TO SEE…TO LOVE…TO FOLLOW.

TO SEE…TO LOVE…TO FOLLOW.

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……….

Now I invite you to consecrate this day and all that come with this day….in your own way, in humble, simple, may be even inadequate words………..

I pray for you and I pray for all, who, at this moment, are receiving the gift of this fascinating, marvelous, wonderful light! May you be filled with light, God’s light!

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

Every day that we wake up is a good day. Every breath that we take is filled with hope for a better day. Every word that we speak is a chance to change what is bad into something good.

Be still…..Relax…….Do not rush.

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…..

To see thee more clearly……. day by day…..

Jesus said: the pure of heart will see God. Heart refers to the innermost part of our being, the whole interiority of human consciousness and activity.

The pure of heart will see goodness, truth, love, virtue, value – will see all that is of God and from God……will grow into a vision of God, Himself.

Being pure of heart….being single-hearted is a gift we offer to the world around us….it makes us people of hope, positive and optimistic about life and all that life has to offer….

Being pure of heart is like having eyes that do nothing but see and all things are possible for those who can see…….

Being pure of heart is having a heart with direction, expectation and purpose….Being pure of heart is to seek the reign of God first and believing that all else will be given besides……

Loving God, Give me a pure heart that I may see You more clearly, day by day…..

To love thee more dearly….. day by day…..

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…

Loving God, Give me a pure heart that I may love You more dearly, day by day…..

To follow thee more nearly……. day by day…..

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……

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

Remember the disciples of Jesus on the mountain with their master being transfigured (Luke 9:28-36). They found a temporary serenity and security on the mountain as they saw him transfigured. But the journey of Jesus was not complete and the disciple’s journey was not complete either. They had to leave this experience, come down the mountain and accept life with all its joys and sorrows, even accept the cross and eventual death and follow their master.

They had to continue their journey into the unknown, uncertain and insecure future. They had to walk in mystery!

The journey of Jesus would take him to the cross and then to unending glory. His disciples must follow and travel a similar path. On their way, Jesus would serve as their map, their route, their guide and eventually their way – and the way, the journey and the end of the journey become one…..

Like their master, the disciples must be prepared to accept the inconveniences, suffering, pain, cross – all of life’s struggles, be strong and stand strong in faith during difficult times…..        

Paul invited the Philippians to be fellow-imitators of Christ (Philippians 3:17 – 4:1). He also encouraged them to be aware of those whose lives were scandalous and not follow them because “our citizenship is in heaven”. Paul was saying to them that they must never forget that they are citizens of heaven and that their conduct must match their citizenship. He instructed them to “stand fast in the Lord”. The meaning of “Stand Fast” as Paul uses is like the soldier “standing fast” in battle with the enemy surging down upon him.

Remember who you are! You are fellow citizens with the saints! Be faithful to your calling!

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, 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 be able to proclaim:    He has touched me and I have grown.

                He hasn’t finished with me yet.

                I wait patiently.

                Be patient with me.

Someday, I will proclaim:    I now no longer live, Christ my Lord lives in me.

Loving God, Give me a pure heart that I may follow You more nearly, day by day…..

O God, I have come into the quietness and stillness of your presence, so that out of this moment, I may take with me a quiet serenity, which will last me through the rough and smooth of this day’s life. Many hours of the day are waiting to be filled a hundred ways with a hundred prayers. But, right now, at this very moment, I am at peace. I walk with you, God. I sit with you, God. I run with you, God. Thank you.

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…..

Start by doing what’s necessary,

    then do what’s possible,

        and suddenly you are doing the impossible.

                    (St. Francis of Assisi)

Fr. Gus Tharappe1, msfs