Reflection27

                                            Mathew. 7: 15-20

       Dear friends,

                           Today we are going to meditate on the Bible passage according to St. Mathew chapter 7 verses 15-20. In this passage Jesus mainly says; “Every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruits. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit. Not can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will know them by their fruits.”

                          Dear friends, our lives are like the trees planted by God. God expects only good fruits from us. Others will know us by the fruits which we produce. The fruits mean our daily activities. If we are good trees of God, we will produce only good qualities. These good qualities include our good behavior, good character, our positive attitude towards everything. If we are good fruits, we will grow and we will help others to grow. If we are bad trees, we will produce only bad things. These bad things include jealousy, arrogance, pride etc. If we are having these qualities, we will never grow and we will never allow others to grow. Our God called us to this special vocation. He called us to become the good trees which produce good fruits. All the trees which do not produce good fruits will be cut down and thrown into the fire. So, as the trees of Jesus if we are not producing good fruits, we will thrown out from this vocation.

                        Therefore dear friends, let us think ourselves, our God called us to be good trees which produce good fruits for him. Am I a good tree or bad tree? Do I produce good fruits or bad fruits? Am I honest to my vocation? So let us meditate on this point. And pray to God to give us the grace to become good trees. Let us pray to God to help us to be honest in our vocation, and help us bear good fruits of love, faith and hope.

                                             THANK YOU…

                                                                                BRO. JISSMON

                             

Reflection26

   Mt.6:19-21

Dear friends,

   As we know we are in a journey or pilgrimage. We are looking forward to heavenly Jerusalem.

 In order to live in this world we need money. Because of that we study and find out good jobs.             

But these are perishable. In order to get heavenly life we have to store up treasures in heaven from this mortal life. What are the treasures in heaven? In one word love is the treasure in heaven: Our love towards God, fellow beings, and our selves. It consists of our mercy, justice, kindness, righteousness, and virtues and so on towards God, fellow beings and our selves.

    

  Treasure in earth is perishable. Moth and rust consume it and thieve break in and steal it. But treasure in heaven is not perishable. No moth and rust consume it and thieve not break in and steal it. But we shall be tempted to give more importance to earthly treasure. It is nothing because of our worry about life on earth. But remember that Lord our God is always with us and He considering us as the apple of His eyes. He is considering us in a special way. St .Paul says this in his letter to Romans Chapter 8 verse 30: ‘those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. ‘So we need not worry about our life. We need to only strive for His kingdom and righteousness. That is the treasure in heaven. His kingdom and righteousness is love. Love towards God, love towards our fellow beings, love towards ourselves. It is our love towards enemies. It is the love even to die for others.

So friends let us examine and meditate upon-

v Our attitude towards treasure in heaven and its accounts and

v Our love and concern towards God, fellow beings and ourselves.

 

                                    Bro.Abin

Reflection26

                               John:12:24-26

                                     Gospel of St.John chapter 12 verse24 says “very truly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls in to the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain. But if it Dies, it bears much fruit”? What is the specialty of wheat? Or any other seed? It is nothing…..that. Unless it dies in the earth it will not bear fruit because it receives the strength and power to bear fruit from the difficult situations. Like the wheat, if we want to bear fruits in our life we have to face difficulties and problems there by we bear much fruit. We have to lose our life. Like the wheat, in order to fulfill the needs and wants of others. If we are not ready to have the worldly pleasures, we will not be able to achieve the eternal life. Because Jesus says “one cannot serve two masters at the same time” sometimes we may feel that god has abandoned me, or god has no concern towards me. All these thoughts show our human weakness. Let us be careful not to fall in the temptations of the evil and always try to keep the thought that god is always with me in my difficulties and problems. Than what is the need of difficulties and problems in our life? If we take the example of gold. Gold becomes pure only when it purify in fire. No other elements can purify gold. Only fire can do it, because it is the purist form of all the things in the world. So that the god will never abandoned us. When god is with us we can overcome all the difficulties of the life and the weakness of the human nature and like the grain that falls into the earth and dies to bear fruit. We can also bear fruits of faith, hope and love in our life keeping these thoughts in our mind let us ponder over this passage.

                                                                                Thank you

                                                        Bro. Sijo Thomas

Reflection25

Now we are going to meditate on the holy gospel of St. Mathew chapter 9 verses 35 on wards. Here we can see the healing power of Jesus .Jesus healed so many people suffering from various diseases. Jesus is giving the same healing touch to each one of us .But sometime we cannot realize that.If you want to experience the healing power of GOD you have to be in the shadow of God which is known as the experience of Basalel.-to live in the shadow of GOD.

                     

                        But if we observe our life we can find an attachment towards earthly things .When we critically analyze our childhood we all have some simplicity in our life.But in the course of time some ego; croocutness; supieriority are taking place. Now we have to remember what Jesus did.He showed mercy and compassion towards others.  We have to imitate the humility of Jesus.

That is what we seen in the letter of ST. Paul to Philippians chapter 2 verses 6 onward.

                              Though he was in the form of God he did not regard as something to be exploited.  He emptied himself taking the form of a slave being born in human likeness.And 

Being found in  human form. He humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death even on across .Therefore God highly exalted and gave him the name that is above every name 

so that at the name of Jesus everyknee should bend heaven and on earth and every tongue should

Confess that JesusChrist is the lord.

                                    

There is no value for our ego and complex before the name of Jesus because he is the living example of humility. Every day JESUS is coming in the midst of us through the form of the Holy Eucharist as the sign of his simplicity and affection. It is very difficult to live in a simple manner in this modern world but it is only a human way of thinking. When you get the

Healing touch of JESUS it may not be difficult.

And Jesus is saying

The harvest is plentiful but the laboures are few. This is about priestly vocation. We have to

Remember that every priests and seminarians are the result of the particular love of JESUS

Eventhough they are not good in our eyes. So let us pray for getting a generous heart of

acceptance and simplicity.

                                             

             Br. Sebastian Thinavila

Reflection24      

                                         Mathew 17:1-8

 Let us try to meditate up on the Transfiguration of Jesus. When Jesus was here on earth, Heavenly Father testified the divine nature of Jesus only twice, during the baptism and also during his glorious Transfiguration. There are a lot of interpretations on the Transfiguration, where as three will be mentioned down:                                 

1.      It was the time when the divine nature of Jesus was revealed to the world physically. The presence of Elijah and Moses confirmed he is the fulfillment of the Law and the countless prophecies in the Old Testament. Also the gospel states that, his dress was so white that none of the washer man of the earth could make it such bright. This mentions that none of the humans could be as perfect as Jesus is.

2.      Which did take more time, Transfiguration or crucifixion? Exactly crucifixion. Dear friends, Glory in our life may be less and sadness, sufferings may be more. Don’t worry and think the situation of Lazarus, who enjoyed the glory of heaven. The rich man was not allowed for the same, because he only had happiness on his life. Don’t hesitate or run away from your sufferings, rather believe that the heavenly paradise where the sadness and sufferings are not there, waits for you.

3.      Connecting to our life, when we become priests in future we may enjoy the happiness being in any parish. It will be surely a burden also to think of a transfer. The attitude of Peter teaches us that we are not allowed to Tent our life anywhere seeing physical experience. The above incident indicates that our mind is tented at that certain place. We must rather grow from our attitude of unknowing or Peter, to the higher level of spirituality. Then only the father will look us and say “This is my beloved son with whom I am well pleased.”Let us try to create a mind which never hooks anywhere and ask the grace of god for the same.

Dear friends in the sanctified alter too there occurs a transfiguration, rather church calls it Transubstantiation. Our heavenly father with all his glory comes in a host as well as in the offered vine, purifies it and dwells in it with all his glory. Let us pray to the lord to help us also to transfigure…

                  

                              Ad maiorem Dei gloriam…

                                                        Bro Justin Joseph Saji OSH

           

Reflection23

                                

                                   St. Luke chapter 12:41-49                                                                                

 In this Bible passage, Lord tells us to be a faithful servant 1.Faithful to God 2.Faithful to one self 3.Faithful to our Brothers Let us think, am I faithful to God? How can I be faithful to God?

There are three ways to be a faithful servant, they are 1.sanctity 2.service 3.sacrifices

1. SANCTITY            

                   The best example of sanctity is St.Joseph .He led a simple and humble life.Simplicity is a sign of sanctity. Dear brothers, we are also called to become a holy priest. Therefore let us try to reject the evil and worldly hippies.      

2. SERVICE

                   St.Mary is the best example of service. She served her life to God. Her desire was to become a servant of God. But God chose her, the mother of the savior. When we are like to become a servant then God will raise up. Not only on the earth and also in heaven Let us build up a service mentality.                            

3. SACRYFICE

                       Jesus sacrificed his life for fulfilling will of God, and for save the humanity. We all are his followers.                                                                                                                                                

          Dear brothers, these three ways of sanctity, service and sacrifice help us to be a faithful servant                 and such a person, we will find the spirit of the holy family. The images of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. As we know today, the holy Catholic Church celebrates the feast of St. John Maria viyani, heavenly patron of all priests. He was a faithful servant of God. Jesus, Mary and Joseph lived in his heart. That means, the holy family was dwelling with in him and he could lead a life faithful to God, faithful to himself and also faithful to brothers. Then he became a great saint, a model for us. Dear brothers, let us reflect on this topic and also try to be a faithful servant like a candle which brings the light of God to those who are in darkness. Let us burn for God and for people and also try to make our hearts a dwelling place of the holy family. And become a faithful servant  

                                                                                   Bro. David 

      

, 

Reflection22                                                                                                                                            

St. Mathew 14:13-21 

         

          Today, our holy church gives us a beautiful passage of the holy gospel from St. Mathew chapter 14 verses 13 onwards. Here, Jesus is teaching a crowd of more than 5 thousand of people. After the teaching Jesus said to his disciples, “give food to them” But there were only 5 loaves and 2 fishes. Being so, Jesus, the bread of life, took the bread and fish and giving thanks to heavenly father, distributed to all people until they had their fill.

          This miracle of Jesus pointed to the remarkable generosity of god and his great kindness towards us. When god gives, he gives abundantly. He gives more than what we need for ourselves. In the gospel of St. Mathew chapter 6 verses 8, we see like this, “your father knows what you need before you ask him.” So, let us thank the lord for his abundant graces which he showered through our life. Also we have to share with others what god gives us, especially to those who lack what they need. So, let us develop the quality of sharing. And meditate on this point.

                                                              

                                                                                  Bro.  Bibin pazhayampillil

  Reflection 21   

             

               (St Luke 10:38-42)

                              Do the will of god………

       Meditation is a personal prayer in which, a conversation between me and my dear loving holy spirit. By keeping this in our mind let us think about the gospel passage St Luke 10:38-42.

                                             When we go through the gospel passage we can see three things which are connected to our daily also, welcoming Jesus, he is becoming distracted, absence of Jesus.

                                  Let us start with the first, according to the gospel passage, there contains 2 main characters Martha and Mary. Martha is welcoming Jesus and he is accepting her request and entering her house. in our daily life also we all are doing the same thing. We all are welcoming Jesus through our daily prayers, doing social works, holy Eucharist and many things….

          What about the second one, this is the core part of this reflection; in verse 40 we can see that Martha is worried and distracted about many things. in other words marths heart is filling with some sort of ego because of Mary. in our case also the same thing is happening. In certain situations knowingly or unknowingly our heart is also filling with some sort of ego-complex or anything like that. Dear friends keep in mind that our dear loving Holy Spirit or dear loving friend Jesus Christ is not expecting from our part. He is expecting a person of love, a person of care, a person of dedication, a person of affection…………let us try to do the will of god. He called us to be with him and to be another Jesus.

       Now we are moving to the third potion, at last we can see the absence of Jesus; he is going away from Martha by giving an advice. The same Jesus is giving that same advice to each one of us. (Martha you are worried and distracted about many things. Mary has chosen the better part which will not take away from her St Luke 10:42)

        Let us think about these things and try to do the will of god. In short, we all are welcoming Jesus our dear loving friend to our daily life through all our spiritual activities, and because of our own sinful activities he is becoming distracted and clearing the space by giving an advice.

             So let us try to select the good portion. So that it will not take away from our hands. Let us ask the help of mother Mary and all our dear saints and angels for doing the will of god.

                                 I am not one. I am two. We are not two, We are one (Bro.Ajil)

                                                                                      BRO VARGHESE MALAYIL (TVM)

                                                 

           

Reflection 20                                                                                                                       

            Today we have the gospel passage of St Mt. Chapter 13 verses from 54 to 58.Here some people are amazed on Jesus and the say that isn’t he the son of Joseph the carpenter? From where did he get these powers? Isn’t his mother Mary? They asked these questions because they saw the beautiful works done by Jesus. Jesus is god. So he is able to do miracles. Jesus himself knew that he is the son of god and that made him doing wonderful works. If Jesus would have thought that am a man only and a son of a carpenter, then I think he might have reduced to himself would not have able to any miracles. But   we are sure that this is not possible. This sometimes happens in our life. Sometimes we think that I may not able to do these things. We are not sure about our abilities and sometimes we become the third man who kept the coin in soil. God has given talents to everybody. What we need to do? We should find out the talents and make use of it for the kingdom of heaven. We need to believe in ourselves and should make use of all the opportunities given to us. As we know today we celebrate the feast of Dt. Ignatius of Leola. He ones said to himself that if he or she can become a saint then why can’t I? Later he became one of the greatest saints that Church had ever seen. If he did not find out the blessing that were given to him, or if he would have said that I am wounded and not able to do anything, we might have lost one saint. So dear brothers what I want to say you we are all talented. The verbal disordered Moses was the one who led the Israel from Egypt to Canaan; the small unarmed David killed the mighty goliath and led the kingdom for 40 years. So find out our talents nourish them and pray fervently to God for the grace to make use of it for the kingdom of heaven.

                                                                                          JITHIN SIMON CHETHALIL O S H