22 January 2015 - GOSPEL MK 3:7-12

GOSPEL MK 3:7-12

Jesus withdrew toward the sea with his disciples. A large number of people followed from Galilee and from Judea. Hearing what he was doing, a large number of people came to him also from Jerusalem, from Idumea, from beyond the Jordan, and from the neighborhood of Tyre and Sidon. He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, so that they would not crush him. He had cured many and, as a result, those who had diseases were pressing upon him to touch him. And whenever unclean spirits saw him they would fall down before him and shout, "You are the Son of God." He warned them sternly not to make him known.

Reflection:

In today's Gospel, v find that d goodness of Jesus does nt vanish when He encountered d hostility & hatred of d Pharisees, who plotted to destroy Him. Jesus still carried on wt His gd works bz His nature was to do gd always. V must also continue our gd works evn though v face accusations & oppositions.

Readg today's Gospel, v realize that pple made a lot of effort to reach Jesus. Evn though it was difficult for them to travel, yet v read that pple came frm a variety of places. Bz of they had heard about Him. They were hungry for healing frm their afflictions.

It was also very difficult for d sick pple to cope wt a crowd bt still they made a lot effort to reach Jesus. V must appreciate d tremendous faith, devotion & sacrifice of d sick persons & their families who struggled to reach Jesus & b touched by Him. They received a gr8 blessings frm Jesus in return.

Let us reflect:

What is my attitude towards d sick in my family & community?
Do I regard them as an inconvenience or a burden?
Am I worried abt my happiness or theirs?
What sacrifice hv I made for d sick pple?
Hv I brought them to Jesus & prayed for them?

My love & compassion will work wonders in their lives.

Jesus loves u. Hv a nice day wt Jesus. God bless.

💐💙Wt Love... Fr Robin, Powai💙💐

17 January 2015 - GOSPEL MK 2:13-17

GOSPEL MK 2:13-17

Jesus went out along the sea. All the crowd came to him and he taught them. As he passed by, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus, sitting at the customs post. Jesus said to him, "Follow me." And he got up and followed Jesus. While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners sat with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many who followed him. Some scribes who were Pharisees saw that Jesus was eating with sinners and tax collectors and said to his disciples, "Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?" Jesus heard this and said to them, "Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners."

Reflection:

In today's Gospel, v heard abt d call of Levi (Matthew). When Jesus called him, he left his career of d tax collection & followed Him.

Matthew was considered as a sinner bz he was occupied wt money & material things in life. Yet Jesus called him to follow him. He left d table of d tax collector, bt took d pen wt him to sketch d life & teachings of Jesus, his Master. Jesus called Matthew frm being a sinner into bcmg a saint.

Matthew was lost in d worldly ways of life. Today's Gospel story truly reminds me of d Parable of d Lost Sheep. Jesus had a 100 sheep, 1 day He found out that He had lost 1. He left d 99 to look for that single sheep & reunite it wt His flock.

In d story d flock of sheep is US, d children of God. If v lose our way, d Lord will find us & reunite us wt Him & His flock. V shouldn't judge those who r lost bz sometimes v may b 1 of them.

Sometimes though v 4get that v r imperfect & v judge those who also seem imperfect. Hw can a sinner judge d other sinner? Don't u find this funny & hypocritical?

Jesus loves u. Hv a fantastic weekend wt Jesus. God bless.

💐💙Wt Love... Fr Robin, Powai💙💐

17 January 2015 - GOSPEL MK 2:13-17

GOSPEL MK 2:13-17

Jesus went out along the sea. All the crowd came to him and he taught them. As he passed by, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus, sitting at the customs post. Jesus said to him, "Follow me." And he got up and followed Jesus. While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners sat with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many who followed him. Some scribes who were Pharisees saw that Jesus was eating with sinners and tax collectors and said to his disciples, "Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?" Jesus heard this and said to them, "Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners."

Reflection:

In today's Gospel, v heard abt d call of Levi (Matthew). When Jesus called him, he left his career of d tax collection & followed Him.

Matthew was considered as a sinner bz he was occupied wt money & material things in life. Yet Jesus called him to follow him. He left d table of d tax collector, bt took d pen wt him to sketch d life & teachings of Jesus, his Master. Jesus called Matthew frm being a sinner into bcmg a saint.

Matthew was lost in d worldly ways of life. Today's Gospel story truly reminds me of d Parable of d Lost Sheep. Jesus had a 100 sheep, 1 day He found out that He had lost 1. He left d 99 to look for that single sheep & reunite it wt His flock.

In d story d flock of sheep is US, d children of God. If v lose our way, d Lord will find us & reunite us wt Him & His flock. V shouldn't judge those who r lost bz sometimes v may b 1 of them.

Sometimes though v 4get that v r imperfect & v judge those who also seem imperfect. Hw can a sinner judge d other sinner? Don't u find this funny & hypocritical?

Jesus loves u. Hv a fantastic weekend wt Jesus. God bless.

💐💙Wt Love... Fr Robin, Powai💙💐

16 January 2015 - GOSPEL MK 2:1-12

GOSPEL MK 2:1-12

When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it became known that he was at home. Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them, not even around the door, and he preached the word to them. They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd, they opened up the roof above him. After they had broken through, they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to him, "Child, your sins are forgiven." Now some of the scribes were sitting there asking themselves, "Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming. Who but God alone can forgive sins?" Jesus immediately knew in his mind what they were thinking to themselves, so he said, "Why are you thinking such things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise, pick up your mat and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth" –he said to the paralytic, "I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home." He rose, picked up his mat at once, and went away in the sight of everyone. They were all astounded and glorified God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this."

Reflection:

When Jesus returned to Capernaum after His 1st mission trip, pple flocked to Him. But a paralyzed man couldn't join d pple. He just lay there watching pple pass him by. 

Bt d love & care of his frnds brought him to Jesus. Bt then they encountered a problem – d crowd was so thick that they could nt get their friend thru d door.

They could hv consoled themselves & then brought d poor man home. Bt they were more determined than that. They took him up on d roof, opened hole and lowered him down.
Seeing their faith, Jesus heals d paralyzed man and tells him that his sins are forgiven. 

The Gospel passage teaches us that Our faith shd b visible. When v cum to Jesus wt a gr8 faith & determination like those 4 pple in d Gospel, He is ever ready to heal us.

Secondly, v must help d pple who r helpless. V shd show our love & concern to those who r in need of Jesus.

Jesus loves u. Hv a 1dful day wt Jesus. God bless.

💐💙Wt Love... Fr Robin, Powai💙💐

15 January 2015 - GOSPEL MK 1:40-45

GOSPEL MK 1:40-45

A leper came to him and kneeling down begged him and said, "If you wish, you can make me clean." Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched the leper, and said to him, "I do will it. Be made clean." The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean. Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once. Then he said to him, "See that you tell no one anything, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them." The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter. He spread the report abroad so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly. He remained outside in deserted places, and people kept coming to him from everywhere.

Reflection:

In today's Gospel, v saw Jesus touched d leper who approached Him humbly & confidently. He made him whole & clean wt His love & compassion.

The Lepers were outcasts of society. They were driven frm their homes & communities & left all alone to themselves. Their physical condition was terrible as they slowly lost d use of their limbs & withered away.

They were nt only shunned bt regarded as "already dead" even by their own relatives. The Jewish law forbade any1 frm touching or approaching a leper bz they were considered unclean.

Today's Gospel story shd compel us to, like the leper, come b4 Jesus wt all our uncleanness, wt all of our diseases & fall on our knees. Pleading. Nt hiding our faults, bt confessing them. And asking Jesus to make us clean.

And then v wait for Jesus to reach out & touch us.

Jesus loves u. Hv a nice day wt Jesus. God bless.

💐💙Wt Love... Fr Robin, Powai💙💐

14 January 2015 - GOSPEL MK 1:29-39

GOSPEL MK 1:29-39

On leaving the synagogue Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. Simon's mother-in-law lay sick with a fever. They immediately told him about her. He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up. Then the fever left her and she waited on them.

When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons. The whole town was gathered at the door. He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons, not permitting them to speak because they knew him.

Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed. Simon and those who were with him pursued him and on finding him said, "Everyone is looking for you." He told them, "Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come." So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of Galilee.

Reflection:

V continue to reflect upon d public life of Jesus. It was still d Sabbath & after d synagogue service, Jesus now goes to d house of His two disciples, Simon & Andrew in Capernaum.

In the house Jesus finds Peter's mother-in-law sick wt fever. When He is told about it, He immediately goes to see her, takes her by d hand, lifts her up & heals her. Immediately, she gets up & begins to serve them. A lesson to learn to b grateful.

The following morning, Jesus leaves, goes to d hills to b alone & to pray. Every1 was searching for Him. There were many demands being made on Jesus by d people of Capernaum for healing, bt Jesus:

a. Needs time for Himself to renew His spiritual energy & b in contact with His Father, &
b. Has to think of d needs of other pple as well.

Jesus teaches us to pray & d importance for us of availability. V do need to b available to all those who are in genuine need.
We also need 'quality time' to be with God, to pray & to reflect on our priorities.

Jesus loves u. Hv a blessed day wt Jesus. God bless.

💐💙Wt Love... Fr Robin, Powai💙💐

13 January 2015 - GOSPEL MK 1:21-28

GOSPEL MK 1:21-28

Jesus came to Capernaum with his followers, and on the sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught. The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes. In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit; he cried out, "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are–the Holy One of God!" Jesus rebuked him and said, "Quiet! Come out of him!" The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him. All were amazed and asked one another, "What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him." His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.

Reflection:

Today's Gospel reading deals wt Authority, specifically Jesus' authority. V hear His authority over healing as He commands d evil spirit to leave. 

To d witnesses present in d temple it was a living example of d power of Jesus & d use of that power to heal wt love.

Jesus began with d exorcism in d synagogue in order to show that d Spirit of God is more powerful than d unclean spirits of this world.

We know that Jesus is d Messiah & Son of God and that it is ultimately only the power of the Cross that can cast out d unclean spirits with which v struggle.

What is d lesson v learn frm today's passage?

Perhaps the biggest lesson is that authority comes wt gr8 responsibility - the responsibility to use that power for good.  It's not about "power over others, it's abt love for others".

Jesus loves u. Hv a 1dful day wt Jesus. God bless.

💐💙Wt Love... Fr Robin, Powai💙💐

12 January 2015 - GOSPEL MK 1:14-20

GOSPEL MK 1:14-20

After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the Gospel of God: "This is the time of fulfillment. The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the Gospel."

As he passed by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea; they were fishermen. Jesus said to them, "Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men." Then they left their nets and followed him. He walked along a little farther and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They too were in a boat mending their nets. Then he called them. So they left their father Zebedee in the boat along with the hired men and followed him.

Reflection:

Jesus' 4 new disciples Simon & Andrew, then James & John after them spontaneously abandon everything to follow Jesus. What made them to do that?

Jesus' powerful msg in today's Gospel: "The time is fulfilled & d kingdom of God has drawn near. Repent & believe d Good News!" made a gr8 impact on them. Today, this msg wd probably translate as: "God has broken into d world. That's good news; you wd better shape up & believe it!"

The 4 disciples of Jesus blindly followed Him. They didnt know what they were doing bt they were convinced & confident abt what they going to do.

The questn comes to our mind - So y follow Jesus? Perhaps commitment to Him is d answer to a call for change?
Perhaps His Good News is worth giving up our lives for?
May b v realise that God's kingdom is a reality that v need to share? Or,
Perhaps, d reality of Jesus' love is so compelling that v can only spontaneously 'leave our nets' & follow Him.

Are v ready????????

Jesus loves u. Hv a gr8 week wt Jesus. God bless.

💐💙Wt Love... Fr Robin, Powai💙💐

10 January 2015 - GOSPEL JN 3:22-30

GOSPEL JN 3:22-30

Jesus and his disciples went into the region of Judea, where he spent some time with them baptizing. John was also baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was an abundance of water there, and people came to be baptized, for John had not yet been imprisoned. Now a dispute arose between the disciples of John and a Jew about ceremonial washings. So they came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you testified, here he is baptizing and everyone is coming to him." John answered and said, "No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said that I am not the Christ, but that I was sent before him. The one who has the bride is the bridegroom; the best man, who stands and listens for him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. So this joy of mine has been made complete. He must increase; I must decrease."

Reflection:

In today's Gospel, v heard abt John d Baptist (JB) clarifying his own stand that he was nt d Messiah.

There was a general belief that JB was d long awaited & promised Messiah. Bt he denied & made it very clear that he was nt d Messiah. He was just d prophet who came to prepare d way for d Lord.

JB was fully aware of his mission & it is his humility & confidence in Jesus that made him joyfully acknowledge, "He must increase; I must decrease" This is a perfect example of submission to God's will.

Our work is to make way for Christ in d pple's hearts. V must make it a point to advance Jesus & nt ourselves. V must make evry effort to increase d presence & power of Christ in d hearts of d pple & in d world. And when that is achieved, v must stand aside & rejoice like JB.

Let us rejoice & step back to let others grow. Let us love as Christ showed us to love. Let us b humble as JB showed us to b humble.

Jesus loves u. Hv a 1dful weekend wt Jesus. God bless.

💐💙Wt Love... Fr Robin, Powai💙💐

Feast of the Baptism of our Lord

7 January 2015 - GOSPEL MK 6:45-52

GOSPEL MK 6:45-52

After the five thousand had eaten and were satisfied, Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and precede him to the other side toward Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. And when he had taken leave of them, he went off to the mountain to pray. When it was evening, the boat was far out on the sea and he was alone on shore. Then he saw that they were tossed about while rowing, for the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them. But when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out. They had all seen him and were terrified. But at once he spoke with them, "Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!" He got into the boat with them and the wind died down. They were completely astounded. They had not understood the incident of the loaves. On the contrary, their hearts were hardened.

Reflection:

In today's Gospel, v heard abt Jesus walking on d waters to rescue His disciples who were struggling against a storm.

While Jesus was praying on d mountain, He saw d disciples were in gr8 difficulty, in danger. They needed urgent help. Jesus couldnt reach them by land as they were in d middle of d Lake, so He walked upon d waters & rescued them.

Jesus allowed d disciples to encounter this storm in order to teach them some lessons:

1. It was a trial of faith, so that they might realize their weaknesses & seek d help of d Lord.

2. It was a lesson for them to endure hardships in their lives. Jesus knew they ll b alone travelling, preaching d name of d Lord on their own & they ll hv to struggle in d presence of d Lord.

3. It was a lesson for them to experience d sweetness of d calm after a terrible storm.

V too experience d storms in our lives bz of Jesus' absence. Bt He is ever watchful of our problems. When v get struck, like d disciples, He wd cum anytym to rescue & comfort us.

"Do nt b afraid, it is Jesus. Hv faith in Him."

Jesus loves u. Hv a fantastic day wt Jesus. God bless.

💐💙Wt love...Fr Robin, Powai💙💐

1 January 2015 - GOSPEL MK 6:34-44

GOSPEL MK 6:34-44

When Jesus saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. By now it was already late and his disciples approached him and said, "This is a deserted place and it is already very late. Dismiss them so that they can go to the surrounding farms and villages and buy themselves something to eat." He said to them in reply, "Give them some food yourselves." But they said to him, "Are we to buy two hundred days' wages worth of food and give it to them to eat?" He asked them, "How many loaves do you have? Go and see." And when they had found out they said, "Five loaves and two fish." So he gave orders to have them sit down in groups on the green grass. The people took their places in rows by hundreds and by fifties. Then, taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; he also divided the two fish among them all. They all ate and were satisfied. And they picked up twelve wicker baskets full of fragments and what was left of the fish. Those who ate of the loaves were five thousand men.

Reflection:

With a simple blessing, Jesus provides food for five thousand people and there is plenty left over! The multiplication of the loaves and the fish was a beautiful moment in itself, but the implication of the miracle goes beyond the moment and involves two aspects of faith.

First, the multiplication of the loaves and the fish symbolizes the overflowing abundance of God's love for us. Jesus invites his audience – and us - into this abundance, which has its origin in the act of giving, the giving of five loaves and two fish. God takes our gifts and multiplies them a thousandfold in return.

The second sign, in the multiplication of the loaves and the fish, is the Eucharist. Jesus takes bread, breaks it, says a blessing and we are fed for generations. In the Eucharist, Jesus feeds us through the bread and wine that become his Body and Blood – food that quenches all hunger and drink that quenches all thirst.

All that is needed is to bring the gift of ourselves to the table to partake of His bounty.

Jesus loves u. Hv a lovely day wt Jesus. God bless.

💐💙Wt love... Fr Robin, Powai💙💐

Freewill - God's plan

The difference between man and other creations of God is the consciousness we experience. This conscious allows deliberate thinking.  The ability to draw imaginations and deliberate thinking drives freewill.

Freewill to think, speak, act and respond.
Also known as self consciousness or awareness of our surroundings

This freewill is the gift from God to Man

3 January 2015 - GOSPEL JN 1:29-34

The Feast of Holy Name of Jesus & St. Kuriakose Chavara

GOSPEL JN 1:29-34

John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. He is the one of whom I said, 'A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.' I did not know him, but the reason why I ca-me baptizing with water was that he might be made known to Israel." John testified further, saying, "I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from the sky and remain upon him. I did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain, he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God."

Reflection:

In today's Gospel, v heard abt d testimony of John the Baptist concerning Jesus. When John saw Jesus cmg towards him, he said, "Behold! Here is d lamb of God who takes away d sins of d world."

By his words, John made it very clear that Jesus was d 1 who wd b sacrificed to free d Jews frm sin. Jesus came to free us from sin bz of God's immense love for us, His very own children. His blood wd wash away our sins & make us children of God.

If this is d case then y r v still 'sinful'? It is bz v r human & possess free will, that there is a constant tension within us between desiring to do good & d inclination towards evil!

V hv to make a choice. Choice of accepting Jesus, the Lamb of God & do good or to follow evil ways.

What is our choice?????

Jesus loves u. Hv a blessed week wt Jesus. God bless.

💐💙 Wt love..... Fr Robin, Powai 💙💐

2 January 2015 - GOSPEL JN 1:19-28

GOSPEL JN 1:19-28

This is the testimony of John. When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to him to ask him, "Who are you?" He admitted and did not deny it, but admitted, "I am not the Christ." So they asked him, "What are you then? Are you Elijah?" And he said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" He answered, "No." So they said to him, "Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us? What do you have to say for yourself?" He said: "I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,' as Isaiah the prophet said." Some Pharisees were also sent. They asked him, "Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet?" John answered them, "I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize, the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie." This happened in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

Reflection:

Today's Gospel invites us to reflect upon d life of John the Baptist (JB).

JB is questioned by the priests & Levites - Then who r u?  John's answer makes it very clear that he is conscious of his mission: to prepare the Messiah's coming. John answers: I am the voice crying out in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the Lord (Jn 1:23).

To be Christ's voice means d person who announces abt d Savior of d world & d 1 who prepares His coming. This was John's mission.

What is our mission???

V all, called to holiness by Christ, hv to become His voice in this broken world. Bz this world is often living with its back turned to God, lacking in love for man.

Today, it is a need of d hour that v make Jesus present & make Him known with d example of our lives & our words.
With all our hearts, let us b gr8ful to God for d call to share Jesus wt others & d mission of being His instruments in this present world.

I m Christ's voice, His heart & eyes. May God help me to renew my sincere desire to b faithful to Him.

Jesus loves u. Hv a gr8 day wt Jesus. God bless.

💐💙 Wt love..... Fr Robin, Powai 💙💐