Jan 7, 2019 | Daily Devotions
1 John 3:22–4:6. Psalm 2:7bc-8, 10-12a. Matthew 4:12-17, 23-25
In the Letter of James, we saw some reasons prayers are not answered. James 4:3. In the first reading, we are given the formula for answered prayers so that we can assess if we are praying well enough and doing the necessary things.
“WE RECEIVE FROM GOD WHATEVER WE ASK, …”BECAUSE WE KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS AND DO WHAT PLEASES HIM.”
Many Christians fail in their prayers, not because they use the wrong words, or prayed little or did not speak in tongue but because of the above reason. All the saints achieve their holiness through this singular union with God in prayers and keeping his commandments, especially in private prayers. When you develop a life of prayer through this way, miracles become part of your life too.
This union with God is very important. If we are united with God and keep his commandments, whatever we ask will only be things that are pleasing to God. If we are united with God, other reasons why prayers are not answered will fade away.
A little girl was kneeling by her bedside and began to pray. Yet all she did was recite the alphabet over and over again. Her mother walked in the room and after hearing the child repeat her ABC’s again and again, interrupted and asked what she was doing. “Well I’m praying,” said the little girl. The mother said, “But it sounds like you are just repeating the alphabet over and over.” The girl explained, “I don’t know any real prayers, Mama, I just give God the whole alphabet and trust that He can put it all together in a way that He sees fit.”
PRAYER IS NOT ABOUT HOW WELL OR HOW MUCH YOU KNOW ABOUT PRAYER, BUT ABOUT YOUR LOVE AND UNION WITH GOD.
A CHRISTIAN IS NOT AN ORDINARY PERSON.
Jan 6, 2019 | Daily Devotions
Isaiah 60.1-6, Ephesians 3.2-6, Mathew 2.1-12
Epiphany means manifestation. God manifested Himself in different ways; to the Jews, through the scriptures, to the shepherds, through an angel, to the Wise Men, through The Star. The shepherds went to worship, the Wise Men went to adore with their gifts, the Jews waited for the Wise Men to come back, you know who was disappointed.
In the second reading, St Paul said, ‘it was through revelation that I received the knowledge of the mystery… And this means that the pagans share the same inheritance’. You share the same inheritance with the chosen people of God. The first reading calls us to arise, ‘arise, shine out, for your light has come, the glory of God is rising upon you.’ God still manifests Himself.
Knowing the scriptures and quoting it is not enough, the Wise Men took action and made a move of faith, the Jewish Scribes pointed the direction and refused to follow. Discovery, success, holiness, encounter happens to those who demonstrate faith through action and passion.
May you have the vision to see your star, the passion to follow it, and the actions to reach it. Arise and shine out in Jesus name Amen.
A CHRISTIAN IS NOT AN ORDINARY PERSON.
Jan 5, 2019 | Daily Devotions
1 John 3:11-21. Psalm 100:1-5. John 1:43-51.
Come and See was the invitation of Philip to Nathaniel, and the same invitation of Jesus to the two disciples of John the Baptist who had asked him where he stays. Sometimes what we need as Christians is this same invitation: Come and See.
We all need to experience Jesus from a personal point of view. It is not enough to hear and read all that there is about the Saviour of the world. Christianity is primarily about a relationship with a Person and that is Jesus!
Nathaniel came and saw and believed, since he was a righteous man. Jesus saw him under the fig tree, Nathaniel was doing something under the fig tree. Probably he was going through the day’s scriptures, and praying for the coming of the messiah (The fig tree was a common place for prayer, especially for young rabbinic students).
Today like Philip we are called to extend our invitations to others to Come and See through our loving service especially those who are not disciples of Jesus. May God help us to follow His Son and invite others to love and follow Him too. Amen. God bless you in this New Year and Happy Weekend!
A CHRISTIAN IS NOT AN ORDINARY PERSON.
Jan 4, 2019 | Daily Devotions
John 1.35-4
Contact is very important. When John pointed out the Lamb of God, his disciples’ first question to Jesus was, ‘where do you live?’ When you meet someone very special to you, the first thing you try to get is the contact. You don’t just get the contact, you maintain contact.
If you value something, you show it by frequent contact, those who love beer know a lot about beer parlours, they can even create one inside their homes. Those who value you must maintain contact with you.
It is not difficult to discover who cares about you or who you care about. Check who you call regularly on phone or who you like to spend time with. Who comes to your mind more often and whose memories bring good feelings.
It is the same with our relationship with Jesus. How often He is in our minds, in our lives and in our desire says a lot. Jesus lives in His Words and Sacraments, if you don’t have frequent contact with Him on any of these two, you don’t value Him.
You can give any excuse and those excuses will definitely show what you value and love. May our hearts find great value in Jesus, May we find where He lives, live where He lives and become where He lives in Jesus name Amen.
A CHRISTIAN IS NOT AN ORDINARY PERSON.
Jan 3, 2019 | Daily Devotions
John 1.29-3
Today John pointed Jesus out as the Lamb of God. It’s surprising that John said, ‘I do not know Him;’ John leaped in the womb when Mary visited his mother, how come he doesn’t know Him? Well, knowing Jesus as a biological relation is different from knowing Him as the Lamb of God.
Despite the events surrounding their births, John and Jesus had to grow up and discover God’s plan for them. John was given a sign, ‘a dove’ as a confirmation. When he saw the dove coming on Jesus, he recognized Him not as his cousin but as the Lamb of God. Apart from our common knowledge about Jesus, we all need personal encounter and revelation about Jesus, this encounter leads to personal conviction.
There’s something unique about those who are convinced about something. Without conviction, there’s little or no commitment. May you have that encounter, conviction and assurance about Jesus the Savior Who takes away sins and sorrows in Jesus name Amen.
A CHRISTIAN IS NOT AN ORDINARY PERSON.
Jan 2, 2019 | Daily Devotions
John 1.19-2
Who are you? This is a question you will be hearing all your life. Everything about you; your future, employment, marriage, promotion, election, rejection, success, admission, etc depends on the answer to this question. That’s your Curriculum Vitae. Unfortunately, many people have never for once asked themselves, ‘who am I and who do I want to be?’
Many more spend their lives trying to be someone else, even impersonating others. Being like someone doesn’t make you that person. John was like the Christ but he declared openly, I’m not He. I have seen people dressing like Michael Jackson, but they are not making any single effort to be a star, your appearance is not whom you are. Self discovery is the first great step to Mastery, ‘man know thyself’.
To be a Christian is to be like Christ. May you discover yourself this new year and become the best of whom you are. May your star shine in Jesus name Amen.
