Friday 25 December 2015
The Perfect Gift at Christmas
Today is the beginning of the Christmas season. There is joy in the air and the whole world is filled with wonder and excitement. The world celebrates the birth of Christ.....God entered the world in the middle of the night as a helpless baby without might and power.....the creator came to dwell among his own creation...... The invisible became visible.... the unseen came to be seen, touched and behold.....God became poor for our sakes and the mighty one came weak.. Emmanuel, God among us came to share in our humanity that those will accept him will share in his divinity and be given the power to be called the children of God
The mystery of Christmas is not power or might. God came as a beggar asking for love, the lover seeks love from his beloved. He is the light in the darkness to enlighten and give sight to the blind....
Through the birth of Jesus, the totality of man and the totality of God has been brought to a new unity...... God who sustains all things is present here and now .......and has given us the very best gift...... himself.... his total self ....to become dependent on humanity ...... Jesus took the risk of being accepted, loved, rejected, ignored, mistreated and eventually killed..... O what selfless love poured and being poured out to heal and reconcile broken humanity.
What then can humanity offer in return for His unconditional, merciful love? Today many people will give and or receive gifts from each other,.... but what can you and I give to Jesus? it is His birthday.... God is self sufficient and does not need anything to make him whole so what on earth can be pleasing to Him (knowing that even all the silver and gold belong to Him).
A gift of total self....... a humble, broken heart, he will not reject...... Just offer him your heart, broken, contrite, hard as stone, and he will make it pliable and habitable......He is the beggar knocking and waiting to be let in. Today if you will only open your heart inviting Him to come and be Lord of your life, he will come with the Father and the Holy Spirit.to make his abode in your heart Why the heart? it's the seat of emotions - thoughts, fear, hate, love ........ and by offering one's heart, you offer total self, which is the best birthday present to the Lord this Christmas.
This is a period of grace, let's open our hearts in the celebration of the Incarnation of the Word......the Eternal Word of God who became flesh.........Let this Christmas be a celebration of faith....Allow Christ's love lead you enter the mystery of his merciful love.....By His grace, we can be able to make/renew the deepest commitment we can ever make........all of self...... to be given to Jesus!
A very Blessed Christmas!
Wednesday 23 December 2015
Christmas and why we need it
The season of Advent is a period of joyful waiting and or expectation preparing to celebrate Christmas. There can be no real Christmas without a meaningful Advent, The first Advent was the period before the coming of the Messiah. Right from the very beginning. the fall of man, God took the initiative to redeem fallen man. (Gen. 3:15) Over the centuries God began to select and prepare a people for his own and a plan of his redeeming love. Even though man was not faithful, a remnant kept the faith and held unto the proclamations of the prophets that God kept sending for his own name's sake. And these kept their hope alive by holding unto God's words.until He who is to come, came at the appointed time in the history of humanity. and they rejoiced in God's faithfulness.in fulfilling his promise to redeem the fallen nature of man.
Today Advent reminds us of God's unfailing merciful love and a call to turn and or return to God. It's a period of grace calling for reconciliation, repentance and acknowledging our failings against our loving and merciful God and Jesus who became man to save us from our sins for where will humanity be if Jesus did not come.
Mary, the Blessed Virgin Mother, was God's own choice to be the mother of Jesus, but her 'Fiat", her Ýes' to God's request at the Annunciation (Lk.1:28 ff) made it possible for God's plan to be accomplished The period of Advent also brings Mary into the light of loving appreciation of her role in the birth of Jesus. It's a period to grow in admiration and love for her, learning from her humility and blind faith in God. Our Salvation history will be incomplete without her total giving of herself to accept God's will. For we find the deepest meaning of our lives when we say yes to God's plan. Her Immaculate Heart formed the Sacred Heart of Jesus, so Mary is closely united to Jesus and through Jesus has become our Mother
Just as we need the period of Advent in preparation for Christmas what then is the true spirit of Christmas, and what do we really celebrate at Christmas? Simply, Christmas is the incarnation of the Word... the Word that was in the beginning was with God and was God, through whom and with whom and by whom and for whom all was created.... ( Jn.1:11-3) that Word became flesh, God became man....God stoop down to man ........God's merciful love made manifest to man....... Yes this happened over 2000 years ago and that is the reason we need to recall this act of love again and again so as not to forget or loose sight of what God has done,,,,,,,for you, me, and entire humanity.....The most precious gift at Christmas is the gift of the birth of Jesus ,,,,,, God became man........ wrapped in swaddling clothes in a manger.......The story of Christmas is God's love story between God and humanity...... solely initiated by God and man can choose to receive it with grateful hearts or reject it...... We need to celebrate Christmas in a spirit adoration, awe and love by receiving this precious gift of God...... opening our hearts to receive Jesus, who knocks at each door to be let in. ...There was no room in the Inn then, what about today, is there a room for him to be born in your heart?......a little space for him in your life?......At his birth the Angels sang : "Glory to God in the highest and peace to those on whom his favour rests"*( Lk 2:14)
Humanity, today needs the Peace of God more than ever...... in our homes, ......in our families....... among people and nations. True peace can only be found in Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Let our yearnings for true peace, hasten his coming as we join the. echo of the ages who cried:
O Wisdom
Lord and Ruler
Root of Jesse
King of David
Rising Sun
King of the Nations
Emmanuel
Come Lord Jesus
A very Blessed Christmas, let's receive true Peace, love and joy from the giver and initiator ot these in our hearts and share it with others, freely you receive, freely you give so that others will come to experience the Lord's merciful love.
The season of Advent is a period of joyful waiting and or expectation preparing to celebrate Christmas. There can be no real Christmas without a meaningful Advent, The first Advent was the period before the coming of the Messiah. Right from the very beginning. the fall of man, God took the initiative to redeem fallen man. (Gen. 3:15) Over the centuries God began to select and prepare a people for his own and a plan of his redeeming love. Even though man was not faithful, a remnant kept the faith and held unto the proclamations of the prophets that God kept sending for his own name's sake. And these kept their hope alive by holding unto God's words.until He who is to come, came at the appointed time in the history of humanity. and they rejoiced in God's faithfulness.in fulfilling his promise to redeem the fallen nature of man.
Today Advent reminds us of God's unfailing merciful love and a call to turn and or return to God. It's a period of grace calling for reconciliation, repentance and acknowledging our failings against our loving and merciful God and Jesus who became man to save us from our sins for where will humanity be if Jesus did not come.
Mary, the Blessed Virgin Mother, was God's own choice to be the mother of Jesus, but her 'Fiat", her Ýes' to God's request at the Annunciation (Lk.1:28 ff) made it possible for God's plan to be accomplished The period of Advent also brings Mary into the light of loving appreciation of her role in the birth of Jesus. It's a period to grow in admiration and love for her, learning from her humility and blind faith in God. Our Salvation history will be incomplete without her total giving of herself to accept God's will. For we find the deepest meaning of our lives when we say yes to God's plan. Her Immaculate Heart formed the Sacred Heart of Jesus, so Mary is closely united to Jesus and through Jesus has become our Mother
Just as we need the period of Advent in preparation for Christmas what then is the true spirit of Christmas, and what do we really celebrate at Christmas? Simply, Christmas is the incarnation of the Word... the Word that was in the beginning was with God and was God, through whom and with whom and by whom and for whom all was created.... ( Jn.1:11-3) that Word became flesh, God became man....God stoop down to man ........God's merciful love made manifest to man....... Yes this happened over 2000 years ago and that is the reason we need to recall this act of love again and again so as not to forget or loose sight of what God has done,,,,,,,for you, me, and entire humanity.....The most precious gift at Christmas is the gift of the birth of Jesus ,,,,,, God became man........ wrapped in swaddling clothes in a manger.......The story of Christmas is God's love story between God and humanity...... solely initiated by God and man can choose to receive it with grateful hearts or reject it...... We need to celebrate Christmas in a spirit adoration, awe and love by receiving this precious gift of God...... opening our hearts to receive Jesus, who knocks at each door to be let in. ...There was no room in the Inn then, what about today, is there a room for him to be born in your heart?......a little space for him in your life?......At his birth the Angels sang : "Glory to God in the highest and peace to those on whom his favour rests"*( Lk 2:14)
Humanity, today needs the Peace of God more than ever...... in our homes, ......in our families....... among people and nations. True peace can only be found in Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Let our yearnings for true peace, hasten his coming as we join the. echo of the ages who cried:
O Wisdom
Lord and Ruler
Root of Jesse
King of David
Rising Sun
King of the Nations
Emmanuel
Come Lord Jesus
A very Blessed Christmas, let's receive true Peace, love and joy from the giver and initiator ot these in our hearts and share it with others, freely you receive, freely you give so that others will come to experience the Lord's merciful love.
Thursday 15 October 2015
Learning from Saints
Today is the feast of St. Theresa of Avila, even though she lived over 600 years ago, yet her words still ring loud and clear.....
"Let nothing trouble you
Let nothing frighten you
All things pass away
God never changes
Patience obtain all things
Who possesses God lacks nothing
God alone suffice" ( St Theresa of Avila)
Brave and beautiful words, even though very familiar, read often many times over the years, yet these words can jump out of the pages because each one can identify with them at some point during this life journey .... Who is there without some trouble? is there anyone not afraid of something?......... Nothing remains the same but in the midst of the heat do we remember this simple truth?........Rather, don't we become impatient?...
....
St. Theresa was only echoing the Words of Jesus: ...... "Let not your hearts be troubled........ Do not be afraid......Heaven and earth shall pass away but my Words shall not pass away........ the Lord is my Shepherd, there is nothing I shall want............"
On this feast day of St Theresa of Avila, let us be reminded and or encouraged that who possesses God lacks nothing for God alone is ENOUGH! ........
Today is the feast of St. Theresa of Avila, even though she lived over 600 years ago, yet her words still ring loud and clear.....
"Let nothing trouble you
Let nothing frighten you
All things pass away
God never changes
Patience obtain all things
Who possesses God lacks nothing
God alone suffice" ( St Theresa of Avila)
Brave and beautiful words, even though very familiar, read often many times over the years, yet these words can jump out of the pages because each one can identify with them at some point during this life journey .... Who is there without some trouble? is there anyone not afraid of something?......... Nothing remains the same but in the midst of the heat do we remember this simple truth?........Rather, don't we become impatient?...
....
St. Theresa was only echoing the Words of Jesus: ...... "Let not your hearts be troubled........ Do not be afraid......Heaven and earth shall pass away but my Words shall not pass away........ the Lord is my Shepherd, there is nothing I shall want............"
On this feast day of St Theresa of Avila, let us be reminded and or encouraged that who possesses God lacks nothing for God alone is ENOUGH! ........
Thursday 11 June 2015
Love Journal Revisited
Looking back the events of the last months, I have come to realize how I've been carried on eagles' wings of love and prayer by many people.
In the early hours of 16 April, I woke up reluctantly due to kind neighnours banging on my door, to the smell of smoke rising from downstairs filling the bedrooms upstairs. In a daze I took ten steps to open the nearest window.
To my astonishment, l saw the vehicles of the Police, the Ambulance and the Fire Brigade was just arriving and onlookers standing down there on the street all gazing up. Still not aware of the gravity of what was going on, I waved to a Police officer and inquired from him what was the problem. He answered that there is fire in the building - downstairs and asked me to stay put. Fire in the building- downstairs? I heard it but it did not register well..... 'downstairs' did not click to mean my sitting room but the shop downstairs and so I waited at the window and within 10 minutes I climbed through that small window into a fire brigade crane. While being lowered down, I saw to my horror that the fire was rather raging through my sitting room. I could not believe what I was seeing and was taken straight to the hospital for a check up.
Two hours later 2 police officers came to the hospital to brief me of the situation and to warn me of what to expect, bringing me new temporal padlock keys.
With friends who responded immediately to the news I was not on my own to face this disaster.
Then slowly but surely it began to dawn on me that it's not a dream or a horror film I was watching. I could not find any answers but a lot questions, not how, what caused the fire but why didn't l go downstairs? , why on waking up from the bed did I go straight and got glued to that window waiting to be rescued?
I shall never be able to find answers to these after thoughts except to conclude that I was protected by a force beyond me. I climbed through that window with nothing except the pyjamas I woke up with. If I had wanted my phone or slippers, bag or whatever, then I would have gone downstairs, then I would have seen that it was my sitting room that was on fire and only God knows why my mind just went blank when I was told that there was fire downstairs. It would have been a different story......who can guess? ......
I'm not able to describe my gratefulness to God for choosing to exalt himself by rescuing me from that raging fire. the depth, breath and length of God's love is beyond my feeble mind. I cannot fathom yet why God took such pity on me......All Glory be to Him. I'm equally grateful for the Peters, Josephines, Desmonds, Victorias who walked with me through the ashes together with the countless known/ unknown who carried me in prayers, all of which have brought me so far........ I am equally overwhelmed by the love and kindness of my daughter, Irene, and all the strangers that in the meantime have become good friends, that the Lord has brought into my life.
One thing is sure, God is faithful, his love is beyond our imagination, He is near, very near........his Words are true........ now I know only partially, but one day, I'll understand fully, when this veil is removed....
All I need to do is abide in His amazing love ......One day at a time........ on this love journey...... till we meet face to face.....
In the early hours of 16 April, I woke up reluctantly due to kind neighnours banging on my door, to the smell of smoke rising from downstairs filling the bedrooms upstairs. In a daze I took ten steps to open the nearest window.
To my astonishment, l saw the vehicles of the Police, the Ambulance and the Fire Brigade was just arriving and onlookers standing down there on the street all gazing up. Still not aware of the gravity of what was going on, I waved to a Police officer and inquired from him what was the problem. He answered that there is fire in the building - downstairs and asked me to stay put. Fire in the building- downstairs? I heard it but it did not register well..... 'downstairs' did not click to mean my sitting room but the shop downstairs and so I waited at the window and within 10 minutes I climbed through that small window into a fire brigade crane. While being lowered down, I saw to my horror that the fire was rather raging through my sitting room. I could not believe what I was seeing and was taken straight to the hospital for a check up.
Two hours later 2 police officers came to the hospital to brief me of the situation and to warn me of what to expect, bringing me new temporal padlock keys.
With friends who responded immediately to the news I was not on my own to face this disaster.
Then slowly but surely it began to dawn on me that it's not a dream or a horror film I was watching. I could not find any answers but a lot questions, not how, what caused the fire but why didn't l go downstairs? , why on waking up from the bed did I go straight and got glued to that window waiting to be rescued?
I shall never be able to find answers to these after thoughts except to conclude that I was protected by a force beyond me. I climbed through that window with nothing except the pyjamas I woke up with. If I had wanted my phone or slippers, bag or whatever, then I would have gone downstairs, then I would have seen that it was my sitting room that was on fire and only God knows why my mind just went blank when I was told that there was fire downstairs. It would have been a different story......who can guess? ......
I'm not able to describe my gratefulness to God for choosing to exalt himself by rescuing me from that raging fire. the depth, breath and length of God's love is beyond my feeble mind. I cannot fathom yet why God took such pity on me......All Glory be to Him. I'm equally grateful for the Peters, Josephines, Desmonds, Victorias who walked with me through the ashes together with the countless known/ unknown who carried me in prayers, all of which have brought me so far........ I am equally overwhelmed by the love and kindness of my daughter, Irene, and all the strangers that in the meantime have become good friends, that the Lord has brought into my life.
One thing is sure, God is faithful, his love is beyond our imagination, He is near, very near........his Words are true........ now I know only partially, but one day, I'll understand fully, when this veil is removed....
All I need to do is abide in His amazing love ......One day at a time........ on this love journey...... till we meet face to face.....
Sunday 12 April 2015
Love Journal Revisited
The Lenten per iod of 40 days leading to Easter period of 50 days is an amazing period of becoming more aware of our need of our need of God and to experience anew his unconditional love. During the Lenten period I identified myself with the return of the prodigal son.... I realised how far I am from home and recognizing my loneliness away from home made me felt homesick....... the desire to return to a loving embrace increased........ but I found myself too tired to undertake this long journey all by myself as I'm too weak to make it on my own......So I cried out : I'm coming home Lord, but I can't make the journey on my own so please meet me half way.... come to my aid..... come and be my strength....... come and walk with me...... I yearn to return but realised my own incapability....................
Then I realized that is what Lent is about.......Jesus coming to our aid to reconcile us to the Father...... through the Cross.........Just as Moses lifted up the brazen serpent ... so will the Son of Man be lifted up so that all who will believe will have eternal life..................
The Lenten per iod of 40 days leading to Easter period of 50 days is an amazing period of becoming more aware of our need of our need of God and to experience anew his unconditional love. During the Lenten period I identified myself with the return of the prodigal son.... I realised how far I am from home and recognizing my loneliness away from home made me felt homesick....... the desire to return to a loving embrace increased........ but I found myself too tired to undertake this long journey all by myself as I'm too weak to make it on my own......So I cried out : I'm coming home Lord, but I can't make the journey on my own so please meet me half way.... come to my aid..... come and be my strength....... come and walk with me...... I yearn to return but realised my own incapability....................
Then I realized that is what Lent is about.......Jesus coming to our aid to reconcile us to the Father...... through the Cross.........Just as Moses lifted up the brazen serpent ... so will the Son of Man be lifted up so that all who will believe will have eternal life..................
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