God is love (1 John 4:8). Hence, to love is not only to be religious and spiritual but also to be God-like. Inarguably, love is at the basis of our religious teaching, preaching, doctrines, theology, philosophy, ideology, practices, and even rituals and rites. If these are devoid of love then religion is as useless as any human venture.
The readings of this Sunday point us to the necessary pain, suffering, and sacrifice of Lent. These lead to the renewal or transformation of our spirit, soul, and body. They invite us to be courageous when making a sacrifice for God. As our sacrifice renews God’s blessings upon us and strengthens our will to go through life bear with patience our crosses.
Lent is a desert experience of a long retreat of silence, reflection, meditation, and prayer. We all need this desert experience. Every Lenten season is a journey of grace into the desert. There are fewer distractions. It is quieter and clearer in the desert.
We all have different images of life as we experience, however amidst the absurdity of life, its meaning can be found in selfless acts or services to others. Someone, once argued that the only meaning of life is through the service of others.
Jesus´ authority and power are one to heal the broken humanity and to cast out evil in all its forms of existence either as demonic possessions, satanic influences, powers, and principalities in the low and high places. As well as to restore integrity and dignity in decent living through his teaching and preaching.
A Christendom without reformation or renewal is doomed. This conversion or repentance is a radical renewal of faith, lifestyle, and commitment to God. Our vocation to know, to love, and to serve God begins with a call to authentic or genuine conversion.
Life is a vocation and it is one which God calls us by name! Our vocation is to know God, love Him, and serve Him in our fellow brothers and sisters. Every state of our life is a calling from God. We are called to life when we were born. We do not exist by accident. We were also called to the Christian life in Christ Jesus when we were baptized. We have specific vocations to marital life, consecrated life, or to live life in singlehood. Whatever our state or calling, living fully within God´s plan for us is a vocation. A life, God intended for us to know, to love, and to serve Him in others.
The Feast of Epiphany means that in Christ Jesus, God is for all people and nations without exclusion. The Greek word Epiphany (επιφάνεια), means appearance or manifestation. In theological terms, Epiphany means the appearance or manifestation of Christ to the world after his birth.
Indeed, God is not just manifested to a small group of people called Israel. With the visit of the Magi, he is being revealed to all the people of earth and nations. This manifestation of God, Himself to us in so many ways. It is called a theophany. At the fullness of time, the revelation of his only Begotten Son: Jesus Christ was its climax.
CHRISTMAS: FEAST OF FAMILY Christmas is a feast of the family: Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. We all are from a family. We all belong to a family. The family is the most important nucleus of our neighbourhood, community, society, church,…
The mystery of the Incarnation and celebration of Christmas is a total demonstration of God’s love for us. It is the feast of Immanuel: God with us! The Dwelling Presence of God among men and women forever. That is, God who builds the house among us! It is God who sends the Saviour! It is God who comes to Mary and through Mary gives us the Saviour. All comes from God and all returns to God, but the present is the most important time because it is now that God and humans are in a relationship.