“If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake, that man will save it. What gain, then, is it for a man [...]
Christians should offer their brethren simple and unpretentious hospitality... What is the mark of a Christian? To love one another even as Christ also loved us. What is the mark of a Christian? To see the Lord always before him. What is the mark of a Christian? To watch each night and day and be [...]
“Mercy is high on the list of Beatitudes. ‘Blessed are the merciful.’ Says Scripture, ‘for they shall obtain mercy.’ ‘Blessed is he who considers the needy and the poor,’ and again, ‘It is well with the man who deals generously and lends.’ We read elsewhere, ‘The righteous man is ever giving liberally and lending... Share [...]
“Despite the flesh for it passes away; be solicitous for your soul for it will never die. Self-renunciation loosens the chains of this earthly life and sets us free from worldly business to take the path that leads to God. We free our spirit to win and use those things that are far more valuable [...]
“The Lord says, ‘If you desire true and eternal life, keep your tongue free from vicious talk and your lips from all deceit; turn away from evil and do good; let peace be your quest and aim. Once you have done this, my eyes will be upon you and my ears will listen for your [...]
It is easy to see the speck in the eyes of the other than to notice the log in our own eyes! Seeing the wrong of others, blaming them etc. are said to be defence-mechanisms we humans use so that we may not confront the problem within. It is well said, “Judging a person does [...]
“Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who treat you badly.” Jesus demands from his followers something unheard of. To love the enemies is not a natural feeling. It is an act of will, a conscious decision following the gospel demands. In the eyes [...]
The world says that a lot of money and wealth is the sure sign of a successful life. But Jesus says happy are the poor and woe to those who are rich! The kingdom of God has a very different standard to measure the worth of life and success. The disciples who listened to [...]
We find the admirable faith and trust of Peter in Jesus as he lets down the net for a catch. Jesus was a carpenter, and Peter a fisherman. But Peter sees beyond what people of Nazareth saw in Jesus. He saw in him the Divine. It was confirmed in the great catch of fish. Peter [...]
After the successful ministry in Capernaum and other parts of Galilee, Jesus is now in his own home town, Nazareth. Jesus was unable to do much healing in Nazareth because they refused to believe in him. They lacked faith. The response of the people of Nazareth was only a foretaste of the total rejection of [...]