BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD.

(Psalm 46:10)

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……

Settle into silence, into peacefulness, into profound silence, into pure joy. Keep listening in such quietness 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 this day and all that come with it….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……….

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 my life. Many hours of my days and nights are waiting to be filled a hundred ways with a hundred prayers. But, right now, at this very moment, I am at peace. I sit with you, God. I run with you, God. I walk with you, God. Thank you, God for just being here for me. Amen.

Begin Again…

We begin again our reflections on peacefulness. Our last meditation was on peacefulness as an inner force that moves us to diffuse tension, conflict, bitterness, strife and other such slings and arrows. Peaceful people can bridge the gap, heal the wounds, sweeten the bitterness…..such people do “God-like” work and they are “God-like” persons – they are “sons of God”. Peaceful people are “peacemakers”. Peacemaking is such a profound activity that the peacemaker becomes “son of God”.

This has something in common with the Hindu and Buddhist doctrine of “ahimsa”, which means living in a way, which does not cause harm to anyone or anything. The practice of “ahimsa” requires and induces a pure and merciful heart and a frugal, simple and ‘poor’ way of life. It requires great wisdom and insight because it is not just a good intention. It requires you to know that your actions will not cause harm and that they will contribute to the highest good of all. This calls for discipline.

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 God’s gift…… Peace is our dream….Peace is our faith…Peace is our hope….Peace is our love…Peace is our passion….such peace cannot be dissipated by men and women…nor by war and violence…….it’s God’s gift, which lives in the heart of all!

Abide in these thought for a few minutes

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……

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 from 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!

Abide in these thought for a few minutes

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.

With God as our Father, Brothers all are we.

Let me walk with my brother in perfect harmony.

Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me. Let this be the moment now.

With every step I take…….

Pace begins with me…from the depth of a peaceful, peace-filled, serene heart. It begin now and continues to grow and spread with every step I take……This calls us to nurture peacefulness of heart as the following g story reveals…….

There was a time (may be, even now) when most people were reluctant to work on farms along the Atlantic. They dreaded the awful storms that raged across the Atlantic, wreaking havoc on the buildings and crops.

One of the farmers constantly advertised for hired hands. Without much success. Finally, a short, thin man, well past middle age, seemed interested. “Are you a good farm hand?” the farmer asked him. “Well, I can sleep when the wind blows,” answered the little man.

The farmer, being desperate for help, hired him. The little man worked well around the farm, busy from dawn to dusk, and the farmer felt satisfied with the man’s work. Then one night the wind howled loudly in from offshore. Jumping out of bed, the farmer grabbed a lantern and rushed next door to the hired hand’s sleeping quarters. He shook the little man and yelled, “Get up!  A storm is coming! Tie things down before they blow away!” The little man rolled over in bed and said firmly, “No sir. I told you, I can sleep when the wind blows.”

Enraged by the response, the farmer was tempted to fire him on the spot. Instead, he hurried outside to prepare for the storm. To his amazement, he discovered that all of the haystacks had been covered with tarpaulins. The cows were in the barn, the chickens were in the coops, and the doors were barred. The shutters were tightly secured.  Everything was tied down. Nothing could blow away. The farmer then understood what his hired hand meant, so he returned to his bed to sleep while the wind blew.

When you’re prepared spiritually, mentally and physically, you have nothing to fear. You can definitely be in peace. You sleep when the wind blows through your life. The hired hand in the story was able to sleep because he had secured the farm against the storm. We secure ourselves against the storms of life by grounding ourselves in the Word of God.
We don’t need to understand, we just need to hold His hand to have peace in the middle of storms.

Remember Jesus inviting his men to rest a while (Mark 6:30-32) after a day’s hard and busy work. Jesus and his disciples went to a deserted place to be by themselves. People came to know about it and reached the place ahead of them. Jesus had compassion on those who were hungry and tired and he fed them with five loaves and a couple of fish.

Jesus saw people in need and reached out to them. He and his disciples had gone to the place for rest. Seeing people in need, Jesus, moved with compassion, ministered to them. Jesus could do so because he was in a good place…He was in peaceful and peace-filled place. He could reach out to the needy without resentments, without compliant.

Then Jesus went up the mountain by himself to pray. In the middle of the night, seeing his disciples on troubled waters, he came to them and gave them courage and comfort and called them to trust in him (Mark 6:53-56). He could do so because he was in a good place, in a peaceful and peace-filled place. He could reach out to the needy without resentments, without compliant.

Be confident. Find peace and serenity in the Lord. The Lord will be there in troubles times. Turn to him for strength and support in testing times.

Jesus and his disciples crossed over to Gennesareth and people came from all over to touch and be touched by Jesus…..All kinds of people found the power of healing in that touch – the healing touch of Jesus. Mark tells us that all who touched Jesus got well. He could reach out and touch others because he was in a good place, in a peaceful and peace-filled place. He could reach out to the needy without resentments, without compliant.

May your touch be affirming, compassionate, encouraging, gentle, healing, kind, loving, sensitive, supportive, transforming…..Be peaceful, peace-filled and serene. Keep your heart in a good place and may that place be peaceful, peace-filled and serene. .

The following story tells us more about responding to situation from a peaceful, peace-filled and serene heart.

A wise old gentleman retired and purchased a modest home near a junior high school. He spent the first few weeks of his retirement in peace and contentment. Then a new school year began. The very next afternoon three young boys, full of youthful, after-school enthusiasm, came down his street, beating merrily on every trash can they encountered. The crashing percussion continued day after day, until finally the wise old man decided it was time to take some action.

The next afternoon, he walked out to meet the young percussionists as they banged their way down the street. Stopping them, he said, “You kids are a lot of fun. I like to see you express your
exuberance like that. In fact, I use to do the same thing when I was your age. Will you do me a favor? I’ll give you each a dollar if you’ll promise to come around every day and do your thing.” The kids were elated and continued to do a bang-up job on the trashcans.


After a few days, the old-timer greeted the kids again, but this time he had a sad smile on his face. “This recession’s really putting a big dent in my income,” he told them. “From now on, I’ll
only be able to pay you 50 cents to beat on the cans.” The noisemakers were obviously displeased, but they did accept his offer and continued their afternoon riot. A few days later, the wily retiree approached them again as they drummed their way down the street.


“Look,” he said, “I haven’t received my Social Security check yet, so I’m not going to be able to give you more than 25 cents. Will that be okay?” “A lousy quarter?” the drum leader exclaimed. “If you think we’re going to waste our time, beating these cans around for a quarter, you’re nuts! No way, mister. We quit!”

And the old man enjoyed peace and serenity for the rest of his days.


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

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.

If you find yourself in a situation where there are no peaceful persons, strive to be a peaceful person and if you find yourself in a situation where there are no peacemakers, strive to be a peacemaker.

Abide in these thought for a few minutes

God grant me,

        The serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

        Courage to change the things I can,

        And the Wisdom to know the difference.

        Living one day at a time;

        Enjoying one moment at a time;

        Accepting hardship as the pathway to peace.

        Taking as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it;

        Trusting that He will make all things right,

        If I surrender to His will;

        That I may be reasonably happy in this life,

        And supremely happy in the next. (Reinhold Niebuhr)

Fr. Gus Tharappel,msfs

BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD.

(Psalm 46:10)

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……

Settle into silence, into peacefulness, into profound silence, into pure joy. Keep listening in such quietness 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 from the depth of your heart begin to wish your mind well……….

Gently…Reflectively…Pray….

Slow me down, Lord

Ease the pounding of my heart

by the quieting of my mind.

Steady my hurried pace with a vision of the eternal reach of time.

Give me, amid the confusion of the day,

the calmness of the everlasting hills.

Break the tensions of my nerves and muscles,

with the soothing music of the singing streams that live in my memory.

Help me to know the magical, restoring power of sleep.

Teach me the art of taking minute vacations of slowing down

to look at a flower, to chat with a friend, to pat a dog,

to read a few lines from a good book.

Slow me down, Lord,

And inspire me to send my roots deep into the soil of life’s enduring values,

that I may grow toward the stars of my greater destiny. (Kristone)

Peacefulness……

We begin our reflections on “Peacefulness” our theme for “Reflection-2010″. We want to explore and deepen our understanding of Peacefulness and all the virtues that emerge from Peacefulness.

We want to explore Peacefulness in all its dimensions and look at the possibility of cultivating Peacefulness as our way of being – living and acting. I invite all of you to walk with me on this journey of being and becoming Peaceful and learning to walk Peacefully.

I pray for you and I pray for all, who, at this moment, are welcoming the gift of this new day with all its uncertainties. May your life be peace-filled and peaceful. Some people bring peace when they come and others bring peace when they go. I pray that you bring peace into all the situations that you encounter. May this day and the days ahead be amazing, fascinating, marvelous, wonderful and hope-filled days for you and for those you love! May God bless you with the richest and finest of his blessings!

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

Begin Again…

Let us begin by listening to God’s Word….

Blessed are the peacemakers: they shall be called sons of God. (Mt. 5:9)

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)

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. (Philippians 4:4-7)

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)

Abide in this thought for a few minutes

Begin Again…..

The Webster’s Universal College Dictionary defines “Peace” as: freedom from war; a cessation or absence of hostilities between nations; a state of harmony between people or groups; freedom from dissension; freedom from civil commotion, public order or security; freedom from anxiety, annoyance or other mental disturbance; peace of mind; a state of serenity or tranquility; silence, stillness; an agreement or treaty that ends hostilities or war; etc.

This is how, ordinarily, the world sees Peace. However, Jesus says: I give you peace – not as the world gives Peace Jn.14:27.

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…the good that is of God and from God.

The Peace that Jesus speaks of comes not from evasion of issues – it comes from facing them, dealing with them and conquering them. The Beatitude in Mathew 5:9 does not demand passive acceptance of things – but active, creative, dynamic movement – facing them, dealing with them and making peace, even when the way of peace is a struggle.

The Blessing proclaimed in this beatitude is not on peace-lovers, but on peacemakers. How many of us choose not to act for “peace-sake” and how many create trouble for the sake of peace. Refusal to take action or face the situation often leads to chaos. Fighting for peace does not necessarily create peace, either.

The Peace makers will be called “Sons of God” (not children of God) – this is a typical Hebrew expression. The Hebrew language uses the phrase “son of” with an abstract noun to describe something – instead of an adjective, as we do today. A man may be called “son of peace”, instead of a “peaceful man”. Barnabas is called a “son of consolation, instead of a consoling and comforting man, James and John were called “Boanerges”, meaning “sons of thunder” referring to their impetuous nature.

Hence the beatitude means: Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be 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).

Abide in this thought for a few minutes

Begin Again…..

Shalom means everything which constitutes the highest good of “man”. Peacemakers or shalom keepers are those who make the world a little better place to live in – those who lift others a little more – those who lift 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 early scholars of the Scriptures took this beatitude in a purely spiritual sense – to mean peace of heart, peace of mind/soul. There is inner struggle that all of us experience one time or another, the struggle between good and evil – being pulled in two different directions at the same time. Blessed is the person who works through the conflicts and brings peace to his/her heart and makes peace with God.

The Jewish Rabbis had a different meaning – which is what Jesus had in mind as He spoke this beatitude. The Jewish Rabbis held that the highest task, which a man can perform, is to establish right relationships between man and man – peacemaking – the force that binds/unites – the force that brings harmony.

There are people whose presence generates tension, conflict, bitterness, strife – trouble carriers or trouble makers – they make others uncomfortable. Every community, Church and society seems to have them. There are also people in whose presence bitterness cannot live – people who can bridge the gap – people who can heal the wounds – sweeten the bitterness. Such people do “God-like” work and they are “God-like” persons – they are “sons of God”.

Peacemaking is such a profound activity that the peacemaker becomes a “son of God”. Being “sons of God” is about character, about quality. It is the quality of “God-like” persons and peacemaking results from this peacefulness within.

Peacefulness is the quality of our inner being, a state of being in harmony with all, an attitude that brings us into communion with God and all that is of God and from God.

Peacefulness is the dream for harmony that lives in the heart of humanity even while living within the most atrocious war.

Peacefulness is a force that resists war and longs and waits for the day when weapons will be silent……a force that resists indifference, violence and hostilities and empowers us to tolerate and transcend differences.

Peacefulness is a force that brings harmony into chaos, unity into diversity and communion of countries, cultures and religions. Peacefulness is a force that empowers you, to gradually and tenaciously, build peace with all!

Open your heart and your mind will open. An open mind will bring peacefulness of heart. We must never underestimate the force of the peace that comes from the heart! The heart of peacemakers is like the heart of God – LOVE, pure and simple.

I wish you Peace – God’s Peace as we begin our journey of Peacefulness – Peace in your hearts, peace in your homes, peace in your community, peace in your country, peace in the world.

I pray for you that you may have peace in your hearts, you may think peace, feel peace, speak peace. You may have a word of peace for your spouse, for your children, for your neighbor……You be men and women of peace. May your presence proclaim God’s peace.

I pray that you may be peace-filled and peaceful!

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.

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 gift of another day……..

Thank you for silence, stillness, solitude……………

Thank you for blessing and grace………

Thank you for just being, for me, God.

Meditative Prayer

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 my life. Many hours of my days and nights 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, God. Amen.

I have come with gratitude and with a prayer in my heart …….

• for the talents and the abundance of gifts that you have blessed me with………..
• for the faith that moves, stirs and grows in my heart…….
• for the many people who have been instruments of your goodness in my life…..
• for the moments that I have known your presence in my life….
• for the times I have been instrument of your goodness and grace and love……
• for the miracles of your love that I have witnessed…..
• for the wonder of your creation all around me…….

I have come with hope and a prayer in my heart for trust……..

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

I have come seeking you with a prayer in my heart……..

• deep within my being, deep in my heart where justice and truth, love and peace embrace………….
• in the midst of my daily activities and the many things-to-do that keep me on the move…..
• among many people who come into my life……………..
• in the successes and disappointments of my daily activities……..
• in the books I read, in the news I hear, in the noise of the surroundings……..
• in the truth I discover, in the uncertainties I encounter……..
• in the wonderful people and in the not so wonderful people I meet…

I have come affirming with a simple and humble prayer in my heart…..

• that you are worth my constant search…….
• that you are in my life every moment of the day….
• that you walk with me as I walk toward you…..
• that you carry me through when I am unable to walk……
• that you pick me up and put me on the road when I stumble and fall…..
• that you are my strength in time of sorrow, hope in times of distress, comfort in times of confusion, safety in times of danger….
• that you are worth my sacrifice, my letting go off whatever I hang on to………
• that you seek me, trust me, love me unconditionally……..
• that you wait for me to welcome me home………
• that you, my God, are my home. Amen

May it be so. May your will happen.

And, finally, Lord, I surrender to you and your way.

Back to the top

Pray this again, gently, slowly

This time bring significant others into your prayer

You have prayed,

I have come with gratitude….

I have come with hope….

I have come seeking…

I have come affirming……

Now write your own prayer by completing the following sentence:

I have come………..

May it be so. May your will happen.

And, finally, Lord, I surrender to you and your way.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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