It was in the home of Joachim and Ann where the Virgin Mary received her training to be the Mother of God. This devotion to Ann and Joachim is an extension of the affection Christians have always professed toward our Blessed Mother. We too, owe a debt of gratitude to our parents for their help in our Christian formation.
"Would that we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the fleshpots and ate bread to the full; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger." (Exodus 16:3)
The insatiability of man has been an aged long vice right from when God created man and gave him all that he needed to live on. But out of unnecessary desire and longing he derailed by seeking for fulfilment by eating the forbidden fruit. (cf. Genesis 3:1)
He suddenly forgot the goodness of the Lord who created him in His image (Genesis 1:26). Inspite of this, God did not abandon man. He kept to His promise not considering the ungratefullness of man. In the course of history He revealed Himself in the salvation account of humanity as He led the Israelites through the red sea. Amidst this, they were not satisfied and kept on murmuring as today's first reading says:
"Would that we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the fleshpots and ate bread to the full; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger." (Exodus 16:3)
The above murmuring came as a result of the hunger they faced, but they suddenly forgot every other goodness of the Lord since they began the journey.
Beloved in Christ what is often our reactions when the going is tough? Why do we deny the existence of God whenever there is challenge on our way? When last did we pause awhile and count God's blessings upon us? Let us therefore examine our consciences in this direction, if not we will continue from where the Israelites stopped in today's first reading.
Finally, as we celebrate the memorial of the parents of our Lady (Ss. Joachim and Anne) let us call on them to intercede on our behalf to be conscious of the goodness of God in our lives especially when we face with duffuculties and tribulations. Peace be with you!
Let us pray
O Lord, God of our Fathers, who bestowed on Saints Joachim and Anne this grace, that of them should be born the Mother of your incarnate Son, grant, through the prayer of both, that we may attain the salvation you have promised to your people. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.Amen.
© The ARCHIVE 26072023
He is called "the Greater" because his vocation to serve Christ preceded that of the other apostle of the same name. He was the son of Zebedee, and was called by Jesus together with his brother John. James was one of the three apostles, along with Peter and John, who witnessed the Transfiguration (Mathew 17:1) and the agony in the
"We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus,..." (2 Corinthians4:8)
The ancient aphorism which says: "The downfall of a man is not the end of his life" has come to to play in today's first reading on this great feast of St. James the son of Zebedee, as St. Paul in his second epistle to the Corinthians' Church avers:
We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus,..." (2 Corinthians4:8)
This implies that, no matter what we are going through God is always there to see us through. He watches our back every now and then. There is no impossibility before our God. Most times when darkness beclouds us, sickness invades our bones, life becomes unbearable and our expectations are being thwarted, then our God the wonder worker whispers: "Be still and know that I am God."(Psalm 46:10)
Indeed, with God we are more than conquerors as St. Paul exhorts us, that despite what we are passing through it cannot be compared with the future glory awaiting us, while assuring us that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. (cf. Romans 8:1ff.)
Finally, beloved in Christ Jesus, let our hearts not be troubled. We need to see beyond the present pains and predicament that, it is for a short while and God in His mercy is certainly having us in mind. In our sickness let us see Jesus, in our tribulation let us see Him, in our doubt let our hope be solely on Him as St. James whose feast day we celebrate today did. For "Those who are sowing in tears will sing when they reap." (cf.Psalm 126) Peace be with you!
Let us pray
Almighty ever-living God, who consecrated the first fruits of your Apostles by the blood of Saint James, grant, we pray, that your Church may be strengthened by his confession of faith and constantly sustained by his protection. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.Amen.
© The ARCHIVE 25072023
(1828 – 1898). Youssef Antoun Makhlouf was born in Bekaa Kafra (
"Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today; for the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again." (Exodus 14:13)
The faithfulness of God upon us is beyond calculation. He does not consider our ingratitude, for what He said He will do, that He will surely do.
From our today's Table of the Word God spoke to us through Moses saying:
Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today; for the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again." (Exodus 14:13)
In our moment of challenges and difficulties, we may tend to complain just as the Israelites; who despite the mercy of God forgot in haste.
We therefore need to renew our trust and hope in Him, for He can never fail us no matter the situation. He is too faithful to disapoint us. We earnestly pray through the intercession of Saint Sharbel Makhluf that we may grow in faith and trust in God so that our hope may not fail us. Peace be with you!
Let us pray
O God, who called the Priest Saint Sharbel Makhluf to the solitary combat of the desert and imbued him with all manner of devotion, grant us, we pray, that, being made imitators of the Lord’s Passion, we may merit to be coheirs of his Kingdom. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.Amen.
© The ARCHIVE 23072023
She was one of the few who remained with Christ during His agony on the cross. With two other women, she went to His tomb and found it empty. It was to her that our Lord first appeared after His resurrection. He asked her to announce His resurrection to the apostles.
"Therefore, if any one is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come." (2Corinthians 5:17)
The only constant phenomenon in life is change. In a more clearer term nothing last forever. Everything undergo change upon changes to suite space and time and so is our lives.
In the light of this scenario, that the Church invites us this morning as we celebrate the feast of St. Mary Magdalene who is referred to as the first witness and announcer of the news of the risen Lord; to gird our loin so as to be renewed in Christ.
In our spiritual journey, we keep on making effort to be renewed, some in a slow state others faster but above all effort must be made daily to get it right else we derail from the right path.
Today we have seen as St. Paul in his second epistle to the Corinthians Church proclaiming the need to walk away from the old self and be renewed in the Lord:
Therefore, if any one is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come." (2Corinthians 5:17)
This walk away form the former self entails a paradigm shift from comfort zone or detaching from what pleases us and attach to that which the Lord desires. We are quite familiar with the story of this woman of faith - St. Mary Magdalene despite her sinful beginning through the grace of God made a bold step to walk away from that world of fun and then identify with the cross of Jesus through sincere contrition, and later became the harbinger if the goodness if the Lord's resurrection.
Beloved in Christ, in our little way let us make sincere effort to get rid of our former selves and put on a new man as Mary Magdalene did. This can only be possible when we let go hurt inflicted on us and malice then turn to see Jesus in every situation of our lives. Peace, be with you!
Let us pray
O God, who for the glory of your name and the salvation of souls bestowed on the Priest Saint Lawrence of
© The ARCHIVE 22072023
Let us prayer
Lord Jesus, we thank You for the many blessings You have given us. Grant us we pray the eye of faith to see that we are nothing but pencil in your hands, so that humility and docility may be our watch word. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
© The ARCHIVE 19072023
Let us prayer
Eternal Word, we thank You for the gift of this new day. As we begin please begin with us and give us the grace to persevere in our daily struggles while keeping Your detects and ordinances in mind. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
© The ARCHIVE 17072023
