AD SENSE

What if..? Meditation

What If

What If
We are giving below a set of questions on which we request you to think over (original author unknown).
What if, GOD couldn’t take the time to bless us today because we couldn’t take the time to thank Him yesterday?
What if, GOD decided to stop leading us tomorrow because we didn’t follow Him today?
What if, we never saw another flower bloom because we grumbled when GOD sent the rain?
What if, GOD didn’t walk with us today because we failed to recognize it as His day?
What If
What if, GOD took away the Bible tomorrow because we would not read it today?
What if, GOD took away His message because we failed to listen to the messenger?
What if, GOD didn’t send His only begotten Son because He wanted us to be prepared to pay the price for sin?
What if, the door of the church was closed because we did not open the door of our heart?
What if, GOD stopped loving and caring for us because we failed to love and care for others?
What If
What if, GOD would not hear us today because we would not listen to Him yesterday?
What if, GOD answered our prayers the way we answer His call to service?
What if, GOD met our needs the way we give Him our lives???
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

Lent 1 - B: Temptation - Repent & Believe

Fr. Tony Kadavil:



Readings


First Reading: Genesis 9: 8-15
Second Reading: 1 Peter 3: 18-22
Gospel: Mark 1: 12-15

Anecdotes

1) “Baptize the entire Ford Motor Plant!” Henry Ford: You might have heard the story of the machinist who worked years ago at the original Ford Motor Company plant in Detroit, Michigan. Over a period of years he had “borrowed” from the factory various car parts and tools which he hadn’t bothered to return. While the management never condoned this practice, nothing was ever done about it. In time, however the “forgetful” machinist experienced a Christian conversion and was baptized. More importantly, the man took his baptism seriously and became a devout believer. The very morning after his baptism, the machinist arrived at work with his pickup truck loaded with all the parts and tools he had taken from the Ford Company over the years. He went to his foreman and explained that he never really meant to steal them and asked to be forgiven. The foreman was so astonished and impressed by this act that he cabled Henry Ford himself, contacting the auto magnate while he was away visiting a European Ford plant. In his telegram the foreman described the entire event in great detail. Ford immediately cabled back this striking two-line response: “Dam up the Detroit River. Baptize the entire Plant!” Our readings for this First Sunday in Lent focus on the effect our baptism should have on our lives, especially during the Lenten season.

Lenten Calendar Part I

Sent By Gordon

Lenten Calendar Part I
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
19TH FEBRUARY
BIBLE  SUNDAY


20th FEBRUARY
 

21STFEBRUARY
SHROVE TUESDAY
MAKE YOUR LENTEN PLAN TO LOVE GOD AND NEIGHBOUR
ENJOY PANCAKES





Mk 9:30-37
22ND FEBRUARY
ASH WEDNESDAY
Forego one meal and give the money saved to a poor person
Mt 6 : 1-6, 16-18
23RD FEBRUARY
THANKSGIVING
GIVE THANKS FOR YOUR LIFE
There are dimensions of life vital to fulfillment and happiness that are not satisfied by financial security or material wealth.
What are these in your life?


Lk 9 : 22-25
24TH FEBRUARY
FASTING
STATIONS OF THE CROSS
GIVE UP SOMETHING YOU ENJOY
Rules are means to an end and not the end itself.
Will you follow today only the RULE OF LOVE? How?



Mt 9 : 14-15
25TH FEBRUARY
VISIT AN OLD PERSON/FRIEND
Will you change the way you look at people you cannot get along with and look at them with the eyes of love?





Lk 5 : 27-32
26TH FEBRUARY
1ST SUN OF LENT
REPENTANCE MEANS A NEW MIND, A NEW HEART, AND A NEW VISION

Mk 1:12-15
27TH FEBRUARY
PRAYER DAY
SPEND 15 MINS IN PRAYER WITH YOUR FAMILY
Do you keep a record of the “rights” you do?
Will you like the righteous, let the reward of your action being in the doing of the action itself?

Mt  25 : 31-46
28TH FEBRUARY
FORGIVE A FRIEND
TRY TO FORGET THE HURT
While we must acknowledge our dependence on God for everything that we need and regard Him always as the primary cause, our attitude to others must be one of acceptance and forgiveness.

Mt 6 : 7-15
29TH FEBRUARY
TIME FOR YOUR NEIGHBOUR
REACH OUT, SPEND TIME, READ TO A NEIGHBOUR, PRAY
God can be found in all persons and all things?
Will you open your eyes, mind and heart, and find God today?

Lk  11 : 29-32
1ST  MARCH
THANKSGIVING
GIVE THANKS FOR YOUR  FAMILY
The disciple is the one who takes the initiative in doing always the most loving thing to others.
Do to others as you would have them do to you.


Mt 7 : 7-12
2ND  MARCH
FIRST FRIDAY
FASTING
STATIONS OF THE CROSS
BE STILL AND LISTEN TO GOD FOR 5 MINS
Reconciliation is even more important than offering worship and sacrifice.
FORGIVE; IT IS GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH.
Mt 5 : 20-26
3RD  MARCH
INVITE
A FRIEND TO SHARE A MEAL
Will you attempt to love UNCONDITIONALLY today?
Mt 5:43-48
4TH  MARCH
2ND SUN OF LENT
LOVE GOD
ATTEND MASS
SPEND TIME IN THE BLESSED SACRAMENT CHAPEL
Every time we are tempted to ask “Why” or “How could God…” we have only to look at his Son.




Mk 9:2-10
5TH  MARCH
PRAYER DAY
SAY THE ROSARY TOGETHER
If love is given only in return for love, it is not love at all. The only genuine love worthy of the name is unconditional.


Lk 6 : 36-38
6TH  MARCH
FORGIVENESS
FORGIVE A NEIGHBOUR
The way to ensure that there is a correlation between our doing and our saying, is to first do and then say, or better to let people hear not what we say but what we do.




Mt 23 : 1-12
7TH MARCH
TIME FOR YOUR NEIGHBOUR
VISIT A NEIGHBOUR
DO AN ERRAND/HELP/ PRAY
The king in the kingdom is not a ruler but one who serves, the Lord does not lord it over others but is their slave.




Mt 20 : 17-28
8TH  MARCH
WOMEN’S DAY
THANKSGIVING
GIVE THANKS FOR BEING ALIVE
Is my faith mere “lip service”? What prevents me from “acting” out my faith?





Lk 16 : 19-31
9TH MARCH
ANNUNCIATION OF THE LORD
FASTING
STATIONS OF THE CROSS
BE STILL AND LISTEN TO GOD FOR 10 MINS
Mary responds, not merely with a Yes, but by asking the Lord to work in her to accomplish what God wants. The annunciation wouldn’t have been complete without Mary’s trusting, obedient  response.
Lk 1 : 26-38
10TH  MARCH
VISIT
SOMEONE IN HOSPITAL
SPEND TIME WITH A SICK HOUSEBOUND PERSON

God has FORGIVEN YOU, have you FORGIVEN YOURSELF/OTHERS?


Do others have to lose in order for me to win?

Lk 15 : 1-3, 11-32
11TH  MARCH
3RD SUN OF LENT
ATTEND MASS
DISCUSS THE SERMON
If the Lord were to visit the Temple of your life, what would He find there?






Jn 2 : 13-25
12TH  MARCH
PRAY FOR THE POOR
Those who would exclude others thereby exclude themselves. Human beings may be instruments of God’s grace for others, but we are never free to set limits on who may receive that grace.



Lk 4 : 24-30
13TH MARCH
FORGIVE A RELATIVE
We expect to be forgiven by others when we do them harm after we have said sorry, and sometimes if they do not forgive us, we get upset with them even more. We need to apply the same yardstick to ourselves when others ask for forgiveness from us.

Mt 18 : 21-35
14TH MARCH
TIME FOR YOUR NEIGHBOUR
STATIONS OF THE CROSS FOR THE HOUSEBOUND
We might follow in some cases the letter of the law, but miss out on its spirit.





Mt 5 : 17-19
15TH  MARCH
THANKSGIVING
GIVE THANKS FOR OUR PRIESTS/RELIGIOUS TEACHERS
Today there are many subtle forms of “possession” which are more dangerous than “external possession” - consumerism, selfishness, ignorance and a better than thou attitude. We need to ask the Lord to exorcise these demons from our lives.
Lk 11 : 14-23
16TH  MARCH
FASTING
STATIONS OF THE CROSS
BE STILL AND LISTEN TO GOD FOR  5- 10 MINS
While Paul gives a beautiful description of love in 1 Corinthians 13, my own definition of love is that in love there is no “I”.



Mk 12 : 28b-34
17TH MARCH
VISIT
AN ORPHANAGE / AGED HOME
REACH OUT TO SOMEONE WHO IS ALONE
The nature of grace is paradoxical: It can be received only by those who have learned empathy for others.


Lk 18 : 9-14

Words to Live by

Sent by Biju Lawrence:

Definitely words to live by!!!!

HOW TO STAY YOUNG
1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight, and  and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay  'them'
2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.
3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening,  whatever. Never let the brain idle. 'An idle mind is the devil's workshop.'
4. Enjoy the simple things.
5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.
6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person,  who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.
7. Surround yourself with what you love , whether it's family, pets,   keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.

8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable,
improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.
9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next
county; to a foreign country but NOT to where the guilt is.
10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every
opportunity. 
AND ALWAYS REMEMBER : Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

And do share this with someone you love.
We all need to live life to its fullest each day!!

Worry about nothing, pray about everything!!!



Ash Wednesday: Prayers

Sent by Biju Thomas:


ASH WEDNESDAY

PRAYER:

My dearest Lord, take my small offering of self-denial this Lent, as a sign of my great longing for you. I hunger for your presence in my life, and I thirst for your love. I hunger for justice for those who are wronged and oppressed, and I thirst for your peace. I hunger for a glimpse of your glory, and I thirst for your stillness in my heart. God of giving, God of longing, God of pain, I hunger for you.

Ashes

 Dust and ashes touch our face,
Mark our failure and our falling.
Holy Spirit, come,
Walk with us tomorrow,
Take us as disciples,
Washed and wakened by your calling.
Take us by the hand and lead us,
Lead us through the desert sands.
Bring us living water.
Holy Spirit, come.

 PRAYER OVER THE ASHES

 Life-giving God, we thank you for creating us out of the dust of the earth, and breathing your life into us.
May these ashes be to us a sign that life is more than our physical bodies, and that our hope of eternal life depends, not on our merits, but on your mercy alone, to which we turn now, in sorrow for our sins, and with the trust of children. Amen


The Painting of the Son

A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art.  They had everything in their collection, from Picasso to Raphael.  They would often sit together and admire the great works of art. When the Vietnam conflict broke out, the son went to war.  He was very courageous and died in battle, while rescuing another soldier.  The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son.  

About a month later, just before Christmas, there was a knock at the door.  A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands.  He said, "Sir, you don't know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life.  He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly.  He often talked about you and your love for art."  The young man held out his package.  "I know this isn't much.  I'm not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this."   The father opened the package.  It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man.  He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting.  The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears.  He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture.   "Oh, no, sir, I could never repay what your son did for me.  It's a gift."

The father hung the portrait over his mantle.  Everytime visitors came to his home, he took them to see the portrait of his son before he took them to see any of the other great works he had collected.  The man died a few months later. 

There was to be a great auction of his paintings.  Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the great paintings and having the opportunity to purchase one for their collection.   On the platform stood the painting of the son.  The auctioneer pounded his gavel.  "We will start the bidding with this picture of the son.  Who will bid for this picture?"  There was silence.  Then a voice in the back of the room shouted.  "We want to see the famous paintings.  Skip this one."  But the auctioneer persisted.  "Will someone bid for this painting?  Who will start the bidding?  One hundred, two hundred.  Another voice shouted angrily.  "We didn't come to see this painting, we came to see the Van Goghs, the Rembrandts.  Get on with the real bids!"  But still the auctioneer continued ..  "The son?  The son?  Who will take the son?"  Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room.  It was the longtime gardener of the man and his son.  "I'll give $10 for the painting."  Being a poor man, it was all he could afford.  "We have ten dollars, who will bid twenty?"  "Give it to him for $10.  Let's see the Masters."  "Ten dollars is the bid, won't someone bid twenty?"  The crowd was becoming angry.  They didn't want the picture of the son.  They wanted the more worthy investments for this collection.  The auctioneer pounded the gavel.  "Going once, twice, SOLD for $10!" 

The man sitting on the second row shouted.  "Now, let's get on with the collection!" The auctioneer laid down his gavel.  "I'm sorry, the auction is over." "What about the paintings."  "I'm sorry.  when I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will.  I was not allowed to reveal the stipulation until this time.  Only the painting of the son would be auctioned.  Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings. The man who took the son gets everything!" God gave his Son 2000 years ago to die on a cruel cross,

Happiness

resistance to Happiness.