Archive for January 11, 2016

Walking In The Garden With My Lord

Posted: January 11, 2016 by CatholicJules in Meditations
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At another point of our retreat we were told to go separate ways and find a quiet corner to spend some time in prayer.

I walked past some standalone hostels intending to go as far away as I could. But as I was walking past one, something about a huge bush like tree caught my eye. It had beautiful red and yellow flowers which I found odd. And as I stood there and stared at the oddity and beauty of it, I became more and more mesmerised. And found that I could not tear myself away.

Then the consolations came and I started to reflect on what it must have been like to walk with our Lord in the garden of Eden. How blessed was I in that moment to feel the presence of my Lord.

Then a big black wasp flew past me and I was distracted for a moment. I put it out of my mind and resumed my reflection. All of a sudden a dog started barking in the distance as some workers appeared to clear some rotting jackfruit from the ground unto a lorry which had driven in into the grounds. Even a fellow retreat participant John slowly walked past me. All of it got me feeling a little perturbed then I recalled my earlier encounter with the Lord at the water feature. In which I learnt that the silence can come from within. So I emptied myself so as to continue my meet with the Lord once more.

After a few minutes I turned round and saw that the hostel I was standing in front of had a room number which was also a scripture passage. So I quickly wrote it down in my notebook to look up later. I wanted a remembrance of this whole encounter and so decided to pluck the red and yellow flowers to place between the pages of my notebook; since I didn’t have a camera on me. As I did this I realised the red like flower was actually budding and would turn into the yellow ones fully grown. Wow!

The Scripture passage Luke 17:20-21 I later looked up read as follows :

‘Asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was to come, he gave them this answer, ‘The coming of the kingdom of God does not admit of observation and there will be no one to say, “Look, it is here! Look, it is there!” For look, the kingdom of God is among you.’

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On Today’s Gospel

Posted: January 11, 2016 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Each and everyone one of us are called to serve according to the strengths and gifts we have been given.

There will be times when we are made to feel inadequate or lacking. Sometimes the world seems to ridicule and taunt us even. Should we then despair? Should we then ignore the call of our Lord?

Let us turn instead to the Lord our God who called us. For He will provide for all that we need to accomplish His Will for us. It is through our obedience and swift response, that our hearts are filled with hope and joy. His peace and love is upon us. Amen

First reading
1 Samuel 1:1-8

There was a man of Ramathaim, a Zuphite from the highlands of Ephraim whose name was Elkanah son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. He had two wives, one called Hannah, the other Peninnah; Peninnah had children but Hannah had none. Every year this man used to go up from his town to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of Hosts in Shiloh. The two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there as priests of the Lord.

  One day Elkanah offered sacrifice. He used to give portions to Penirinah and to all her sons and daughters; to Hannah, however, he would give only one portion, although he loved her more, since the Lord had made her barren. Her rival would taunt her to annoy her, because the Lord had made her barren. And this went on year after year; every time they went up to the temple of the Lord she used to taunt her. And so Hannah wept and would not eat. Then Elkanah her husband said to her, ‘Hannah, why are you crying and why are you not eating? Why so sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?’

Gospel
Mark 1:14-20

After John had been arrested, Jesus went into Galilee. There he proclaimed the Good News from God. ‘The time has come’ he said ‘and the kingdom of God is close at hand. Repent, and believe the Good News.’

  As he was walking along by the Sea of Galilee he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net in the lake – for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me and I will make you into fishers of men.’ And at once they left their nets and followed him.

  Going on a little further, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John; they too were in their boat, mending their nets. He called them at once and, leaving their father Zebedee in the boat with the men he employed, they went after him.