Thank you-6
August-2,Friday
Lord, thank you for this
day.Let me use this day in praising you.
I don't have to think of
achieving anything specially.
What is needed is to remain in the Lord, praising
him. The peace in my heart comes from my being united with the Lord. The Gospels and the
psalms are enough to give me joy and peace of mind.
O,Jesus , bless me.Thank you
again.
Today in the Gospel of Luke, I read the part where Jesus sends the 72 disciples for preaching.What is
emphasized is the duty of preaching.Never to think of any conveniences or
appurtenances.The Lord will provide everything that is needed.We are asked to
focus on the teachings of the Lord.
I did not do any reading
today.
I will
spend the time in devoting myself to you ,Lord.There will be only You in my
life.As the Imitation of Christ says, once we have Jesus , we don't have to worry about anything.
Pity, there is nothing for me
to do!Well, whatever I have done is enough.
In Holy Father's book on
God is Mercy, there is an important passage that is relevant to my thoughts
on sinfulness:
“Recognizing oneself as a
sinner is a grace.It is a grace that is granted to you.Recognizing oneself as a
sinner is something else. It means standing in front of God who is our
everything,and presenting him with our selves which are nothing,our miseries, our sins.(p.45)
“The Church fathers teach us that a shattered
heart is the most pleasing gift to God.It is the sign that we are conscious of
our sins,of the evil we have done,of our wretchedness, and of our need for
forgiveness and mercy.(p.44)
Only he who has been
touched and caressed by the tenderness of his mercy really knows the Lord.For
this reason I have often said that the place where my encounter with the mercy
of Jesus takes place is my sin.(p.48)
A priest needs to think of his own sins, to listen with tenderness, to pray to
the Lord for a heart as merciful as his, and not to cast the first stone
because he too is a sinner who needs to be forgiven.(p.61)
The most important thing in
the life of every man and every woman is not that they should never fall along
the way.The important thing is always to
get back up,not to stay on the ground licking your wounds.
The Lord of Mercy always
forgives me; he always offers me the possibility of starting over.He loves me
for what I am. He wants to raise me up and he extends his hand to me.
One of the tasks of the
Church: to help people perceive that there are no situations that they cannot
get out of.For as long as we are alive it is always possible to start over, all
we have to do is let Jesus embrace us and forgive us.(p.82)
God forgives everyone, he
offers new possibilities to everyone, he showers his mercy on every one who asks
for it.We are the ones who do not know how to forgive.p.112
Family—the place where we
learn to get up after a fall
Family is the hospital
close to us when someone is sick, he is cared for there.
Family is the first school
for the children
Family is the best home for
the elderly
The first school of
mercy where we are forgiven and learned to forgive. (p.123)
August 3,Saturday
I am at Mt .St.Thomas.Spent some time in the Chapel , thanking the Lord for his blessings
and asking him to bless my family and friends.
I have just begun reading Sheen's
“Lift up Your Heart” to get some inspiring thoughts.
Sheen has the following to say
about the building of character.
“Everyone in the world is
defeated in one area of life or another....we all have to accept failure;we do
not have to lament it.
No false optimism...the Christian
has never expected the earth to be his paradise.
The first step in character
training is to discover what is worst in us.
The blessedness of temptations
is twofold.It reveals the weak spot in our character and the same temptation
gives us an occasion by refusing to submit to it.
Earth does not reveal its
harvest without plowing,nor the the minds their treasure without study, nor
nature its secret without investigation.
The defect may become our
greatest strength. p.125
The greatest sinners sometimes
make the greatest saints...
The convents and monasteries
are full of potential devils---saintly souls who could have been very wicked
men and women, if they had not corresponded to God's grace. p.125
Moses was hot tempered but he
became meek.
Two attitudes are possible in
sin—we can fall down and get up; or we can fall down and stay there.
Should be positive—cultivation
of virtues, more than the eradication...
Whoever is charged with
character formation will do well to lay hold of what is best in people,searching
for the gold and not the dross.There is some good in everybody.
In dealing with ourselves , we
should look for what is worst and make it with God's grace, the occasion of
spiritual growth.But in dealing with others, we should look for what is best,
in order that,as we show mercy to others,God may show the grace of His mercy to
us.p.133
August 4,Sunday
Went to Kanjrappally for
Tomy's sister , Sr.Vimala's golden jubilee.I was given the role of the main
celebrant. Karichan sang for the mass. Fr.Johny Puthiaparampil (Kattapana) was
one of the con celebrants. At the congratulatory meeting after the mass, I was
given the chance to make a short speech.Spoke about the article of Sr.Libby
Osgood's decision to become a nun after giving up her job at the NASA as well as
at the University where she was working after taking a Ph.D. in Mechanical
engineering.Also went to Karikattuparmpil house and met their mother.The trip
went OK.
Saw the movie on St.Peter on
You Tube.The movie was good...graphic.Nero condemning Peter to be crucified.
Lord, have mercy on
me.Increase my faith and let me feel totally dependent on you.You are the joy
of my life.
August 5,Monday
Read Mathew Ch.7 which is to
be read more often.So soothing and consoling.It speaks about the changes that
should be made in our lives.Never judge.Be kind in our opinions of
others.Remove selfishness from our life.Ask the Lord for everything that is
needed in our life.God is our kind Father and he will give us whatever we ask
for.Knock , it will opened.Seek, it will be found.Those who listen to him are
people who built their house on the rock.A tree is known by its fruit.Good
trees make good fruit.
O Lord, have mercy on me.Help
me to become a dear follower of yours.Never do I have to feel diffident.There
is more to be done.More reading and writing are needed.
Jesus is my strength and in him I should find my happiness and joy.Today, I will write more notes and use my time well.
Jesus is my strength and in him I should find my happiness and joy.Today, I will write more notes and use my time well.
Lord,thank you.
The Eighth Habit: Stephen
Covey
Inspire others to find their
voice.
Remember, anytime your
emotional life is a function of someone else's weaknesses, you dis-empower
yourself and empower those weaknesses to mess your life up.
When we see people separately
from their behavior, we affirm their unconditional worth.
Leadership is the capacity to
translate vision into reality—Warren Bennis
Only the disciplined are free;
the undisciplined are slaves to moods.
Family Life.
Speaks of his wife's “abundance
mentality” that allows him to spend time with his mother and others.
According to him, the most
important work you do in the world will be within the walls of your home.” “No
other success can compensate for failure in the home.”
“Parenthood is the most
important leadership responsibility in life and will provide the greatest
levels of happiness and joy.
When true
leadership—vision,discipline,passion and conscience—is not manifested in
parenthood, it will provide the greatest source of sorrow.”
Burke: “All that is necessary
for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.”
Because we all make mistakes,
we all need to forgive and be forgiven.
Affirm people .Affirm your
children.believe in them,not in what you see but in what you don't see—their potential.
Lord, thank you for these
ideas.Help me to reflect on them and put them into practice. I will continue
writing and reflecting in order to bear witness to you.
The news has come on TV that
the Central Govt has abolished the special place given to Kashmir.The RS passed
it.They got the advantage of a split opposition in the RS.
If the judiciary does not
become strong, there is no way for people holding different ideologies from BJP
will get any help.
Aug.7,Wednesday
Lord, thank you for your
blessings.I will reflect your love and mercy.I am a sinner but I am alive
because of your forgiveness.
From today on wards, I will
reflect on the psalms one by one.
Walter Kasper's book,'A Celebration of Priestly Ministry” has some meaningful comments on the Eucharist.
“Eucharist—the center and
summit of the life of the post-Easter Church.The celebration of t he Eucharist
will renew in each priest his strength , his courage and his joy.
There is no repetition of the
Sacrifice on the Cross in the Eucharist.
That which was done once and
for all on the cross becomes really present here and now.(P.154)
The priest ought to live and
do what he says, and to be what he does.He ought to live the Eucharist not only
to celebrate it.And he ought to live it in solidarity with all those in his
parish and in the whole world who are burdened down and bear the cross.( P.159)
Theologically speaking,it is
obvious that the celebration of the Eucharist is the heart and center of the
priest's existence, since all his other tasks
either lead up to the mass or are derived from it.
The celebration of the
Eucharist is not only a goal and center; it is also a point of departure, the
source of the power to carry out our mission.
Eucharistic communion must
teach us a culture of sharing, of solidarity, and of fraternity.The celebration
of the Eucharist must be a school of love of our neighbor.
The Eucharist must be the
center and the source of meaning in our lives. p.161.
Lord, thank you for this
teaching on the Eucharist.I have to begin my daily life from the Eucharist and
to see everything that I experience daily in my life through the Eucharistic
love of Jesus which consists in self-giving through love.Lord, change my heart
and help me to feel one with you.
I am weak and helpless.You
alone can empower me and give me the spiritual strength to overcome it s power.
Today I will start reflecting
on the psalms.That will be my way of keeping myself unified with you.Whatever
may be my occupations or travels, I will spend my time with you.
Psalm 150
Praise the Lord.Praise God in
his sanctuary
Praise him in his mighty
heavens
Praise him for his mighty
deeds
The entire psalm is a request
to praise the Lord.We should repeat the psalm or at least its ideas,praising the
Lord.Once we open our hearts and minds in praising God, we experience a sort of
spiritual calm breeze blowing gently over our mind and heart , giving us
peace.Yes, in times when our hearts are troubled, we have to sing this psalm
until the tempests in our heart become calmed down.Lord, I praise and thank
you.Be with me all the time.
Aug.8,Thursday
I read Mathew ch.13 where
Jesus is seen healing a crippled man and asking him to stretch out his hand.I
have to ask the Lord to heal me and stretch out the broken parts of my life.My
sins have broken my body and I need the working of the Lord in my life.Be with
me Jesus.Transform me.You are the joy of my life.I believe in you and trust in
you.Be with me. Yesterday I shared a saying of Isaiah on my face book page:
“When you pass through the
waters,I will be with you;and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm
you;when you walk through fire, you shall not be burned, and the flame shall
not consume you. Is.43 :2
“Above all keep loving one
another earnestly,since love covers a multitude of sins. “1 Pt 4:8
Psalm.149
Praise the Lord!
Sing to the Lord a new song,
his praise in the assembly of
the godly...
let them praise his name with
dancing
making melody to him with
tambourine and lyre..
This psalm revels in praising the Lord.There is an unabashed joy in offering praise to the Lord.Praising and
the thanking the Lord are the best ways in keeping in touch with the Lord.When
we praise the Lord, our hearts become lighter and free from selfishness and
arrogance.Our hearts become filled with joy and the power of evil forces becomes
defeated.
Lord, lift my heart and help
me to thank and praise you.
Today Mr. Santosh gave a class
on how to prepare an outcome based course preparation.We have to be
clear and specific in what we are going to do with the course.It should be
generic and action oriented.The purpose of the course is to make the students become thoroughly conversant with the subject.
He also discussed the Bloom
methodology.
Aug 9,Friday
It has been raining all
night.There should be the possibility of many regions of Kerala getting
submerged under water,Flooding and destruction of property are possible.Lord, save everyone from mortal
dangers.
This morning, I read Mt ch.13 where Jesus speaks in parables—the
parables of the sower, weeds,mustard seed, leaven, hidden treasure in a field
highlighting the importance of the the kingdom of God and the need to keep and
preserve it.Lord,give me the grace to be a person who lives for the kingdom of
God and help me to preserve it.
Aug.10,Saturday
It was raining last
night.Things might be difficult for many people.So many might have lost
their homes.
Praying is the most important
thing that I can do.Lord, bless me.
I was searching for the Latin
version of “ you are dust and unto dust you will return” :—Gen.3:19; Ecc.3:20
“Pulvis es et in pulverem
reverteris.”
Peacock—symbol used in old Venice-it represents eternity.
Christianity adopted it as a
symbol of eternity, immortality, resurrection.
It was believed in Gk legends
that the flesh of peacock would not decay after its death.
Psalm 148
Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord from the
heavens;
praise him in the heights!
Praise him all his
angels;Praise him all his hosts
praise him sun and moon
This psalm asks every being or
thing to praise the Lord.It is a loud and joyous celebration of the
name of the Lord for his protection .In moments of loneliness and sorrow, the
singing of the psalm will soothe the pain in our hearts.When we raise our
hearts to the Lord in gratitude, we become filled with peace and calmness in
our hearts.
We praise you ,Lord.We adore
you.
Bloom's taxonomy of knowledge
, of measuring the level of teaching.Six categories.
RUA2EC
Remembering,Understanding,Applying,Analyzing,Evaluating
and Creating.
I did not do much today.Just
spent time here doing little things.Have not done any serious reading.
Aug.11 Sunday
O Lord, thank you for this
day.Kerala is roiling in the aftermath of the flood.So many have lost their
lives or their property, house or members of their families.Lord, have mercy on
them.
Ps.147 (He heals the broken-hearted)
Praise the Lord. Praising .For it
is good to sing praises to our God
for it is pleasant, and a song
of praise is fitting.
The Lord builds up Jerusalem
He gathers the outcasts of
Israel,He heals the broken- hearted
and binds up their wounds.
The Lord lifts up the
humble;he casts the wicked to the ground.
Again in this psalm we hear a
magnificent outburst of God's praises.God protects all and supplies them with
the bounties of nature.He prerserves the Universe with all its gifts for the sake
of man and hence wants all to praise the Lord for his gifts.
Aug13,Tuesday
The rains stopped for the time
being.A lot of lives were lost and property was destroyed.People are living in
temporary shelters.It is a great tragedy.It is people who live in the High Ranges and hills that lost their lives.People have to be
moved from those places.
Today,I will use my time in
praising the Lord.If I feel sleepy during day time, I will go to my room and spend my time in prayers or saying the
mass.I have to be firmly rooted in my faith and love of Jesus.In times, I feel
diffident, I have to raise my hearts in prayer and repeat the name of Jesus.
I am now alone. My Jesus is with me; that is my consolation.
Last night ,Tom came with his
wife, Leena, to invite me for the wedding at Chy.
Lord, I offer myself to you.I
don't have to look for anybody's help.I have to stick with Jesus and do
everything to spread his love and compassion.My mind should be free of all vain
thoughts.
Aug.14,Wednesday
Today, I held the first class
for the senior students for a batch of 14 students.They were very
receptive.They are more concerned with pronunciation,accent, intonation etc. I
have to prepare myself for it.Otherwise, I have not done much personal reading.
I have to do some reading again.It was easy for me speaking about correct
grammar and skills of communication. But here
there should be more detailed descriptions.
Psalm 146—Put not your trust in princes
This psalm urges one not to
put one's trust in men but in God. Men die and return to the earth.God is
everlasting.He takes care of the poor and the lowly and hence we are asked to
put our trust in the Lord.”Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,whose
hope is in the Lord his God, who made heaven and earth ...who keeps faith
forever.” I have to put my trust in the Lord and live in the shadow of his love
and protection.I have to feel confident and happy.I should not allow diffident
feelings to take over me.
Lord, thank you for your love
and compassion.
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