The power of Belief and its effects on the Work

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Easter Season: Second Week : Friday*

*Gospel : Jn 14:6-14*

*First Reading : 1 Cor 15:1-8*

*Feast of Saints Philip & James*

*The power of Belief and its effects on the Work*

*1) The Influence of the Leader*

All of us have leaders and we often follow our leaders

The leaders influence a lot their followers and they imbibe the qualities of their master 

There are people who follow people like  Mother Theresa,  and they continue the same mission under the influence and inspiration of the great people 

*2) Jesus is s great Leader*

There is no doubt that Jesus is a great leader 

He is a Leader with definite mission, well organized strategy, a great vision and a mission for the benefit of all 

He is a great leader, who can inspire millions and millions of people for eternity 

There is no other leader who is so powerful to inspire others to build the kingdom of God here on earth 

*3) Great Revelation of Jesus*

As great leader, Jesus has revealed many eternal things to us 

One among them is found in today's Gospel. 

Jesus says *If you believe me you will do the works which I do*

This reveals the power of the Master and the power of the belief in the Maste

All those who believe in the power of the Master, and work under the inspiration of the Master will definitely, be able to work like the Master. 

This is a great revelation from the Master 

*4) The great Works by the Followers*

His has proved that whatever Jesus has said is 100% true 

All those who believed in the Master, were able to work like the Master 

All the Apostles, who believed in the name and power of the Master were able to do the great things like raising the dead, curing the sick, liberating the captives and so on 

All this mission was possible because, followers believed in the power of the Master and worked for the greater glory of God  

*5) The Power of Belief on great People*

This is not a myth, but a reality 

Belief in the power of great saintly people always inspires others to do the same mission

The inspiration is such, followers are able to perform the great works like the Master

So belief in the power of great people can change our life completely

*6) Whoever believes in me will do the works that I do*

This is what Jesus once again says to us 

History has proved that these words are 100%  true 

Even today there are people who believe in the power of the great people in their mission. For example Fr Stan Swamy 

What about my life? 

How strong is my belief in the power of Jesus? 

Do I really believe that, believing Jesus can inspire me to do great works? 

In the Name of Jesus what is my mission? What is my work? 

*Think about it*

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

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*

Remain in my Love

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Easter Season: Second Week : Thursday*

*Gospel : Jn 15:9-11*

*First Reading : Acts 15:7-21*

*Remain in my Love*

*1) Jesus' great invitation*

In today's Gospel Jesus invites us to remain in his love 

First of all he says that He has love us as the Father has loved Him 

Secondly he is inviting us to remain in his love 

Is it easy to remain in the love of Jesus? 

Is it easy to remain in the love of my neighbor? 

Is it easy to remain in the love of my family members? 

*2) The Nature of Jesus' Love*

Jesus love as been qualified as unconditional love 

It is called agapeic love,which is the highest form of Love 

Jesus' love is qaulified with sacrifice, humility, service, simplicity and justice

Such is the love of Jesus and he calls us to remain in his love 

*3) Commandments and Jesus' Love*

Jesus says one who observes the commandments of the Lord, will remain in Jesus' Love 

Observing the commandments of the Lord, is one of the ways to remain in Jesus' Love 

Love and commandments of the Lord go hand in hand. They are like two sides of the same coin 

*4) Challenges to remain in Jesus Love*

Its not easy to remain in Jesus' Love 

To Love like Jesus and to remain in Jesus' Love is a great challenge for us 

For a short period, it is easy. But to remain in Jesus' love for long period of time or for life long, is not so easy 

Our ego, pride, selfishness, arrogance, injustice, greed, anger, may some times throw a challenge before us, which may make it difficult to remain Jesus' Love

*5) Am I remaining in Jesus' Love?*

Jesus' invitation is very clear 

Am I able to remain in Jesus' love? 

Am I making any efforts to remain in Jesus' Love, which involves, sacrifice, cross, difficulties, challenges, persecution, threats, and humiliation?

*Think about it*

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

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*

Joseph was known by His Works

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Easter Season: Fifth Week :Wednesday*

*Gospel : Mt 13:54-58*

*First Reading : Gen 1:26—2:3 or Col 3:14-15, 17, 23-24*

*Joseph was known by His Works*

*1) Carpenters Son*

The Gospel of the day has this reference

*Carpenters Son* is refered to Joseph 

In the Gospel, no where appears the name of Joseph 

But he is referred through His Work 

*2) Work is the identity of the person*

Here we see in the life of St Joseph that, work becomes the tool to show the identity of the person 

In fact work gives the identity to the person and to his caliber

Work reveals the attitude of the person, capacity of the person and the ability of the person 

In other words, work revelas the identity of the person 

*3) Survival of life and Work*

Without work no one can survive in this world 

Work is the means of survival for every one 

There is no person who does not work in this world for survival, unless one is unable to work for physical reasons. Otherwise everyone in this world work in one way or the other 

*4) Workers Day*

May 1st we celebrate as workers day 

St Joseph is the patron saint of the Workers 

St Joseph teaches us to work for our survival in a sincere way 

At the same time St Joseph also inspires us to excel in our work and we should be known to the world by our work 

St Joseph also inspires us to value Evey type of work. Today we need to value every type of work which gives identity to the persons life 

*5)  God always Works*

The foundation of the Work is seen in God himself 

Jesus says *“My Father is at work until now, so I am at work.* John 5:17

This shows the importance of the work

God never stops working. Jesus is also works continuously for the salvation of the entire mankind 

If God works, then we have the duty and obligation to work 

With work we need to beautify our life, our family, society around us and the entire nature at large 

*6) Work in my Life?*

How does the concept of work play in my life? 

Is my identity known by the work I do in the society? 

Is my work concentrates on my own wellbeing or the wellbeing of others? 

Is my work reflects the aspect of service? 

Is my work benefits the society? 

Is my work brightens  the life of others? 

Is my work makes others to praise God? 

Is my work really makes me the follower of Jesus? 

What is the worth of my work?

*Think about it*

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

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*

What is my Legacy?

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Easter Season: Fifth Week :Tuesday*

*Gospel : Jn 14:27-31a*

*First Reading : Acts 14:19-28*

*What is my Legacy?*

*1) Peace is Jesus' Legacy*

In today's Gospel Jesus says *“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.*

Jesus has left us a beautiful treasure, that is *Peace*

It is only Jesus who has given His peace, a divine peace to us and to the entire world 

There is no other equal treasure than peace in our life 

*2) World needs Peace today*

The world is burning with hatred, revenge and Greed

These are like fire which burns every one and everything 

In such a context, the world is longing for peace 

The world is longing for happiness 

The world is longing for serenity

*3) Peace is the Foundation for everything*

When we have peace in our life we have everything 

When we have peace in our life we can achieve anything 

With out peace our life become troublesome and we lose interest in everything. 

Gradually we become loser in everything

*4) What is My Legacy?*

This is a very important question to answer

What is that which is so valuable to the other which I can leave behind? 

What is that which creates a mark in me and in others? 

*5) Valuable Legacy to the World*

Legacy of generosity

Legecy of forgiveness

Legacy of love 

Legacy of simplicity

Legacy of faithfulness

Legacy of sacrifice

Legacy of truthfulness 

Legacy of humility

Legacy of sincerity

Legacy of patience

Legacy of commitment

What is my Legacy? 

*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 Love and its implications

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Easter Season: Fifth Week :Monday*

*Gospel : John 14:21-26*

*First Reading : Acts 14:5-8*

*The Power of Love and its implications*

*1) Gospel on Love*

The Gospel of the day speaks about Love 

As many as *7* times the concept of Love is mentioned in today's Gospel

7 is a perfect number. The Love which Jesus speaks is perfect and unconditional love, which is more powerful than anything else in the world or even in other world 

*2) How to Love Jesus?* 

Jesus says, by observing the commandments we love Jesus

Observing the commandments, not because of the fear or under pressure. But out of reverence and respect

When we love someone sincerely, we do the things not because of the fear, but because of the respect, reverence and relationship 

*3) Implications of Loving Jesus*

*Manifestion* When we love Jesus, he says, he will reveal himself to us. This becomes a great revelation of Jesus to us 

*We become Tabernacle* When we love Jesus, Father and the Son will come into our life and they will dwell in our life. Our life becomes the indwelling place of God and we become the tabernacle of God 

*Loved by the Father*

When we follow the commandments, we love Jesus. As a result we will be loved by the Father. This is a great offer from Jesus to us 

*4) Love : A connecting link*

The Gospel makes it very clear that it is love and the power of love which connects heaven and earth. 

Love connects the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. The same love also connects us to the divine experience 

The same love also unites all the Human beings as the children of One God, who has created us 

*5) The impact of Love in my Love*

What is the power of love in my Life? 

Does this power help me to observe the commandment of Jesus? 

How do I experience the power of Love in my love? 

What is the concept of Love for me?

*Think about it*

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

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*

Jesus' invitation : Remain in me, as I remain in you.

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Easter Season: Fifth Week :Sunday*

*Gospel : Jn 15:4a, 5b*

*First Reading : Acts 9:26-31*

*SECOND READING - 1 Jn 3:18-24*

*Jesus' invitation : Remain in me, as I remain in you.*

*1) Jesus' Invitation*

In the Gospel of the day we have a beautiful and meaningful invitation of Jesus 

The invitation is to remain with Him. 

Remaining with him will help us to experience his divine love and intimacy, which will help us to grow in our relationship with the Lord

*2) Remain in me - Unity*

Jesus gives beautiful example of vine and beaches 

Through this example Jesus highlights the importance of unity between the vine and branch

This is also true with our relationship with Jesus. 

Jesus is the vine and we are the branches

*3) Remain in me - Fruitfulness*

This particular phrase also highlights the importance of fruitfulness. 

When the Branch is united with the vine, it produces the fruit, fruit in abundance

Like wise when we are united in the Lord, we become fruitful disciples of Jesus

*4) Remain in me : Way to salvation*

Remaining with Jesus means, trying to experience the eternal life 

Eternal life is possible only in and through Jesus. By remaining with him, definitely we are moving on the way to salvation. 

So remaining with Jesus is very important for salvation

*5) Remain in me : To serve others*

Jesus says, without me you can do nothing. So in order to carry out the mission of the Lord, one has to remain in Jesus 

Remaining with Jesus will help us to become effective in our mission 

*6) Remain in me : Payers will be answered*

Jesus says *ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you.*

For this one needs to remain in Jesus. When we remain in Jesus and pray for our needs, God grants the favours which we ask from the Lord

*7) How to remain with Jesus?*

By reading the Scriptures

By celebrating the sacraments

By spending time in prayer

By serving others 

By forgiving others 

By loving others 

By sacrificing our life, time, resources for the betterment of others 

Above all, when we practice the Gospel values, when we become the followers of New Testament, when we proclaim about Jesus, we remain in Jesus

Have I remained in Jesus?

*Think about it*

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

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*

Various ways of Knowing Jesus

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Easter Season: Fourth Week : Saturday*

*Gospel : Jn 14:7-14*

*First Reading : Acts 13:44-52*

*Various ways of Knowing Jesus*

*1) If you know me, then you will also know my Father.*

This particular phrase of Jesus calls us to reflect about knowing Jesus 

Unless we know Jesus we can't know the Father 

Unless we know Jesus we can't know the teaching of Jesus 

Unless we know Jesus we can't know about the Cross, the value of suffering, the mystery of death and the eternal life 

So knowing of Jesus is very important

*2) Various ways of knowing Jesus*

*Scripture* One of the best ways to know Jesus. Everything about Jesus is found in the scriptures. So reading, meditating the scriptures will help us to know Jesus better 

*Prayer* Another powerful way to know Jesus. Through prayer we come into the presence of Jesus, which helps us to know Jesus better 

*Gospel Values* These are the Gospel values which were practiced by Jesus. Practicing them will help us to know Jesus in a better way 

Forgiveness

Humility

Service

Love

Simplicity

Sacrifice

Sharing 

Generosity

Truthfulness

Justice 

*3) Great Change in life*

When we look at the lives of the saints one thing is very clear, that is, since they had deep knowledge about Jesus and his teaching they were ready to face anything 

In other words we can say, the knowledge of Jesus transformed their life and they become great saints 

That is the power of knowing Jesus in our life 

*4) My knowledge of Jesus*

What is the level of my knowledge about Jesus? 

Knowledge does not count in terms of intellectual knowledge. Knowledge here consists of the deep spiritual experience of Jesus and the intimacy with the Lord. 

In this context what is my knowledge? How do the knowing of Jesus changes my life? 

*5) What can I do?*

Knowing of Jesus is the priority of my life. 

If so, what are the necessary things I must do, to have deeper knowledge of Jesus? 

Knowing of Jesus will transform our life. Let every action of ours help us to know Jesus more and more. 

*Think about it*

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

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*