Pray to God & Play your Part!

Mark 6:34-44 

So the usual vast crowd was there as he stepped from the boat; and he had pity on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he taught them many things they needed to know. Late in the afternoon his disciples came to him and said, “Tell the people to go away to the nearby villages and farms and buy themselves some food, for there is nothing to eat here in this desolate spot, and it is getting late.” But Jesus said, “You feed them.” “With what?” they asked. “It would take a fortune to buy food for all this crowd!” “How much food do we have?” he asked. “Go and find out.” They came back to report that there were five loaves of bread and two fish.Then Jesus told the crowd to sit down, and soon colorful groups of fifty or a hundred each were sitting on the green grass. He took the five loaves and two fish and looking up to heaven, gave thanks for the food. Breaking the loaves into pieces, he gave some of the bread and fish to each disciple to place before the people. And the crowd ate until they could hold no more! There were about 5,000 men there for that meal, and afterwards twelve basketfuls of scraps were picked up off the grass! 

Food for thought !

This is a very special miracle. So special that it is the only miracle of Jesus which is related in all four gospels. It is special also in that it shows the TWO ingredients of every miracle. There’s God, and there’s man; there’s praying to God, and there’s playing our part. The two ALWAYS go together.


When the disciples were asked to give the people something to eat, they insisted that that was practically impossible. For them it would take a fortune to buy food for all the crowd! They really meant "Anything we have got is no use at all," which was correct. What was not correct was the disciples' ignorance of God's power.


This is how many of us deal with difficulties; we think of everything and everybody except God. We look at problems through our eyes and our efforts and our wages and our resources, etc., just like the disciples did: "It would take a fortune to buy food for all this crowd!" With such false start we cannot end with correct solutions; we are like the disciples; they kept coming up with negative excuses: "there is nothing to eat here in this desolate spot, and it is getting late.”


After seeing their inadequate solutions, Jesus taught them and us a lifetime lesson. For a miracle to happen, two things must concurrently exist: praying to God, and playing our part. Prayer alone is not enough; playing our part is not enough. We must pray to God, yes, but also, we must play our part. This is what Jesus did: Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them (he prayed to God).


But Jesus demanded too that the disciples play their part: "How much food do we have?" he asked. "Go and find out." They came back and reported, "They came back to report that there were five loaves of bread and two fish." Then Jesus told the disciples to have the people sit down in groups on the green grass. Jesus took the five loaves and two fish and gave to the disciples so they could distribute it to the people.


All this means that whenever we have those humanly speaking impossible situations, whenever we seek a miracle from God, we must do two things: pray to God, and play our part. As you play your part pray, and as you pray, play your part. 

Day 4: Jesus watches us!

John 1:43-51

The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and told him, “Come with me.” (Philip was from Bethsaida, Andrew and Peter’s hometown.) Philip now went off to look for Nathanael and told him, “We have found the Messiah!—the very person Moses and the prophets told about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth!” “Nazareth!” exclaimed Nathanael. “Can anything good come from there?” “Just come and see for yourself,” Philip declared. As they approached, Jesus said, “Here comes an honest man—a true son of Israel.” “How do you know what I am like?” Nathanael demanded. And Jesus replied, “I could see you under the fig tree before Philip found you.” Nathanael replied, “Sir, you are the Son of God—the King of Israel!” Jesus asked him, “Do you believe all this just because I told you I had seen you under the fig tree? You will see greater proofs than this. You will even see heaven open and the angels of God coming back and forth to me, the Messiah.”

Food for thought!

Today is Day Four of Jesus' first week on the job; his public life. For many people, today is the first day from the long holiday season. So, as you go back to your fig tree, remember that Jesus watches you. When Nathanael was wondering how and when could Jesus know about him, he replied: “I could see you under the fig tree before Philip found you.”

Jesus is telling Nathaniel that he is no ordinary man; that he is God, and because he is God, he knows everybody, he sees everyone, everywhere, everyday. And Nathaniel was quick to learn this truth about Jesus. This is why he immediately confessed, “Sir, you are the Son of God—the King of Israel!” Now Nathanael knows that God knows him.

Do you have someone in life who seem to understand you, someone who really knows you? Someone who can guess your thoughts and even sometimes your words? Someone that can read your mind? Well, this is what Jesus is telling you and me on his Day Four.

So, as you resume your work, remember this: When no one is watching you in your work place, work as if someone is; when no one is watching you as you drive your car around, drive as if someone is; when no one is watching you as you make your prayers, pray as if someone is watching you. That someone is Jesus, who promised to be with us ALWAYS. He asked us to remember this: "I am always with you until the end of time." (Matthew 28:20). He is always, not some of the times, not some of the places, but always watching us from a distance.

Psalm 139
O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit or stand. When far away you know my every thought. You chart the path ahead of me and tell me where to stop and rest. Every moment you know where I am. You know what I am going to say before I even say it.You both precede and follow me and place your hand of blessing on my head.


This is too glorious, too wonderful to believe! I can never be lost to your Spirit! I can never get away from my God! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the place of the dead, you are there. If I ride the morning winds to the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, your strength will support me. If I try to hide in the darkness, the night becomes light around me. For even darkness cannot hide from God; to you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are both alike to you.


You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit them together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! It is amazing to think about. Your workmanship is marvelous—and how well I know it. You were there while I was being formed in utter seclusion! You saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe. Every day was recorded in your book!


How precious it is, Lord, to realize that you are thinking about me constantly! I can’t even count how many times a day your thoughts turn toward me. And when I waken in the morning, you are still thinking of me!
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test my thoughts. Point out anything you find in me that makes you sad, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

Jesus is the lamb of God that takes away our sin!

John 1:29-34

Seeing Jesus coming towards him, John said, ‘Look, there is the lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. This is the one I spoke of when I said: A man is coming after me who ranks before me because he existed before me. I did not know him myself, and yet it was to reveal him to Israel that I came baptising with water.’ John also declared, ‘I saw the Spirit coming down on him from heaven like a dove and resting on him. I did not know him myself, but he who sent me to baptise with water had said to me, “The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and rest is the one who is going to baptise with the Holy Spirit.” Yes, I have seen and I am the witness that he is the Chosen One of God.’

Food for thought!

Jesus, as John himself had rightly observed, is the lamb of God that takes away our sin. Please, notice that John says, "sin"in the singular and not "sins"in the plural. Why is this so?
Because Romans 8:1 says "there is now no condemnation awaiting those who belong to Christ Jesus." True, if you belong to Christ, you are safe. That's why we call Jesus our Saviour; that's why the name "Jesus" means “God saves;” and that's why John the Baptist calls him, "who takes away the sin of the world." Jesus is the lamb of God that takes away our condemnation.

Jesus makes us be born again, and as 1John 3:9 tells us, "Whosoever is born of God does not commit sin; for his seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God." Again from John 1:12-13 we gather that “to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.”

As children of God, we all have an advocate, as 1 John 2 reminds us:


My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.

As children of God, we are not supposed to sin. However, human nature being what it is (fallen and wounded nature), we fail and fall into sin again and again. That is is the bad news. The good news is that we have Jesus, who takes away our sin. Sin brings guilt and if we don't deal with our guilt, our guilt will deal with us. If we don't take away our guilt, our guilt will take us away. Guilt is a powerful thing that eats us from inside out. We can’t run from it. We can’t hide from it. We can’t escape its jaws. It is always present.


The only solution for guilt is to bring the sin that caused it to Jesus. When we bring our sin to Him, Jesus forgives the sin and removes the guilt. He sets us free from the monster of guilt because He is the lamb of God that takes away our sin.

In our crowd there's Jesus!

John 1:19-28

The Jewish leaders sent priests and assistant priests from Jerusalem to ask John whether he claimed to be the Messiah. He denied it flatly. “I am not the Christ,” he said. “Well then, who are you?” they asked. “Are you Elijah?” “No,” he replied. “Are you the Prophet?” “No.” “Then who are you? Tell us, so we can give an answer to those who sent us. What do you have to say for yourself?” He replied, “I am a voice from the barren wilderness, shouting as Isaiah prophesied, ‘Get ready for the coming of the Lord!’” Then those who were sent by the Pharisees asked him, “If you aren’t the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet, what right do you have to baptize?” John told them, “I merely baptize with water, but right here in the crowd is someone you have never met, who will soon begin his ministry among you, and I am not even fit to be his slave.” This incident took place at Bethany, a village on the other side of the Jordan River where John was baptizing.

Food for thought!

We are all in our first week of 2015. Starting from today's gospel passage, and going step by step, day by day, we will follow Jesus’ first week in the public life, just as we start ours in the new year. In today’s reading we have the preparatory events of the first day.


Before Jesus there's always a someone, a John, telling the people to get ready for the coming of the king, for he is on the way. Jesus continues to be present even though many times unknown. That's why someone has to remind someone of the presence of Jesus.

John was that someone, pointing to Jesus. The last thing that John wanted men to do was to look at him and stop there; he wanted the people to see beyond him and see Jesus; he wanted to be an instrument of Jesus. He is the great example of the man and woman prepared to let Jesus lead. He was only, as he saw it, a finger pointing to Jesus. So as you go through your first week, remember to be another John the Baptist, promoting Jesus' interests, Jesus' principles.

John said something extremely important: "right here in the crowd is someone you have never met, who will soon begin his ministry among you." The plain truth is that many people have lost track of Jesus. In our homes, our neighbourhood, our place of work, our crowds, is someone you have never met, who will soon begin his ministry among you.
So, our first task and challenge of the new year is to find Jesus.

Those who know your name trust in you, Lord!

Luke 2:16-21

They ran to the village and found their way to Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. The shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds’ story expressed astonishment, but Mary quietly treasured these things in her heart and often thought about them. Then the shepherds went back again to their fields and flocks, praising God for the visit of the angels, and because they had seen the child, just as the angel had told them. Eight days later, at the baby’s circumcision ceremony, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was even conceived.

Food for thought!

When the new born child was eight days old (counting from December 25 to January 8 are eight days), he was named Jesus. On this day, the day we begin our new year, the new baby was named “Jesus”. This is not a coincidence; it is providence. Divine providence gives us “Jesus” to begin with the new year. Why?

The answer is in the reading from Numbers 6:22-27.

Now the Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron and his sons that they are to give this special blessing to the people of Israel: ‘May the Lord bless and protect you; may the Lord’s face radiate with joy because of you; may he be gracious to you, show you his favor, and give you his peace.’ This is how Aaron and his sons shall call down my name upon the people of Israel; and I myself will personally bless them.”


Why the name Jesus? Well, it is the name given to us to call down God's blessings. This is how Aaron and his sons shall call down my name upon the people and I myself will personally bless them.


A name which is above every other name!

Yet it was because of this that God raised him up to the heights of heaven and gave him a name which is above every other name, that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-10)

Each of us possesses a name. It is a name given to us by our parents. Perhaps we were named after some relative, or we were just given a name that our parents liked. Whatever the reason and however you came by your name, there is probably great significance behind your name or mine. In our text, we are told of a name that does have great significance. The name of Jesus stands out as a name above all other names. Why? There must be something very special about this Name.

It is a name picked by the Father - The name Jesus was not given to our Lord by Mary and Joseph. It was a name handpicked by God, Matthew 1:21. Lest you forget, there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved, (Acts 4:12).

The name Jesus means, "Jehovah Is Salvation." This precious, sweet name reveals a side of Jesus that many fail to grasp. When the Father sent Jesus to come into the world, He was sending a message to humanity. It was a message that said, "I have not forgotten, nor forsaken you. I love you and I give you my Son who will reveal me to you." (John 14:9)

The name Jesus at once reveals the Son's mission, (Luke 19:10), and the Father's heart, (2 Peter 3:9). God isn't in the damning business. He is in the saving business! He wants no one to go to Hell. In fact, He tells us that hell was not made for the lost, it was made for the devil and his angels, (Matthew 25:41). When the Father chose the name Jesus as the one His Son would bear, He was telling us in one word that His goal was the redemption and salvation of mankind.

As Psalm 9:10 reminds us so well, “Those who know your name trust in you, O LORD.” Yes, there is something special about that name. Have you experienced the power behind the name Jesus? If you have, then you know why this is a name above every other name. You know why Jesus is exalted and why just the mention of that precious name speaks peace to the troubled, comfort to the hurting, life to the dead, joy to the sad, hope for the hopeless and glory to God. During the year 2015 remember to call upon the name Jesus as often as you can. He is as close as the mention of His name - (Isa. 55:6).

Happy new year!

Let us bless the Lord because He has blessed us!

John 1:1-18

Before anything else existed, there was Christ,* with God. He has always been alive and is himself God. He created everything there is—nothing exists that he didn’t make. Eternal life is in him, and this life gives light to all mankind. His life is the light that shines through the darkness—and the darkness can never extinguish it. God sent John the Baptist as a witness to the fact that Jesus Christ is the true Light. John himself was not the Light; he was only a witness to identify it. Later on, the one who is the true Light arrived to shine on everyone coming into the world. But although he made the world, the world didn’t recognize him when he came.Even in his own land and among his own people, the Jews, he was not accepted. Only a few would welcome and receive him. But to all who received him, he gave the right to become children of God. All they needed to do was to trust him to save them. All those who believe this are reborn!—not a physical rebirth resulting from human passion or plan—but from the will of God. And Christ became a human being and lived here on earth among us and was full of loving forgiveness* and truth. And some of us have seen his glory*—the glory of the only Son of the heavenly Father!* John pointed him out to the people, telling the crowds, “This is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘Someone is coming who is greater by far than I am—for he existed long before I did!’” We have all benefited from the rich blessings he brought to us—blessing upon blessing heaped upon us! For Moses gave us only the Law with its rigid demands and merciless justice, while Jesus Christ brought us loving forgiveness as well. No one has ever actually seen God, but, of course, his only Son has, for he is the companion of the Father and has told us all about him.

Food for thought!

Congratulations! You made it to the end of 2014. If you’re like me, you feel a small sense of accomplishment when you come to December 31. Today's gospel reading says: “We have all benefited from the rich blessings he brought to us—blessing upon blessing heaped upon us!” If you are reading this, it is because you are alive; it is because you and I have arrived alive to the end of 2014.

Let me remind you that life is a blessing. Take time to praise God in your quiet time for all of His blessings. Join the psalmist in saying:

If the Lord had not been on our side (let all Israel admit it), if the Lord had not been on our side, we would have been swallowed alive by our enemies, destroyed by their anger. We would have drowned beneath the flood of these men’s fury and pride. Blessed be Jehovah who has not let them devour us. We have escaped with our lives as a bird from a hunter’s snare. The snare is broken and we are free! Our help is from the Lord who made heaven and earth. (Psalm 124)

Let us stop and thank God for the good things He has given us in 2014. Sometimes we are so anxious to get new blessings from God that we aren’t acknowledging the old blessings from the Lord. Can you name some of the blessing of 2014? May be your kids got good grades at school, your spouse helped out around the house, your health was great this year, and many others. In any way, make a “gratitude list.” Write down all the things in your life that you are grateful for from 2014.

But as the psalmist says, when God blesses us, He expects us to bless him: “I will bless you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer.” (Psalm 63:4). In other words, let us bless the Lord because He has blessed us! Remember this: Whatever you give your attention and belief to becomes your experience. So, focus your attention on the way you would like to see yourself in 2015. Give thanks for the realization that you are right now becoming that person. Give thanks for all of the abundance you’re presently enjoying, and give thanks for the abundance of every good thing that’s on its way to you. As you count your blessings and become increasingly aware of how truly blessed you are, you will begin to build an attitude of gratitude. This is what will usher us into 2015.

When we feel gratitude for our blessings, it becomes easier to see that the Lord has been always with us in ALL we have gone through in 2014. This is what today's gospel readings reminds us: He was there since the beginning; everything was done through him; there was nothing that was done without him. Jesus was always there, whether we recognized him or not. He was in our world, our home, our place of work, our joys, even our suffering, our ups and downs. To him be praise and honour and glory and power for ever and ever. Amen.

Ana grew not bitter but better!

Luke 2:36-40

[When the time came for Mary’s purification offering at the Temple, as required by the laws of Moses after the birth of a child, his parents took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord] Anna, a prophetess, was also there in the Temple that day. She was the daughter of Phanuel, of the Jewish tribe of Asher, and was very old, for she had been a widow for eighty-four years following seven years of marriage. She never left the Temple but stayed there night and day, worshiping God by praying and often fasting. She came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph, and she also began thanking God and telling everyone in Jerusalem who had been awaiting the coming of the Savior that the Messiah had finally arrived. When Jesus’ parents had fulfilled all the requirements of the Law of God, they returned home to Nazareth in Galilee. There the child became a strong, robust lad, and was known for wisdom beyond his years; and God poured out his blessings on him.

Food for thought!

Ana was also there in the Temple that day. Anna. Who was she? First, Anna was a widow for 84 years following just 7 years of marriage. Ana had known sorrow and she had not grown bitter. Sorrow can do one of two things to us. It can make us either bitter or better; it can make us hard, resentful, rebellious against God (some people gave up on God due to their suffering and problems). Or it can make us kinder, softer, more sympathetic (other people gave in to God because of their suffering and problems).

It all depends on how we think of God. If we think of him as a tyrant we will resent him. If we think of him as Father we too will be sure that a Father's hand will never cause His child a needless tear. Anna did not leave God in her widowhood. The gospel says that “She never left the Temple but stayed there night and day, worshiping God by praying and often fasting.”

She was eighty-four years of age. She was old and she had never ceased to hope. Age can take away the bloom and the strength of our bodies; but age can do worse--the years can take away the life of our hearts until the hopes that once we cherished die and we become dully content and grimly resigned to things as they are.

Again it all depends on how we think of God. If we think of him as distant and detached we may well despair; but if we think of him as intimately connected with life, as having his hand on the helm, we too will be sure that the best is yet to be and the years will never kill our hope.

Ana never ceased to worship and pray. What does this mean? It means that she attended both publich prayer (worship) and private prayer. Public prayer is great; but private prayer is also great. As someone has truly said, "They pray best together who first pray alone."


Ana didn't and couldn't get bitter despite being a widow; she got better because she was always in touch with the Lord, who is the source of strength and in whose strength our weakness is made perfect. We too, let's not give up on the Lord at all times of our life.

Misunderstood? Look at Jesus!

Luke 2:22-35

When the time came for Mary’s purification offering at the Temple, as required by the laws of Moses after the birth of a child, his parents took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord; for in these laws God had said, “If a woman’s first child is a boy, he shall be dedicated to the Lord.” At that time Jesus’ parents also offered their sacrifice for purification—“either a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons” was the legal requirement. That day a man named Simeon, a Jerusalem resident, was in the Temple. He was a good man, very devout, filled with the Holy Spirit and constantly expecting the Messiah to come soon. For the Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen him—God’s anointed King. The Holy Spirit had impelled him to go to the Temple that day; and so, when Mary and Joseph arrived to present the baby Jesus to the Lord in obedience to the law, Simeon was there and took the child in his arms, praising God. “Lord,” he said, “now I can die content! For I have seen him as you promised me I would. I have seen the Savior you have given to the world. He is the Light that will shine upon the nations, and he will be the glory of your people Israel!” Joseph and Mary just stood there, marveling at what was being said about Jesus. Simeon blessed them but then said to Mary, “A sword shall pierce your soul, for this child shall be rejected by many in Israel, and this to their undoing. But he will be the greatest joy of many others. And the deepest thoughts of many hearts shall be revealed.”


Food for thought!

Full of the Holy Spirit, Simeon mentioned something that we must consider. He said that Jesus shall be rejected by many in Israel. In his life he was misunderstood almost on a daily basis. Right from the beginning Jesus was misunderstood. Although he made the world, the world did not recognize him when he came. Even in his own land and among his own people, the Jews, he was not accepted. Only a few would welcome and receive him. (John 1:10-12). Jesus was the most misunderstood man that ever lived. Many things he said were misunderstood; also many of his deeds, the miracles, were also misunderstood.

Jesus was misunderstood by his inner family; by his disciples; by his wider family; by the romans; and by the world. By looking at the misunderstandings of Jesus, we will come to understand the dynamics of own misunderstanding, its pain, and know how to deal with it. Sometimes, a sword pierces our souls when we are rejected. This is so because it is hard to understand how someone we love or trust could ever misunderstand and reject us. To fully understand why misunderstanding and rejection occur, we must take a look Jesus. Even good people like Jesus can be misunderstood and rejected!

When you are called to have influence, you are constantly in the limelight. Because your life is on display for all to see, there will be times that you will be falsely accused and persecuted for doing what God has called you to do. People who have stepped up to make a difference for God in the world must expect to be stepped on by critics and cynics.

If Jesus, the Son of God, was one of the most misunderstood people on the planet, God will most certainly allow you to walk through the frustration of being misunderstood. You cannot make public impact without public scrutiny and criticism. I have found that the ones who are willing to criticize are usually the ones who aren’t doing anything to help or make a difference in the world. Notice also that critics are usually those with loud voices and little accomplishments. Encourage yourself in the Lord by remembering that even Jesus was misunderstood and truly empathizes with you in your frustration. You are not alone and knowing that God is for you will make all the difference!

Jesus grew strong!

Luke 2:36-40

When the day came for them to be purified as laid down by the Law of Moses, the parents of Jesus took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. When Jesus’ parents had fulfilled all the requirements of the Law of God, they returned home to Nazareth in Galilee. There the child Jesus grew strong, robust lad, and was known for wisdom beyond his years; and God poured out his blessings on him.

Food for thought!

Today's Gospel reading is very revealing; it ends by telling us that Jesus grew, a robust lad, and was known for wisdom beyond his years. What this means is that Jesus was a true human being, he was truly human; Jesus had a body and soul, the two elements that define human beings. A normal human being must have a normal body and soul. And if Jesus was truly human, he can help us understand how normal life should be.

How did Jesus care for his body and soul, so much so that he was growing strong in body and wise in spirit? For many of us, we're missing out, either on our bodies or our souls. It always seems like there is so much, or too much to do. In the end, there never seems like a lot of time to rest or take care of our bodies and souls. Many times we're at extremes, we starve our bodies or our souls, we give more attention to one at the expense of the other. 

Which brings me to the question: What did Jesus do for Himself to keep the balance? Looking through the Gospels, there seem to be three key themes related to Jesus' self-maintenance.


1. Jesus grew up in a family. It is the truth that Jesus was not raised by Mary alone nor was he raised by Joseph alone. It took two, a man and a woman, Joseph and Mary, to raise the child Jesus. We are saying that it takes both parents, the mother and the father together, to raise a child. This is the normal environment; this is how we too are called to raise our children. All the other arrangments are simply that, “other”. Today, we thank the Lord for our families; families that raised us; families that raise us when we fall and faill.


2. Jesus took time alone. The Gospel of Luke reads, "The reputation of Jesus continued to grow. Large crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to some place where he could be alone and pray; this was his time to feed his soul and spirit." When we make time for our spirits, we are more able to cope with life's joys and challenges.


3. Jesus cared for his body. The Gospel of Mark tells the story of a woman who anointed Jesus with perfumed oil in Bethany. Some of the apostles questioned this extravagance. But Jesus replied, "Let her alone. Why do you criticize her? She has done me a kindness."


Some of us have great disdain for spending time caring for our body; we think this is an extravagance. As a result, many people are disconnected from their body; getting a holiday or a massage or a pedicure never crosses our mind. When we take care of our bodies, not only will we be better able to serve others, we will also be more in touch with our spirits. It's a win-win, really.


Because Jesus knew how to take care of Himself, He was better able to care for others. You can't care for others if you don't care for yourself.

Love and you will know!

John 20:2-8

Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” 3 So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. 4 Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus ' head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed.

Food for thought

The part that love plays in this story is extraordinary. It was Mary, who loved Jesus so much, who was first at the tomb. It was John, the disciple whom Jesus loved and who loved Jesus, who was first to believe in the Resurrection; when John saw the scene, he believed. Why? Because he was the disciple who loved Jesus most; he is the only disciple who followed Jesus until the end, on the cross. All the other disciples run away. Love gave John the power to follow Jesus to the cross; love gave John the eyes to read the signs and a mind to understand that Jesus had risen. No wonder, two days after Christmas, we remember and celebrate John, the beloved disciple and the disciple of love.

Here we have the great law of love. Love is the great interpreter. Where there's love there's understanding; if you love someone, you will understand them; you can't understand someone you hate. Indeed, we only hate those people we don't love. If you don't understand someone, like your spouse, your boss or colleague at work, it is because you don't love him or her enough. You will never understand someone whom you don't love.

It is good news to know that love is true, and truth is immortal. We can suppress love / truth, accuse it of being a lie, condemn it, torture it, crucify it, bury or hide it in some grave, but on the third day love / truth will rise again.

Remember this and do not give up on Love / Truth even when everybody seems to give up on it. Do not give up on Love; do not give up on Truth. Do not give up on doing what is right. Do not go corrupt because everybody around you has gone corrupt. Truth will always be true. Justice will always be just. Right will always be right even when the world around us would have it otherwise.

We must learn to believe in the sun even when it is not shining, knowing that sooner or later it will shine again. It is the end of the story that counts.