SCRIPTURAL WISDOM : DAILY MEDITATION ON THE WORD OF GOD

  Meditation on Luke 9:43-45 .   “While everyone was marveling at all that Jesus did, he said to his disciples, “Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you: The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. But they did not understand what this meant. It was hidden from them, so that they did not grasp it, and they were afraid to ask him about it.”   The Marvel and the Mystery: In today’s Gospel, for the second time, Jesus announced his suffering and death to his disciples, (the first time being in Luke 9, 21-27). In the passage leading up to these verses, Jesus has just performed another great miracle — (v.37-42) the healing of a boy with a demon. The crowd is in awe of Jesus’ power and authority, marveling at the wonders He is performing. Amidst this atmosphere of amazement and admiration, Jesus decides to share a profound truth with His closest followers, his disciples. It is as if the clamor of applause and wonder creates a protective sound barrier aro

John 1:47-51 (NIV): 47 When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” 48 “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.” 49 Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.” 50 Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.” 51 He then added, “Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’ the Son of Man.”   Meditation : In this passage of the Gospel of John, we witness an intimate encounter between Jesus and Nathanael, revealing profound truths about Jesus’s divine nature, His knowledge, and the faith of those who follow Him. Deep Recognition : Jesus recognizes Nathanael even before Nathanael introduces himself. It’s an indication of Jesus’s omniscient nature. When He says, “Here truly

  THE DESIRE TO SEE JESUS: LEARNING FROM HEROD’S EXPERIENCE. (Luke 9: 7-9).                      The Gospel of Luke, Chapter 9, verses 7-9, provides us with a moment of reflection, of questioning, and of anticipation. As we immerse ourselves in these words, two distinct yet interwoven themes emerge: the echoes of the past and a deep-rooted desire to see Jesus. “Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was going on. And he was perplexed because some were saying that John had been raised from the dead, others that Elijah h ad appeared, and still others that one of the prophets of long ago had come back to life. But Herod said, 'I beheaded John. Who, then, is this I hear such things about?' And he tried to see him.”- Luke 9:7-9 Echoes of the Past : It's intriguing how the people of that time tried to understand the profound mystery of Jesus by referencing figures from their past. John the Baptist, Elijah, the ancient prophets – these were spiritual giants of their her

Compassionate Jesus with a shepherd’s heart. A meditative approach to Mt 9:35-38. Introduction : Lets find a quiet and comfortable place to center our thoughts and hearts on the message of the Lord. As we reflect on Matthew 9:35-38, let us open our minds to God's word and His call for us. Begin by taking a few deep breaths. Inhale deeply, and as you exhale, release any tension or distractions from your mind. Now, let’s focus on the words of this passage: “ Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.” Meditation 1.  Imagine yourself walking alongside Jesus, witnessing His love, compassion, and healing power. Picture the towns and villages He visited, and feel the hope that His presence brought to those who were sick and in need. “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” Meditat

Exploring the Spiritual brotherhood in Christ beyond blood ties.  (Luke 8:19-21). In today’s reflection, we delve into an episode from the public ministry of Jesus, as recounted in Luke 8:19-21. This passage not only sheds light on the dynamic between biological and spiritual relationships but also offers profound insights into the nature of our connection with Christ. The Search for Jesus: The scene opens with Jesus addressing a crowd, and then His mother and brothers arriving, seeking to meet Him. While Luke’s Gospel doesn’t explicitly state their purpose, the Gospel of Mark (Mark 3:20-22) suggests they came because they believed Jesus was “out of his mind.” Regardless of their motivation, their search for Jesus holds a significant message. This reminds me of words of St Paul to the Corinthians saying: “For the foolishness of God is wiser that man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger that man’s strength.” (1 Corinthians 1: 25). Indeed God’s ways might be surprising to

Called to be Light of the World like Jesus.   (Luke 8:16-18).   “In the   beginning was the light” : In the account of Creation found in the Book of Genesis, the very first creative word from God resonates: "Let there be light, and there was light." God's act of separating light from darkness laid the foundation for the alternating cycles of day and night (Genesis 1:1-5). When we contemplate this creation story in conjunction with 1 John 1:1-2, a profound realization dawns: the Word that existed in the beginning, the Word through whom all things were made, is none other than Jesus Himself. The Word made flesh was born into the world at night. He, the Light of the World, came to dispel the darkness of sin and death. From this perspective, we gain deeper insight into His earthly mission, as expressed in today's Gospel. The metaphor of light in Jesus’ teachings: Jesus employs the powerful imagery of light to communicate with us today. We readily acknowledge the signifi

                                                           Divine Wisdom : Understanding the logic of the Kingdom of God.    (Isaiah 55, 6-9. Mt 20, 1-16).   Isaiah 55:6-9 says , “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways”, says the Lord. As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are my ways above your ways and my thoughts above your thoughts ." These words conclude today's first reading from the prophet Isaiah. Renewing the Covenant and God’s Mercy : In Isaiah 55, God promised to renew His covenant with the Israelites, the promise He made to King David, inviting the people to turn away from their wicked ways and evil deeds. He assures them that He will have mercy on them and freely pardon their offenses. God's ways and thoughts are above ours because, though He exists beyond time and space as we know it, He has made Himself close to us in Christ Jesus. He is like a caring father guiding his child in the right direction, encouraging   h

      Nurturing Authentic Faith: Insights from Luke 8, 4-15.  The opening of today’s Gospel paints a vivid picture:  people from various towns and places were running towards Jesus. Some may have been curious to see the face of the Messiah for the first time, while others had likely heard him speak on numerous occasions. Faced with this crowd, Jesus changed his method of preaching; he spoke to them in parables. By addressing the crowd in parables, Jesus invites all who are listening to pay attention and consider how they receive the Word of God. At the conclusion of the parable, Jesus emphasizes: “ whoever has ears to hear ought to hear!”. Conversion begins in the heart : In light of this parable, Jesus highlights a fundamental truth: being a Christian, a disciple of Jesus, is about allowing the Word of God to take root deep in our hearts, not just reside in our heads. This is the reason why it is written : “Today, if you will listen to His voice, harden not your hearts.”, (Hebrews 3,

  BLESSED IN CHRIST AND CHOSEN BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD. (Readings: EPH 1:1-10; LK 11:47-54) T he beginning of the letter of St Paul to the Ephesians starts as a prayer of thanksgiving. Thus, we read: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens….” We have here a revelation of who we are, and the eternal will of God for us. For St. Paul, God’s plan for us started even before the foundation of the world. So, we can say unequivocally that the revelation of God in Jesus was not accidental; it corresponds to the eternal will of God, therefore goes beyond the fall of Adam and Eve and its consequences. Blessed and Chosen; This is Who We Are. What does this mean? From its Latin origin, benedicere , means: “to speak well of….” In other words, in Christ Jesus, God has spoken well of us, pronounced words of blessings on us. It means that all the spiritual blessings we need

  HIS LOVE FOR US IS STRONGER THAN OUR FAILURES. (Readings: Is 50:4-9a; Mt 26:14-25) P rophet Isaiah introduces us in today’s meditation with his message on the “suffering servant.” Even in his suffering, this servant is able to speak to the weary a word that will revive them. He was nonviolent notwithstanding his persecution; but with complete trust in God, he says: “The Lord is my help.” We have here a prefiguration of the sufferings of Jesus. Betrayed and abandoned by his closest friends, unjustly condemned, he suffered unimaginable pains, yet he was able to pray for his executioners: “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.” Keeping in mind this prayer of Jesus on the Cross, we can now move to the Gospel announcing his betrayal. In the Gospel of Matthew 26:14-25, we read about the announcement of the betrayal of Jesus. At the table with his disciples, Jesus solemnly announced to them: “Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.”