Eucharistic Mystery

The change of bread and wine into Body and Blood of Christ (called “transubstantiation”) is a mystery we will never fully understand. But even though we may find it difficult to imagine how this event takes place, we can be sure that the God who created the universe out of nothing has the power to accomplish this miracle as well.

Jesus is present in his Body and Blood, soul and divinity, in the Eucharist. As a sign of respect, we as Catholics genuflect (bend the right knee to the floor and rise again) before a tabernacle in a church, where Eucharist is reserved. One of the most admirable effects of Holy Communion is to preserve souls from falling, and to help those who fall from weaknesses to rise again. Therefore, it is much more profitable to approach the divine Sacrament frequently with love, respect and confidence.

The bible quotes Jesus saying, “Except you eat the flesh of the son of man, and drink his blood, you shall not have life in you. He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath everlasting life; and I will raise him in the last day; for my flesh is meat indeed: and my blood is drink indeed”.

Worship is a primary duty owed to God by his creatures, who receive from him not only their very existence, but every other good gift as well. Worship is also a privilege, a precious opportunity to encounter the great king of the universe who loves his people beyond all telling. The reason why the holy mass is offered is: To give supreme honor and glory to God, To thank him for all his benefits, To obtain pardon for our sins and To gain all other graces and blessings we need though Jesus Christ, our mediator and savior.

Before receiving the Eucharist, say something brief to Jesus in silent. For example, one may say, “Dear Jesus, am about to receive you into my soul. I am a sick person needing the physician of life. I am blind seeking the light of external splendor. Please help”. The Lord is saying to someone today; worry no more for I am now in charge of that difficulties you are passing through. Let us praise the Lord!!
 

Charles Joseph - Youth

The Pentecost - Church Birthday

Pentecost is a holiday (holy day) on which we commemorate the coming of the Holy Spirit on the early followers of Jesus. Before the events of the first Pentecost, which came few weeks after Jesus’ death and resurrection, there were followers of Jesus, but no movement that could be meaningfully called “the church”. Thus, from a historical point of view, Pentecost is the day on which the church was started. 

This is also true from the spiritual perspective, since the Holy Spirit brings the church into existence and enlivens it. Thus, Pentecost is the church Birthday. 

Christians are meant to live in the presence of the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit helps us to confess Jesus as Lord, empowers us to serve God with supernatural power, binds us together as the body of Christ, helps us to pray and even intercedes for us with God the Father. 

The Spirit guides us, helping us to live like Jesus. What a gift to have this experience going on in our lives right now! What a joy to be the ones who get to invite others into this beautiful experience! There is a renewed focus on evangelism, empowerment from the Holy Spirit, deeper intimacy with God and fellowship.

The celebration of the Pentecost imparts faith, hope, a sharing of community and an awareness of purpose. With the Holy Spirit in us we have all we need, we are only limited by our fear, our sin, our low expectations, not to mention our tendency to be distracted from God’s work in us. Pentecost offers us a chance to confess our failure to live by the Spirit and to ask the Lord to fill us a fresh with his power. God pours out the spirit upon all who put their faith in Jesus Christ and become his disciples.

This day, let us pray God to send us His Holy Spirit so that we may receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit which are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord and the fruits which are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.

Have a blessed holy day full of God’s love; will you?

Charles Joseph - Youth

The Holy Trinity

It was the whole Trinity, which at the beginning of the creation said, “Let us make man”. It was the whole Trinity again, which at the beginning of the Gospel seemed to say, “Let us save man”. God created us so that the joy he has in himself might be ours. God doesn’t simply think about Himself or talk to Himself! He celebrates with infinite and eternal intensity the beauty of who He is as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. And we’ve been created to join the party.

With the Holy Trinity, we see that in principle the notion of subordination does not carry with it the notion of inferiority. Christ willingly submitted to the Father without a word of protest. It is precisely that willingness that we are called to imitate in submitting ourselves to authority.

Jesus Christ, He who resided in heaven, co-equal and co-eternal with the Father and the Spirit, willingly descended into our world.

 He breathed our air, felt our pain, knew our sorrows and died for our sins. He didn’t come to frighten us, but to show us the way to warmth and safety. He left us an obligation to go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Please note there are three distinct persons in the name, not names; there is one essence.

In John 14:26 Jesus says, “The Advocate, the Holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name-he will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you”. This is the inner voice that is always directing us to the right direction, reminding us of the goodness of our Lord. We are called upon to believe in the Holy Trinity and not to act like Satan that would have Christ prove Himself to be God by turning stones into bread.

 Prayer means lovingly contemplating the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, allowing our hearts to be enkindled to praise and adore the love and omnipotence of the most blessed Trinity. It is eternal blessedness to know the trinity. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all.. 

Charles Joseph - Youth

History Of Glory And Dignity

The two angels dressed in a white garment said to the disciples, “men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will RETURN in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven”.

The words ‘will return’ are in bold and underlined because of the weight they carry. We did not get the privilege to know the day, the hour or the moment when Jesus Christ would come back for us, all he wants of us is to be ready all the time.

My dear children of God, this is our time to prepare our history which we will present to Christ for approval before we ascend with him into heaven. We have to try our best to create a history of glory and dignity which can only be achieved through practicing all that he taught us before ascending into heaven.

Jesus wants us to live together, share together and pray together. The person who tries to live alone will not succeed as a human being. His heart withers if it does not answer another heart. His mind shrinks away if he hears only the echoes of his own thoughts and finds no other inspiration.

King David once asked God to create in him a new heart. This is still possible for us today through the sacrament of confession. It is necessary to be sure of our past record as we move on. God has assured us that he will remember no more the sins of a repentant sinner. How beautiful is your personal relationship with your God?

Life can only be found in the present moment and if we do not go back to ourselves in the present moment, we cannot be in touch with life. The goal of life is living in agreement with nature. We are reminded that we make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.

Charles Joseph - Youth

Love One Another

“This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” This commandment appears thirteen times in twelve verses in the New Testament.

Jesus was concerned how his children would live with each other after His ascension into heaven.  In his great wisdom, Jesus introduces to them a new commandment of love for one another and he says “love one another as I have loved you”. He had set a good example, and thus Christ was comfortable that they would manage to co-exist peacefully even without His physical presence.

The only thing that should get into our ears without filtering is the word of God. This way we will be able to cultivate good morals, if what is inside us is Godly. Every thought not destroyed, graduates into an act. Thus if we allow graduation of positive thoughts then our society will be full of good acts.

If a man says, I love God, and hate his brother, he is a liar: for he that loves not his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? My dear children of God, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.  If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 

And lastly but not the least, don’t let anyone tell you that you are not good enough, God did not make a mistake by creating you. I end with Romans 13:8 - Owe no man anything, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

Charles Joseph- Youth

Easter Flashback

When I look back at the many events and situations that happened before, during and after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, I feel extremely advantaged to learn that all this happened for my own salvation. Allow me share some few individuals that were part of these events.

I start with Judas whom history tells us that he was a treasurer, a position that even today is given to trusted people. Unfortunately, it is in his stronghold of being trustful with money that Judas met his temptation of selling his Master for 30cents and terribly failed. History judges him harshly because despite of his having stayed with Jesus, he never believed in his forgiveness. He committed suicide.

Simon Peter, we read that he was a very close and a great friend of Jesus. He had promised to be with Jesus whenever and wherever he would go, but he denied his master three times before the cock crew. Fortunately, Simon believed in forgiveness and was forgiven. Sometimes I think, Simon had committed bigger sin than Judas coz he did it three times in the same night and he very well knew the consequences that would befell Christ. Judas might not have taken his time to meditate of the consequences. Judas betrayed Jesus for thirty cents, Simon denied him three times.

A clever thief crucified with Jesus whose name is not mentioned is believed to be celebrating with angels in heaven. This man in his last moments on the cross was humble enough to tell Jesus to remember him in his kingdom. He was a brilliant thief, he stole the kingdom of heaven and today he is a shareholder. His counterpart on the other side of Jesus, pride and arrogance denied him a chance to heaven yet he was so close.

Space forces me to conclude here by saying, never miss an opportunity to repent your sins and never miss an opportunity to do the right thing. We don’t live holy for God to bless us, we live holy because it’s our nature. Have a good day my dear people of God!!

Charles Joseph - Youth