Down To Earth Catholic Sunday 11/9/2016 Brief Version

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Reflection for 11th september 2016 we are in Cycle 3: celebrating 24th Ordinary Sunday mass,Inviting us to analyze,

Value of repentance, value of Pardoning and value of humility by overcoming, pride and envy: in other word how to become down to earth catholic

First Let us analyze the value of Repentance to our life

Repentance, which literally means to turn, is the activity of reviewing one's actions and feeling contrition or regret for past wrongs. It generally involves a commitment to personal change and the resolve to live a more responsible and humane life.

Certain other religions KARMIC RELATIONSHIP relates to the principle of retribution justice determining a person's state of life and the state of his or her reincarnation as the effect of past deeds. 2. ( Theology) theosophy the doctrine of inevitable consequence. 3. destiny or fate.

Christianity does not support karmic relationship,and believes in one life. Hence there is no reincarnation, and you can easily identify about your sin, since it has caused not in unknown Period(before your present life).

Repentance: acts of penitent: catechism 1450-60; 1487-92 : they are : Careful examination of concise: contrition(or repentance) which is perfect when it is motivated by love of God and imperfect if it is rest on other motives and which includes the determination not to sin again. Confession, which consists in the telling of one's sins to the priest who in the name of christ grant forgiveness and determine the ways of satisfaction.

Interior penance
It is movement of a "contrite heart"(pslam 51:19) drawn by divine grace to respond to the merciful love of God. This entails sorrow for and abhorrence of sins committed, a firm purpose of not to sin again in the future and trust in the help of God. It is nourished by hope in divine mercy

Now Let us analyze the value of pardoning or forgiveness
Forgiveness like oil in an engine.:it keeps the wheels moving. Forgiveness is like gravity, invisible it's power, yet profound in it's effects. Jesus is the ultimate symbol of forgiveness. HE kept on believing his staff. He kept on giving them chance. Jesus has true sense of "try and try again" He always gave people another chance. A forgiving attitude gives forward motion. Forgiveness does not mean being a dormant or not using discretion in whom you deal with and how? Forgiveness means allowing others to make mistakes while you and they keep on moving forward.
Peter , the one who pledged eternal faithfulness to Jesus, denied him 3 times publicly. It might have been difficult to Jesus to forgive, yet HE appeared to peter and forgave him, asking him to show his love now and by feeding his sheep.
Sometimes,as with Peter, the farther they fall, the deeper they will love. So Jesus forgave them.\

Last we analyze,How you Should convert from proud ness to humility.

Today, pordigal son's parabol shows us;
Elder bother's proud ness, has caused him to misunderstand about his father's action, while younger brother becoming down to earth, realizing, his own state of living, Repent and confess to his father, to remove his guilt of misdeed.

Sin of pride is an inordinate love of self: a super confidence and high esteem in your own abilities, which exaggerate your abilities,gifts and talents and ignores your weaknesses, and imperfections.
Pride is key to all other sins, because after you believe that you are more important than you actually are, you compensate for it when others don't agree with your judgment, by lying,cheating, stealing,insulting, ignoring etc. Although acknowledging your converted talents to energy is good, but be clear all these are coming from God.

Humility is best remedy for pride. Pride fools you into thinking that you are the source of your own greatness.

Do we resemble the older brother?.His problem is that he had set himself up as a judge. He had severed his father, so faithfully,day in, day out. He had never failed in his duty. He was proud of his accomplishments and took all the credit to himself. And as a result of his self centered attitude, He suffered from what might be called hardening of spiritual arteries: and because of his proud sense of personal achievement. God's compassion and forgiving love could find no place in him.

The young son takes off from home,spends his inheritance in sinful living, then repent and resolves to return home and make his confessions to his father. But the father waits for the boy,and when he sees him in distance, he runs to the boy,empress him,kisses him and don't even listen to his confession! There has to be a party,a celebration,because" this son of mine was dead and has come back to life. HE WAS LOST AND IS FOUND"
Picture of moses leading to God

Today's reading:

1st reading:
Exodus 32:7-11,13-14 says" moses plead to God to spare his sinful people and the lord grant his prayer

2nd reading
1 TIM 1:12-17 : paul tells Timothy how the lord forgave his former sinfulness and granted him faith and love

Lk 15:1-32 : the parable of prodigal son, heaven rejoices when a sinner repents and returns home to God.

All 3 readings shows, God willingness or eagerness to forgive repentant sinners. In each reading someone or something is lost,is recovered,and there is, celebration.

The parable of Pordigal son remind us, the value of Repentance and confession!.

Church has 5 precepts or basic rules that has to be followed by catholics. They are

(1) You should attend Mass on sundays and on Holy days of obligation and remain free from work or activity that could impede the sanctification of such days.
(2) You shall confess your sins at least once a year
(3) You shall receive the sacrament of Eucharist at least during the easter season.
(4) You shall observe the days of fasting and abstinence established by the church
(5) You shall help to provide needs of the church.

You will see the value of confession from this.

In conclusion: it is important to keep the father's words in our hearts" My son, you are with me always, and everything I have is yours". Those are the Lords words to you today. You are with him always because HE has always being with you, and if you have it is not only by your own strength and courage but only by God's grace in you. All you can do is to celebrate and rejoice and give thanks. The Eucharist is the party, the banquet. Hopefully you feel at home at this celebration the lord is giving to you whether you are repentant sinner or innocent child in the family of God. You will never grow into mature catholic until you realize how much God has loved you and continue to love you, lavishly and pordigaly!. This parable is a living proof.
Finally, today readings provide very basic catholic life; your life swing in 2 state, With grace of God, and loosing touch of Him by sin.
In today's gospel prodigal son's story, when you analyze 2 sons and father, it shows the catholic life. You sin, go away from FAther, father is willing to receive you,by REPENTANCE and CONFESSION, you are with the father. On the other hand, you may be like the elder son, with the father and worried about the sinful younger bother of yours, indicating that you cannot judge any sinful man, since he is having free will always to Repent and confess.

Reflection points

(1) Are you leading your life similar to elder or younger bother in prodigal sons parable?
(2)How to convert your pride life to humility life?
(3) Forgiveness is like oil in the engine, how it keeps the Wheels moving?
(4) When you believe karma, Can you Repent for your sins?
(5) What are the 5 PRECEPTS of Catholic church?

Are prepared to spend about 8 minutes(0.6%) out of 1440 minutes of today. Then pl listen!

For more details follow this links :
http://weeklycatholicreflection.blogspot.com
Or
http://www.sundayreading.net/ ‬

http://www.sinhalagospel.lk/Sundayaudio.html

Or for more details about Mary

http://holymaryreflection.blogspot.com

GBU

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