It takes courage to answer a call...

I've been wondering what it takes to say Yes to God. I wonder what Mother Mary would have gone through when she said yes. Did she realize what she was saying yes to?

All of us at some point in our life stand at that juncture where we have to make a choice, say no to our own plans and say yes to a greater call. Its good to reflect using our dear Mother as an example. I think she had absolutely no clue about the magnanimity of the task at hand when she said that Yes. (Luke 1:38) She probably only knew what angel Gabriel told her - that God had chosen her to bear a son who would save the world. She was also told by Simeon that a sword would pierce her heart (Luke 2:35)... That's it. Then there was a life long silence from God's side. I am quite sure she never had the blueprint of her life with her when she began her journey. Step by step she realized God's plan and the purpose of her call.. treasuring all these things in her heart(Luke 2:51).

I believe that's what happens to us as well, as we prepare ourselves to say Yes to God. We may never know how huge the task is and we might often question God - Why me? But like Mother Mary, let's learn to silently let God work. And step by step, little by little the blueprint becomes clearer and life begins to make more sense.

I pray today for the grace to accept God's plan and purpose and the willingness to say Yes everyday to a greater call.

"Seeking the Kingdom"

What will I eat? How will I pay the bills? How will I have a happy marriage? How will I have a successful career? Everyone seems to be preoccupied with these kinds of concerns. These anxieties are all around us. Unconsciously we all have these (or similar) questions running through our heads, even as we are actively involved with our ministries. Do these thoughts trouble us? Let’s read further and understand a higher purpose, a greater calling and maybe even discover a call within a call!When faced with these very concerns of the disciples, Jesus calmed them by giving them a higher purpose. He told them not to worry about their needs in this world, but to instead seek God’s kingdom, having the promise that their heavenly Father would then also meet all those needs: “…do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or‘What shall we drink’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek all these things; and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well” (Matt 6:31-33, RSV)But what does it exactly mean to “seek first his kingdom”? For that, let’s try and understand what Jesus meant by “his kingdom”. I'd like to summarise my understanding of The Kingdom of God as the following:

-- God’s active rule over his creation which includes his victory over Satan. God does not complete his display of authority until Jesus returns in judgment, when he will start the new world order

-- Enjoyment of God’s rule. I.e. Enjoying life in all its fullness (Jn 10:10) and righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Rom 14:17). This salvation includes gifts enjoyed in this life, such as physical healing (Mk 5:34), temporary resurrection (Mt 11:4-5), deliverance from demonic possession (Lk 8:36), forgiveness of sins (Mk 1:4; 2:10; Lk 7:48), and righteousness (Mt 6:33)

-- Enjoying the free gift of salvation by that reign, not only in this present age but more importantly in the age to come. This means inheriting eternal life promised through the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Now that we know what “his kingdom” refers to, let’s try and understand what it means to “seek” this kingdom. In order for us to seek something it is necessary for us to place value in that thing. In events like the Olympics there are young high school students, college students, and parents who take much time out of their schedules because they value the prize of being the best. They seek the gold medal. But what do you seek? What do you value enough in your life that you are willing to sacrifice other things in order to achieve that? There may be several things that fit into that category for all of us. But Jesus shows us that there is something that must rise far above all else in our hearts. He shows us what must be at the very top of our list. To seek first means to value something far above all else in this life.

-- Trusting in God who is both Father and King of his people, we must stop worrying about things we would need on earth – which our Father already knows we need them and instead focus our energies on seeking God’s kingdom

-- Being always preoccupied with matters of the kingdom. I.e. giving all it takes to let “his kingdom” take form and shape – in us and through us.
->‘In us’ would mean constantly trying to achieve the next level of spirituality in our journey to sainthood
->And ‘through us’ would mean being compelled by God’s love (2 Cor 5:14) and filled by this love striving to let God’s reign be established in our families, work, social networks etc

-- Like the parables of the treasure and the pearl in Mt 13:44-48, “…sells everything he has in order to buy that field”. This means, once we have known what Kingdom of God is and once we have experienced/tasted the goodness of the Lord and his kingdom, giving up all one possesses in order to make the Kingdom our own. Imagine this - YOU have found THAT hidden treasure, THAT rare pearl of exceptional quality. Go sell all that you have and buy it – it’s yours!

-- Being ready for the unexpected time of the Master’s return (Lk 12:38) I.e. be found seeking the kingdom when the Son of Man comes:
->By being available for the kingdom activities. It is those who are found seeking the kingdom who will inherit what God has prepared for his children
->By investing time in kingdom activities, making safe investments with God. For where your investments are, there will your heart be also (Lk 12:34).

Seeking the Kingdom” is not an isolated action, but a way of life for Jesus’ disciples.

*this is a compilation and content not entirely mine

Short-cut to the heart of God!

What does it mean to truly love someone? I keep pondering over this question, especially now as I prepare for marriage :) What does it really mean to love, to become love, to love as Christ loved (Jn 13:34)? I don't have a higher benchmark than Christ himself and His love for me. "...he first loved us..." 1 Jn 4:10. Folks, He really beat us at this game of love! While we were still sinners Christ died for us (Rom 5:8). He didn't wait for us to be converted to express His love for us. Christ’s benchmark of expression of His love for us was Death – nothing short of it. And only so that He could win over sin and death, rise again and being seated at God’s right hand to be our advocate – our mediator, our intercessor (1 Tim 2:5)
I’d like to shift my attention to a saint I am particularly fond of – St. Therese of Child Jesus. She is called the patron saint of missionaries – and I often wonder why? I don’t think she ever preached a retreat – but her thirst for souls was unquestionably incomparable. She saw the heart of Christ and His thirst for souls. And she did all she could, gave all it took to pray for souls. We are all familiar with the incident of the criminal Pranzini, who repented before his execution thanks to the incessant prayers of this little saint. I guess intercession at times calls for a child-like obstinacy like that of Little Flower. Another saint I’d like to mention here is St. Teresa of Avila. Oh I just love this saint. She is called the most ‘obstinate of all saints’. She too gave all it took to let God’s will be done in her life. Thanks to her we have the Carmelite order, of which St. Therese of Child Jesus was also a part. Today, we have in these 2 ladies – 2 great Doctors of the Church, saints and powerful intercessors!
Let me come back to the focus of my writing today – love and expression of love. What is the first thing we are moved to do (action) when we love someone? I doubt if the answer is anything other than ‘prayer’. We are all moving towards what God wants us to become – Saints! Nothing more, nothing less. And what may I ask are these saints doing up there in heaven? Well, undoubtedly, they are ‘interceding’ for us – the Church Militant. From what I see, our journey to sainthood is rather simple. Just intercede! If we don’t practice doing this here on earth, we will definitely find it difficult when we take our places among the saints in heaven – the Church Triumphant. I like St. Therese of Child Jesus’ Little Way. She once said, “Love proves itself by deeds, so how am I to show my love? Great deeds are forbidden me. The only way I can prove my love is by scattering flowers and these flowers are every little sacrifice, every glance and word, and the doing of the least actions for love.” She used to offer every small sacrifice for the sake of souls – an act of love.
Long before Little Flower, St. Paul understood the heart of God when he says, “First of all I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions and thanksgiving be made for everyone, for rulers of states and all in authority, that we may enjoy a quiet and peaceful life in godliness and respect. This is good and pleases God.” (1 Tim 2:1-3) See what Paul is saying? That it ’pleases God’ when we intercede. Why does it please God so much? I believe this is because His Son is doing the very same this for us, sitting at His right hand (1 Tim 2:5).
We are all trying our best to please God and reach heaven. The saints found a perfect short-cut to the heart of God – Intercession! How blessed are we that we have a communion of saints who have gone before us showing the easiest way to God’s heart.