Eucharistic Flame Prayer Meeting

March 2, 2012

Bible words: Mk 9:2-10

The Transfiguration

After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.

Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)

Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”

Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.

As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what “rising from the dead” meant.

(Source: NIV)

Reflections:

My dear loving brothers and sisters,

Jesus’ transfiguration has a great meaning. The great experience happened during the time of prayer. Heaven is opening, Moses and Elijah are speaking. Jesus’ cloth even changes colour. This is a very deep experience. The disciples like this incredible experience so much that they want to stay on the mountain and put up tents. Our life is a journey to heaven. Our great vision is to reach the kingdom of God. Therefore we should not focus so much on the material world but more on heaven.

I wish you a very graceful prayer meeting filled with blessing,

Your loving P. Joseph

Eucharistic Flame Prayer Meeting

March 9, 2012

Bible words: John 2:13-25

Jesus Clears the Temple Courts

When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.”

The Jews then responded to him, “What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?”

Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”

They replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” But the temple he had spoken of was his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.

Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, many people saw the signs he was performing and believed in his name. But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people. He did not need human testimony about them, for he knew what was in them.

(Source: TNIV)

Reflections:

Dear loving brothers and sisters,

Today’s reflection gives a very important insight for our daily practice of faith. Jesus is so concerned about the temple, which has two meanings: our church where we celebrate and worship our lord and also our body. In the church we revere God and respect the church because of God’s presence. Jesus was so angry when it was used as trading place. It is not a market place but place of worship. Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit; we have to respect our body, too. So we can keep our soul, mind and body clean by the precious blood of Jesus.

I wish you a very graceful prayer meeting,

Your loving brother in Christ

P. Joseph

Eucharistic Flame Prayer Meeting

March 16th, 2012

Bible words: John 3:14-21

Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. All those who do evil hate the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But those who live by the truth come into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.

(Source: TNIV)

Reflections:

My dear loving brothers and sisters,

Here we have two main points for our reflections: (1) everyone who believes in Jesus will have eternal life; (2) God loved the world so much that he sent his son to save the world through him.

So our belief and trust in the lord are very important for our daily life. The bible says, if we believe in God, we will see the glory of God. God loves us so much. Our God is a loving God. Therefore he sent his son for us and our hope is Jesus.

I wish you a very graceful prayer meeting,

Your loving P. Joseph

Eucharistic Flame Prayer Meeting

March 23, 2012,

Bible words: John 5:17-30

In his defense Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.” For this reason they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.

Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed. For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.

 “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.

“Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice  and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned. 30 By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.

(Source: NIV)

Reflection:

My dear loving brothers and sisters,

Jesus said: “My father is always working and I am also working.” So our loving Jesus is at work. What a wonderful feeling and how much security these incredible bible words bring about! Many times we think, “Why is God not taking care of me? Why is he not answering me? When will he do so?” I would like to tell you: Don’t be anxious. Trust and believe in his loving providence. You will see the result and you will see the fruit. The bible touches our heart with great power. Let us keep one bible word in our heart and it will grow and produce fruit.

I wish you a very graceful prayer meeting full of blessing,

Your loving P. Joseph

Eucharistic Flame Prayer Meeting

March 30, 2012,

Bible words: John 8:31-42

Dispute Over Whose Children Jesus’ Opponents Are

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word. 38 I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you are doing what you have heard from your father.”

 “Abraham is our father,” they answered.

“If you were Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then you would do what Abraham did. As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. You are doing the works of your own father.”

“We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.”

Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me.

(Source: Today's New International Version (TNIV))

Reflections:

My dear loving brothers and sisters,

Jesus said, “if you keep and practice the words of God, you are truly his disciples.” We have very great models: Abraham and Jesus. Abraham was obedient to God and he listened to the words of God. Our Jesus was totally obedient to the Lord. He listened to the words of God. How can we listen to the words of God in our daily life? We can read the bible words, keep some silence and reflect on them. Our beloved pope Benedict XVI says, “God also speaks by his silence.”

I wish you a very graceful prayer meeting full of blessing,

Your loving P. Joseph

Eucharistic Flame Prayer Meeting

6th April 2012

Bible words: John 19:25-34

Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

The Death of Jesus

Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jewish leaders did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.

(Source: TNIV)

Reflections:

My dear loving brothers and sisters,

If we look at Calvary, we can see how much he loved us. He came in this world because he loved us and full of love he preached the good news to us. He showed great mercy for us. This mercy we call Divine mercy. Finally he died for us. Why did he do all this for us? The answer is that Jesus loves us unconditionally. Mother Teresa of Calcutta said: If we look at the cross, we can see how much he loved us then. When we look at the Eucharist, we can see how much he loves us now.

I wish you a very graceful prayer meeting,

Your loving brother in Christ

P. Joseph

Eucharistic Flame Prayer Meeting

13th April 2012

Bible words: Luke 24:13-35

On the Road to Emmaus

Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him.

He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”

They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

“What things?” he asked.

“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”

He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.

When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.”

(Source: NIV)

Reflections:

My dear brothers and sisters,

Jesus’ resurrection brings great hope for the whole world. He proved many times to the disciples that he had risen from the death by apparitions. In this bible passage two disciples were going to Emmaus, Jesus travelled with them and spoke with them. While speaking their hearts were burning with the fire of the Holy Spirit. They reached Emmaus and they identified Jesus when he was breaking bread. Their eyes were opened and they recognized him. Jesus will help us to make our hearts burning and our eyes opening. We have a new hope and we can totally trust in him. Let us keep the following small prayer in our heart, “Stay with us, Lord”.

I wish you a very graceful prayer meeting,

Your loving

P. Joseph
 

Eucharistic Flame Prayer Meeting

20^th April 2012

Bible words: John 6:1-15

Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick. Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. The Jewish Passover Festival was near.

When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.

Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”

Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”

Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.

When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.”  So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.

After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.

Reflection:

My dear loving brothers and sisters,

With his miracles Jesus always wants to tell us something very important and meaningful. When I was praying before the Blessed Sacrament, I got a very good reflection about this miracle. If we sit before him, he will feed us. It is true. Jesus asked all the people to sit down. They obeyed and then he took the bread, prayed over it and gave it to the disciples to serve. During the serving time the miracle happened. All ate very well and there was plenty left over. It has a very deep symbolic meaning, too. When we are sitting before the Blessed Sacrament, God will feed us. Jesus said, “I am the bread of life and I am the living bread.” We have hope that he will feed us and give us everything we need.

I wish you a very graceful prayer meeting,

Your loving brother in Christ,

P. Joseph
 

Eucharistic Flame Prayer Meeting

April 27, 2012

Bible words: John 6:60-69

Many Disciples Desert Jesus

On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?”

Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life. Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him.  He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.”

 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.

 “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.

Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”

(Source: TNIV)

Reflection:

My dear loving brothers and sisters,

When Jesus told that he was the bread of life, many of his followers didn’t understand the meaning properly. As a result many left him, but the Twelve stayed with him. Jesus asked them whether they wanted to leave him as well. Simon Peter gave the right answer: “Where shall we go? You are the son of God. With you we have eternal life.” Sometimes we cannot fully understand Jesus’ teachings, but the Holy Spirit will help us to understand Jesus more clearly. We can totally trust in him and we can follow him.

I wish you a very graceful prayer meeting,

Your loving

P. Joseph

Eucharistic Flame Prayer Meeting

May 4^th, 2012

Bible words: John 15:1-8

The Vine and the Branches

 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

(Source: NIV)

Reflections:

My dear loving brothers and sisters,

By these words Jesus explains to us the great importance of our connection to the Lord. What will be the positive effects, if we have the connection? If we are not connected, what will be the negative effect? How can we keep a good relation with God? Everybody has the wish to grow more and flourish in life. If we have a deep connection with God, our life will be like a tree growing at the seaside. If we have no connection there will be a dry experience. We will be like a branch removed from the tree. Let us try to keep the bible words in our heart and to lead our life according to them. Then we will have fruit and our life will be fruitful.

I wish you a very graceful prayer meeting,

Your loving brother in Christ,

P. Joseph

Eucharistic Flame Prayer Meeting

May 11th, 2012

Bible words: John 14:27-31

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

“You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me, but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me.

(Source: NIV)

Reflection:

My dear loving brothers and sisters,

Jesus can give us complete peace in our heart. In our daily life we encounter many difficulties and problems, and we look for solutions all the time. Sometimes our heart is troubled and we do not know what to do next. Jesus tells us not to worry and to believe in God and to believe in him. Total trust is necessary. Jesus says: “Those who carry heavy loads come to me and I will give a rest for you. Call me, I will answer you. If you love God, God will make everything beautiful for you. I am with you until the end of the world.”

I wish you a very graceful prayer meeting full of hope,

Your loving P. Joseph

Eucharistic Flame Prayer Meeting

May 18th, 2012

Bible words: Mark 16:15-20

He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”

After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.

Reflections:

My dear loving brothers and sisters,

Jesus’ ascension has a great meaning. He went to heaven. So God is present here on the earth and in heaven, too. Heaven and earth are so connected with his love and presence. By the Eucharist Jesus’ living presence is here on the earth. Therefore we should love the Eucharist more and more and find time for adoration. Before Jesus entered heaven, he gave a great mission to his disciples. He asked them to proclaim his kingdom. This is the mission for all of us. Let us proclaim his kingdom with full power!

I wish you a very graceful prayer meeting,

Your loving brother in Christ,

P. Joseph