The path we tread is important for our life ahead.

It is necessary for every one of us to examine the path we tread. This exercise is required very often, as we are prone to be lead to tread a different path than the one we ought to because of the influence of evil forces in this world. If we go through the Bible we will see that all those people who had and encounter with the Lord had treaded a different path from that very moment onwards.

After visiting Baby Jesus in the manger, the three wise men returned to their Country by another road (Mat.2:12). The path they tread earlier to reach Bethlehem was through King Herod; which now they realized was not the right path to return. In fact, the Lord had warned them not to go back to Herod. All the disciples of Jesus left their old profession, family and other earthly attachments behind them and followed Jesus blindly. In other words, they have deliberately changed their path.

The life of St. Paul, the greatest among the Evangelists, after his encounter with the Lord is a good example of this transformation. A great miracle took place in the life of Zacchaeus after he met Jesus. His very attitude towards life, his life style itself, and the path he tread thereafter were completely changed, quite contrary to the one he followed hitherto. We read in Mark 10:46-52, that the blind Bartimaeus followed Jesus immediately after he was blessed with sight.

The Samaritan Woman became an Evangelist just immediately after meeting Jesus, unexpectedly, at the well. She went around with great enthusiasm telling people that she met the Messiah (John 4:28:30). Let us also examine ourselves whether we are treading the right path. If we are not, it is time that we come back to the right path so that we will safely reach our actual destination.

We have to change our attitude towards others, our own behavior pattern, actions, attachments, priorities etc. Such an exercise will be highly beneficial for the soul as well as the body. Then, we will be able to experience the presence of the Lord within us and this experience will enable us to always tread the right path and become catalysts to change other lives.

Like Moses who when, pleading with the Lord to accompany him and his people, we should be able to say, “Your presence with us will distinguish us from any other people on earth” (Ex. 33:16). In order to obtain the necessary grace for this let us join the Psalmist and confess: “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path” (Ps.119:105).

So examine the path you tread. Is it the right one? If not, come…lets change the path we tread.

- – - written by N. A. Thomas, Chennai

Those who live a double standard life are bringing blame to the cross of Christ.

For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ – Philippians 3:18. We need to examine ourselves that are we living as enemies of cross of Christ in our day-to-day living? Bible has cited four reasons in Phil 3:19.

First reason is that those who live as enemies of Cross, for them destiny is destruction. Second they think their God is their stomach. Third is that they give glory to their shame and lastly their mind is on earthly things.

Destiny is destruction

We see the life of Judas. He knew Jesus very closely that too in person. He ate and drank with Him. He listened to the preachings of Jesus. Even then he betrayed Jesus by a kiss. His destiny we all know. The point is that we humans who receive Jesus in mass every Sunday; can we afford to cling to sin? Sin is pleasurable. We need to examine our conscience and make a confession. We can pray that the blood of Jesus may cleanse our body , mind and soul. We can also ask Jesus to interfere in our life so that HIS will may be done and HIS kingdom comes on this earth.

God is their stomach

Today the rich are getting richer. The thirst to be wealthy is like water flowing out of the mug. Our stomach is not full. People are not content with what they have. They want more and more. We need to trust Jesus in HIS providence. Everyday we say ‘Give us today our daily bread’. We need to be content with what God gives us. We also need to make sure that we are giving one-tenth of the income to our Lord’s house. It is a challenge to fill our mind with the Word of God. Because mind controls the stomach.

Glory is their shame

Am I a hypocrite? We need to ask this question to ourselves. Are we living two lives. One is that we regularly attend Sunday mass and outside Church we live a sinful life. Whom are we pleasing? Whom are we fooling? It is time to pull our strings and say no to sin. Living a double standard life is abateful. We Christians are more answerable to Lord on our judgement day. Do not glorify yourself after committing a sin instead we need to repent so that angels can glorify over a repentant sinner.

Mind on earthly things

Many of us have cravings on earthly things. What are earthly things? Is it food, clothes, house, job? Why are we worried about earthly things? We are called to live Christ like life. The challenge is how to set our mind on heavenly things rather than on earthly things. The answer to this challenge is by constantly praising and worshiping HIM. By giving praise and worship to the Lord, the Lord will set all things right without our knowledge. We should also understand that the wavelength of thinking of God and ours is different. The wavelength is equal to the difference between the land and the sky.

Download the Enemies of the Cross of Christ PDF

Whatever happens in our life, is for good. We need to patiently wait upon the Lord for HIS glory to fall on us. St. Paul tells us to love and embrace the cross. Living as enemies of the cross is self-indulging. Take a look at these Calvary Cross Pictures of Jesus Christ.

- – - written by Merly Simon

Bible speaks little of the Mother of God but tradition gives valuable information. We know very little about Miriam of Nazareth as an actual historic person. In this she is in solidarity with the multitudes of people through the centuries especially poor women and men, whose lives are considered not worth recording. We must also be respectful of her historic difference from us in time and place.

Mary lived in Mediterranean rural village, Nazareth, whose population consisted largely of peasants working in the land and craftsmen who served their basic needs. Married to the local carpenter, she took care of the household. We do not find anything in the Gospels about the Birth of Virgin Mary. This is because the main focus has been completely centered on the person of Jesus Christ. The mystery of Christ and His two natures human and divine and His salvific mission, hence Mary was in oblivion.

Much of this knowledge of the circumstances in which we lived has resulted from the contemporary quest for the historical Jesus. But it serves us as well for the Miriam of Nazareth as a Jewish village women of faith. Mary walked by faith, not by sight. She has a relationship with God that was profound. In those days, people’s hope for the coming of the Messiah included in the hope that He would liberate the suffering poor from oppressive rule.

Unlike the birth of john the Baptist (Lk. 1:57-63) we find nothing in the Gospels concerning the birth of Mary. All the same we find in the proto Gospel of James that Ann and Joachim were her parents who were barren but in their old age gave birth to Mary. The feast “Birth of Mary” started in Jerusalem during the 5th century where according to tradition the house of Mary had been. The feast comes at a time when the fields are ready for harvest. So it is a time of rejoicing as they offer the first fruit to God. This is very significant in the light of the Word of the God “When the fullness of time came, God sent His son born of a women” (Gal. 4:4-6).

The description although in the manner of an apocryphal document obviously presents an important historical event about the Birth of the Mother of the Lord. The birth of Mary is ordained in particular toward her mission as Mother of the Saviour. Tradition, grounded on very old testimonies, informs us that Saints Joachim and Ann in their old age came from Galilee to settle in Jerusalem, and there Mary the Mother of God was Born. A Church was built during the 4th century, possibly by Saint Helena, on the sight of the house of saints Joachim and Ann in Jerusalem.

The origin of this Feast sought in Palestine. It goes back to the consecration of a Church in Jerusalem, which tradition identifies as that of the present basilica of St. Ann. At Rome, the Feast began to be celebrated towards the end of the 7th century, brought there by Eastern monks, Gradually and varied ways it spread to the other parts of the west in the centuries that followed. From the 13th century on the feast drew notable importance and celebrated with solemnity on different dates from place to place.

For some centuries now, the Birth of Mary has been assigned to September 8 both in the East and West. However, when the feast of the Immaculate Conception (which has a later origin than that of the birth) was extended to the whole Church the Birth of Mary slowly and steadily assigned everywhere to September 8 – nine months after the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.

Read the following 2 articles that tells more about the birth of Mother Mary:

Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary – September 08

Nativity of The Blessed Virgin Mary

If many “will rejoice” at the Birth of the precursor (Lk. 1:14) a much greater joy is stirred up by the BIRTH of the MOTHER of the savior. Hence, this is a Feast that serves as a prelude to the “joy to all people” brought about by the Birth of the son of God at Christmas and expressed by the singing of hymns and carols. Added to this joy on this MARIAN FEAST is that of light because with MARY’S BIRTH the darkness is dispersed and there raises in the world a dawn that announces the sun of justice, Jesus Christ the Lord.

Mary – Queen – as the daughter of the Father, Mother of the son, and bride of the Holy Spirit, Mary was crowned Queen of Heaven and earth by the Triune God. As we celebrate the Birthday of our Heavenly Mother, let’s pray that she may continue interceding for us.

- – - written by Bro. Mathew Perunilam