Thought of the week

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Today 31st July 2016 we are in Cycle 3: celebrating 18th Ordinary Sunday mass,
Inviting us to analyze,How to become God centered person;.


Let us summarized to days readings:

Reading 1:
Ecclasest 1:2,2-21-23 says life make no sense if it has no deeper goal than achieving worldly success.

Reading 2:
Paul says(Col 3:1-5, 9-11) says" having Raised up with Christ, we are to keep God at the centre of our life and avoid anything endangers eternal joy.

Reading 3:
Lk 12-13-21 says. Jesus parable about rich man who grows rich for himself instead of growing rich in the sight of God.

All 3 readings allow us to analyze, 3 major points:

(1) Steps that need to be followed for you to become God centered and enjoy your life

(2) What is the practical Situation.

(3) How to go rich in the eyes of God?

(1)In order to find steps to follow for you to be God centered  let us analyze the purpose of your life?

1.1 You know very well, that you cannot decide the time of your birth, as well as time of your death, which will be decided by God.

After your birth without your knowledge, you start breathing,then walking, start eating and start taking, till death, you keep on developing all these 4, for you to obtain earth bound needs such as Money, power,desires and health.
These 4 elements now become the basic tires of your life cycle. When you get problems for this 4 basic tires- ie no air, you use God as a spare wheel.

On the other hand, for your living you need to earn money, have a house to stay, spent for clothing and maintain yourself and your family. For this your talents may or may not be used. When you  +ve at your work, you can always, get a liking towards that job,then you can start converting your talent to skills and then to knowledge,finally to good attitude, generating energy to serve the society.

Now let us analyze, where are we heading,by developing earth bound cravings?
You have seen, moneyed or powerful or desirous or healthiest people almost all of sudden, loose their possessions,and becoming frustrated. Why? Because they think that they can do all those things without God. Their God become one of these earth bound cravings. They use God as a spare wheel.

1.2 Then what is most safest way to be happy?
You know, that you cannot know 100% outcome of your action. You hope to travel back home from office, but you might end up in a hospital. This is reality!. When you baptised you belongs to God's family, God is the father. You know, HE knows 100% outcome of your actions. Hence better to transfer your centre of your living from earth bound cravings towards to identify who is you real father and what he has asked to do.

1.3 For that step no 1 you have to follow is to have 4 tires of your life to focus on the following:


(1) your belief(understand creed 21 facts)
(2) Worship God(practice 7 sacraments)
(3) Establish connection with God( understand Lords prayer(7 facts)+ understand holy mary and saints to associate with them to get the help for your worries with God.
(4) Your behavior (adhere to 7 ethics): 10 comms/avoid 7 vices/practice 7 sacraments/practice 7 corporal and 7 Spiritual mercies/pardoning and love.

And your spare wheel become earth bound needs.

1.4 Step no 2:  how to hand over your worries in your life.
In Cana, the 1st miracle(Jn 2), God shows us clearly,that, when you invite Mary/sants for you to hand over worries, so that they wll intercede with HIM, to resolve your worry.

1.5 3 rd and final step for you to be God centered, is when you follow the 2 steps discussed here
Your 4 tires, will become,
(1) Follow 7 ethics
(2) Train yourself, how to be happy, with peace and worry less mind.
(3) Convert your talents to good attitude to serve the society
(4) Train to follow God's Will and not yours.

Then you will see, your spare wheel has to be used very rarely.

 today all readings invite you to think about how to be God centered in your life.


2. What is the practical situation?

Sometimes, we might think, that we are God centered, but in actual practice, it may not be so!.


2.1 In order to understand, let's hear the story about wealthy man who was dying. The priest at his bed side urged him to be sorry for his sins of his life,specially the sins of avarice, he held a beautiful silver cross,before the man's eye. This dying man was asking"father how much do you think that cross is worth?, showing that how much he has been focused to evaluate things by their material value.

2.2 We take another story: a rich person who has achieved a pinnacle of his ambition when he became president of a company. One day he sat in his office he thought to himself,"Now I have reached the age of retirement. I have every thing I ever wanted; but I live in the same house as my wife, and,we never learned to talk together. I don't know my children and they don't know me. I don't know anything about enjoying music,literature or art of any kind, I am going to retire in a month and I don't know even how to fish.

These two stories might be modern version of jesus parable of today's Gospel. They contain terrible warning about what can happen to a person whose life priorities are upside down. About the frustration and despair of any human who places material success instead of God in their lives.

2.3 The retiring man is doubly guilty. First wrong set of values and life priorities and secondly failing to allow life to enrich him with it's God given treasures. He has refused to become educated, refused to grow up into a whole human being. He has organized his life without reference to God. Kept God as a spare wheel in his life rather than at the center. Such a life at the end can bring a person, nothing but frustration and despair.

2.4 But it is not only material riches and the unholy search for them that today's reading warn against. Seeking intellectual knowledge without reference to benefiting others can also be dangerous, as reading 1 indicates. The wrong search for wisdom condemn in reading 1, is an attempt to presume knowledge and control over God. This is vanity of vanities. This is not to down grade the education and study, but simply to point out How intelligent one is, the way of God are God's way.- a mystery that always beckons us to more study, more prayer!

2.5 Avarice,possessiveness,greed for either riches or unholy knowledge- are all self destructive. May we all learn this truth before we end up like dying man who asked what is the value of  silver crucifix

3. How to grow rich in the sight of God?

what doesn't our lord mean by"growing rich in the sight of God. It means placing and keeping God at the centre of ones life rather than fringes. It means self giving, living for others rather than oneself. It means friendship and intimacy with Jesus and learning to appreciate all those things that the rich man has neglected music, poetry, literature, may be learning how to fish.

Growing rich in the sight of God means how to love, having love at the very centre of our being. Love for God,over all else and love for one another. And love has to be worked at,it has to be created by sacrifice,learning to live for others. We have to give love, but before it can be given, we have to learn how to receive love - receive it above all is from God. This is the true meaning of hospitality!being open to the lords desire to be at home with us.

In conclusions: today church invte us to analyse how to become a practical catholic and how to follow God's will as given by Christianity


GBU

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In life there are many actions to carry out. How to find out which action has to carry out first and which has to carry out last!. This is prioritize the action. This is what you lead in your life, when you don't know how to prioritized, you lead your life, miserably and rest less!.





Today reading:
Reading 1:
Eccl 1:2,2-21-23 says life make no sense if it has no deeper goal than achieving worldly success.

Reading 2:
Paul says( Col 3:1-5, 9-11) says" having Raised up with Christ, we are to keep God at the centre of our life and avoid anything endangers eternal joy.

Reading 3:
Lk 12-13-21 says. Jesus parable about rich minute who grows rich for himself instead of growing rich in the sight of God.

How to identify priorities in your life!
Every day, cells of your body is changing



Today reading summarizes, how you become rest-less, Without identifying the priorities of life.  All 3 readings summerrises: how we tend to go for earth bound cravings: fornication, impurity, guilty passion, evil desires,greed, avarice, worshipping false God,tellling lies, vanity Etc, forgetting our life in this world is short when you compare with eternal life. When you carry out above vices, you ignore God: Since, HE has told us not to do these things.

Today readings invite us to be lead a calm life, with God at the centre, the primary aim of catholism



Your life is from birth to death. your eternal life will move to infinity. Hence whether you live 5 or 100yrs compared to infinite life is negligible. Control of Depart time is not yours but God’s. You eat food for you to live. Food you have eaten will be digested & wasted (threw at toilet).Otherwise you become physically unrest.

If you wish to hear voice output of the following Reflection. Pl navigate:

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Today reflections:

A. Back ground: last 2 sundays we  found that both Samaritan and Martha Maria stories is showing very much the practical application of christianity to the present society. Today church invited us to analyze how to follow God's Will in your life.

B.  what is todays readings:

Reading 1: Gen 18:20-32 says; Abraham bargains with God, for the salvation of wicked cites of Sodom and Gomorrah, and the Lord spares the cities.

Reading 2: paul to colossian(col2:12-14) says: in baptism we are buried with Christ
But also raised life with HIM

Reading 3: Gospel LK 11-1-13 says Jesus teaches disciples to pray Lord's prayer and to pray with persistence for all our needs.

C. Today's readings, will be analyzed in 5 points:

(1) What is maturity?
We know we have been growing from babyhood to childhood, then to adulthood,then to old age. At every stage, your priority for actions are going to changed. Childhood you may like to study,at adulthood you may like to earn money and look after your family etc. When you move this life cycle, were you able to change your priorities, so that you will always be happy with time!
For any action you don't know 100% outcome. But when you baptized,and after confirmation, you accept that God, knows all outcomes, you knowingly become a member of HIS Family. Then you are supposed to follow the God's Will. Then you have to do what God has asked you to do!ie, 7 ethics of catholism.

Then how to follow God's?
 Think about characteristics of a child: There are 2 basic characteristics: childishness and child likeness.

Adam and eve were not created as babies. But their childish work, betraying God, resulted God to introduce, childhood for the humans.

That is why, Christianity began with worship of Bebe & only by continued recognition of child likeness will adult human be recognized as children of God. But child likeness is not childishness. To be childish is to retain in maturity what should have been discarded at the threshold of manhood.(Related to typical of child- behaving in a silly way,that makes you seem much younger than you really are) Child likeness, on the contrary, implies that with the mental breath and practical strength and wisdom of maturity there is associated the humility, trustfulness, spontaneity, and obedience of the child

(2) What are the blocks for your happiness?

Irrespective, of which stage you are leading your life now, specially, after baby hood, you like to fulfill your desires. But these desires, if you cannot control, according to 10 commandments or avoidng 7 vices, you will sin, and God guaranteed-happiness is lost.
Sin is having 2 effects to your life(1) guilt(2) punishment. But God is merciful,HE has given you clear process, Identify your Sin, Repent, confess with a priest, have Eucharist, within 2 weeks do merciful action, to be in grace with Him.
This is the safest way to avoid blocks for your Happiness.

(3) What is catholic definition of suffering:

If God cares, why don't we get always what we asked?.

How can we reconcile the 2 things?, Fathers concern and our experience of rejection?

Firstly God never promises exemptions. Christians are not guaranteed immunity from suffering. If that were so, there would no crucifixion and all christians live charmed lives. What God does promise is companionship. Jn 14:18 says "I SHALL NOT LEAVE YOU ORPHANS. I SHALL COME TO YOU. Secondly father's answere lies in His own Will not always in ours.

During suffering,We pray for a cure, perhaps, and in perseverance  solution learn acceptance,even if it takes a lifetime. Jesus showed us obedience, at gethsamani and Golgotha.

(4) What is your life?
At certain times you are worried, certain other times you are peaceful, certain times you are on top of the world- you are happy!
Your life will have these 3 stages: peaceful, worried and happy. To understand this, think about your car!
 Your car is running with 4 tyres. IF any single tyre is without air, you cannot move. Similar to these 4 tires, normally you try to think Money,power,desires and health are primary need for you to have a happy life.

When there is a problem to achieve one of these 4 you go to God, as a spare wheel.
This is not the catholic/christian way.

First you try to convert your four tires to understand
(1) how to worship God
(2) how to etablish connection with him Lords prayer+Mary and saints
(3) how to behave(10 commandments+avoid 7 vices) With pardoning and love
(4) develop your faith(understand creed).

 When you understand this, with pardoning process, your car is ready to move. That means you are having peaceful mind,to move your car But when you travel you should avoid pit holes. These are analogue to suffering in your life. Prayer petitions will allow you to remove your worries and hand over such to Holy Mary or saints, for them to intercede with God to resolve your problem,as shown by God given in Jn 2

 Catholicism promotes many types of prayer petitions, like letters, e mail, lighting candles are few to name. So Prayer petition is like a cry in the hills,it is always answered, not merely by his own echo, but by the modulated voice of the God.

Our prayers are not tentative whispers into the dark or speculative lobs into the sky; they speed unerringly to God's heart. That much is clear in all 3 readings. Abraham, relentless pleadings found a sympathetic ear.


With prayer petitions you develop worryless mind, Since you have handed over your worries to Mary and saints. Then use latest technology to be efficient for all of your actions+maintan good health by doing enough physical excercises to convert your talents to energy, to be served to society for the love of God.

With happy mind you Will have 4 intermediary new tires/ talent, skills,knowledge and attitude.

(5) How to move towards catholic method of happiness?
First identify that you are powerless, you cannot kill a worm in your own stomach without taking a tablet. What you mean powerful is based on how you can influence others to carry out your actions. If others follow your action you are powerful otherwise you feel unhappy,because you get to know that you are power less.  Catholic method of developing happiness is very different and gives you how to be happy, independent to the society, while you serve the society. For that
(1) Follow 7 ethics
(2) Train yourself, how to be happy, with peace and worriless mind.
(3) Convert your talents to good attitude to serve the society
(4) Train to follow God's Will and not yours.

This is 4 new tires of your Catholic life.


In conclusion:
Catholism support you to achieve,
A happy life, personal to you, independent with society, while serving society, on God behalf.
Wish you a happy life!



GBU

For more pl visit:
http://weeklycatholicreflection.blogspot.com Or
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Or
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If you wish to hear voice output of the following Reflection. Pl navigate:

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Today's reflection:


A. Back ground: TODAY 17th July 2016 we are in Cycle 3: celebrating 16th Ordinary Sunday mass.

Today church invite us to analyze famous Martha/Maria story:

Last sunday, we reflected about famous Samaritan Story, reminding us;
About our neighbor and christian mystery of suffering:

We further found:
(1) As Christians we are ignorant about our neighbor, though we accept human as one family with God as father

(2)Going against 10 commandments and 7 vices, is sin. Sin will result in guilt in your life, as well as liable for punishment during this life or in purgatory. But we found God can change your life resulting sufferings for you. Hence the reason for your suffering, cannot be clearly identify. Unlike most of other religions, catholism, follows, Suffering is not only due to U'r sin. Hence you have main obligation to support a suffering person, since(1) we don't know clear reason to the suffering (2) every human belongs to 1 family.
In short, as catholic, you cannot judge anybody who is suffering,and cannot assume that his suffering is due to his own fault. You have to always help,suffering person. Today readings,this Christian concept of suffering is further developed.


B.When we summerise Todays readings

Gen (18:1-10) says: God promise of a son to abraham

Paul (col 1:24-28) explains, your responsibility of revealing God message and value of Christian suffering

Lk 10:38-42 says famous Martha & maria story. How people evade responsibility in saying this is not my duty:

C.  Reflection:
We found that both Samaritan and Martha Maria stories is showing very much the practical application of christianity to the present society.


It appeals for us to reflect; 5 major messages:

(1) Extension of last sunday reflection, you evade your neighbor, today, gospel says, you evade God's word and worry about many things like Martha
(2) Last sunday, Jesus explained who is your neighbor, this sunday, 1st and Gospel reading talks about, value of hospitality.
Abraham,shows gracious hospitality to 3 strangers, who rewarded him with the promise of a son. Jesus were invited to the house of Martha/Maria. Martha shows hospitality to Jesus by preparing,meal for HIM, while Mary listen to HIS word.

This further explain;
When you don't associate with People, you will not get different opinions. When God want,to advice you, how HE can do that? When you are not associating with another humans. Hospitality is one of the key factors to be satisfied, in order for you get information with regard to God's plans from 3rd persons.
Catholics have to build up relationship among humans, since they all belong to one family. That is why,they are pioneers in forming  many social orgernisations to help various needs of people. Such as schools,hospitals,etc.


(3) Last sunday, we analyzed, what is christian suffering, this sunday too,paul invited us to analyze further.

Paul remind us that in some mysterious way the christian is privileged to participate in the passion of Jesus,and that there is some quota of suffering that the church & her members must endure before Christ's victory is final and complete.

This will further allow us to think,that the Christians need not, should not, morbidly look for suffering. It comes to us in varying degrees.
when suffering does happen,  person should make use of all natural means to get rid of it. For example: by consulting doctors; but if natural means fail, one may have to accept and generously pin with as much love as possible, always keeping in mind the paul's word.
By HIS own passion and death Christ gave us a new meaning of suffering, which when united with HIS own, can become a means of purification and of salvation for us and for others.


(4)This sunday, Jesus, invite us to analyze, why Martha complains about Maria?.  Obviously when you invite a person to your home, one person has to talk with him, while other person has to prepare meal for him.
Both these duties cannot be done by one person, so Jesus here showed us that duty and Love is 2 different things. You should avoid envy, understand that you are created to carry out a special task, than others,resulting not to analyze others job. HE showed that we should avoid envy in our life, for us to develop Love. Marth and Maria both invited Jesus home, because they both love HIM. So Martha should be clear, that her job also important for Jesus to enjoy hospitality of their home. So she should do the job without complain. Also though it was not mention here, Maria, should understand the participatory role Martha is doing. This is similar to Catholicism. There are priest, there are brothers & sisters  who has devoted their life, for the service of God. Both priest and these devoted brothers and sisters, should understand each other, for their God's work to the society without differentiating who is superior to other.

(5)Lastly, Jesus is showing, that specially in the modern world, you hide you are a catholic,and feel little(or shy) to talk about God's Kingdom.

D. Summary of 16 ordnary sundays:

So in conclusion of let us summarize what we have Reflected, up to this 16 th ordinary sundays. Which  aimed at how to enjoy your life as a Catholic.
 It mainly focused;
(1) How to be a good Catholic professional (2) how to manage  your life crosses.
(3) All religions in the world are good, and we respect them, since, all, of them advocate love the society, but how to identify the clear difference between other religions with catholism
(4)All religions in the world say, love your neighbor, don't sin, how to erase the bad effects of sins, in your life. What is specifically followed by Catholics, in order to erase bad effects of sins, so that you can extend your love to God with love to society
(5) What is the definition of sin in catholism/ adhere to 10 commandments/avoid 7 vices(sloth,anger,pride,envy,avarice,lust, gluttony)
(6) How to understand and manage suffering of your life
(7) What are the categories of catholics/ Priest and layman and what are their functions.
(8) What is swot analysis, how to apply as catholic swot analysis in to your life
(9)Today, we analyzed, the value of relationship building, what is difference between duty and love, value of avoiding Envy in our life, and what is christian suffering;
(10) Up to now we have
Covered 4 vices, out of 7i.e Sloth,anger, pride and Envy

GBU

For more pl visit:
http://weeklycatholicreflection.blogspot.com Or
http://www.sundayreading.net/
Or
http://holymaryreflection.blogspot.com