ETERNAL LIFE IN JESUS

“Truly, truly, I say to you he who hears my word and believes him who sent me, has eternal life; he does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life” (John 5:24).

ADVENT SPRINGS OF HOPE!

Dear Friends,

In this second week of Advent the reading from the prophet Isaiah 41:13-20 speaks of a great assurance, promise and hope. A hope that finds its fulfillment in the heart of an all powerful and everlasting God:

"I will open rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water" (V.18).

Come Lord Jesus, and realize your promise in my life. Be my personal Saviour. Take my life and turn it in a gushing spring.

ST. THERESE'S PRAYER FOR PRIESTS

MAKING SENSE OF SUFFERINGS IN THE ADVENT SEASON

In this Advent I have been praying specially for you that the Lord who comes to us may fill your heart with hope. This hope is not a mere expectation that our circumstances may change for good, no, our hope is the Lord our God who comes to redeem us. We know that when we are united with God we can make sense of our life in spite of the fact that according to earthly standards our life may not be attractive and exciting. Today while praying with the scripture reading meant for the Solemnity of St. Francis Xavier (Patron of India). I was so touched with what St. Paul says in the 2 Corinthians 4:7-11


But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this transcending power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body.

In this Advent Season I understand my sufferings as carrying in my body/life the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in my body. The Lord is not making us suffer for nothing (we are struck down but not destroyed). He will give us the gift of his life in our body while on earth. This life is given to us while on earth and it is much more powerful than the biological life which experiences so many limitations. The life of the Lord will shine through our brokenness. Therefore we are so encouraged to live for the Lord, to suffer, to share and to sacrifice.

MY PRAYER FOR ALL MY FRIENDS

May the LORD answer you when you are in distress;
May the name of the God of Jacob protect you.

May he send you help from the sanctuary
and grant you support from Zion.

May he remember all your sacrifices
and accept your burnt offerings.

May he give you the desire of your heart
and make all your plans succeed.

We will shout for joy when you are victorious
and will lift up our banners in the name of our God.

May the LORD grant all your requests.

Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed;
he answers him from his holy heaven
with the saving power of his right hand.

Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.

They are brought to their knees and fall,
but we rise up and stand firm.

O LORD, save the king!

Answer us when we call!


(Psalm 20).

ADVENT SONGS: MAGNIFICAT (LK 1:46-55).

And Mary said:



"My soul glorifies the Lord

and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has been mindful

of the humble state of his servant.

From now on all generations will call me blessed,

for the Mighty One has done great things for me --

holy is his name.

His mercy extends to those who fear him,

from generation to generation.

He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;

he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.

He has brought down rulers from their thrones

but has lifted up the humble.

He has filled the hungry with good things

but has sent the rich away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel,

remembering to be merciful

to Abraham and his descendants forever,

even as he said to our fathers."

THE VIRGIN OF ADVENT

Dear brothers and sisters, the Virgin Mary fully incarnates the humanity that lives in hope based on faith in the living God. She is the Virgin of Advent; she is well-rooted in the present, in the "today" of salvation; she keeps in her heart all the past promises; and they extend to future fulfillment. Let us enter her school, to truly enter this time of grace and to welcome, with joy and responsibility, the coming of God to our personal and social history.

                           (His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI)