Whoever receives you receives Me, and the One who sent Me

At the very climax of the Discourse, Jesus makes a promise. Those who receive the Christian missionaries - designated as "prophet", "righteous man", "little ones" and "disciple" - will be rewarded.

Why will they be rewarded? That is because by receiving the disciples of Jesus they will receive Jesus Himself and God the Father: "Whoever receives you receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives the One who sent Me." The disciples, Jesus and God the Father are thus identified. A disciple is a Vicar of Christ and God. He becomes, in some sense, God incarnate and Jesus enfleshed to the people.

How does a Christian missionary become God incarnate and Jesus enfleshed to the people? He is a prophet - someone who proclaims the Gospel on behalf of Jesus; he goes from door to door and announces, "the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand". He is a righteous man - someone who is right in the eyes of God. He is one of these little ones - someone who remains small,  humble and insignificant. He is a disciple - someone who follows Jesus' instructions in the Missionary Discourse in particular. Thus the Christian missionary who acts as a prophet, righteous man, little one and disciple makes the presence of God and Jesus felt by the people whom he goes. People receive him; they are rewarded in return.

People will be rewarded, just as in the days of prophet Elisha. The prophet was sojourning in Shunem. A woman of influence in the city received him - she "urged him to dine with her", she welcomed him and gave food whenever he passed that way; she arranged a room with furniture for him to stay; thus, she lavished care on him. In return, he promised her, "This time next year you will be fondling a baby son." She gave a birth to a son! The story does not end there. One day the lad fell ill and died in the lap of her mother. But Elisha resuscitated him. The woman, who received "the man of God", was thus rewarded.

Who rewards those who receive the Christian missionaries? Did the Roman Empire reward the original Christian Missionaries? It rather martyred them! Let us turn to Saints Peter & Paul. For almost 20 years St. Peter found hospitality in many homes in Rome. Let us visit them again: The church of Santa Pudentiana was built on the ancient house, owned by the Patrician Pudens, a Roman Senator and the father of Santa Pudentiana. The family had provided hospitality to Peter. Later his two daughters, Saints Praxedes and Pudentiana were martyred! The church of Santa Prisca rising on the Aventine Hill and dating from antiquity was built above the former house of the matron Priscilla and her husband Aquilla who welcomed Peter. This house, cited in the Letters of Paul, was known for. having given hospitality to Peter. The remains of a Roman house are still visible. He had baptized a lot of people in a concave capital, which is conserved inside the right nave of the Church. The church was dedicated to Santa Prisca, the 13 year old girl of Priscilla and Aquilla, decapitated by Claudio! Her relics are kept in a crypt.
The church of San Paolino alla Regola is built over the house in which St. Paul stayed. It was there that he was arrested. What befell the householders is part of history!

Thus at a time, when Christianity was officially decreed baned, Rome rewarded death to those who house the Christian disciples. But those valiant men and women, young and old, of Rome did not wait for human approval or disapproval. Neither cross nor shackles could after their welcoming the disciples of Jesus. They feared only God: "and do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the One, who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna". They, including Saints Praxedes, Pudentiana and Prisca, were rewarded by God!

Prayer and The Sunday Homily

Pope Francis recently emphasized that

@ Preparation for preaching is so important a task that a prolonged time of study, prayer, reflection and pastoral creativity should be devoted to it. (EG 145)

@ A preacher who does not prepare himself and who does not pray is dishonest and irresponsible. (EG 145)

@ A homily results from three movements : pondering, ordering and creating.

@ Pondering involves prayerful reading, meditation on the text,  followed by careful study.

@ Ordering aims at determining a homiletic focus,  organising as preacher's 'pondering'.

@ Creating is the shaping of a homiletic text. This movement involves a decision about homiletic structure.

@ An effective homily requires, prayer, preparation and knowledge of the congregation, and an invitation to the "holy spirit".

@ The homily must be truly the fruit of prayerful meditation.

@ No sign of the Cross at the beginning or at the end of the homily.

Wedding

@ Emohasis should be made on the "Mystery of Christian Marriage".

@ Keeping in mind that there are non-Catholics and non-Christians as well.

Funerals

@ Should be based on the love of God manifested in Christ Crucified and Risen.

@ The belief in eternal life, and the communion of Saints.

@ The merciful judgement of God, and the never endinf life of heaven.

No Matter How Big Your Problem, You Can Find Comfort In The Sacred Heart Of Jesus

I was at first confounded to learn that Padre Pio said the novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus every day for all his spiritual children and for everyone who asked for his prayers.

It would have been a very long list of people to commend to the Sacred Heart of our Lord - and praying one novena for the many intentions of so many seemed to me to be spreading the grace thin.

But then I was immature in my trust in our Lord and underestimating the magnificent power of prayer that appeals directly to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, full of love for us.

Following Padre Pio's example, I decided to come before our Lord's heart with large intentions and our Lord has not been found lacking in generosity.

One favour that I believe was granted by the Sacred Heart stands out in my mind. I was on my way to a prayer vigil outside an abortion clinic. It was only going to be me and another lady. I knew from experience that normally about a dozen pregnant women would go in for an abortion during a two-hour span. I prayed to the Sacred Heart for the intention that not one girl would go in for an abortion during the two-hour vigil. Standinh outside the clinic for those two hours that day, not one girl went through the clinic doors for an abortion. I believe that the Sacred Heart (with Padre Pio on the case, too) took the mothers and babies into His heart and protected them.

Now I readily appreciate that the month of June is dedicated to the Sacred Heart. I recommend everyone to offer the novena to the Sacred Heart for every kind of pressing intention, no matter how big the problem is, and experience Our Lord's immeasurable kindness.

Servant

"I don't want to drink from this glass because the servant drank from it,"  stated Juju.

"I washed it afterwards.  Anyway, what does it matter. because a servant is also a human being," commented  Jojo

"If Jesus can lower Himself to the level of a servant, why can't you and I treat our underlings better?" chimed in Jeje

"Let's face it. You and I are still feudal in our outlook. In America, a maid comes and cleans and goes away and is paid in dollars by the hour. Here we grudge paying the so-called lower classes. Household work has to be done and a labourer is worthy of his hire," said Jojo.

"Yes. Also did you know that you should not use the word 'housewife' but say proudly 'I am a homemaker'," said Jeje.

"I did know that. Those who cook and clean should also be admired and given a kind word," commented Juju.

"There are many wives who do unpaid work in the home, cooking, cleaning and caring for children. However, society only recognises a person who earns a salary," said Jojo.

"Yes. A homemaker's job is never done. She cannot clock off at five p.m. Sometimes she has to work till late at night and still get up early in the morning," said Jeje.

"If you stay in a hotel, you are paying for the services of a housekeeper who will change the bed sheets and the towels. Usually these things are done for you free in your home," conclude Jeje adding, "Let us pray to God for the insight to understand the unseen workers."

Saint John the Baptist

St. John the Baptist is one of the greatest or perhaps the greatest among the saints in the Christian world. This has been confirmed by no less a person than Christ, who said, "Among them  that are born of women, there has no risen one greater than John the Baptist."

Though John the Baptist was a kinsman of Jesus who lived during Jesus' time, John led an extremely austere life style. Clothed in camel hair with a leather belt around his waist  and for food ate locusts and wild honey  and went about preaching.  He said, "There comes one after me who is mightier than I whose sandal straps I am not worthy to stoop and loose." (Mark 1 : 7)

When he was asked by the people who he was, he said, "I am the voice of one crying  in the wilderness, make straight the way of the Lord. As foretold by the prophet hundred of years ago." ( John 1: 23) Very outspoken, John never hesitated to speak out and defend what he felt was right. He had even chided King Herod Antipas for his life style.

John's mother Elizabeth who was advanced in age but barren and her husband  Zechariah had prayed to God for a child. One day, while Zechariah was at prayer, the Angel Gabriel appeared to him to convey good tidings of joy, that his wife had conceived and shall bear a son and his name shall be John. Marry who was also, at the time with child visited Elizabeth, who lived in the hill country of Judea. When Elizabeth saw Mary and heard her salutation, the baby in her womb is said to have lept for joy. Elizabeth thereafter filled with the Holy Spirit cried out, "Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb and whence is that mother of my Lord should come to me." (Luke 1: 43). Mary replied, "My soul magnifies in the Lord and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Saviour." (Luke 1 : 46-51)

After John grew up into maturity, he began to preach, calling all to repent and shun evil. He had also the privilege of baptising Christ in the River Jordan.  Like Christ, John was a much misunderstood person. 

The nativity of Saint John the Baptist is celebrated by the Church on June 24.

Water is Our Life

Water is a gift from nature. All living beings and plants need water to live. We need water for different purposes. We can live without food for a few days. But without water we cannot live at all. We need water for our daily activities like bathing, cooking, washing, et al. Mostly we need water for agricultural purposes.  If there is no water there are no food.

But sadly, people do not use water sparingly.  People waste water. In urban areas, we can see people living their taps open. At other times people do not close the taps properly. They keep the taps half open.

Humans also polute water in many ways: Insecticides, weedicides and fertilizers used in large quantities in farming are some examples of the ways of water pollution.  Some factories release waste material into water ways.  People dump garbage into water ways.

We should control ways of water pollution. We can do this by helping to keep our sources of water clean. In agriculture we should not over use chemicals. Another way of preventing water pollution is to build cleaning treatment plants in factories.  If we stop throwing waste into lakes, rivers and seas they will  be clean and beautiful forever.

It is the right time now for the government to impose severe laws to protect  our water ways. People who pollute water ways should be punished severely. Island wide awareness programmes should be organised to teach the public about the value of water.

The Living Bread and Blood

Jesus our Saviour is the only living bread,
Which by all the sinful souls are fed,
Without this bread sinful souls starve and die,
For it gives us nourishment,  strength and our needs supply.

Thank the Lord for He has given us His flesh,
A flesh that breaks sin, guilt and hell,
In Jesus alone saints and sinners find,
The food needed to fill and console the empty mind.

Praise You Jesus who gave Your life as a sacrifice,
To sinful men  with hearts cold as ice,
Jesus Thy flesh and blood always heals the wounded soul,
For this is the flesh and blood that pleads pardon for us all.

A mighty sum was paid for our debt,
And all sinners were at freedom set,
And from all curses Jesus has made us free,
For this is the only flesh and blood that spoke for you and me.