Pentecost ABC

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Back Posts:
Pentecost 2013: http://www.tkayala.com/2013/05/pentecost-2013-homilies-and-stories.html
Water, Fire, Wind Symbols: http://www.tkayala.com/2013/05/holy-spirit-3-symbols-video.html
Fr. Tony Kadavil's Collection: http://www.tkayala.com/2012/05/pentecost-may-21-homily.html
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Starters:
The Church on Fire 

Two persons were talking together before a large church which was being destroyed by fire. The first man spoke in a voice which could be heard above the voice of the firemen: "This is the first time I ever saw you at church." To this the second responded: "This is the first time I ever saw the church on fire." There are many prophets of doom saying that the age of the Christian Church is over - that it has lost its zeal! We're taking a beating right now in this country and around the world. Our theology is being questioned. Everyone is writing a critical book against the organized church. We have had to take some unpopular stands on social issues. Magazines are attacking the ministry, and it isn't the thing to do anymore to join the church. John Kelman said, however, "God pity the nation or city whose factory smokestacks rise higher than her church spires."  

Why Belong To The Church?, anthology, CSS Publishing Company, Inc.

Up in the Mountains - No Posts for 12 days

I was up in Shillong, Northeast of India, a 3-hr flight from Bangalore and 3-hr jeep trip up the mountains through winding roads and terraced hills that takes you to the other side of Bangladesh closer to Burma and China, among six states of India with Mongolian race people.

Ten days without internet and telephone and with incessant power cuts. The only sounds were that of the jungle. The contemplative Benedictines looked after us well. The Holy Cross  and RNDM nuns were there for a Psycho-spiritual retreat, of the type I have been directing since over 25 years. most of the sisters came from tribal or indigenous backgrounds.

The bells at the Benedictine convent Bell Tower start chiming from 4:30 am, when it is quite bright in that area as India keeps one time zone.

That explains the silence in these pages.

Tony Kayala, c.s.c.

Ascension 2017

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From Fr. Tony Kadavil’s Collection of Stories: 

1: The disciples who completed Puccini’s opera Turandot.   

The Italian composer Giacomo Puccini wrote La Boheme, Madama Butterfly and Tosca.  It was during his battle with terminal cancer in 1922 that he began to write Turandot, which many now consider his best work. He worked on the score day and night, despite his friends' advice to rest, and to save his energy. When his sickness worsened, Puccini said to his disciples, "'If I don't finish Turandot, I want you to finish it." He died in 1924, leaving the work unfinished. His disciples gathered all that was written of Turandot, studied it in great detail, and then proceeded to write the remainder of the opera. The world premier was performed in La Scala Opera House in Milan in 1926, and Toscanini, Puccini’s favorite student, conducted it. The opera went beautifully, until Toscanini came to the end of the part written by Puccini. He stopped the music, put down the baton, turned to the audience, and announced, "Thus far the master wrote, but he died." There was a long pause; no one moved. Then Toscanini picked up the baton, turned to the audience and, with tears in his eyes, announced, "But his disciples finished his work." The opera closed to thunderous applause, and to a permanent place in the annals of great works. Jesus instructs us in his Ascension message to finish his work of saving mankind by proclaiming His good news by words and deeds. 

Easter 6th Sunday A - Liturgical Prayers

Greeting (See the Gospel)

“I will not leave you orphans,” says Jesus,
“but my Father will give you
the Spirit of truth.”
May the Spirit of our Lord be always with you.
Introduction by the Celebrant (Two Options)

A.  If You Love Me… The Spirit Will Come
We are Christians, people who follow Christ. What makes us sure that we really love him? Jesus tells us today: “If you love me you will keep my commandments.” And we know that his commandment is: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and your neighbor as yourself. Today Jesus promises us the Holy Spirit, who will make us see what we have to do to love God and our neighbor and who will give us the strength to do so. Let us ask Jesus present here to give us this Spirit of insight and strength.

Easter 6A: Love and Communion in the Spirit

Gospel Text : John 14:15-21



In the Footprints of Loneliness, the Servant of God Catherine DeHueck Doherty (d. 1985) wrote: 

Loneliness is a terrible thing, and we must do something about it.  It is here that tenderness, gentleness, and understanding helps us to live…  Gentleness and tenderness assuage loneliness and make it possible to disappear…Tenderness is the ability to be present, extending the warmth of my heart to your heart.

The Tiger and the Monk - Thailand

Intelligent and Calm Elephants and Calm Man of Steel

Mother - Quotes and Stories

MOTHER
No man is poor who has had a godly mother.
Abraham Lincoln.

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An ounce of mother is worth a ton of priest.
Spanish proverb.

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When Robert Ingersoll, the notorious skeptic, was in his heyday, two college students went to hear him lecture. As they walked down the street after the lecture, one said to the other, “Well, I guess he knocked the props out from under Christianity, didn’t he?” The other said, “No, I don’t think he did. Ingersoll did not explain my mother’s life, and until he can explain my mother’s life I will stand by my mother’s God.”
James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited, Tyndale, 1972, p. 381.

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Motherhood and Compassion.  A few days ago I made a marvelous discovery. In the Hebrew language of the Old Testament the word for “compassion” comes from the root word, “womb.” The picture is of a birthing. Something new is being born. If I apply this in a human experience, it means that my compassionate acts always give the other person another chance. I do not hold past failures against them. I offer a “fresh start.” I want this for myself from others. Am I willing to give it to the other person? Such compassion will dramatically change the way we relate to each other.
Brooks Ramsey, Pastoral Counseling and Consulting Center, Memphis TN.

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Parent's Influence.  When parents understand the source of joy, when they decide to let Christ rule in their home, they have chosen the way of joy that will never disappoint them. Billy Graham’s parents were both committed Christians. Although he was a businessman, his father had at one time felt a desire to preach. The way never seemed opened for him. After Billy entered the ministry, the father said, “I prayed for years for a way to be opened. But never once was there the slightest encouragement from God. My heart burned and I wondered why God did not answer my prayer. Now I feel I have the answer. I believe that my part was to raise a son to be a preacher.” Imagine the joy that thought brought to him and to his wife.
Proclaim, Father’s Day Sermon: Joy in the Home, June 18, 1989.

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Mothers' Day

Check out past posts:

http://www.tkayala.com/2013/05/mothers-day-resources.html

http://www.tkayala.com/2012/05/mothers-day-prayers-collection.html

http://www.tkayala.com/2012/05/mothers-day-may-13.html

http://www.tkayala.com/2013/05/mothers-day-2013.html

http://www.tkayala.com/2013/05/mothers-day-anti-war-reminder.html

http://www.homilystories.in/2014/05/mothers-day.html

Mothers' Day Resources

 See further down here a post for mothers' day reflections
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Do you have your Mother's Day messages prepared? I wanted to share with you the links to some messages on PreachIt.org that are great messages to share on Mother's Day.

Take a look...

Mothers' Day

Magic Again!!!

Elephant Intelligence: Calm and Logical and detached

Kids and Animals: Sweet Mix

Easter 5A : Jesus, The Way, the Truth and the Life

Gospel text : John 14:1-12

The Peacemakers
Dawne Olson, a South Dakota mother of four, was preparing to give a talk on unity at her women's Bible study. She woke up early to type out the scripture verses. She wasn't quite finished when her four children began coming downstairs asking for breakfast. She could hear the children just around the corner in the kitchen as they rummaged through the refrigerator and cupboards for something to eat. At some point they discovered half of a toaster pastry on the counter from the night before. They all began screaming and fighting; each claiming the half-eaten Pop Tart. 

As Dawne made a couple of futile attempts to quiet them down, she finished typing the verse in Matthew 5:9 that says, "Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God." Taking her cue from scripture, she hollered into the kitchen above the noise, "Would somebody PLEASE be the peacemaker?!" 

Easter 4A: The Sheep and the Gate-keeper

Gospel text : John 10:1-10
 
Pope John Paul II, the good shepherd.  

The most beautiful and meaningful comment on the life and the legacy of our late Holy Father, Blessed John Paul II, was made by the famous televangelist Billy Graham. In a TV interview he said: “He lived like his Master the Good Shepherd and he died like his Master the Good Shepherd.” In today’s gospel, Jesus claims that he is the Good Shepherd and explains what he does for his sheep. (Fr. Tony Kadavil)