31 Sunday B: Foundation of Our Faith - Shema - 3 Loves

Reflection

‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your strength.’ Was this simply the setting of an impossible ideal? For it would seem that much of the history of the People of God is merely a demonstration of how much they failed to live up to their calling. It is as though the priests offering sacrifices in the temple were busy trying in vain to keep open the lines of communication between heaven and earth. Jesus, however, lived out the Shema to the very point of laying down his life and in so doing he unblocked the path between God and humanity. This is how he became our way to the Father and changed what seemed like an impossible ideal into a wonderful opportunity. We really can love God because he has loved us first.

The boy's Shells

A 6 yr old boy was in the market with his 4 yr old sister. Suddenly the boy found that his sister was lagging behind.
He stopped and looked back. His sister was standing in front of a toy shop and was watching something with great interest.
The boy went back to her and asked, “Do you want something?” The sister pointed at the doll. The boy held her hand and like a responsible elder brother, gave that doll to her. The sister was very very happy…

Nov 2: All Souls Day

From Fr. Tony Kadavil:

All Souls’ Day is a day specially set apart that we may remember and pray for our dear ones who have gone for their eternal reward and who are currently in a state of ongoing purification.

Ancient belief: 1) People of all religions have believed in the immortality of the soul, and have prayed for the dead.

Nov 1: Feast of All Saints - Liturgical Prayers

Greeting (Rom 1, 7)

To all of you who are God's beloved
and called to be saints,
grace and peace from God our Father
and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Lord's peace stay with you. R/ And also with you.

Nov 1: All Saints

All Saints Day B from Padir Neylu

Fr. Tony Kadavil:

Synopsis: All Saints Day: The feast and its objectives: All baptized Christians who have died and are now with God in glory are considered saints. All Saints Day is intended to honor the memory of countless unknown and uncanonized saints who have no feast days. Today we thank God for giving ordinary men and women a share in His holiness and Heavenly glory as a reward for their Faith. This feast is observed to teach us to honor the saints, both by imitating their lives and by seeking their intercession for us before Christ, the only mediator between God and man (I Tim. 2:5). The Church reminds us today that God's call for holiness is universal, that all of us are called to live in His love and to make His love real in the lives of those around us. Holiness is related to the word wholesomeness. We grow in holiness when we live wholesome lives of integrity truth, justice, charity, mercy and compassion sharing our blessings with others.

30 Sunday B - Liturgical Prayers

Greetings (see Second Reading)

We are gathered in the name of Jesus,
of whom the Father said:
"You are my Son,
today I have become your father."
May the grace and peace of the Lord Jesus
be always with you.
R/ And also with you.

30 Sunday: Blind man - Let me See

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year B from ruth (Malta)

Background: 

Today’s Gospel is a classic example of Mark’s use of miracle stories.  He uses them to make a catechetical point, not to overwhelm the reader with Jesus’s power.

 Mark does not deny the power, but emphasizes rather our desire to understand, to grasp, to find meaning.

29 Sunday B - Liturgical Prayers

Greetings (see Second Reading)

We have here among us
a high priest capable of feeling our weaknesses
and who was tempted in every way that we are,
though he was without sin.
With his grace and mercy
may Jesus be always with you.
R/ And also with you.

Mission Sunday - Oct 21, 2018

Is 53: 10-11; Heb 4: 14-16; Mark 10: 35-45
During the American Revolution, a man in civilian clothes rode past a group of soldiers who were busy pulling out a horse carriage stuck in deep mud. Their officer was shouting instructions to them while making no attempt to help. The stranger who witnessed the scene asked the officer why he wasn't helping. With great dignity, the officer replied, "Sir, I am a Corporal!" The stranger dismounted from his horse and proceeded to help the exhausted soldiers himself.

29 Sunday B: It's Not Where you Sit, but How you Serve ...

29th Sunday B from Padir Neylu
******

Last Sunday, we heard about discipleship. Today its about being a missionary.

1. In a world of stars and stripes, titles and accolades, we have been told what matters is not where you sit, but how you serve. Not what you know but how much you impart; not what you teach, but how much you tithe (give).
2. The breakfast you make early in the morning so the children and your spouse can go to work or school is a more sacred and admirable mission than that of the missionaries who go out into other lands.
3. Your example, your practice of faith and your presence is as much a witness and missionary activity as the preaching of the gospel to the gentiles.
4. The daily cup of sacrifice and hardship, thankless chores, patient endurance, silent tears and unspoken grief are all part of the price of being a disciple.
5. Today, we must make a choice from "working long and hard hours at jobs we hate in order to make money to buy things we don't need to please people we don't like" to balance work and life, faith and wellness and achievement and enjoyment.
T.K.

28 Sunday B

14th October 2018, 28th Ordinary Sunday, Year B. 
Wisdom 7:7-11 / Hebrews 4:12-13 / Mark 10:17-30

By and large, we human beings are quite predictable creatures and that is because we are creatures of habit.

From what we do, to what we say, to how we think, we can be habitually predictable and predictably habitual.

Tell Me Why?

Exercises - What Type? Physical or Mental ...

Sudha Murthy of Infosys - A Woman of Caliber and Goodness

28 Sunday B - Liturgical Prayers

Greetings (see Second Reading)

The Word of God is alive and active;
it can judge our secret emotions and thoughts.
It is the Lord Jesus who speaks this word to us.
May he always be with you.
R/ And also with you.

28 Sunday B: Discipleship: Sell, Give and Come

28th Sunday B from Padir Neylu

*****
Radicality of the call:

a. Sell=detachment; Vows and other ways
b. Give=Availability; ministries and other services
c. Come=Discipleship; Following in the footsteps of Jesus

The habits/cassocks, the medals and congregational symbols are more ecclesial and social symbols than discipleship. We can easily be caught up in them and be fooled into believing that we are following the Lord as disciples.

Discipleship, I believe, lies simply in living those three words.

-TK

Oct 7: Our Lady of the Rosary

Importance: The word Rosary means “Crown of Roses,” and each prayer in the Rosary is considered a flower presented to Mary. It is called the “Breviary of the common people” and the “Psalms of the Illiterate.” The prayers we repeat are Biblical and hence “inspired,” and the mysteries we meditate upon are taken from the lives of Jesus and Mary.  

PUNS - To Lighten up your Day

Puns

1. The meaning of opaque is unclear.
2. I wasn't going to get a brain transplant but then I changed my mind.
3. Have you ever tried to eat a clock? It's very time consuming.
4. A man tried to assault me with milk, cream and butter. How dairy!
5. I'm reading a book about anti-gravity. I can't put it down.

27 Sunday B - Liturgical Prayers

Greetings
All praise be to God our Father
for creating people in his likeness
and making them capable of faithfulness
through the self-giving love of his Son
and the unifying power of the Spirit.
May the Lord be always with you in his love.
R/ And also with you.