BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD.

Be in your prayer space, follow the usual steps and settle into silence.

Sit still…..Relax…….Do not rush………

Take a couple of gentle, slow and deep breaths…becoming aware of your breath going in and out… stay focused on this breath of life……

Now from the depth of your heart begin to wish your mind well………

Take a moment. Bless your day. Let your day Bless you……Take another moment. Bless your world. Let your world bless you……

We continue our meditation on being Easter People……Easter people must remember and bless themselves with the words and actions of their master. Today’s meditation calls us to dwell on some of the most important words and deeds of our master, Jesus before his death.

Jesus gave his disciples his farewell gift: PEACE. He said that this was not the kind of peace the world would give. It is enduring peace, lasting peace, eternal peace. The word for peace used in this context is “shalom” and shalom means “total Well-being”, “the highest good”, “that which befits God”. It is not the absence or the end of war or conflict. It is the presence of shalom, even in the midst of tension. This is the kind of peace, shalom that Jesus experienced in loving and fulfilling the Father’s will.

Peace I leave with you, My Peace I give unto you. (Jn. 14:27)

Blessed are the peacemakers. They will become sons of God. (Mt. 5:9)

Be compassionate as our Father is compassionate. (Lk.6:36)

Share with all of God’s holy people who are in need; look for opportunities to be hospitable. (Rom.12:13)

Peace is God’s gifts, the divine resource, as it were, waiting to be tapped into, experienced and enjoyed.

The Peace that lives within empowers us to go on in hope, even when storms of life disrupt relationships, incredible tragedies happen, mega-companies lie and cheat the public, ministers of God sin and abuse their privileges and so on.

The Peace that lives within remains an ever renewable “wellspring of courage” because that Peace is of God and that peace is God himself.

“Seek what you seek, but not where you seek it. Your heart has been made for God and it shall be restless until it rests in Him”.  (St. Augustine)

Remember……..Deep down in every man, woman, and child, is the fundamental truth of God, of the Sacred Presence, of Sacred Love, of Sacred peace. It may be obscured by many things, but it sure is there for us to touch, to feel, to experience, to celebrate – to dwell, to rest, to abide………

Let us re-call and re-member our earlier reflections on peace as the quality of our inner being, as a state of being in harmony with all, as an attitude that brings us into communion with God and all that is of God and form God……

In Hebrew, the word for Peace is “Shalom” and it does not refer to a negative state – it does not mean the absence of trouble. Peace – Shalom – always meant everything which constitutes the highest good of man, the total well-being of man.

In the east when one says to another, “Salaam”, or shalom, he does not mean that he wishes for the other person the absence of evil things – he wishes him the presence of good things. In the Bible, Peace is not only the absence of or freedom from trouble – but the presence and enjoyment of all good that is of God and from God.

The Peace that Jesus spoke of comes not from evasion of issues – it comes from facing them, dealing with them and conquering them.

The Peace that Jesus offers is not passive acceptance of things – but active, creative, dynamic facing them, dealing with them – the making of peace, even when the way of peace is a struggle.

Jesus said, Peace-makers will be called “Sons of God”, God-like persons, doing God-like work. The person who works for peace is engaged in work which the God of peace is doing (Rom.15:33; 2Cor.13:11; I Thess.5:23).

Shalom, Peace means everything which constitutes the highest good of “man”.  It means making the world a little better place to live in, lifting others a little more, lifting the world a little further on.

“Die when I may, I would like it to be said of me that I always pulled up a weed and planted a flower where I thought a flower would grow.” (Abraham Lincoln)

The Jewish Rabbis held that the highest task, which a man can perform, is to establish right relationship between man and man – peacemaking, the force that binds/unites – the force that brings harmony.

Peace is the most human dream of all….Peace was the dream of the Jews…….Peace was always the dream of Christians…Peace was the dream of all sages….. Peace is the dream of all religions…..humanity has a common good which belongs to all: Peace.

Jesus said, “Peace is my farewell to you. My peace is my gift to you; I do not give it to you as the world gives peace. Do not be distressed or fearful.” (John 14:27)

Peace is a gift of God…… Peace is a dream….Peace is a faith…Peace is a hope….Peace is a love…Peace is a passion….such peace can not be dissipated by men and women…nor by war and violence…….it’s God’s gift!

The dream of peace lives in the heart of humanity even when they are living within the most atrocious wars….Peace stands firm as a faith, as  a hope, as  a love, as a passion……

Dream peace…breathe peace…..think peace…. speak peace…..sing peace…give peace…..make peace….contemplate peace…

A great Russian mystic, St. Seraphim of Sarov used to say: “acquire peace in you and thousands around you will find it”.  We must never underestimate the force of that peace that comes from the heart!

Christian peace is a preventive peace…it is a peace that resists war and that longs and waits for the day when weapons will be silent.

Welcome the gift of peace that comes form the Gospel…the gift that Jesus promised…read and pray and live the Gospel every day…take the Gospel seriously!

Those who read and pray the Gospel must keep their hearts open to peace: to the great peace and to the little daily peace.

Dream peace and let your dream come to life! Dream peace and discover that you have a force, a power inside…a force that reconciles people, a force that resists violence, a force that tolerates differences, a force that brings harmony into chaos, a force that helps you transcend differences………a force that helps you to gradually and tenaciously build peace!

Peace is possible! Believe it! Love it! Be passionate about it!

Rejoice in the Lord always! I say it again. Rejoice. Everyone should see how unselfish you are. The Lord is near. Dismiss all anxiety from your minds. Present your needs to God in every form of prayer and in petitions full of gratitude. Then God’s own peace, which is beyond all understanding, will guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, your thoughts should be wholly directed to all that is true, all that deserves respect, all that is honest, pure, admirable, decent, virtuous or worthy of praise. Live according to what you learned and accepted what you heard me say or seen me do. Then will the God of peace be with you. (Philippians 4:8-9)

Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers: they will be called sons of God” (Mt. 5:9)

Re-member our reflections on “peacemaking” and dwell on them for some time……

Blessed are the peacemakers: they will bring forgiveness and healing.

Blessed are the peacemakers: they will bring wholeness and integrity

Blessed are the peacemakers: they will bring harmony, unity, and purity.

Blessed are the peacemakers: they will bring their best to the world.

Blessed are the peacemakers: they will bring the best out of others.

Blessed are the peacemakers: their presence brings joy.

Blessed are the peacemakers: they bring no harm to others.

The heart of peacemakers is like the heart of God – LOVE, pure and simple.

A great Jewish teacher Hillel taught, “If you find yourself in a situation where there are no human beings, strive to be a human being”. In the same manner, if you find yourself in a situation where there are no peaceful persons, strive to be peaceful person and if you find yourself in a situation where there are no peacemakers, strive to be a peacemaker.

Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.

Let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be.

With God as our Father, Brothers all are we.

Let me walk with my brother in perfect harmony.

Let peace begin with me; Let this be the moment now.

With every step I take, Let this be my solemn vow;

To take each moment and live each moment in peace eternally.

Let there be peace on earth. And Let it begin with me.

My Prayer for you:

• May you fearlessly dream, speak, stand and work for justice and peace!
• May you make no peace with oppression, injustice, violence or war!
• May you strive to be a shining witness of reconciliation, harmony and peace!
• May you reach across boundaries and barriers to form community with all people!
• And may God who has loved you without measure fill you with blessings and grace and the experience of joyful communion of the saints of God……

Fr. Gus Tharappel, msfs

BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD.

Be in your prayer space, follow the usual steps and settle into silence.

Sit still…..Relax…….Do not rush………

Take a couple of gentle, slow and deep breaths…becoming aware of your breath going in and out… stay focused on this breath of life……

Now from the depth of your heart begin to wish your mind well………

Take a moment. Bless your day. Let your day Bless you……Take another moment. Bless your world. Let your world bless you……

We continue our meditation on being Easter People……Easter people must remember and bless themselves with the words of their master. Today’s meditation calls us to dwell on the words of our master, Jesus.

Write your name in the blank space and prayerfully read these words of Jesus with your name in it. (Jn.14-15)

Prayerfully, reflectively read the following……and listen!

Dwell on the thoughts that speak to you in this moment……

_________You must not let your hearts be troubled.

_________You must hold on to your faith in God and in me.

_________You know that I am going away. But I am coming back to welcome you into my home.

_________You know where I am going and you know the way. Lord, I do not know where you are going and how can I know the way?

_________I myself am the way and the truth and the life.

_________No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me…..You know the Father and You have seen HIM.

_________I have been with you all these years and you still do not know me.

_________The man who has known me will do the same things I have done – even greater things than these.

_________If you really love me, you will keep my commandments.

_________I shall ask the Father to give you someone else to stand by you always – the Spirit of truth.

_________When the day comes you will realize that I am in my Father and you______are in me and I am in You.

_________The Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name, will be your teacher.

_________I leave with you Peace, My Gift.

_________I am the real vine. My Father is the vinedresser.

_________He removes the barren branch.

_________He prunes every branch that does bear fruit to ncrease its yield.

_________You must go on growing in me and I will grow in you.

_________You can not bear fruit unless you grow in me.

_________Apart from me you can do nothing.

_________The Father is glorified in your becoming fruitful and yielding and in your being my disciples.

Abide in God’s Love! Send your roots deep into the mystery of God’s Love! Surrender to God’s boundless, limitless, unconditional Love!

Fr. Gus Tharappel,msfs

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BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD.

Be in your prayer space, follow the usual steps and settle into silence.

Sit still…..Relax…….Do not rush………

Take a couple of gentle, slow and deep breaths…becoming aware of your breath going in and out… stay focused on this breath of life……

Now from the depth of your heart begin to wish your mind well………

Take a moment. Bless your day. Let your day Bless you……Take another moment. Bless your world. Let your world bless you……

We continue our meditation on being Easter People……Easter people must remember and bless themselves with the words and actions of their master. Today’s meditation calls us to dwell on some of the most important words and deeds of our master, Jesus before his death.

Jesus had his last supper with his disciples (John 13:16-20). Great things happened during this meal. He had washed the feet of his disciples and called them to follow his example in gracious and self-sacrificing service. Jesus also wanted the disciples to know that redeeming the world would cost him his life and that he was choosing death and that it was his chosen act of “surrender” to the will of his Father. He was accepting death in fidelity, in loyalty, in love, in total giving. And one of the disciples was going to betray him who loved and trusted!

Learn to surrender to the will of the Father! Pray for wisdom and courage to accept the cost of self-surrender!

Jesus and the disciples were around the Passover table (John 13:31-35). Tension mounted among the twelve disciples as Jesus told them that one of them would betray him. Questions about who the betrayer was, suspicion of each other…….many such factors created confusion. It is amazing to know how Jesus tried to help the disciples become aware of what was happening and what was going to happen to him. They just failed to understand. They were too preoccupied with themselves and their ambitions.

Jesus made a final and special appeal to the heart of Judas. For the host to offer a special morsel from the dish was a sign of special friendship. When Jesus handed Judas Iscariot the “bit of food”, the “dipped morsel”, it was an offer of “special friendship”, a final appeal to the heart. But the heart of Judas was unmoved, full of greed, darkness, hate and didn’t see the light or the love that was offered. Judas left never to return!

Jesus told Peter as he affirmed his loyalty that even he would deny him ‘three times before the cock crows’. This was a tough time for Jesus and his disciples.

Be alert! Stay awake! Be sensitive to those around you and their concerns, needs, struggles, etc. Learn to see beyond yourself! Listen to the heart of those around you! Be compassionate!

After Judas left, rejecting the love that was offered, Jesus told the disciples that they were to live and love as he did: “love one another as I have loved you”. The standard of life and love went far beyond what they had known. It was no more, “love your neighbor as yourself”….it became, “love one another as I have loved you”.

The disciples were to love as the master loved…..not as others love them, not as they wish to be loved and not as they love themselves, but as the master himself loved! This is unconditional love…love unconquerable, invincible. This is love without competition, comparison, control and discrimination. This all embracing love…the way God loves…love of all people, the rich and the poor, the proud and haughty, the humble and meek. This is self-sacrificing love, “no one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends”.

May your love transcend competition and control…May your love transcend ill feelings, jealousies, hatred, etc….May you reach out in selfless and generous service!

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; Abide in my love. (Jn. 15:9)

The secret of the life of Jesus was his contact with the Father. Again and again, he withdrew to quiet places to be alone with the father. He knew what it meant to “abide” in the Father’s Love. His disciples must do the same.

To “abide” is to be in close contact; to be in touch; to be intimate; to live an intense, personal relationship.

I am the vine, you are the branches. He who lives in me and I in him, will produce abundantly, for apart from me you can do nothing (Jn. 15:5).

That they may all be one, as you Father are in me and I in you; I pray that they may be one in us, that the world may believe that you sent me (Jn. 17:21).

Love is patient; love is kind. Love is not jealous, it does not put on airs, it is not snobbish. Love is never rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not prone to anger; neither does it brood over injuries. Love does not rejoice in what is wrong but rejoices with the truth. There is no limit to love’s forbearance, to its trust, its hope, its power to endure. Love never fails (I Corinthians 13:4-8).

Love must transcend competition and control…

Love must reach out in selfless and generous service…

Love must transcend ill feelings, jealousies, hatred……

Love goes beyond the call of duty……

Love walks the extra mile……

Be transformed by God’s love….let that love be visible, be present, be the roots of all that you are…

Jesus called his disciples to be with him and to go forth from him to fulfill his mission. He gave them his message, his power, his lifestyle, his presence and a community to live in and to serve……

The disciples were commissioned to go out with the master’s message – not with their own agenda, but with the master’s word. They were to speak his word, in his name. They were to stand with him, in him and for him.

Be faithful to the WORD of Jesus!

Today, you are called to carry on and complete his mission…

Be strong! Stand fast in the Lord! Be rooted and growing in the Lord!

All of us carry the treasure of this loving Jesus, dwelling within us and working through us, fragile human beings – earthen vessels. We can not expect to witness perfection. But, we must be willing to stand up and be counted among the saints who struggled, suffered, sacrificed, prayed, loved, and served as they tried to follow their master………..

I must be able to proclaim – may be in imperfect words and actions – as best as I can that Jesus has touched my life. Jesus has made a difference in my life. I must let His way, his truth and his life transform my way, my truth and my life.

Day by day……Day by day……Oh, dear Lord, three things I pray…To see thee more clearly…To love thee more dearly…To follow thee more nearly……day by day…

Fr. Gus Tharappe1, msfs