EMPOWER YOURSELF

BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD.

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

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……

Breathe in all that is of God and from God…all that is true, honest, pure, admirable, noble, decent, virtuous, worthy of praise, good, loving, kind – all that deserves respect..

Breathe out all that is not of God and from God……..

Settle into silence, into peacefulness, into profound silence, into pure joy. Keep listening in quietness, stillness and serenity.

Come to that place, that space within, that place of deep silence – Solitude…to just being here and now, without having to accomplish something.

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

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

Thank you for the day……..

Thank you for stillness……………

Thank you for blessing and grace………

Thank you for just being, for me, God.

Gently…Prayerfully…slowly…. Read……

Your may have lots of faith, little faith, shallow faith, superstitious faith; You may have great hopes, little hope, only a wish and no real hope; You may love very deeply and intensely, love a lot, love much, love a little…. Wherever you may be in your spiritual journey, whatever you may be doing at this point in your life…..Empower yourself with the Grace of God:

• Remember: You have been reconciled with God in Christ. You have been immersed into the mystery of His Love and Life in your Baptism. You have been Graced!

   

• Remember the Lord’s word to Paul: “My Grace is enough for you” (2 Cor. 12:9)

• Affirm your goodness, the good deeds you do, the loving things that you make happen for yourself and others….But make it with a gentle understanding of your weakness…..
• God is forever loving you. You do not have to change, grow, follow certain rules, or be good in order to be loved……

• You are loved so that you can change, grow, be good, be loving…..

   

• Remember: God is ever mindful of you – you are never out of God’s heart, mind or thought….even when you wander off. Another way of saying it is, God never lets you slip out of His mind as He weaves his plan for the whole universe. (Psalm 8:4)

   

• Remember: The Psalmist proclaims (Psalm 8:5) “thou has made him little less than god” “and crowned him with glory”. God made you to image God – to do what He does and to reflect His glory! What an honor!!!

   

• Remember: He is good…… His love endures forever. (Psalm 139:1)

   

• Remember: He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it…because “His Love endures forever”. (Psalm 138)

   

• Remember: God created “my inmost being and knit me together in my mother’s womb”

(Psalm 139:14).

• Remember: “In Him we live and move and have our being” (Acts of the Apostles 17:28).

• Remember: Nothing “will be able to separate us from the love of God that comes to us in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:39)

• Remember: Jesus prayed for you. He prayed for all believers… “that all may be one as, you, Father, are in me and I in you; I pray they may be one is us” (John 17:20-21)

• Almighty God has crowded miracles into you. Why not let them come forth and live? (Norman Vincent Peale)

Empower yourself!

Be Your Best. Do Your Best. Give Your Best.

Leave The Rest To The Lord.

Abide in these thoughts for a few moments!

Take a moment….pray gently, quietly, in silence and solitude, in serenity and peace!

I feel a deep, warm, comforting harmony within. Thank you, God. You are meeting my need now. You are blessing and Gracing my life. Many hours, days, months and years of my life are waiting to be filled a hundred ways with a hundred prayers. But, right now, at this very moment, I am at peace. I abide in you, God. I dwell in your love, God. I walk with you, God. I sit with you, God. I run with you, God. I do all I do with you, my God. Thank you my God. Amen.

O God, I have come into the quietness and stillness of your presence, that out of this moment, I may take with me a quiet serenity, which will last me through the rough and smooth of my daily life…..Empower me Lord, with a quiet serenity!

I have come to find wisdom, so that I may not make any foolish mistakes, that I may know when to speak and when to be silent, when to act and when to refrain from action….. Empower me Lord, with your wisdom!

I have come to find peace so that nothing may worry or upset me, that I may have peacefulness of heart, that I may be free of deep anxiety, through my daily chores. Bless me Lord, with your gift of Peace which you promised your disciples. Empower me Lord, with peacefulness of heart!

I have come to find courage, to be patient enough not to give up hope, to accept disappointment without bitterness and to accept delay without complaint. Empower me Lord, with virtues of courage and patience.

I have come to find love – to listen to your love so that through the days ahead, I may love, without being attached and possessive; that nothing may make me bitter and unforgiving. Bless me Lord, with the gift of your love. Empower me Lord, with a loving heart!

I have come to spend some time with you Lord, so that I may be empowered to walk with you faithfully and joyfully with meaning, with purpose, with direction, with peace, with serenity and without regrets and resentments, without guilt and shame, without worries and deep anxiety!

I have come to you Lord, to be real, to be true, to be honest, to be faithful, to be gentle and gracious – with a heart desiring deeply to be open and docile to the movements and promptings of your Holy Spirit. I have come praying for the gift of your Grace to empower me……

Gracious God, we are your people, embraced by your love.

We thank you for your presence with us throughout all time.

Free us from all that burden us – heal us form sin and its effects.

Empower us to live your life more fully, joyfully and faithfully.

Strengthen our relationships, unite our families,

transform us into communities of love. AMEN

Back to the top

Pray this again, gently and slowly.

Fr. Gus Tharappel,msfs

MAKING DIFFICULT CHOICES

BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD.

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

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……

Breathe in all that is of God and from God…all that is true, honest, pure, admirable, noble, decent, virtuous, worthy of praise, good, loving, kind – all that deserves respect..

Breathe out all that is not of God and from God……..

Settle into silence, into peacefulness, into profound silence, into pure joy. Keep listening in quietness, stillness and serenity.

Come to that place, that space within, that place of deep silence – Solitude…to just being here and now, without having to accomplish something.

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

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

May my mind be clear and spacious like the sky……

May all negative thoughts drift away like the clouds………

May my mind be filled with comfort, ease, serenity, peace……

May my heart be pure, simple, undivided that I may see you……………

May my heart be confident and trusting that I may be safe in you………….

May my heart be hopeful, optimistic and positive that I may be free in you…………

Keep repeating these words in your heart

Thank you for the day……..

Thank you for stillness……………

Thank you for blessing and grace………

Thank you for just being, for me, God.

Be still…..Relax

Five Minutes

Prayerfully Read and Reflect…..

Our last meditation was on “Choosing God’s Way”. We reflected on the choices that great people like Joshua, Zachaeus, Peter and Paul made and how they challenged their people to make similar choices. This meditation is on the many choices that flow from choosing “God’s Way”.

Choosing “God’s Way” frees us to be what God made us to be and wants us to be. This choice however is very demanding because the freedom that comes from choosing God’s Way is always very demanding. True freedom limits us to choose only that which fits our nature, our character. ..the opposite is absence of or lack of true freedom. True freedom is freedom to be……it is the freedom of the children of God.

Moses challenged his people to take God’s word into their hearts, into their soul, into their daily lives. He asked his people to make the fundamental choice: life or death; blessing or curse. To choose life and blessing means that we must accept and obey the law of God and be guided by his wisdom. We must align our will to the will of God (Deuteronomy 11:18, 26-28, 32)

Take a moment and pray….May your will be done!

Paul tried to convince the Christians in Rome that God has justified all people, including the Gentiles in Christ. All are justified by God’s gift of Grace in Jesus and not by any work they have done (Romans 3:21-29). It takes more than obedience to the law to deserve God’s justice. Practice of the law means little, if the inner self does not express real faith.

Be grateful for the gift of God’s Grace in Jesus and learn to live in that Grace!

All are called to the Kingdom of God. However, crying out, “Lord…Lord…” will not give anyone access to the Kingdom (Mathew 7:21, 24-27). Jesus calls for sincerity of purpose. Sincerity of purpose is shown in practice, in the way we live out our purpose.

Fine words are never substitutes for fine deeds. Be sincere in your efforts to live out your faith. There is only one proof of love and that proof is obedience (surrender).

It is not difficult to recite a creed, but to live the Christian life is demanding and challenging and often difficult.

Faith without practice is dead. Love without obedience (surrender) is impossible.

Jesus was once asked whether only a few would be saved (Luke 13:22-30). Behind this question was the belief that only the Jews would be saved and not the gentiles. Jesus responded by telling them that entrance into the kingdom was not automatic…membership in the Jewish community or any faith community did not guarantee entrance into the kingdom. He called them to make difficult choices and make the difficult journey….the door is narrow, he said. He himself was making his way to Jerusalem to face rejection and eventual death.

We are all familiar with expressions like “a narrow escape” , “a tight squeeze” and so on which suggest that we have accomplished something difficult, something that required taking risk, being vulnerable, diligence, vigilance, decisiveness and great precision.

Even as children, some of us had narrow escapes from the bullies in the school, from major accidents on a bike, from major failures in sports, etc. As adults many of us can recall the narrow escapes we had from serious injuries, conflicts with others, major car accidents and so on.

Much more than that, we know how narrow the path forward can be when we face life-altering decisions. We are often confronted with situations where all our options must give way to one choice. No one else can make the decision for us and no one else would suffer the consequences of that decisions. All our choices will come to this narrow “gate” that will define who we are, how we live and even define us into the future. We must walk through the narrow gate and enter the kingdom.

From the beginning of scriptures, we read about great men and women being called to make difficult choices and they in turn called their people to make hard choices. Moses and the prophets and finally Jesus offered people choices between life and death; way of the just and way of the wicked; good and bad; foolishness and wisdom and so on.

Jesus challenges us to make difficult choices, make the difficult journey, walk the path of trials, face testing times, enter through the narrow door………

The way to the kingdom is not easy, but it is just the right way, the way made to fit our needs! We must make difficult choices and be faithful to the choices we make. The choice is ours. Once the choice is made, the question is: is that your final choice? Your final answer to the call?

In the Gospel passage of today (Mathew 21:28-32)we read about a son who said “no” to his father and changed it into an “yes” and another son who said “yes” to his father changed it into a “no”. The final answer made the difference.

Take a moment: think of all the people whose lives once characterized by “no” to God and to God’s goodness and then transformed into a decided “yes”, into a final answer “yes”.

Peter did; Thomas did. Thomas Merton, one of the great mystics of our times moved from “No” to “Yes”. Orphaned at 16, he traveled Europe at 18 maintaining a bohemian lifestyle. A vowed communist at 20, a reporter for New York times at 24 and Trapist monk at 26.

Some of you will remember “Mary Poppins”. As Jane and Michael were being to put to bed, Jane asked Mary, “you will never leave us, will you?” Her brother added, “Will you stay if we promise to be good?” Mary Poppins replied, “That’s a pie-crust promise. Easily made. Easily broken.”

Some of you may remember John Newton’s dramatic conversion during a storm at sea. He was a slave trader. His “yes” to God is memorialized in “Amazing Grace”

Take a moment…….and say, “Yes” to God and Gods’ way!

Fr. Gus Tharappel,msfs

CHOOSING GOD’S WAY

BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD.

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

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……

Breathe in all that is of God and from God…all that is true, honest, pure, admirable, noble, decent, virtuous, worthy of praise, good, loving, kind – all that deserves respect..

Breathe out all that is not of God and from God……..

Settle into silence, into peacefulness, into profound silence, into pure joy. Keep listening in quietness, stillness and serenity.

Come to that place, that space within, that place of deep silence – Solitude…to just being here and now, without having to accomplish something.

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

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

May my mind be clear and spacious like the sky……

May all negative thoughts drift away like the clouds………

May my mind be filled with comfort, ease, serenity, peace……

May my heart be pure, simple, undivided that I may see you……………

May my heart be confident and trusting that I may be safe in you………….

May my heart be hopeful, optimistic and positive that I may be free in you…………

Keep repeating these words in your heart

Thank you for the day……..

Thank you for stillness……………

Thank you for blessing and grace………

Thank you for just being, for me, God.

Be still…..Relax

Five Minutes

Prayerfully Read and Reflect

As Joshua and his people continued their journey through the Promised Land, many others, who were not part of the exodus movement, joined them. Joshua called all of them together with those who came out of Egypt and offered them the choice of serving the God of Israel or their former gods. Joshua affirmed, “As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord”. Choosing the God of Israel, the God of the covenant meant rejection of all false gods. All present followed the choice Joshua proclaimed, “We will serve the Lord, our God”. (Joshua 24:1-2, 15-17, 18)

Joshua made his choice: “We will serve the Lord”. Now Join Joshua and make your choice!

Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.

When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a ‘sinner.’ ” But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”

Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” (Luke 19:1-10)

Zacchaeus made his choice: “I will restructure my life.”
Now join Zacchaeus and make your choice!

Some of the listeners of Jesus were shocked at the many things that he taught and did. Many of them walked away in protest. Some of them surrendered in faith and accepted the gift Jesus offered although they did not fully understand what was offered to them as a gift. Jesus challenged his disciples, asked them whether they too were going to walk away. Peter, as always, had great wisdom and he said, “Lord, to whom shall we go, you have the words of eternal life”.

(John 6:60-69)

Peter made his choice. Now join Peter and make your choice!

Paul instructed the Ephesians: Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God…… “Awake, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will give you light “…… Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity… Defer to one another out of reverence for Christ. (Ephesians 5:1-21)

Paul challenged the Ephesians to make their choice out of “reverence” for Christ. Now you are challenged to make your own choice!

BE STRONG…….

    BE A MAN/WOMAN……

        STAND YOUR GROUND…….

            STAY FOCUSED ON THE LORD…

BE RENEWED IN SPIRIT……….

AND MAKE YOUR CHOCIE!

I will…

• face what need to be faced, honestly and directly
• deal with what need to be dealt with
• accept what must be accepted
• change what need to be changed
• build what needs building
• drop what must be dropped
• pick up what needs to be picked up
• eliminate what needs to be eliminated
• give what needs to be given
• take what needs to be taken
• share what must be shared, generously
• let go of what must be released
• hold on to what must be held, tightly
• incorporate what must be incorporated
• stop what must be stopped, promptly and permanently

Add your own:

Be still…..Relax

Take a moment…Prayerfully choose one or two things that you want to do to restructure your life, to let it become more fully alive and keep you faithful on your journey of life.

Fr. Gus Tharappel,msfs

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

CELEBRATE GOD

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……

All our meditations begin with “Be still and know that I am God”. Our meditation today is on “know that I am God”. To “know” God does not mean that we gather knowledge about God, read, study, research, inquire, philosophize or theologize about God. It does mean an intimate encounter, a meeting of hearts and minds and wills, a growing personal relationship, a life-transforming relationship, an openness to let God in, to making space for God and to enter the very life of God. It is about relationship, about communion, about intimacy.

One of the most important doctrines of the Church is the doctrine of the Most Holy Trinity – God as Father, Son and Spirit in one single, indivisible communion of persons. Many have attempted to explain this dogma in a variety of ways. None of them can adequately explain the meaning and the power this doctrine has over our lives. We need to understand and accept this as “The Mystery” which we can only contemplate, before which we stand in awe and wonder and amazement and adoration and admiration.

God is Mystery and the Mystery of God is known only through God’s self-revelation. Mystery does not mean “mysterious”, something that is abstract, out there somewhere or something that can not be known or understood. Mystery is profound truth – Reality, not facts, not verifiable information but profound truth, eternal truth. The more we come to know truth, the more there is to know. The more we know mystery, the more there is to know. Mystery is revealed and hidden at the same time.

Mystery has to be experienced – we must plunge into mystery. We must experience the mystery of God, be baptized into the mystery of God, be immersed into the mystery of God’s life and love. To know is to become one with that which is known. The more you know, the more there is to know. God is Mystery – known and hidden……. the more you know God, the more there is to know. To know God is to “abide”, “dwell” in God – to be in communion with God.

No one has ever seen God. Yet, if we love one another, God dwells in us and His love is brought to perfection in us. The way we know, that we remain in him and he in us, is that he has given us of his spirit. We have seen for ourselves and can testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. When anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwells in him and he in God. (I John 4:12-15)

Moses wanted to see God, know his name, see his face – he could only walk on Holy ground.

I am who am – the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob – this is my name forever, this is my title for all generations. (Ex.3:14-15)

My face you cannot see, for no man sees me and still lives. (Ex. 33:20)

One day, Moses went up the mountain and was in deep conversation with God on Mount Sinai. His people became impatient and made a golden calf and began to worship the image. Moses came down the mountain with God’s directives written on two tablets and found his people impatient and unfaithful. In anger, Moses broke the tablets of the law and destroyed the golden calf. (Exodus 34:4-6, 8-9)

Moses pleaded with God to come down and be with his people and the Lord came down again in a cloud. The Lord asked Moses to cut two stone tablets and go up Mount Sinai alone and Moses followed God’s directive early next morning.

In this excerpt, we have the intimate conversation between God and Moses. God declared himself to be “merciful, gracious, slow to anger, rich in kindness and fidelity and so on. Moses bowed down to the ground and worship the Lord, his God and asked the Lord to be with his people in spite of their wickedness.

Moses and his people had life-transforming experience because they had a very personal encounter with God. In this encounter they knew God as merciful, gracious, just, rich in kindness and faithfulness.

Many of the psalms proclaim the amazing, awesome presence of God and the psalmist stands in awe, adoration, admiration and contemplation..…..

O God, our God,

how glorious is your name over all the earth!

Your glory is praised in the heavens. (Psalm 8:1)

The heavens declare the glory of God;
 the skies proclaim the work of his hands. (Psalm 19:1)

Clap your hands, all you nations;

shout to God with cries of joy.

 How awesome is the LORD Most High,

the great King over all the earth (Psalm 47:1-2)

John 3:16 is one of the most frequently quoted scripture verses, displayed on banners, signs and bumper stickers……”God so loved the world that he gave his only son, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life”. This verse is worth memorizing, remembering and contemplating. This is the central message of the Gospel. This is the good news. It tells us that God loved first and salvation comes from him as his gift. It tells us that God loved the world – not a few favorite people or nation, not even a few good people – but the world. God’s love is an all-embracing love.

We are invited to ponder this all-embracing love of God for the world! As Saint Augustine says, “God loves each one of us as if there was only one of us to love.”

God’s love, his abiding presence, his intimacy has the power to change people and things and the universe. It is this intimacy that brings peace, God’s gift of peace.

We long for a sense of oneness, a union and communion with others like us and communion with God. We long for the liberation which Jesus proclaimed, which only he can offer. It is this communion that brings peace.

We are called to become witnesses of the mystery of God’s presence: God’s Light, Truth, Life, Love…in the world – in us the world must see the “sign” of the “presence” of the very “heart” of God – mercy, peace, joy, justice, compassion, love.

Baptized in the name of the Triune God, we are called to be models, witnesses, living examples of intimacy with God, Father, Son and Spirit.

Jesus is our door to intimacy with God, others, the universe and self. In Jesus, we discover three simple and profound avenues to intimacy: Simplicity, Fidelity, Purity. In him, we also discover three outstanding virtues which underlie all other virtues: Humility, Unconditional love, Surrender.

Jesus was God’s “Epiphany”. So intense was his intimacy with the father, He was “illuminated”, transfigured – his face like the sun and his garments became pure white on the mountain.

I am in the Father and the Father is in me. (John 14:8-11)

I will ask the father and he will give you another paraclete, to be with you always. (John. 14:16)

We will come to him and make our dwelling place with him. (John 14:23)

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.

The secret of the unity in the Trinity is the “sacredness’ of relationship, the “unconditional” presence; the “abiding”, the “intimacy” that Jesus speaks of.

We are to be models of Trinitarian “faith, hope, love” – living examples of intimacy with God, Father, Son, Spirit which lasts a lifetime, eternity.

Take a moment…pray the following prayer or sing it in your hears, if you know it…..

Keep me in the hollow of thy hand,

Lead me through this wild and stormy land,

Thou doth guide my feet though the pathway may be steep,

Keep me in the hollow of thy hand.

Keep me keep me day by day,

Guide me guide me all the way,

Never, never let me stray,

Keep me in the hollow of thy hand.

Keep me in the center of thy will,

All thy plans for me may-I fulfill,

As I go my way, help me Lord from day to day,

Keep me in the center of thy will. Keep me keep me day by day……..

Keep me in the circle of thy love,

Looking down to comfort from above,

Help me see thy face, as I pray for daily grace,

Keep me in the circle of thy love. Keep me keep me day by day…….

My Prayer for you:

• that you may grow in the knowledge and experience of God
• that you may dwell in the mystery of God – in the very heart of God’s being
• that you may experience the presence of God in all things and people you encounter
• that you may become a witness to the mystery of God’s loving presence
• that you may walk with God, joyfully and faithfully

Your Prayer:

Fr. Gus Tharappel,msfs

BEING EASTER PEOPLE (7)

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. Our last meditation was on the promise of Jesus to send us His Holy Spirit to enable and empower us to carry on His mission to its fulfillment. This week, we meditate on being on fire with the love of God poured into the heart by the Holy Spirit.

Holy Spirit of Love,

Come, kindle in us the fire of your love.

The Acts of the Apostles tells us that the disciples experienced a harmony, a unity, a fellowship that they never dreamed of! Acts 2:1-11 tells us that “a noise like a strong driving wind filled the entire house and tongues as of fire rested on each of the them”. They were from different territories, they were of different background, they spoke different languages….but they understood each other! The disharmony, the disunity and the brokenness and confusion that people experienced at Babel was reversed…at Babel they began to speak many languages and they could not understand each other anymore…at Pentecost, they spoke different languages and they understood each other…the Holy Spirit made it happen.

The Holy Spirit filled the disciples with a new power….they were no more afraid…they spoke boldly…they moved with courage and compassion to bring the good news of Jesus to the world.

Throughout the Scriptures fire was used to symbolize the divine presence. Moses approaches the burning bush and hears a call to lead his people out of slavery in to freedom (Ex. 3:2). Isaiah’s lips are purified by red hot coals (burning torches) that are carried by the seraphs (Is.6:1-3). Slaves, running from Egypt into the freedom of the promised land, saw the pillar of fire at night as a sign of the protecting, freeing, guiding and saving presence of God (Ex. 13:21-22).

Tongues of fire rested on the frightened Apostles and rekindled their courage and conviction (Act 2:1-13). Peter speaks of the fire of God ad a source of purification, something that refines our faith (1 Peter 1:6-9). The Prophet Malachi says, “He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.” (Malachi 3:3). The Author of the letter to the Hebrews refers to God as a “consuming fire” (Heb. 12:29).There is more….and more…..about the fire and the flame and the light……the gentle light, the quiet fire, the glowing flame, the consuming fire, the purifying fire………

How does this inspire you….move you……..inflame you……..awaken you….enlighten you……….set you on fire as you prepare to celebrate the feast of Pentecost?

Take a moment now…..Get in touch with the fire burning in your heart………….

If you don’t feel the fire within, take a moment now, pray for an awakening to that fire. Pray for a deeper desire, a longing, a hunger, a thirst, “yearning” for that fire of God.

Be Still – Reflect

Holy Spirit of Love,

Come, kindle in us the fire of your love.

Remember people whose hearts are on fire with God. As you remember them, you may feel that your own heart is far from being alive with this profound love.

Be watchful. There is danger in comparisons. The danger of comparing ourselves with others is that often we feel tension between being inspired by someone on fire with God and trying to make ourselves like them. We just don’t have to be like them. No two hearts are on fire with God exactly the same way.

We are called to live this dynamic, profound, vibrant love in our own unique way, according to our own personality, our own temperament, our own goodness, our own inconsistencies and idiosyncrasies.

Sometimes, we may even wonder if any spark of fire remains in us. Sometimes, we will resist the fire, other times, we may be afraid of its power.

Yet, within all of us, the fire of God continues to flicker, even when we do not see it glow. You don’t have to be a Jeremiah! or a John the Baptist! or a Mother Teresa! or a John Paul II! You just have to be yourself!

“there seemed to be a fire burning in my heart, imprisoned in my bones…..” Jeremiah 20:9

Get in touch with the fire burning in your heart……If you don’t feel the fire within, pray for an awakening to that fire. Pray for a “yearning” for that fire of God.

Holy Spirit of Love,

Come, kindle in us the fire of your love.

Take a few moments…Get in touch with the fire burning in your heart………….

Fan into flame the spark that is within………….

During this coming week, as we celebrate the feast of Pentecost, light a candle each morning as you begin your day. Hold the candle in your hands as you pray for a rekindling of the fire of God in you or for fanning into flame the spark you found within or express gratitude for the spark you found within……….

Remember people you have known or heard about whose hearts are on fire with God. Reflect on how the fire is reflected in their life. Reflect on how you may have caught a spark from them.

Remember Jeremiah or Moses or John the Baptist or the two disciples on the road to Emmaus or Peter or Paul…..or anyone else that you know in history. Read their stories…listen to them. Reflect on how the fire of God was a transforming power in their life……dialogue with them.

If you don’t feel the fire within, pray for an awakening to that fire. Pray for a “yearning” for that fire of God.

Pray for…..

        a deeper hunger for God

        a longing for the fire of God’s love

a deeper appreciation of life         

an enthusiasm for life

a deeper appreciation of the world as God’s gift

a positive, optimistic attitude toward all that is

        an openness to truth, goodness, justice, peace, shalom

        a longing for change, growth, transformation

        a love for contemplation

        a passion for service

Abide in this prayer for some time

Fr. Gus Tharappel, msfs

BEING EASTER PEOPLE (6)

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. Our last meditation was on being people of Hope, being Optimistic. Today we dwell on the promise of Jesus to send us His Holy Spirit to enable and empower us to carry on His mission to its fulfillment.

Luke tells us one of the most amazing stories (Luke 24:46-53)….the story of Jesus calling and trusting his men to be witnesses of his suffering, death and resurrection and sending them with his mission of bringing good news to the world. These were the men who failed to stand by him when he was being tried and condemned to death. These were the men who remained behind closed doors for fear of the Jews, after the death of their master. These were the men who hesitated to believe in his resurrection. But, Jesus trusted them with his mission. What an amazing act of trust…trusting men who proved unreliable!!!!

Today, we, with all our limitations and inconsistencies, are trusted with this good news and are called to bring this good news of Jesus to the world. Reflected on being trusted with the mission of Jesus.

With great wisdom, knowing the limitations of his men, Jesus asked them to wait “until you are clothed with power from on high”……. to wait for the Holy Spirit to empower them. This is a reminder for us to be conscious of our own limitations and powerlessness; to rely not on our abilities or powers, but on the gift of the Holy Spirit, on being empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Learn to wait patiently with arms and hearts and minds that are open to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit!

Luke tells us that after he had instructed his disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit, Jesus blessed them and then was taken up into heaven (Luke 24:46-53). They returned to Jerusalem and were found praising God in the temple. They waited as their master had instructed them.

This is the amazing story….this is the story of an end and a beginning that was continuous, that merged…an end that ran into a beginning and a beginning that grew out of an end. This is the story of the ascension of the Lord, which is the story of “continuity” and not a break from what they had come to know and experience. This is the story of the Church being called, sent and empowered to continue what Jesus began. It is the story of Jesus asking the disciples to wait to be filled so that they become more fully involved. It is the story of the disciples being enabled and empowered to live and share the good news of Jesus. This story invites us to wait and remain open to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit and be empowered to fulfill the mission of Jesus.

Be still! Wait patiently! Wait with open arms, minds and hearts! May the Holy Spirit fill you with all the gifts you need to fulfill your mission in life!

Luke tells us that the Holy Spirit empowered the Church to continue where Jesus had left off at his death
(Acts 1:1-11). The Holy Spirit filled the disciples of Jesus with courage and strength to proclaim the risen Lord and to live the life which Jesus called them to live. The disciples had misunderstood the message of Jesus about the kingdom. They thought in terms of an earthly, political reality. Jesus had to change their concepts. This excerpt from Acts tells us that his disciples needed the Holy Spirit to teach them and empower them to carry on his mission. Jesus trusted the disciples with his mission and empowered them to continue and fulfill his mission.

We would also experience courage and strength if we would learn to wait, to be still…to wait for being strengthened by the presence and movement of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus had spoken to the disciples much about the Holy Spirit. He said to the disciples: I will ask the Father and He will send you another helper who will stay with you forever (Jn.14:16). The helper, the Holy Spirit will teach you everything and make you remember all I have told you (Jn.14:26). The Sprit will give them courage to stand up and witness to him in the face of difficulties (Jn. 15:26-27).

The Spirit will lead them into truth (Jn.16:7-8, 13). Jesus breathed on them and said: “receive the Holy Spirit’ (Jn. 20:21-22). At Pentecost, the Sprit took “possession” of them (Acts 2:2-3). The Spirit transformed the disciples and Peter who denied knowing Jesus, so that they could go outside and begin preaching and proclaiming Jesus (Acts 2:15-17).

• It is the Holy Spirit within us who moves us to respond to God.
• Our witness to Christ is inspired and sustained by the Holy Spirit from within.
• Our witness comes from long, lasting fellowship and intimacy with Christ. The disciples were witnesses because they have been with him. We can witness Christ only when we have been with him.
• The spirit brings us into this fellowship with Christ and sustains that relationship.
• The witness comes from inner conviction, personal conviction. There can be no effective witness without personal conviction. The Sprit empowers, strengthens and sustains our conviction.
• The witness flows into outward testimony. A Christian witness is a person who not only knows Christ but wants others to know Christ. He is prepared to speak what is in his heart.
• The Spirit empowers the person to speak the truth that is in the heart.
• The Sprit gives courage to stand up and witness to him in the face of difficulties.
• In Scripture, the presence of the Holy Spirit is always an occasion of the return of harmony from chaos, freedom from slavery, rebirth from death.

Pray that you may experience the Holy Spirit rushing in with gifts that will transform you into “Sons of God”.

Luke tells us that the Holy Spirit empowered the Church to continue where Jesus had left off at his death (Acts 1:1-11). Jesus had asked the apostles to wait on the coming of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit filled them with courage and strength to proclaim the risen Lord and to live the life which Jesus called them to live.

Today, it is up to us to continue the mission of Jesus.
Rejoice in being trusted with the mission of Jesus and be faithful.

You are sent as Christ to the world not to change water into wine or to multiply bread and feed five thousand or to raise the dead or to walk on the water or to save the world. Your Call is to stand your ground… to be grounded, rooted in Him and growing in him.

Your call is to be counted among thousands who send their roots deep into the very person of Jesus – into his life, death and resurrection.

The call is to be transformed by his love. The call is to let that love be visible, be present, be the ground of all that you are.

The Jesus who will be recognized in you is not the all powerful, all loving, all good, all compassionate – perfect Jesus – you could never be that. It is Jesus who consoles you, comforts you, encourages you, supports you in your weakness, loves you, forgives you, calls you, challenges you, heals you – it this Jesus who shines through you – not in all perfection, but in an ever transforming experience of Grace. It is Jesus, who said to St. Paul “My grace is enough…” It is His Grace working through your weakness….you are being carried in Grace with all your limitations, weaknesses as well as goodness and strength.

Loving God,

Give us faith and trust,

courage and patience,

strength and insight,

discerning heart and wisdom,

to remain open to the transforming power of

your Holy Spirit. Amen

“Go courageously to do whatever you are called to do.” (St. Francis de Sales)

Fr. Gus Tharappel, msfs

BEING EASTER PEOPLE (5)

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. Our last meditation was on being people of hope, being positive and optimistic. Our hope is grounded in the words and deeds of our master and on his promise to be with us on our journey. 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.

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 love 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 love and 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 cannot 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

BEING EASTER PEOPLE (4)

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……

Prayerfully, reflectively read the following……Dwell on the thoughts that speak to you in this moment……

We continue our meditation on being Easter People……Easter people are people of Hope. People of Hope must remain optimistic about themselves and their world. In this meditation, we reflect on being optimistic.

Optimism is a dynamic, creative and empowering attitude that creates conditions for success by doing the best that is possible under the given circumstances. An Optimist focuses on looking at the constructive, creative and open aspects of life.

Optimism goes far beyond certain positive outlook or attitude or disposition toward life, the world and the future. It implies personal commitment to a way of life, a way of thinking and acting.

Optimism rises from our faith in the unconditional love of God for each human being and for the universe that he created. God never gives up on us or on our world. God’s love is everlasting, steadfast, unconditional, invincible.

Optimism is not wishful thinking…..it is confident and faithful walk into the mystery of tomorrow.

Be optimistic about yourself! See the good that you already are doing, appreciate moments of integrity and self-sacrifice however small or insignificant they may be; be grateful for the past deeds of God in your own life that have enabled you to do more than you ever imagined possible; rejoice in the memories of God lighting your path with periodic glimpses of his presence even in the desert and trying times of your life……..

Be optimistic about those around you! There are many signs of hope in those around you, your family, your church community, your friends, your colleagues: their faith and their persevering commitment to live a decent, noble and Christian life despite the many obstacles they encounter……….

Be optimistic about the world! There are many signs of hope in the world: stories of heroic men and women in your own country and elsewhere, people who embody the message of Jesus; stories of various countries working together to organize food drops to isolated villages revealing great concern for the starving people all over the world; stories of liberation movements of oppressed peoples and so on.

There are many stories of hope…you need to look for them and be encouraged by them and allow them to enable you to be optimistic!

You need to be able to rejoice in small victories and to concentrate on the good already being done rather than lament the absences. This disposition leads us to hope and enables us to work for further change with optimism.

It is important to realize that you are a sign of hope for others when you are optimistic about life and the world around!

So, look within and around…see signs of hope, capture images of hope…keep them in your heart…….cherish them……let them bless you and challenge you to be men and women of hope…be optimistic!

Optimism is not an idea or a doctrine. It is an attitude, an inner disposition. It is a way of seeing life and the world, a way of seeing the past, the present and the future, a way of seeing realities beyond the accidentals and the trivia, a way of looking beyond the immediate…

Optimism is a dynamic force that enables you to see possibilities where the world sees impossibilities.

Optimism is a dynamic force that gives you power in the face of powerlessness and keeps you moving through the trials and difficulties of life.

The optimist knows that the difference between difficult and impossible is that the difficult is outside and the impossible is inside….it is an attitude that says with God all things are possible!

Be optimistic. Optimism makes stepping stones out of stumbling blocks!

When burdens come, the optimist remembers that God gave him/her shoulders.

The optimist is unafraid of doubts and questions because he uses doubts and questions as vehicles to come to the truth.

Be optimistic! Light your candle. All the darkness of the world cannot put out the light of one small candle.

Be optimistic and do all things as if it were impossible to fail!

Be optimistic and get up one more time when you are knocked down!

Be optimistic! No matter what your situation may be in life, build something on it.

Be optimistic! Obstacles are things you see when you take your eyes of the goal. Stay focused on the goal!

Remember, no one ever injured their eyes by looking at the bright side of things.

I pray that you continue to be optimistic……

• when you are afraid and lose confidence in you, in others and in God…….
• when the busyness and schedules of your day press upon you and you become tense and nervous and doubtful…..
• when you doubt yourself in difficult moments in your life…..
• when you lose sight of God’s grace and blessings in your life…..
• when emptiness, loneliness and other such slings and arrows come your way….
• when you struggle to be good and share your goodness with others….

Next time your morning seems to be going wrong and you can’t seem to  find the car keys and you hit every traffic light, don’t get mad or  frustrated……Be optimistic! Praise God instead because God is at work watching over you. You are where God wants you to be!

When you are stuck in traffic, miss an elevator, turn back to answer a ringing telephone …. all the little things that annoy you …… think to yourself, this is exactly where God wants me to be at this very moment.

May God continue to bless you and keep you optimistic when all those annoying little things come your way!

If you find yourself in a situation where there are no optimists, strive to be an optimist.

Be positive! Think positive! Be a remarkable sign of hope for the world!

Fr. Gus Tharappel,msfs

BEING EASTER PEOPLE (3)

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……

Prayerfully, reflectively read the following……Dwell on the thoughts that speak to you in this moment……

Last week, we reflected on the different stories of the resurrection of Jesus and the responses of the many who heard the story. One thing in particular stood out for us in our reflection was the way the women and later the disciples raised to the tomb of Jesus.

This meditation invites you to reflect on what it means for you to race to the tomb of Jesus with the women and the disciples.

Racing to the Tomb:

Easter comes after the race to the tomb. Imagine if you can, visualize compassionate women racing to the tomb, early in the morning, wondering what they will do when they get to the tomb, how they will roll the stone away from the tomb, how they will get around the guards……

Let us join Mary of Magdala and the other women of compassion and start racing to the tomb!

• Racing to the tomb is a way of moving through doubts and fears and uncertainties and embracing the emptiness of the tomb……this must happen if we are ever to understand life.
  

• Racing to the tomb is a way of moving into the unknown….not knowing what awaits you on arriving at the tomb…..compassionate women found that death and the emptiness of the tomb have been changed into life.
  

• Racing to the tomb means losing life…it also means finding life! It means wheat falling into the ground and dying only to rise again.
  

• Racing to the tomb means life dug out of death, joy born out of sorrow, light breaking out of darkness.
  

• Racing to the tomb means taking a risk of looking into the tomb to see if Jesus is really there!
  

• Racing to the tomb means being alert, awake and sensitive even in our moments of confusion and like Mary, remember to check with the gardener…mystery of life and death would get unraveled.
  

• Racing to the tomb means being blessed, like Mary, to run into the gardener….in the gardener she found the one she was looking for! God does have ways of surprising us!
  

• Racing to the tomb means being ready and willing to remove all the stones from the doorways of the tomb, however huge the stones may be, if we wish to find the hidden life in us.
  

• Racing to the tomb means moving with confidence…..The women moved to the tomb wondering who will roll the stone away from the tomb…they moved with uncertainty….but they moved all the same!
  

Having arrived at the tomb, let us look into it to see if Jesus is really there. The mystery of hope unfolds before the tomb – only an eye of faith can see it as it unfolds. The Cross and the tomb call us to wait in Hope for victory/glory beyond understanding.

We can withdraw from the tomb……… OR look deep inside and find it empty…… OR look around and find HIM alive and moving and calling us.

Remember…Jesus stepped on death, stepped into the tomb, leaped out of it, moved out into the world….life to its fullness is his gift to us! Embrace it!

We will be racing to the tomb as long as we live. We will be looking into the tomb to see if Jesus is really there!

We now take a moment to contemplate on racing from the tomb…ON BEING and becoming Easter People……

We become Easter people as we continue to race from the tomb. Imagine if you can, visualize Mary of Magdala racing from the tomb, early in the morning, wondering how she would break the news to her friends……Let us join Mary of Magdala and the other women of compassion and start racing from the tomb!

• Racing from the tomb is a way of moving into the unknown trusting in the promise: “I will go ahead of you into Galilee”
  

• Racing from the tomb is a way of announcing the good news of God’s love even when you know you have not fully matured in faith!

• Racing from the tomb is a way of reaching out and forming community with others.

• Racing from the tomb is reaching across boundaries, breaking down barriers and entering into fellowship with all people.

• Racing from the tomb is reaching out, with hope, to those who are afraid, lonely, skeptical, or disappointed.

• Racing from the tomb means I have a reason for striving to be good, remaining faithful and being hopeful.

• Racing from the tomb is a reminder that Christ gives new power and strength to be His witness to the world.

• Racing from the tomb is taking time to discern a situation before acting on impulse.

• Racing from the tomb is seeing the power of God’s Kingdom in seemingly simple acts.

• Racing from the tomb means being positive and optimistic.

   

• Racing form the tomb means walking in faith…however imperfect it may be.

   

• Racing from the tomb means believing and trusting even without understanding.

Add your own:

Fr. Gus Tharappel, msfs