Saint Pope John Paul II

A once avid outdoors-man whose final years were marked by disability and suffering, Saint John Paul II witnessed to what it truly means to die with dignity, says a close friend who was with him until the end.

“He gave us tranquility and peace even up to the last day," Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, who was present at the Polish pope’s death, told CNA in an interview.

He Still Weeps

Last Sunday, during the Holy Mass this distressing image came to my mind: Jesus, scourged and beaten up, completely bathed in blood, carrying the cross moves slowly forward. There’s a deep sorrow in His face. And these words flashed in my mind “Every time we sin, we give those scourges to Jesus. Every time we sin, we are one of those Pharisees who mocked at Jesus.” I had heard these words before – the words that had pierced the very bottom of my heart. I had heard it at a retreat I had attended about a month back.

Do You Love Me?

Received this beautiful message this morning…

One day, I woke early in the morning to watch the sunrise. Ah! ... the beauty of God's creation is beyond description. As I watched, I praised God for His beautiful work. As I sat there, I felt the Lord's presence with me. He asked me, "Do you love me?" I answered, "Of course, God! You are my Lord and Saviour!"

Then He asked, "If you were physically handicapped, would you still love me?"

I was perplexed. I looked down upon my arms, legs and the rest of my body and wondered how many things I wouldn't be able to do and thought about the things that I take for granted. I answered, "It would be tough Lord, but I would still love You."

My Mercy Yearns To Be Spent

A Father’s Love

The Prodigal Son is a parable that has been reflected and spoken about so many times in so many different ways and in so many different contexts. I myself have considered various aspects from the parable in my previous blogs, and will speak about it still more. And yet, the parable’s beauty, eloquence and wholeness is never lost or diminished in spite of so many repetitions.

Today I would like to ponder upon it from the father’s point of view.

I Was Sunk Deep Down In A Valley

I was sunk deep down in a valley,

But now I walk right up the alley.

I faced struggles I could not cope,

But the Lord has given me new hope.

He lifted me up and sat me on a rock,

A rock firm and strong, that none can knock.

He is my pillar and my strong fort,

In His arms, do I find comfort.

The Saviour who rose from the dead,

Will guide me through my way ahead.

In Him I find a life ever new,

His love is a joy that I never knew.

Praised be the Lord Jesus Christ, forever and ever. Amen

#hopeinGod #God’sloveneverends

A Small Story from the Life of St. Pope John Paul II

Today is April 2nd - the Eve of Divine Mercy Sunday. 11 years ago, a Pope, who was instrumental in spreading the message of Divine Mercy, the Pope who declared the second Sunday of Easter (i.e. the first Sunday after Easter Sunday) as the Divine Mercy Sunday while canonizing St. Maria Faustina, died on April 2^nd, exactly on the Eve of Divine Mercy Sunday.

"The Message of Divine Mercy has always been near and dear to me… which I took with me to the See of Peter and which in a sense forms the image of this Pontificate." Pope John Paul II wrote in his encyclical on Divine Mercy.

The Treasure That Mary Is

Being raised in a Catholic-Protestant crossover household – my mother being a Catholic and my dad protesting everything that is Catholic – I had my reservations regarding complete devotion to Mary. I was baptized in the Catholic Church and raised in the Catholic traditions, following the sacraments and teachings of the Church. But my dad has developed a kind of rebellion towards the Church over a period of time and would challenge some of its traditions, one of which was the place of honor and privilege given to the Blessed Virgin.

As a result, (and I feel ashamed of myself as I say this) I too had developed a sense of unwillingness in fully dedicating myself to the Holy Mother and in believing with complete conviction in her role in God’s plan of redemption. I would ask her intercession and pray the rosary and all, but my heart was not in it. I would always be careful that my prayers do not amount to a prayer to Mary herself, thereby equaling her with God in any way. I would constantly remind myselves that the veneration to Mary is of the status of an interceder and not that of God. All these thoughts blocked or hindered the flow of grace into my life. 

The First of January

On the first of January, the Church celebrates the feast of the Mother of God – the Octave of Christmas.

Most Church-goers believe that they go to the Church on this day to usher in the New Year at Church. It is in fact called “New Year’s Mass”. It is of course the first of January and the New Year’s Day, but the day is of much more significance than just being the first day of a new year.

The Eyes That Wept For Lazarus

Jesus came in to this world to open the doors of mercy for us and Jesus Himself is the Door of Mercy.

God created us in His mercy and love. He formed us in love and out of love, because God is love and in love he abides (1Jn 4:16). Bible throughout is a story of God’s love for mankind, the betrayal of man and God’s mercy in pardoning the myriad offences of His children. It begins with love and it ends with mercy.

Joy to the World!

Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him “Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.” (Mt 1:23)

Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. (Mk 1:3)

To you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. (Lk 2:11)

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. (Jn 1:14)

Yes, the Saviour is born to be with us unto the end of the age. Let us receive Him into our lives and pay homage to Him. Let the Word become flesh and dwell in our hearts. Let us be filled with joy on seeing the Lord.

Merry Christmas to all. God bless. God is with us.  

Our Lady of Guadalupe

Today is the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The above image was given by our Mother to a humble peasant on December 12, 1531 as a token of her appearance and the urge to build a Shrine in her name for the sake of conversion of sinners. The image was formed on a piece of garment worn by the peasant with colors so beautiful that were not to be found anywhere on earth. The bishop was astounded at the sight of the image and passed orders to build a Shrine in honor of the Blessed Virgin. Many people believed and turned from their evil ways.

Feast of Immaculate Conception

Today is Feast of the Immaculate Conception, the holy, solemn day to commemorate the immaculate conception of the Blessed Mother.

While most people know the phrase “Immaculate Conception,” there is at least one common misconception about the doctrine. The Immaculate Conception does not refer to the conception of Jesus in the womb of Mary (for which we have the Feast of the Annunciation of the Lord on March 25^th), but rather the conception of Mary to her mother, Saint Anne.

The Prayer of the Pharisee

Jesus was a bold, bold man. He is the kind of person who would take up some really annoying examples which directly apply to you and throw it right into your face. One such episode is the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector, said in the presence of precisely those people whom it referred to in the parable (Lk 18:9-14).

The Pharisee was condescending, sanctimonious and judgmental while the tax collector was simple, humble and accepting of his own mistakes. He was realistic and exactly knew what he was. He had the insight to see himself exactly as he was. The Pharisee, on the other hand, no matter what he thought of himself to be, was highly deluded. The man lived with a false sense of self-worth, with a sense of righteousness which actually never existed. And isn’t that just a little sad?

A Voice Cries Out!

A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide by what his ears hear; but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist, and faithfulness the belt around his loins. (Is 11:1-5)

A voice cries out: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain.  Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” (Is 40:3-5)

Happy Advent Everyone!

The Two Blind Men

Going through the Gospel of Mark, I noticed the healings of two blind men – one at Bethsaida (Mk 8:22-26) and another at Jericho (10:46-42). Reading keenly, I realized there is a difference, a sharp contrast in the way both these healings take place.

At the Bethsaida healing, Jesus took the blind man by hand, led him out of the village, put saliva on his eyes and laid hands on him. The man could now see, but not clearly. So Jesus laid hands on him again and looked at him intently. The man’s sight was restored and he could see everything clearly.

The Jericho healing, on the other hand, was quick and easy. Jesus heals the man with just a few words – “Go, your faith has made you well.”

The Parable of the Sower

While going through the parable of the sower (Mk 4:1-20), I always assumed myself to be in the category of the seeds that fall on the good soil. The only question was whether I produced a yield of 30, 60 or 100. I always knew it for sure that it was anything but 100, and therefore prayed for the grace to bear a bountiful fruit of 100.

Going through the passage once again this morning, I was somehow stuck by the realization that how terribly wrong I had been all these years, how sadly mistaken. May the good Lord forgive me my ignorant self-righteousness.

The Path of Grace

The Blessed Virgin Mary is the greatest example of a life of grace. Her grace was so whole and complete that it sets her apart to be chosen as the holy mother of God. The angel of the Lord addresses her as “full of grace”. Nowhere in the Bible do we come across anyone being addressed as being full of grace. We have prophets, great kings, wise men, holy men and women, martyrs, et al; but none of them was ever given such an honor and recognition from an angel from Heaven.

Mary’s reaction to this address is noteworthy. She is “greatly troubled” and does not understand what it meant. Anybody having received such dignified remarks from an angel of God would be elated and inflated with pride. But Mary, on the contrary, is perplexed.