Lent is a time to make an agreement with the Lord

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season : Lenten Season - 1st Week : Saturday*

*Gospel : Mt 5:43-48*

*First Reading : Dt 26:16-19*

*Lent is a time to make an agreement with the Lord*

*1) Today you are making this agreement with the LORD*

These are the words we have in the first reading of the day 

These words are spoken by Moses to the People of Israel, about the agreement that they were enetring with the Lord 

So Mosses is telling the People what they are supposed to do after entering into the agreement

*2) Main aspects of the Agreement*

These are following important things which will be binding to the people of Israel after they made an agreement with the Lord 

*A) God, will be their Master*

This is the first implication of the agreement. They need to accept God as their master 

*B) They are to walk in His ways*

Walking in the Lords ways means, Listening to the Lord, and doing Good. 

Do good and avoid evil. This is God's Way  

*C) They are to observe his statutes, commandments and decrees,*

Once the agreement is done, they are supposed to follow the statutues, commandments and the decrees of the Lord. 

An agreement becomes useless, when these above things are not followed

*D) They are to hear His voice*

One of the important things. Need to hear the voice of the Lord, to know what is right and what is wrong 

By listening one learns a lot 

*3) Lent is a time to Renew the agreement*

All those who are followers of Jesus, have already entered into the agreement

So, lent is a Special time to renew this agreement, for our betterment

So while renewing the agreement, we need to pay attention to the following this 

We need to accept the Lord as our Master 

We need to follow His commandments

We need to walk in the Lords ways 

We need to hear the voice of the Lord in everything

We need to respect the statutes and the decrees of the Lord 

*4) How is My agreement with The Lord?*

Have I broken the agreement with the Lord? 

Has it become very weak because of my negligence? 

What is my commitment to this agreement with the Lord? 

Is it necessary to renew the agreement with the Lord? 

*5) Important aspects during Lent to Renew in the agreement*

Change of heart and mind 

Faithfulness to prayers and devotions

Service to the needy - Generosity and almsgiving

Fasting from various addictions in our life

Am I ready to renew the agreement with the Lord, according to the Mind of the Lord??

*Think about it*

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*

The Power of Turning away from Sin

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season : Lenten Season - 1st Week : Friday*

*Gospel : Mt 5:20-26*

*First Reading : Ez 18:21-28*

*The Power of Turning away from Sin*

*1) Major Turning Point*

The first reading of the day from the Book of Ezekiel, has a very important point 

This important point can be considered as *Turning Point*

This Turning point takes a complete *U Turn* from evil ways to Good Life 

*2) The Power of Turning Point*

The turning point is seen in the following words from Ezekiel *If the wicked man turns away from all the sins he committed*

So it is turning from Sin to Holy life 

It is turning from wicked to virtuous  life 

This turning point has terrible power and far reaching consequences in ones life 

The power of this turning point can be seen in the following things 

*A)None of the crimes he committed shall be remembered against him*

God will forget all the crimes, evil things, wicked things so far committed

*B) He/She shall surely live, he shall not die*

One will not be destroyed but one will be saved for eternity 

This is the power of the *Turning Point*

*3) Lent and Turning Point*

The season of Lent primarily aims at this particular turning point in our life 

The mood of Lent and the various spiritual exercises, which we undertake help us to have this turning point in our life 

*4) Turning Point in my Life*

As we reflect about this passage and the turning point in our life, which are the areas in my life need, a real *U turn*

U turn from greed to generosity

U turn from anger to patience

U turn from hatred to Love

U turn from revenge to Forgiveness

U turn from gossip to good news

U turn from jealousy to cooperation and appreciation

U turn from selfishness to selflessness

U turn from bodily passions to spiritual things?  

*5) Am I ready for a U Turn?*

As the first reading of today highlights the importance of turning away from sin and its benefits, am I ready for a change in my life?

If Yes, what measures I am taking to have this *U Turn*?

Without turning away from sin I will be perished. 

So what do I prefer?

*Think about it*

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*

Save us from the hand of our enemies

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season : Lenten Season - 1st Week : Thursday*

*Gospel : Mt 7:7-12*

*First Reading : Est C:12, 14-16, 23-25*

*Save us from the hand of our enemies*

*1) A Sincere Prayer of Esther*

When queen Esther and Her people were in danger of Death, She sincerely  prayed to the Lord 

Her prayer was save us O Lord, from the hands our our enemies

Lord heard the genuine and sincere prayer of Esther for her and for her people and saved them from the clutches of death 

*2) A very necessary and Important prayer*

Among all prayers, one of the important prayers must be the prayer of deliverance from the evil one or from our enemies

Even in the Lord's prayer Jesus taught us this aspect of prayer 

*Deliver us from all evil* This is what we pray in the Lord's prayer. 

So one can imagine the importance of this prayer 

*3) Who is our Enemy?* 

First of all the Satan is our primary enemy. 

*Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.* 1 Pet 5:8

This shows how this enemy is working at all times against us to destroy us and spoil us 

So we need to be very alert

*4) The Other enemies in our Life*

There are group of enemies in our life, who are working against us. They could be named as the following

Sin 

Pride

Arrogance

Anger 

Hatred 

Selfishness

Greed for wordly things 

Greed for sensual desire 

Power

Authority 

Money 

All these work as enemies in our life. We need to pray to the Lord, to deliver us from these 

*5) Aid to Fight against the Enemies*

In our fight against the enemies these things can help us 

Prayer

Fasting 

Almsgiving

Celebration of the sacraments

Adoration

Way of the Cross

Sacrament of reconciliation

Retreats 

Pilgrimages 

Reading of the Scriptures 

Praying Rosary 

Service to the needy 

*6) Lent is a best time to Fight against the Enemies*

Jesus fought against the Satan during those 40 days when he went into the desert 

It was like Lent for Jesus where he spent time in fasting and prayer. During those days Satan came to tempt Him

Jesus fought against the Satan and Satan was defeated by Jesus 

We are in the season of Lent. So it is a best time to fight against our enemies, especially those who destroy our spiritual life 

Those who fight bravely and sincerely they win the battle

Am I ready to fight against the enemy with the Help of God???

*Think about it*

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*

Change of God's plan for His People

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season : Lenten Season - 1st Week : Wednesday*

*Gospel : Lk 11:29-32*

*First Reading : Jon 3:1-10*

*Change of God's plan for His People*

*1) God's plan for Punishment/destruction*

The First reading from the Book of Jonha, tells us that God wanted to destroy the entire Nineveh. 

Nineveh is one of the cities which became famous not for good things but for the evil things 

So finally God decides to destroy entire Nineveh

*2) God's Sends Jonah to convey the Message*

Before its destruction, God sends Jonah to communicate the message of destruction

So Jonah goes and tells the people *“Forty days more and Nineveh shall be destroyed,*

When people heard it, they were terrified and started to change their lives 

From the King to the last one accepted the message of Jonah and they changed their life

Finally God changed His plan of destruction of Nineveh

*3) Change of Plan by God*

When it comes to change of ones life for Good, even God is ready to Change His plans for us 

We normally say, God is unchanging and God can't change

But when it comes to protecting His people, blessing His people, Saving His people God can change His plan at any time. That is the greatness of our God 

*4) 40 Days of Lent*

We are in the season of Lent. The same message of Jonah and the people of Nineveh is applicable to us. 

Change in our life brings about a great change in the plan of God for us. 

Without any chance in our life, leads to destruction and doom. So it is highly recommend to change our life during thing lent 

*5) Double benefit of Change*

When we Change multiple good things happen to us 

First of all we become good persons and change makes us better and holy person. Which helps us a lot in achieving the goal of our life 

Secondly we are blessed by God. God gives us special grace and blessing to us 

Thirdly when we become good, our family and neighborhood benefits a lot. 

So change brings a great deal of Goodness in and around us  

*6) Will I be able to cooperate for a Genuine Change*

Change is knocking at my life's door. Because lent is for change

Will I be able to open the door of my life and welcome the change in my life? 

By accepting change we will not lose anything but will gain lots of things 

By not receiving the change, we will lose everything and we will be destroyed. 

*Choice is ours*

*Think about it*

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*

Two dimensions of the Forgiveness

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season : Lenten Season - 1st Week - Tuesday*

*Gospel : Mt 6:7-15*

*First Reading : Is 55:10-11*

*Two dimensions of the Forgiveness*

*1) Lent and Forgiveness*

One of the most important themes which we reflect during the time of Lent is Forgiveness

Ultimately everything that we do during the time of Lent is to get reconciled with God and with one another and to experience Gods mercy and Love 

In this journey of Reconciliation it is very important to remember two important things from today's Gospel

*2) Two important things*

*A) Forgive us our Trespasses*

This is something which we ask the forgiveness from the Lord 

In simple words we are asking God, please forgive us and give us your blessing 

Most of us we do this prayer when we come into the presence of the Lord 

*B) As we forgive those who trespass against us*

It appears that, this is the most forgotten part of our life 

We have hardly realised that, God's forgiveness for our sinful deeds also depends on how much we are able to forgive others 

Without forgiving others if one comes in the presence of God, seeking for Mercy from the Lord, one will not experience anything from the Lord

So it is very important to know this fact or this forgotten side of the forgiveness

*3) Two times Highlighted*

The two dimensions of the forgiveness is highlighted two times in the Gospel

First of all in the Lord's prayer

Then again towards the end Jesus says *If you forgive men their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.”*

These words of Jesus shows the two dimensions of the forgiveness

*4) The difficulty for the second Dimension*

Many of us feel very free to ask forgiveness from the Lord, which appears to us very easy 

But asking forgiveness from others or forgiving others when it requires, we find it extremely difficult to practice the forgiveness

Since one needs a great amount of humility and, sincerity, many find very difficult to forgive others and seek forgiveness from others 

*5) How do I practice forgiveness?*

Is it one dimensional approach or two dimensional approach? 

Do I believe forgiveness from others is equally important as that of Forgiveness from the Lord? 

Do I see the Logic that only when I am ready to forgive others, God gives His forgiveness to me?

*Think about it*

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*

To Which Side God will Choose me? Right or Left?

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season : Lenten Season - 1st Week : Monday*

*Gospel : Mt 25:31-46*

*First Reading : Lv 19:1-2, 11-18*

*To Which Side God will Choose me? Right or Left?*

*1) The Separation - to the Right and Left*

The Gospel of the day speaks about the Separation and the places of Right and Left 

Separation is inevitable, because Good and bad can't exist together. Good has to be separated from the Bad 

The Sides which are mentioned in the Gospel, right and left are very important to our life 

Right represents the Good and left represents the Bad and Evil 

*2) After Separation to Which side I will be placed?*

This is not the imagination. This is the reality of our life 

Our final destiny depends on the separation and the side to which we will asked to go

If so, it is a very serious question, to be reflected by us, every day and every moment 

So we need to think about this issue very seriously

*3) All of us wish to have Right Side*

It is our natural tendency to have right side, where we will have our real and lasting reward. 

But mere wish will not reach us there. We need to work for it. Only those who are able to work according to the demands of the Gospel will be able to attain the Right side 

*4) The Way to Right Side*

The Gospel gives us the variety of things which help us to have a way to right side. They are the following 

Giving food to the hungry and the needy 

Giving drink to the thirty 

Giving a warm welcome to the stranger and helping

Giving clothing to the naked 

Treating the sick and dying 

Visiting and comforting those who are in prison. 

These appears to be very simple, but one needs a selfless heart and generous attitude to do these things to ones neighbor

*5) Without the Neighbor, no Right side is possible*

The Gospel makes it very clear that there is no substitute to service to the neighbour 

Without serving and helping the neighbour, one can't even think of right side 

There are no short cut methods or other ways for right side 

The way to right side only goes through the neighbours life

The person may achiev any heights. But if he/she has not done anything to the needy and the suffering, no possibility of right side 

*6) Lent is a time to think and work for right Side*

We are in the lent. Almsgiving is one of the strong pillars of lent 

Almsgiving is the direct way which leads to the right side 

The success of Today's Gospel depends on the aspect of almsgiving. 

One who practices this will be eligible for the right right 

If so, am I eligible for right side? What can I do more to qualify myself to the right side???

*Think about it*

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*

The Colourful Modern Devil

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season : Lenten Season - 1st Week : Sunday*

*Gospel : Mt 4:1-11*

*First Reading : Gn 2:7-9; 3:1-7*

*SECOND READING Rom 5:12-19 or 5:12, 17-19*

*The Colourful Modern Devil*

*1) The Temptation Sunday*

The first Sunday of Lent is called, Temptation Sunday, because on this day we meditate and reflect on the temptations of Jesus 

Since the temptation is a common factor which is influencing everyone, it is very important to reflect about its consequences and to be alert about it 

There is no human being in Earth, who is free from temptation. All of us are tempted in one way or the other 

*2) Temptation and the Devil*

The Devil is the temptor. Its only work is to tempt people and to take away from God

The same devil also tried with Jesus, but it could not succeed. 

This shows that devils power is limited and if one is strong, it can do nothing 

*3) Jesus know it was Devil*

When the devil came to tempt Jesus, Jesus clearly knew that it was devil who was tempting Him 

So He was able to challenge Him in everything. Finally the devil left Him 

Knowing at that moment was very important. Only when one knows that, it was devil, one can fight back in a better way 

*4) My Awareness about the Devil*

At times my awareness about the devil is very limited 

Some times we are not able to realise that it is the devil who tempts us

The ignorance of ours, also makes the devil to have upper hand and we become easy prey to devil 

*5) Modern Colourful Devil*

Today we have failed to identify the devil and its temptations because of its variety and colourful ways

The modern means which are terribly used by the devil to destroy the human beings would be the following 

The Mobile 

The internet

The vedio games 

The modern gadgets

The money 

The power 

The colourful celebratiobs 

The drinks, drugs, 

The junk food 

Bodily pleasures 

The comfortable and easy life 

These are the various means through which the devil tempts us in a colourful way 

*6) Am I alert?*

The devil is always active to tempt me. So I need to be very alert at all times 

The following things will help to be remain alert and fight back at the temptations of devil

The scripture reading 

Prayer 

Celebration of the sacraments

Personal prayer life 

Sacramental adoration

Self discipline

Praying Rosary 

Living a good and genuine life 

*Think about it*

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*