“Being ready to be led by Jesus, the True Guide of our lives!”

(Based on Acts 6:1-7 and Jn 6:16-21 – Saturday of the 2nd Week of Easter)

A compass is an instrument used for navigation and orientation that shows direction.

It is used to find the right direction to get one to where one wants to go.

A compass helps to guide through unknown terrains.
… to be directed well, without being lost.
… to keep right the focus.

The Gospel of the Day presents Jesus, as a person, in perfect control of His life; as a result of being in union with His Father – the Compass of His life..
… and He, becomes the Compass in the life of His disciples – to guide and direct them to safety!

The Gospel is the incident of Jesus walking on the waters, as the disciples travel in the boat, caught up in the midst of a strong sea wind.

This incident follows the “miraculous” event of the multiplication of five loaves and two fish, to feed a “massive” number of people. (Jn 6: 1-15)

The people were greatly amazed and excited about this “super-miracle”.

This is evident in their words, “This is truly the Prophet, the One Who is to come into the world” (Jn 6: 14)

The people had seen an astonishing miracle.

They had witnessed Someone who was able to provide them food.
They had experienced Someone who could provide them security and strength.

But Jesus realized that all such excitement and exhilaration, would lead the people to make Him a King…

He knew that they would….
… be stuck to only material satisfaction and physical contentment
… not understand the heavenly and transcendental meaning of the miracle

And so Jesus withdrew to the mountain (Jn 6:15) to be with His Heavenly Father, alone.

His Beloved Father was the “Compass” of His life – the One who led Him….
… to guide through unknown terrains
… to direct well, without being lost
… to keep right the focus.

United with His Father, Jesus reaches out as a “Compass” to His struggling disciples…

They were being tossed up by the mighty waves and their boats were lashed by the mighty winds. (Jn 6:18)

But Jesus enters this “chaotic” scene….and ensures His peace and calm.
The disciples were lost
They had missed sight of their direction
They were disoriented in their focus and sight

Fear had seized them
Anxiety was drowning them.

But the Lord, the “Compass” of Life restores back their calm and focus and direction.

Nothing is lost, when we have the Lord as the compass of our lives.

Nothing will be drowned, if we hold on to Jesus, as the compass of our lives.

The disciples realized this…
… and they experienced the calming effect in their lives.

Are we also ready to have God as the “Compass” of our lives?

In prayer… In faithfulness.. In trust…
… let us be ready and open to be led by the True Guide of our lives!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

“Moving from ‘murmuring moments to experiencing multiplying miracles!'”

(Based on Acts 5:34-42 and Jn 6:1-15 – Friday of the 2nd Week of Easter)

An elderly priest was addressing a group of young couples.

In his sermon, he remarked: “Remember that ‘life is about moving from murmuring to multiplying!’

Move from ‘murmuring’ about your grudges, to ‘multiplying’ your gratitude!
Move from ‘murmuring’ about your insufficiencies, to ‘multiplying’ your interconnectededness!
Move from ‘murmuring’ hateful complaints, to ‘multiplying’ healthy communication with each other!”

Can we make our life a ‘movement from murmuring moments to experiencing multiplying miracles?”

The Gospel of the Day is the remarkable miracle of multiplication…
… as the Lord leads his disciples and people from the “tempting world of murmuring to the transformative life of multiplication!”

The feeding of the people, by the mighty deed of multiplication of the loaves, in the only miracle…
… besides the miracle of the Resurrection of Jesus
… that finds a mention in all the four Gospels.

And each of the Gospels also have something unique to speak of this incident:

Mt 14: 13-21: mentions about five thousand men being fed, “without counting women and children”
Mk 6: 31-4: mentions of making the people to be seated in “groups and clusters of hundreds and fifties”
Lk 9: 10-17: also mentions of five thousand men and being seated in clusters of fifty and also mentions Jesus, “looking up to the heavens”.
Jn 6: 5-15: mentions of a “little boy”, who is the provider of the five loaves and two fish and also that “the Lord gave thanks for it”, before distributing it to the people.

The Gospel of the Day presents this account of the multiplication from the eyes of St John, the Evangelist.

Since this miracle finds its parallel with the Resurrection, as the only one mentioned in all the four Gospels, we could highlight some of the outstanding features of this “massive” miracle

A. The multiplication of the loaves fed a massive crowd.
Five thousand men could mean, that including women and children, it would have easily exceeded probably over twenty thousand people!

This easily was the miracle that Jesus performed with the greatest number of witnesses and participants.

B. The multiplication of the loaves was a unique miracle
There are other miracles of Jesus, mentioned in the Bible, which could fall in the following categories…

Miracles of healing: Curing of many sicknesses and diseases
Miracles over nature: Powerful control over the forces of nature
Miracles of exorcism: Casting out demons and liberating people from them
Miracles of transformation: Transforming an object to something else or even of people
Miracles of restoration: Restoring people to their original state of life and good condition

But the miracle of the “multiplication” is unique and special

C. This miracle of the multiplication also reveals some of the finest qualities of Jesus, the Messiah

i. His sensitivity to the needs of the people
While the disciples were just eager to send the crowd away, Jesus reaches out to them in compassion and love.

ii. His ability to effect changes in the mindset and thinking-pattern
The disciples could see no way, in that desert to feed the gigantic crowd. They had only question marks before them.

But Jesus, sheds new light on their minds and helps them find a solution, even in the seemingly impossible situation

iii. His perfect control in a situation of panic
Though there would have been panic in the minds of the disciples, Jesus impresses upon them the fact, that He is in total charge and in complete control.

As the Lord and Creator, He knows exactly what is to be done in the moment of crisis and calamity.

iv. His attitude of raising His heart in thanksgiving at every situation
We read that before the actual multiplication happened, Jesus “took the loaves, and gave thanks…” (Jn 6: 11)

It’s amazing to imagine that situation:
… Thousands and thousands of people, eagerly waiting, hungry and exhausted….
… Having just Five Loaves and the Two Fish – which was scarcely able to meet the hunger of a couple of people…
… Jesus still raises His Heart in thanksgiving and gratitude!

It is tremendous faith that allows a person to raise one’s mind in gratitude, even in the midst of utter poverty, deep need and barren nothingness!

v. His consciousness to gather the remaining pieces, after the miracle
The Lord, “Who came save and seek the lost” is also highly mindful of gathering up the remaining broken pieces of the loaves.

The disciples get trained to become aware of “what is often considered as wasteful” can also become resourceful!

The disciples are reminded that even things that are usually “discarded” and regarded as being “unwanted and useless,” can become sources of strength and nourishment!

Let us reflect on the following:

Am I able…

(1) To be sensitive and responsive to the needs and desires of those around me?

(2) To see the brighter side of life, with the Grace and strength from God, and rub the fragrance of this positivity onto others in my life?

(3) To rise above the situations of panic and disturbances, and be calm, knowing that I have my God, Who is ultimately in total and perfect control of every situation of turmoil?

(4) To lift up my heart to the Lord, in thanksgiving, at every moment and situation of life, even when the chips are down or when I pass through the dark tunnels and the despairing valleys of life?

(5) To be aware of the “unwanted” talents in me, the “excess” people of the society and the “discarded” peripherals of the world, and seek to make the best use of them and collect them to be part of the mainframe scene?

Let us allow the Lord to lead us…
… from the “tempting world of murmuring to the transformative life of multiplication!”

Yes…
… Let us move from “murmuring moments to experiencing multiplying miracles!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

“Reviving our hearts to firmly install the Lord as the Alpha and the Omega of all our activities and our life!

(Based on Acts 5:27-33 and Jn 3:31-36 – Thursday of the 2nd Week of Easter)

A few days back we celebrated the Easter Vigil.

The Easter Vigil is called as the mother of all vigils.

In the liturgy of the Easter Vigil, a Paschal Candle is prepared.

The priest marks the candle, in the shape of the Cross, Alpha and Omega – the first and the last Greek letters and the present Year, 2026

He uses the following words:
… Christ yesterday and today (on the vertical arm of the cross)
… the Beginning and the End (horizontal arm of the cross)
… the Alpha (alpha above the cross)
… and the Omega (omega below the cross)
… All time belongs to him (numeral 2 in upper left corner of cross)
… and all the ages (numeral 0 in upper right corner of cross)
… To him be glory and power (numeral 2 in lower left corner)
… through every age and for ever. Amen (numeral 6 in lower right corner)

These words declare the Supreme authority and Heavenly glory of Jesus, the Son of God.

However, it can happen so, that at times, in our life…
… such fundamental factors of faith are taken for granted…
… such basic truths of our spiritual life are presumed as known…

Therefore, it is sometimes good take a reflective pause in our spiritual life, and ask ourselves, this fundamental question,

”Am I really trusting and believing in Jesus, as the True Son of God, the One who is all-powerful and Holy?”
“Is my faith and spirituality truly built on the great foundation, that the Lord is the ultimate beginning (Alpha) and the end (Omega) of everything?”

The Gospel of the day is an invitation to make this examination of the basics of our faith and spirituality and to renew our belief and trust in the Lord.

The Gospel passage begins with the verse, “The One who comes from heaven is above all” (Jn 3:31)

This verse refers to the Divine origin of the Lord.

At the Annunciation, Angel Gabriel had announced to Mother Mary that Her child “will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High” (Lk 1:32)

The Divinity of the Lord was affirmed by Him through the various works of wonders and great deeds…
… of healing many in afflictions and sicknesses
… of accepting many of the rejected and unwanted
… of strengthening many of the oppressed and the abused
… of preaching many on the need for repentance and striving to enter the Kingdom

His personality shone with Divinity!
His character radiated with Holiness!

He is the Way-revealer, the Truth-instiller and the Life-giver.
He is the One “Whom the Father loves” and “to Whom the Father has given everything” (Jn 3:35)

Have we given our lives entirely to Him, who is above all things?

Have we entrusted ourselves entirely to Him, who has been entrusted everything by the Father?

At the Holy Mass, one of the most beautiful prayers is the “Doxology”

In this, we render all the praise to the Father, through the Son, in the Holy Spirit.

“Through Him, With Him, In Him…. O God Almighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honour is Yours, forever and ever, Amen!”

It would be good, to make the words of the prayer of the Doxology, our own – in our works and activities.

(Kindly note that at the Liturgy, only the Celebrants are to say the Doxology, while the people respond with Amen!)

This could be a conscious way of acknowledging the Divinity of the Lord in all our activities.

This could be a meaningful way of saying that the Lord reigns in all our works and deeds.

Let us revive our hearts to firmly install the Lord as the True Alpha (the beginning) and the True Omega (the end) of all our activities…
… and our life itself!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

“Standing before the Cross – the Ultimate Expression of God’s Tremendous Love – and hearing the voice of Jesus whispering to our hearts: ‘I stayed… because of you!'”

(Based on Acts 5:17-26 and Jn 3:16-21 – Wednesday of the 2nd Week of Easter)

One day, a little boy walked into a grand, towering church for the very first time.

His tiny eyes widened at the sheer beauty around him…
… the colorful stained glass
… the glow of the candles
… the sound of the choir.

But then… his gaze froze.

Right above the altar, hanging solemnly, was a large Crucifix…
… the image of a man, beaten, bruised, and bloodied.

The boy tugged his father’s sleeve and, in a small, trembling voice asked,
“Daddy… why is that man hanging there?

Didn’t anyone love Him enough to save Him?

The father bent down, held his son close, and whispered, “Son, they could not save Him… because He refused to save Himself.

He loved us too much to come down from that Cross.”

The boy stared again, this time not with fear, but with wonder.

A tear rolled down his cheek as he whispered back, “He stayed… because of me?”

The father smiled, tears now in his own eyes, and said, “Yes, my child. You were in His mind… when He was on that Cross!”

Yes… Love doesn’t leave when it hurts —

Love stays, even when the nails are hammered in!

Today, like that little boy, we are invited to stand before the Cross and hear the voice of Jesus whispering to our hearts:
“I stayed… because of you.”

The sacrifice of Jesus, on the Cross, reveals the depth of God’s Love

It is this love of God that Jesus spells out, when He says to Nicodemus, in today’s Gospel:

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him, should not perish, but may have eternal life…” (Jn 3:16)

This verse, John 3:16 has some of the most unique credits….
… it is perhaps one of the most favourite verses of the entire Bible
… it is perhaps one of the most known verses of the entire Bible

In seven phrases, this verse, reveals the gist and the core of the entire Good News…
… For God: The Great Lord and the Creator of the entire universe
… so loved the world: The Great Purpose of God
… that He gave His only Son: The Great Sacrifice
… that whoever: The Great Open Invitation
… believes in Him: The Great Condition
… should not perish: The Great Desire
… but may have eternal life: The Great Promise

Jesus was teaching Nicodemus that the heart of God’s love would be revealed in the sacrifice and death of His Beloved Son, on the Cross.
The Cross is not for condemnation…
The Cross is not for judgement…
The Cross is for salvation
The Cross is for hope!

To the one who believes and trusts in this power of the Cross, there is hope and salvation.

To the one who rejects and refuses this power of the Cross, judgement and condemnation is self-inflicted and self-imposed.

God doesn’t want to condemn…
… He only wants to redeem.
God doesn’t desire to judge…
… He only wants to save.

The Cross of the Lord invites us today…
… to be faithful to the salvation won by the Lord, always
… to seek the grace to live a life in the light, always
… to make efforts to walk the path of truth, always.

Let the voice of our Crucified Lord, telling each one of us: ‘I stayed… because of you!”
… resound in our hearts
… reminding us to live in holiness!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

“‘Updating’ our lives with the love and power of the Holy Spirit”

(Based on Acts 4:32-37 and Jn 3:7b-15 – Tuesday of the 2nd Week of Easter)

This beautiful message on prayer, was written in bold large letters…
…. in front of the arch leading to a famous Shrine:
“When you pray, remember:

The love of God, wants the best for us.
The wisdom of God, knows what is best for us.
The power of God, can accomplish it!”

Yes… prayer is acknowledging the Love, the Wisdom and the Power of God…
… which will always want the best for us,
… know what’s best for us
… and accomplish what’s best for us!

Do we realise that ‘God’s Way is always the best way?’
… or is my life failing “to be in compatibility” with the Ways of God?

When we are not in proper terms with God, we fail to understand many of His plans for us.

And so, the Lord reminds us in today’s Gospel, “If I tell you about earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?” (Jn 3:12)

The conversation between Nicodemus, in the darkness of the night and Jesus, the Light of the world continues…

The Lord speaks of the need “to be born anew” and of how the movement of the Spirit cannot be judged, but its effects can be perceived and felt (Jn 3:7)

But Nicodemus fails to understand these words of the Lord…

In his ignorance and unawareness, he puts forward a genuine doubt, “How can this be?” (Jn 3:9)

Nicodemus was unable to grasp the meaning of the words of the Lord.

He looked lost.

His thoughts were not “compatible” with the thoughts of the Lord.

And so Jesus says that one would fail to understand heavenly things, if one fails to even understand the earthly things.

How often is our life also, not “compatible” with the requirements of Jesus, and His Gospel!

Our thought-pattern often fails to be “compatible” with the teachings of the Church….
Our relationship with others, often fails to be “compatible” with the command of love of all…
Our personal following of Jesus, often fails to be “compatible” with our dual mind of seeking also the pleasures of this world….

We need to realise that ‘God’s Way is always the best way!’

We need to deepen our prayer life and our bonding with the Lord.

This will help us to acknowledge the Love, the Wisdom and the Power of God…
… which always wants the best for us,
… which knows what’s best for us
… and which accomplishes what’s best for us!

Mai we “update” our lives with the love and power of the Holy Spirit.

Let us move from a state of “How can this be?” to a state of “Indeed, it is so!” with the power of the Holy Spirit.
Let us thirst for Him.
Let us long for Him.

God Bless! Live Jesus!