drink indeed” Vs.55

The Eucharistic significance of this passage is indisputable. Jesus’ declaration that He himself is the living Bread which brings us life is intended to reveal the Eucharistic feast. His offering is not just for any clan or people but for the life of the world. It wonders how such an important aspect (teaching on Eucharist) didn’t find appropriate place in the synoptic Gospels. St. John clarifies Jesus’ teaching on Eucharist. Jesus says whoever eats of this Bread will live forever and the bread is nothing else but his own Flesh (vs.51). He further clarifies, “Unless you eat of the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you” (vs.52). Christ’s body was crucified and his blood shed on the cross. We receive the benefits of Christ’s sacrifice by coming to him in faith (vs.35), and by communion with Him: we eat his flesh and drink his blood. His words are very clear: to receive everlasting life, we must partake of His Eucharistic flesh and blood. St. John Chrysostom (Homily 47:2) teaches we must not understand the sacrament carnally, that is, according to the laws of physical nature, but spiritually, perceiving a true but mystical presence of Christ in the Eucharist. St. Hilary of Poitiers writes, “What we say concerning the reality of Christ’s nature within us would be foolish and impious were we not taught by His very words….. There is no room left for doubt about the reality of His flesh and blood, because we have witness of His words and our own faith. Thus, when we eat and drink these elements we are in Christ and Christ in us” (On the Trinity, Book viii, 14). This reality, however, is a profound mystery of faith and grace. Orthodox theology teaches that in the Eucharist we partake not simply of the physical/ material, but of the deified and glorified Body and Blood of Christ which give resurrection and eternal life. Jesus brings out many important aspects of Eucharist in this discourse:
1)he is the living bread that came down from heaven (vs.51)

2)the bread is his Flesh (vs.51)

3)he who eats his flesh will live forever (vs.51)

4)without His flesh and blood there is no life (vs.53)

5)those who partake of the body and blood have eternal life (vs.54)

6)such will have the experience of resurrection (vs.54)

7)only such abides in him and he in them (vs.56)
so much of facts can never be attributed to an act that is only like the Body and like the Blood (as the protestant theology) of Jesus. It can be only for the real presence of Christ on the Holy Altar. Don’t be misguided of the false teachings of the false preachers who negate the worth of Eucharist.

DO YOU HAVE TRUE LIFE IN YOU?
Prayer: - Lord, you are the true bread that come down from the Father. Thank you for the eternal food in the form of your body and blood. Satisfy my hunger and quench my thirst with your body and blood. Make me worthy for the eternal life and resurrection. Amen.

BIBLE TEXT: ST. JOHN 6:26-35 (READ)

 “Do not labor for the food that perishes” Vs.27

The chapter 6 of the Gospel according to St. John is known as the discourse on the heavenly bread. Jesus speaks about the bread of life and reveals that He is the living bread (vs.35). It talks exclusively about the Eucharist and its role in the Christian spirituality. Jesus is disappointed by the fact that people could think nothing more than earthly things and benefits. The people who followed Jesus could be categorized as (1) those who were interested only to witness miracles (2) those who want to be fed by him (3) who want to trap him in words (4) those who want to be healed and (5) those who longed to listen to the word of God. The people belonging to the last category was the least whereas majority belonged to the first three groups. Here also the multitude had continued to pursue Jesus in the hope that He might miraculously solve all of their earthly problems as he had miraculously provided them with food. He tries to turn their minds to spiritual concerns, telling them not to labor for perishable food but for the food of eternal life, which is available in the Son of Man. He does not chide them for seeking and working, but for pursuing temporary satisfaction rather than eternal fulfillment. We are no different from the crowd above as majority of us pursue for earthly benefits and concerns. Jesus never negates the importance of hard work and accomplishments in this world but discards accomplishments at the cost of ones soul. God made everything good for us to enjoy but not at the cost of forgetting God who made it. People again misunderstood Jesus and asked for signs so to believe in him. “What sign will you perform then, that we may see it and believe you? What work will you do?” (vs.30). Jesus could have done something very big to make this people believe but he did not do it. He did not want a faith (or spirituality) based on miracles but a faith and spirituality based on pure conviction about him. He stresses on the Eucharistic aspect of the spirituality. It is not in the miracles that He is to be recognized but it is in the Eucharist that He has to be recognized. Miracles were a normal phenomenon in Jewish history. Moses, Elijah, Elisha and lot other performed miracles like wise pharaoh’s men did. Today many people get healing in other religions. Then what is unique about Jesus? Jesus is unique not because of miracles but because He offered His Body and Blood as living Bread and water of life to us. Jesus offered it to the people (who followed him) raising them to a higher spirituality. Do not run after miracles, your life itself is a miracle. Enrich your life with life giving Bread and Water that the Son of Man offers. Jesus is the Bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world (vs.33). If you are hungry and thirsty, come to the Holy altar of God with thorough preparation and you will be satisfied.

WHOM DID YOU CHOOSE: JESUS OF MIRACLES OR JESUS IN EUCHARIST? 

Prayer: - Lord, you are the Bread of life. Give me eternal life as I partake in it. Let me not pursue material benefits at the cost of my soul. Help me to work for the food that gives eternal life. Amen.

BIBLE TEXT: ST. JOHN 15:18-22 (READ)

“But now they have no excuse for their sin” Vs.22

Jesus Christ continues His discourse to the disciples and now making them familiar with real life situations that they are going to face. He does not want his disciples to back track when tribulations will come upon them. He is making them aware of the true nature of the world. The world always stands in opposition to God. He is strengthening his disciples by telling them that they should not be surprised of the world’s hatred towards them as before them He himself has gone through all these. “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you” (vs.18). While union with Christ brings joy, love and peace, it also brings the world’s hatred and persecution. The disciples and the early century Christians accepted the hatred of the world for the sake of love, joy and peace that is offered in the union with Christ. There was no compromise. Today we find it so easy to compromise with Christian ethics and values and term it as “situational compromise” and justify it by saying, “there is no other option”. Compromise with world is seclusion from God. The world will not love a true Christian but will love a compromising Christians. True Christians will be hated for the mere reason that Jesus chose them out of the world. “If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (vs.19). As Christian one should be ready to bear the brunt of the world. The persecution time was the real test of faith in the early centuries. The history will repeat and we may come across persecution in our lifetime for being Christians. Where will you stand? Jesus says this with surety, “If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you” (vs.20). The world does it because the world is ignorant of who Jesus is? Because they are ignorant of Jesus, they are also ignorant of God the Father. Jesus promises, “And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved” (Math 10:22). This promise is only for those who stand uncompromising. Even as Christians, we may be of the world opposed to God. Ezekiel was asked to prophesy against the house of Israel the elect one as, “But the house of Israel will refuse to listen to you, since they will not listen to me. For the whole house of Israel is stubborn of brow and obstinate in heart” (Ezek 3:7). But for such there is no excuse for their sin because they know and deliberately they sin. We know the word of God, we learn the word of God, we listen to the word of God and if yet we sin, our sin remains. We are no better than the world. We bearing Christian name stand in opposition to God and therefore world loves us.
ARE YOU READY FOR THE FAITH TEST: PERSECUTION?

Prayer: - Lord, you are the perfect master for you took the brunt of the world before us showing that you are with us during pain, agony and persecution. Help me to endure till end to receive eternal life. Let me not compromise to Christian value and ethics. Let your word always remain in me. Amen.

                         BIBLE TEXT: ST. JAMES 2:14-26 (READ)

“Can faith save him?” vs.14 

The concept of salvation is the most misunderstood one today in Christendom because of improper understanding of the Holy Bible. ‘Justification by faith’ only is the popular slogan and much liked one neglecting the other side of the coin i.e. action. “Can faith save him?” pose a question to such a doctrine. Yesterday we talked of speech and action and today it is faith and action. Action is common in both that itself implies that without action everything is vain and futile. Faith and action should go side by side. The true standard of judgment is perfect faith manifested in perfect works. Belief is a universal phenomenon and even Satan believes (Vs.19). Then what makes Christian different? Ones action. The faith is not just the attitude of mind (believing) or an attitude of tongue (confessing), but the whole man trusting in the living God. This means our faith and our relationship with God – our justification – are dynamic and living. ‘Faith alone’ is static and not dynamic, and hence does not save. We must nurture our faith in God and love for him through our works. St. Maximus the confessor (A.D 580-662) beautifully explains this, “Do not say that you are the temple of the Lord, nor should you say that faith alone in our Lord Jesus Christ can save you, for this is impossible unless you acquire love for Him through your works” (The Philokalia, vol. II). The faith of Abraham is living and active. When he was 75 years old, received a call to forsake all and follow God (Gen 12:1-3), when he was almost 85, God promised that he would regain everything. God fulfilled Abraham’s faith by making a covenant with him. Abraham was 110 years old and he had been tested for years concerning God’s promise for a son. After this came the supreme test of sacrificing his son. This gives us the lesson that neither Abraham’s faith nor his justification is merely momentary, static, or once-and-for-all. It is dynamic, a growth process which finds its natural and normal realization in good works. Faith should help us to do good works because faith without works is dead (vs.20). So justification cannot be attained by faith only but also through good works. 

Prayer: - Lord, thank you for showing the supreme example of faith and work. Help me to substantiate my faith with good works. Forgive me for my wrong approach to salvation. Let me seek your will and be like our father Abraham who was justified by his immense faith and work. Amen.

                             BIBLE TEXT-St. JOHN 15:9-17 (READ)

            “You are my friends if you do whatever I command you” Vs.14

In the early part of the chapter, Jesus expects his followers to abide in him and now he shifts to a higher plane and expects his followers to abide in his love. He assures his disciples that the magnitude of the love with which he loves them is equivalent to the love of God the Father for him. The fact is, God does love us unconditionally, no matter what our response. But His unconditional love does us no good unless we keep his commandments and abide in His love. We show our love for God by obeying Him. His teachings are his actions. “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love” (vs.10). He does not expect us to do something that he has not done.  As Christians to abide in Him, Jesus puts forward two criteria’s, (1) abide in His words and (2) abide in his love. We all desire to abide in Him but we often fail to abide in his words and eventually in his love. Desire alone cannot lead us to eternal life, one has to strive for it. Jesus being the very Son of God strived hard in this world to abide in his Father. It is only if His commandments abide in us that we can abide in his love. As human beings, we may have failures but as we  learn from our failures in our day today life, so should we learn from our failures in spiritual life and grow in it. It is his words that sanctify us. “You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you” (Jn 15:3). The outflow of love has to transcend to others also. Just as God loves us unconditionally, so we are to love each other unconditionally in Christ’s name—whether there is a response or not. “For this is the message you have heard from the beginning: we should love one another” (1Jn 3:11). Every Law is fulfilled in just one thing that is love. There is no law beyond love. Love is the peak expression of spirituality. The greatest of love is that is manifested in Christ. “The way we came to know love was that he laid down his life for us; so we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers” (1Jn 3:16). The very definition of love is Jesus on the Cross. Abiding in his word, love and in him leads us to a special privilege of being his friends. In those days, the disciples of a Rabbi were considered as his servants and now Jesus changed that relation to a friend. Friendship is higher than servanthood. A servant obeys his master out of fear; a friend is a servant who obeys out of love. Abraham was called a “friend of God” (Jam 2:23) because he believed and obeyed God. The disciples and the saints are honored as friends of Christ and heirs of God. We are friends of Jesus because He has told us everything that he has heard from his Father. He kept nothing hidden from us about his Father or about the Kingdom of God. He is true and trustworthy friend to us.

ARE YOU A FRIEND OF JESUS?
Prayer: - Lord, thank you for blessing me with the privilege of being your friend. Help me to abide in your words, love and finally in you. Your love for me is great and Lord now I pray that help me love my neighbors with the same love with which you loved me. Amen.

BIBLE TEXT: ST. JOHN 15:1-5 (READ)

 “Abide in Me, and I in you” Vs.3

One of the main emphasis of St. John in his gospel is the deep relationship that God the Father and Jesus share with each other. This sharing is not just restricted between the two rather it outflows to the people who believe in Jesus Christ. The grapevine is a prolific plant. In the Old Testament, the prophets had written of Israel as God’s vine, carefully planted and cared for. “I had planted you, a choice vine of fully tested stock; how could you turn out obnoxious to me, a spurious vine?” (Jer 2:21). See also Isaiah 5:1-7; Ezekiel 17:5-10; Hosea 10:1. But, the vine was a disappointment because it yielded only rotten fruit. In contrast to disobedient and unfruitful Israel, Jesus calls himself the true vine which, together with its branches, constitutes a new and fruitful people of God, the Church. It is no more Israel rather He himself is the chosen vine of God and His Father is the Gardener, the cultivator of the vine and the branches. Jesus very specifically distinguishes the two type of branches in the vine: branch in me that does not bear fruit and the branch that bear fruit (vs.2). The two type of branches are the two type of believers: false and sincere. The must condition for every branch to survive is to be associated with the main trunk of the vine. “As the branches cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me” (vs.4). There are branches that even though associated with the main trunk becomes unproductive. The Father cuts off every such branch. These branches are symbolic to those who turn back from following Christ after making a superficial commitment. Unproductive followers are as good as dead and will be cut off and tossed aside. The productive branches are those who live in constant communion with Christ. Jesus makes distinction between two kinds of pruning: 1) cutting off and (2) cutting back branches. Fruitful branches are cut back to promote growth. Pruning is one of the important aspects of Christian life. Pruning is disciplining Christian life. Pruning is taking away the contamination of sin. We should allow God to prune us to enhance fruitfulness. God must sometimes discipline us to strengthen our faith and character.  Abiding in Christ is living out our union with him in faith, baptism, love, obedience, and Eucharist. The figure of the vine and branches shows: (1) our union with Christ is intimate and real—we are new people in Christ, (2) life flows from the vine to the branches—abiding in Christ is not static but dynamic and vitalizing, (3) the fruit we bear is both good works and mission. Being Christian (for namesake) will not lead us to eternal life. We ought to be fruit bearing by abiding in Christ.

DO YOU ABIDE IN CHRIST AND CHRIST IN YOU? 

Prayer: - Lord, help me to abide in you. Pardon me for being unproductive in the past. Now Father I surrender myself to you. Prune me so to enhance fruit bearing. Help me to lead a disciplined Christian life. Amen.

BIBLE TEXT: 1 PETER 1:3-5 (READ)

St. Peter in his first epistle reminds the Christians that they are in the flock of living God not because of their merit but because of God’s grace. He praises God the Father, who had chosen and cleansed the believers (vs.2). All honor goes to God. He reminds the believers that they are born to a heavenly hope. God’s mercy is the central theme as regard to salvation. Only God’s mercy would allow him to have compassion for sinful and rebellious people. Salvation is given to us because of God’s boundless mercy alone. That salvation is called the privilege of being born again. We are begotten again to a living hope in baptism. As Jesus told Nicodemus, we enter the Kingdom of God by being “born of water and the Spirit” (Jn 3:5). This new birth in baptism unites us with Christ and His resurrection. St. Paul says, “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we were buried with him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Rom 6:3-4). In the new birth, we become dead to sin and alive to God with a fresh beginning. We are born again not for this world but for a wonderful expectation of life to come. This expectation is attained through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The hope is of an inheritance reserved for us in heaven (vs.4). ‘Inheritance’ in one of the major themes in the Old Testament. Jews looked forward for the inheritance in the promised land of Canaan (Num 32:19; Deut 2:12). Jesus promises the believers a greater inheritance than that was promised to the Israelites. It is eternal life with God. St. Peter describes this inheritance in three words: firstly, this inheritance is incorruptible (apthartos)—it will not decay with time nor will it loose its glory. Secondly, this inheritance is undefiled (amiantos)—it will never be impure by sin or will not be polluted. Finally, this inheritance will not fade away (amarantos)—it is beyond the reach of change and decay and will never pass away. These are in contrast with the earthly inheritance which is corruptible, defiled and could fade away. The eternal inheritance is reserved for each of the true believer in heaven. The incorruptible inheritance is reserved for those who have true faith, the faith that by God’s grace perseveres to the end. Jesus said, “And I will give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand” (Jn 3:28).

STRIVE FOR THE ETERNAL INHERITANCE—LIFE EVER WITH GOD.

Prayer: - Lord, your promises are truth. Help me to strive for the eternal inheritance that you have prepared for me. Help me walk in the newness of life. Strengthen me to uphold the values that is befitting to a born again Christian. Amen.

BIBLE TEXT: ST. JOHN 14:15-17 (READ) 

“He will give you another helper” Vs.16 

Today is the feast of Pentecost. The word is derived from the Greek word that means ‘fiftieth’. It is the fiftieth day after the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In Old Testament, this festival was in relation with the Harvest, which comes fifty days after the Passover. This day could be understood as the formation day of the Church. Jesus strengthens His disciples that He will not leave them as orphans but will pray to the Father to send the Holy Spirit, the third in the Holy Trinity to abide with them. He promises the disciples “another Helper” (vs.16) that means He was the first Helper and now as He is returning to the Father will send another one. The promise was not just assigning a helper but that He will “abide with you for ever” (vs.16). St. Paul says, “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (1Cor 3:16). Holy Spirit dwells in us and convinces us of the sin, righteousness and judgment. It is under the leading of the Holy Spirit that we are conferred the sonship of God. “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God” (Rom 8:14). It is not that it just confers sonship but gives us the assurance of being God’s children. “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our Spirit that we are children of God” (Rom 8:16). Jesus calls the Spirit as the “Spirit of Truth” (vs.17). Jesus invites us to know the spirit of truth who is in us and helps us pray. The Spirit of Truth will not be received by everyone as “the world neither sees Him nor knows Him” (vs.17). Baptism confers us divine sonship when Holy Spirit takes charge of us dispelling the worldly spirit from us. It is only when we maintain the sanctity and holiness of the temple (body) that Holy Spirit could dwell in us. One should not allow the worldly spirit (which was dispelled in baptism) to overtake the Holy Spirit. If today one (Christian) is led by the spirit of the world, he cannot see him and know him (spirit). One should always be ready to listen to the Holy Spirit as it has been sent by the Father to teach all things. “But the helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you” (Jn 14:26). That is why the Creed says, “We believe in the one living Holy Spirit, the life giving Lord of all, who proceeds from the Father; and who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified: who spoke by the Prophets and the Apostles.” The Holy Spirit guides us in everything good but we sin when we ignore His voice and do what is pleasing to us. That is why Jesus reminds that sin against the Spirit will not be forgiven. St Paul quotes, “Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the days of rebellion” (Heb 3:15). 

IS HOLY SPIRIT WITNESSING THAT YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD? 

Prayer: - Lord, thank you for the Holy Spirit whom you sent to abide with us forever. I seek pardon for not listening to His voice at times. O Spirit come into my life and sanctify me once again and consecrate me as your temple. Dwell in me and remind me of the words of Jesus so to abide in it. Amen.

BIBLE TEXT: GALATIANS 3:26-29 (READ)

“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus” Vs.26

St. Paul after dealing in length about justification by faith moves on to the application part of it in Christian life. They did not need to be children under the Law; instead, they were all children of God. They received this status through faith in Jesus Christ. The Israelites were the only chosen people of God but God paved a way out for everyone to be called as children of God. It is ones faith in Jesus Christ that confers him with the privilege of being called as the Child of God. “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name” (Jn 1:12). God adopted us as His children. St. Paul is referring to the Church as a whole and is referring them as “sons of God”. He directly relates saving faith and being baptized, connecting them as the most intimate of friends. Verse 27 is the ancient hymn perhaps already being sung at Christian baptisms during the procession of the newly regenerated into the assembly-- and sung at every Orthodox baptismal service. Baptism is shedding off the old self and putting on Christ. Putting of the old self is to put off the worldly and carnal nature. “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts” (Rom 13:14). By faith, we are children of God and the baptism is the confirmation or seal of being the child of God. It confirms the connection between Christ and us. We are united with Christ in baptism. Being united with Christ leads to our ongoing experience of being made like Christ. By being baptized and becoming Christians, the Galatian believers were becoming spiritually grown up and ready to take on the privileges and responsibilities of the more mature. Mature spirituality is that what is expected of us who are baptized in Christ, but today we are still in the elementary debate of what (faith) is right and wrong. We still like to be fed with the milk and are not yet ready to digest solid foods. The person who is being made like him is a “new” person, with a new lifestyle and new aspirations. St. Paul’s vision of the church is presented in vs.28. Church is beyond every superficial barrier. Everyone is equal in Christ when joined in Christ. While it is true that in the body of Christ, Jews, gentiles, slaves, free people, men, and women do still have individual identities, Paul exalts their unity—you are one in Christ. All labels become secondary among those who share Jesus. Unity in Christ transcends racial distinctions (neither Jew nor Greek), pride and social status (neither slave nor free), gender (neither male nor female). All are one in nature and so all are equal in dignity. St. Paul corrects the concept of being Abraham’s seed. Jews believed that they were automatically God’s children because they were descendents of Abraham. Becoming children of God, and one in Christ means that those who belong to Christ… are the true children of Abraham. Abraham’s children are those who responded to God in faith as Abraham had done. Because we have responded, we are heirs.

HAVE YOU PUT ON CHRIST ?

Prayer: - Lord, thank you for giving me the privilege to be called as child of God. I praise you for breaking all the superficial barriers that prevented many to be of your flock. As I have put on you help me to grow mature in spirituality. Help me to accept all in your name. Amen. 

BIBLE TEXT: ST. JOHN 17:24-26 (READ)

“O righteous Father! The world has not known you” Vs.25

The final part of the High Priestly prayer of Jesus Christ concerns the whole of the world. Thus becoming mediator for everyone in this world. The tone of the prayer reflects the sincerity and the pain with which Jesus said this prayer. Prayer should always come from the depth of heart. Prayer should be sincere and not hypocritical. After praying for Himself, the Apostles and the future church, Jesus is now surrendering the whole world at the feet of His Father. He is deeply grieved by the fact that not everyone could grasp the things revealed by Him about the Father. ‘The world’ (vs.25) is used for those who neither know Him (Jn 1:10) nor His Father (vs.25). He desires that all should be with him so that all those who believed may behold His magnificent glory (vs.24). “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (Jn 14:3). He clarifies about His pre-existent state, “You loved me before the foundation of the world” (vs.24). The world could not grasp Him and His Father because the world loved the earthly things. They liked darkness more than the light. Often we as Christians claim to be of the light but our actions are of that of darkness. We know and yet live as we don’t know. We are not of the world yet we live as if we belong to the world. Jesus thanks His Father for he and the disciples (Apostles and the church) knew Him. Jesus addressed His Father as righteous father because God’s righteous judgment reveals that the world’s knowledge of God is incorrect and that the disciples’ knowledge is correct. Jesus knew he was the living connection between the lost world and his loving, righteous Father. The world failed to recognize that Jesus was God’s communication to them. The disciples could recognize this, for they had come to believe that Jesus was the one sent from God. Jesus, who knew the Father personally and intimately, had revealed the Father to His disciples and would continue to do so. Thus, Jesus could say, “I have revealed you to them and will keep on revealing you” (vs.26). To love God is to have knowledge of God. We cannot have love for God the Father, or receive His love, apart from the knowledge of (communion with) the Father. The purpose of the knowledge of God is to impart the Love of God. It is in knowing Him that we all become one with him.

KNOWING GOD IS LOVING GOD.

BIBLE TEXT: ST.JOHN 17:20-23 (READ)

 “That they all may be one” Vs.21

The third part of High priestly prayer of Jesus Christ concerns the future Church which participates in the life and Glory of the Father and the Son by the power of the Holy Spirit. He prays for the Church which is His own body. He makes clear who constitutes the Church. They are the ones “who will believe in Me through their word” (vs.20). Jesus Christ stresses on the teachings of the Apostles (their word) or in other words the Apostolic Tradition. It is through them (apostles, spiritual fathers and doctors) that we have received the Christian faith. That is why The Creed for definitely stresses that Church should be ‘Apostolic’. St. Paul urges the Colossian church to be “rooted and built up in Him and established in faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving” (Col 2:7).  This once again clarifies Jesus’ mission in this world. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (Jn 3:16). The vision of Jesus about the future church is that “they all may be one” (vs.21). St. Paul says, “For you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal 3:28). The model of unity that the church is to follow is the unity in the Holy Trinity. The church reaches its perfection when it becomes one with Father and the Son. Christians enjoy two kinds of unity: vertical, with the trinity, and horizontal, with one another, the latter rooted in the former. Both are complementary to each other and it is through this unity that the world will believe in Jesus and that he was sent by God. Today we fail to convince the world about Jesus Christ because of our disunity in faith and all related matter in micro and macro level. One important aspect of incarnation is that Jesus shared with us the God’s glory (vs.22). St. Paul states, “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2Cor 3:18). Jesus Christ discloses the love of his Father for the church “You have loved them as You have loved me” (vs.23). The sole aim of Jesus’ prayer is that the believers should be made perfect in one (vs.23). It is in the oneness that we attain perfection in the Lord. St. Paul says, “Fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind” (Phil 2:2).

UNITED WE STAND, UNITED WE GROW IN CHRIST.

Prayer: - Lord, thank you for loving your church so dearly. Let all churches be one in true faith of the Apostolic tradition. Help me to be united with all so that I may be one with you. Help me to grow in your glory and be perfected in your second coming. Amen.

BIBLE TEXT: ST. JOHN 17:6-19 (READ)

“Sanctify them by Your truth, Your word is truth” Vs.17

The second part of high priestly prayer of Jesus Christ concerns prayer for his beloved Apostles. This prayer shows his concern for the ones who follow him with all of heart, mind and soul. Never publicly did Jesus reveal that he loved the Apostles so dearly. He prays for them because they accepted the Word of the Father from the Son and passed it on to others. He thanks his Father for giving those (apostles) to him as associates. The greatness of apostles lies in the fact that they believed “I came forth from you; and they believed that You sent me” (vs.8). They not only believed but also left everything and followed Him unconditionally. He was concerned because he was leaving the world to be with his Father and they will be left alone in this world full of wolves. Once again, Jesus reveals his oneness with his Father by saying, “that they may be one as We are” (vs.11). His testimony about Apostles is that “I am glorified in them” (vs.10). This is what is expected of each one of us that His name be glorified and magnified through our life. Glorifying God’s name is not just an aspect of worship (in words) but our life as a whole should become a channel for it. He cares for each one of us as He cared for the Apostles. He is still the strongest intercessor on our behalf to the Father. The world hates them because they accepted the Word of God. Jesus warned the Apostles beforehand, “If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (Jn 15:19). Inasmuch as Jesus comes from the realm of divine existence, He confers a heavenly identity and life on those who are joined to Him. In fellowship with Him, the disciples attract the world’s hatred. The second- century ‘letter to Diognetus’ states: “Christians dwell in the world but do not belong to the world”. Reborn in Christ, Christians have their citizenship in heaven. Yet their vocation is in this world, where they are protected by God against the evil one. Jesus prays, “I do not pray that you should take them out of the world, but that you should keep them from the evil one” (vs.15). As Christians we ought to safeguard our holiness and purity at any cost. Jesus confers that He has sent the apostles in the same manner as the Father sent him. Finally, He prays that Father should consecrate them and bring into the sphere of the sacred for God’s use. “Sanctify them by Your truth, Your word is truth” (vs.17). St. John Chrysostom interprets this verse: “Make them holy through the gift of the Spirit and by correct doctrine.”

ARE YOU SANCTIFIED BY HIS WORD?

Prayer: - Lord, you alone are Holy and therefore I pray that you purify me and make me holy. Help me accept you and your word as the Apostles did. Let your name be glorified in me and through me. Intercede for me until I be one with you. Amen.

                  BIBLE TEXT: ROMANS 2:1-24 (READ)

“You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself?” vs.21

A wrong that needs to be corrected so to be a good Christian. This tendency of teaching others is largely found in Christian circle because of our basic understanding that only we do the right and all others are wrong. St. Paul is addressing this to one such group. Certainly, we are to teach but one is to be sure that what we teach is applied in ones own life. This question is a big challenge to each one of us. Indirectly it points to our unworthiness in teaching others. For example, A father who is a drunkard, smoker advising his son or daughter to refrain from such habits. Is there any relevance to such teaching? To teach is a big responsibility and to be a teacher is bigger. St. Paul is speaking of the coordination between our speech and action. We are eager to teach about Christ to others but what he really means in our own life is sometimes a big question mark. “Let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment” (James3: 1). Jesus says, “physician, heal thyself” (Luke 4:23). Teaching has two main aspects 1) correcting, 2) imparting knowledge. To those who correct others, think am I worthy of this? To those who impart knowledge, think am I capable of this? One should be able to justify ones own deeds. Jesus calls the Pharisees hypocrites for this dichotomy in their speech and action. This is equally applicable in all relationships. Let us first learn and then teach. The biggest obstacle in learning is our pride. REMOVE IT.

Prayer: - lord, you are the perfect teacher. You teach me and let me be teachable. Help me not to stumble in my words. Help me to practice what I say. Let me be a witness for you in all places. Amen.

                BIBLE TEXT: ST. JOHN 17:1-26 (READ)

                “I have glorified you on the earth” Vs.3

The days between the feast of Ascension of Jesus Christ and the feast of Pentecost are the vigil days for the Advent of the Holy Spirit. Chapter 17 of the St. John’s Gospel is known as the High Priestly prayer of Jesus Christ. The chapter could be divided into four parts: 1) Christ’s prayer for himself (vs.1-5); 2) Christ’s prayer for the Apostles (vs.6-19); 3) Christ’s prayer for the Church (vs. 20-23); 4) Christ’s prayer for all (vs24-26). Today let us reflect only on Christ’s prayer for Himself (next three will be dealt in the coming days). We find our Lord’s words bearing witness to His divinity and His filial relationship with the Father. For prayer He lifted up His eyes to heaven. Lifting up eyes to heaven indicates the innocence and courage to look unto Father. One can lift up eyes only if one is free of guilt and sin. The sole aim of Jesus’ life and ministry was glorification of Father. Now through His death He wants to glorify his father. “Glorify Your Son” is Jesus’ exaltation upon the cross – the completion of the work of salvation for which he was sent by the Father. In this, both the Father and the Son are victoriously glorified. That is why the Cross, a sign of death, is glorified by the Orthodox Church as “life-giving”. Jesus emphasizes the fact that whatever He has done or said was completely in accordance with God’s will. All authority was given to Him by father only. Even though He has the same essence as that of his Father, never fulfilled his own will rather sought the will of Father. As it was Father’s will, He bestowed eternal life to all those who came to Him. God is glorified when salvation and eternal life come to His people. Jesus clarifies that eternal life is in knowing Father and him. “No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him” (Jn 1:18). The knowledge of God, which is eternal life, goes beyond rational and academic pursuit; it is participation in divine life and communion with God. As Christians one should always grow in communion with God and hence participate in divine life. “I have glorified You on the earth” (vs.4). Through our life we should glorify God in this earth. One should not miss any opportunity in doing so. God has entrusted us with certain duties and we should fulfill it. Jesus says, “I have finished the work which you have given Me to do”(vs.4). At last he requests His father to reinstate Him to the same Glory which He shared before creation.

DIVINE PARTICIPATION IS GLORIFYING GOD.

Prayer: - Lord, thank you for your sacrifice that paved way for my salvation. Let me also glorify Father as you glorified him. Let me grow in your knowledge so to have eternal life. Strengthen me to fulfill my duties entrusted by you.  Amen.

 BIBLE TEXT: GENESIS 17

“I am Almighty God; walk before me and be blameless and I will make a covenant between you and me”. Vs.1-2

Covenant was one of the most important bases of Old Testament spirituality. It played a very vital role in the Israelite history and this covenant was renewed over and over in the history. Covenant has also an individual aspect. Covenant strengthened the bond between Almighty and the individual/ community. Through baptism, we enter into a covenant relationship with God. “I reject Satan with all its forces and accept Jesus in my life” is the basis of the covenant. How far I have fulfilled the covenant? Three things to be remembered: - 1) I am Almighty God—your covenant is not with any Dick and Harry but with God who is your creator, provider and sustainer. Have you ever recognized this fact? 2) Walk before me “I will walk before the lord” (Ps 116:9). To walk before is to live before. One should always remember that our life is an open book before God. When you walk before, God is having an eye on your ways. God even promises to show us the way, “This is the way, walk in it” (Isaiah 30:21). Have you ever heard this voice? 3) Be blameless God recognizes the blameless. “Is it any pleasure to the Almighty that you are righteous? Or is it gain to Him that you make your ways blameless?” (Job 22:3). To be blameless is a gain for us and not for him. “The blameless will inherit the good” (Pro 28:10).

Are you blameless in the sight of God?

Prayer: Lord, thanks for the very personal relationship with me. Help me to walk before you without blemish. Create in me a clean heart to see you. Amen

BIBLE TEXT: PHILIPIANS 2:12-16 (READ)

      “Do all things without complaining and disputing” Vs. 14

The Philippians Church was dear to Paul’s heart. He didn’t want his absence from them to be a detriment to their spiritual growth. Here he requested that they always be careful to follow his instructions, even while he was away. They must put into action God’s saving work by obeying God with deep reverence and fear. Paul encourages the believers to continue to work on the salvation that they had attained. Believers are saved once for all when they accept Jesus as Lord, it is in the grind of everyday life that salvation is put into action. He urges the believers to work out on “their salvation with fear and trembling” (vs.12). Believers are not alone in their attempt to safe guard their salvation but God is also working in them. God will give the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him to bring true unity to the church. He emphasizes this very thought again to Hebrews, may God “make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ” (Heb 13:21). The Church as a whole should work together for attaining by staying away from complaining and arguing. “Do all things without complaining and arguing” (vs.14). Complaining and arguing are completely opposite to Christ’s attitude. Whereas St. Paul exhorts the believers to have the attitude of Christ. “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” (Phil 2:5). Complaints and gossips defame the name of God. Instead, believers’ lives ought to be clean, meaning beyond reproach, incurring no justifiable criticism. There ought to be nothing in the church that would weaken its strength or contaminate the truth. Christians should keep their identity as children of God in a world full of darkness and corruption (vs.15). St. Paul urges the believers to shine as lights in the world (vs.15). Jesus said, “You are the light of the world” and further He says, “ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Math 5:14,16). This light is not our own but of Jesus who himself is the light of the world. As Christians and being appointed as light in this perverted world, should see that the lamps are always lightened by the Holy Spirit. We are supposed to bring the light of truth into the darkness of depravity. In doing so, a believer should hold tightly to the word of life (vs.16).

IS YOUR LIGHT SHINING IN THIS DARK WORLD?

Prayer: - Lord, thank you for working in me constantly and giving me the desire to fulfill your will. Help me to refrain from unchristian attitude of complaining and arguing. Let me be a shining star in this perverted world. Amen.

BIBLE TEXT:GALATIANS 6:1-10 (READ)

“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all” Vs. 10

St. Paul’s Epistle to Galatians is an exhortation to every Christian to live according to the Holy Spirit. “To do good to all” is the final expression of living in the Spirit. One is essentially justified by faith in Jesus Christ resulting in doing good. True faith leads to good works and if faith is hindrance in doing good then that is pseudo faith. St. Paul warns Christian not to be deceived “for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap” (vs.7). Ones actions have equal importance in the sight of God. Our actions should essentially be determined by our life in the Spirit. There is always a tug-of-war between Flesh and Spirit. Action in flesh or action in Spirit is a choice left with the individual. Whichever one chooses will have to bear similar consequence. “For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life” (vs.8). Our actions are what we sow today. What we sow today will determine the harvest: Corruption or Everlasting Life. “For each one shall bear his own load” (vs.5). St. Paul in his Epistle to Romans clarifies that God “will render to each one according to his deeds” (Rom 2:6). How can we do good to all? He reminds us of the Christian duty in vss. 1- 4. Firstly, if a Christian is overcome by some sin, a Christian should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. Mature believers should help get the person on the right track, encourage repentance and accountability, and warmly accept the repentant person back into the Church. In doing so, those who restore a fallen one could face two temptations: (1) They might be tempted to have spiritual pride, or (2) they might fall into the same temptation faced by the one they are trying to correct (vs.1). Secondly, bear one another’s burdens (vs.2). Christian life is not individualistic one rather is a corporate one. Every Christian has responsibility towards each other. We ought to share each other burdens. “Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others” (Phil 2:4). Thirdly, think lowly of oneself (vs.3). Christian should have very simple attitude. “In lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself” (Phil 2:2). Thinking oneself better and great is deceiving ourselves. Fourthly, let each one examine his own work (vs.4). One should always show eagerness and readiness to analyze ones own work rather than others. Lastly, one should not get weary while doing good (vs.9). Doing  good should always be the hallmark of every Christian and one should do it with all happiness. St. Paul says that not even one opportunity for doing good should be lost.

MISSING OPPORTUNITY TO DO GOOD IS MISSING EVERLASTING LIFE.

Prayer: - Lord, make me a channel of yours to do good. Let my faith lead me to do good to others. Help me to fulfill all Christian responsibilities. Let me not miss any opportunity of doing good so to attain everlasting life. Amen.

              BIBLE TEXT:ST.LUKE 9:57- 62 (READ)

“Lord, I will follow you wherever you go” Vs.57

The “cost of discipleship” is something that is often ignored in Christian life. Jesus did not grab onto disciples, eagerly taking anyone who wanted to follow. Jesus throughout His public ministry reminded those who truly wanted to be his disciples to understand that it would cost them something. He is talking of the undivided commitment towards the Kingdom of God. Jesus talks of three such costs. Someone approached and wanted to follow Jesus (vs.57). St. Mathew wrote that this man was a teacher of religious law (Mat 8:19). Jesus says that while most of God’s creatures have warm places in which to live and to sleep, the Son of Man had no home of His own, no place to lay his head (vs.58). To be Jesus’ disciple, a person must willingly put aside worldly security. Provision for personal security does not mix with true discipleship. The disciple will be no more secure than the teacher. If the teacher has nowhere to lay his head, neither will the disciple. This time, however, Jesus asked another man to be his disciple. But the man explained that he first needed to return home and bury his father (vs.59). Jesus’ response, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the Kingdom of God” (vs.60). In other words, let those who are spiritually dying (those who have not responded to the call to commitment) stay home and handle responsibilities such as burying the dead. Discipleship demands singular commitment to the Kingdom of God. Even family loyalty was not to take priority over the demands of obedience to the command to go and preach the coming of the Kingdom of God. Jesus’ direct challenge forces believers to evaluate their priorities. A third person approached and expressed his desire to follow Jesus. However, this man also had something he wanted to do first. Jesus ascertained in this potential follower a sense of reluctance and an unfortunate willingness to put something else ahead of following Jesus. This was not the type of follower Jesus needed. The picture of a person putting a hand to the plow and looking back can be compared with Elijah’s call of Elisha in 1 kings 19: 19-21. Elisha was called to be a prophet right in the middle of plowing a field- and he never looked back. He slaughtered the oxen so that there would be no temptation to return. Elisha moved into the ministry wholeheartedly. Discipleship does not look back to reconsider, or operate by delayed response. What does Jesus want from his followers? Total dedication. They should count the cost and be willing to abandon everything else that has given them security.

HAVE YOU COUNTED THE COST OF FOLLOWING JESUS?

Prayer: - Lord, help me to closely follow you as a disciple. Let my priority be always you and the Kingdom of God. Help me not to look back in this Christian life and pursue you with greater vigor and zeal. Amen.

            BIBLE TEXT : ST.LUKE 9:51-56 (READ)

    “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of” Vs.55

Jesus and his disciples heading towards Jerusalem mark a turning point in His public ministry. Before that, He sent his messengers to prepare people for his coming (vs.52). He was intending to go to Jerusalem through Samaria. As in his days He expects us to be His messengers to prepare people for His Second coming. As Christians, we all are appointed as messengers to preach about His coming preparing people to meet him. St. Paul reminds Colossian church of the Christian duty saying, “Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus” (Col 1:28). Messengers went with the message but were not received by the people of the city. Jesus was revealing the plan of universal salvation, contrary to the idea of Jewish salvation, which the disciples had in their mind. Christian responsibility is to spread the Gospel, one should not be bothered of whether people receive it or not. The reaction on part of the disciples was stunning. “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?” (vs.54). This statement might have disappointed Jesus. Jesus was preparing disciples as the pillars of the Church that will consists of Jews and Gentiles, but their mentality towards gentiles was very discouraging. He asks, “What manner of spirit you are of?”(vs.55). Jesus trained them to be different from the rest but they still carried the old ways of thinking. In other words He was intending that you are not of the Christian spirit but of the worldly spirit. Every Christian is a Christian first, be it under any circumstances. To us today Jesus asks the same question, what manner of spirit you are of? After reading so much of scriptures, after listening to so much of sermons, after attending so much of qurbanas and all other sacraments, why is that many of us still ruled by the worldly spirit. Why is that one is unable to attain Christian perfection? Jesus was sad the way disciples responded. He clarifies, “For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them” (vs.56). His ministry is to save people and not to destroy them. This is the concept of Kingdom of God and Church as the extension of Kingdom of God is to do the same.

BE LEAD BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.

Prayer: - Lord, thank you for choosing me as your messenger. Give me the strength to propagate your Gospel not with the worldly spirit but being filled with the Holy Spirit. Let love rule me while I spread your gospel. Help me to continue your mission in this world. Amen