Jesus the way to Heaven

Reflection on the work of the Holy Trinity in our life. Synopsis :- > Everything that the Father gives Jesus, He never drives away. (Jn 6:37) > Because for Jesus, doing God's will is a priority. (Jn 6:38) > And the will of God is, not to lose anything that God gives Him on the last day. (Jn. 6:39) > The Father teaches his children. They are the ones who hear and learn from the Father. (Jn. 6:45) > Those who read God's Word have already been made clean. (Jn 15:3) > Jesus sends His Advocate from the Father, the Holy Spirit, He will testify about Christ, convict us of our sin, make us righteous and finally a clean soul during the Judgement day. Reflection:- Often we are posed with this dilemma, "Is God with us in our struggle?" How do I sought to do the Will of God in my life? Who is the one I need to look to? Who can help me out with it? How does God, Jesus and Holy Spirit work in our lives? Jesus, in His public ministry on...

Short reflection on "Who do you say I am?"   Synopsis:- Mk. 8:27-38 and Lk 9:18-27 > Jesus asks His disciples who people say that He is? > They reply; John the Baptist, Elijah, or some other prophets > Then Jesus asks their view on Him > Peter says Messiah > Jesus orders them not to tell anyone because He has to undergo suffering and rejection from elders, chief priests and Scribes > Ultimately be killed but on the third day He would rise again > Then Jesus keeps the ball in their court i.e. if they want to follow Him > Self denial and embracing the daily cross thereby following Him > Some want to save life, but Jesus says you have to lose it for the sake of the Gospel > Famous scripture:- For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Mark 8:36 NRSV  > What can one give in return for their life? > Those who are ashamed of Christ and His words, beware, for even Jesus will be asham...

Short reflection on the Temptations of Jesus  Synopsis:- (Lk. 4:1-13) > Jesus full of the Holy Spirit is led by the Holy Spirit in wilderness > Fasts for 40days and gets tempted by devil > 1st temptation:- to turn stone into bread > 2nd temptation:- lure of the kingdom of the world > 3rd temptation:- jumping off the cliff and Angels will come to the rescue > Devil flees away Reflection:-  If you see the previous and the successive chapters you will find "Baptism of Jesus" and "The beginning of the Galilean ministry" respectively. Once Jesus was baptized, He was full of the Holy Spirit and it was the Holy Spirit who led Him in the wilderness to be tested by Devil. How often we too who cling to Christ have often been put to difficult times?? Like how silver and gold are put to test, God tests our heart. The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, but the Lord tests the heart. Proverbs 17:3 NRSV.    So then why...

A short reflection on "Do I deserve Heaven?" Synopsis:- Lk. 10:25-37 ( Parable of the good Samaritan ) > A lawyer/teacher of the law asks Jesus on how will I inherit eternal life? > 1st reply by Jesus was " What is written in the law" or in short have you read the scriptures? > 2nd reply " what do you read or how you interpret it? > The teacher of the law gives the right answer i.e. Love God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and love your neighbor as yourself. > Jesus compliments on the right answer and tells him to follow that. > But the lawyer tries to justify who's the neighbor? > And the parable begins. > A man is stripped, beaten up and the robbers run away and left half dead > A priest passes by but ignores him > A Levite passes by and also ignores > But a good Samaritan out of mercy reaches out to the man's aid. > The Jesus quest...

A short reflection on "in the eyes of Jesus" Synopsis:- Jesus cures a blind man at Bethsaida (Mk. 8:22-26) > People get the blind man to Jesus > Jesus leads him out of the village > Puts saliva on his eyes and lays hands on him > Inquires if he can see > He sees people but in the form of trees walking > Jesus lays His hands on his eyes second time > Sight is restored again  Reflection:-  This is the only episode in the Bible where you will find Jesus laying His hands twice on a man. Why didn't it not work at the first time itself?? This was the question asked to me by my friend as I was pondering on this topic "In the eyes of Jesus" for days together. Well, it's no accident that this topic relates to this episode. The main question to think is "why did Jesus take the blind man out of the village?" If you read the previous chapters the Pharisees and Scribes asks Jesus to show signs; wherein, just a moment ba...

A short reflection on Jesus the Advocate  Synopsis:- > Some do good things in life, will they go to Heaven? > Some are really bad people, will they go to Heaven? > Some are good initially, but turn bad later; will they go to Heaven? > Some bad people come to their senses at the point of death, will they go to Heaven? Reflection:- As I sat to contemplate on this topic, it took me days to jump into logical conclusions over Jesus as our Advocate. All these days Jesus Kept inspiring me that He loves each one of us and will forgive us even at our death point! In the gospel of John, Jesus calls the Holy Spirit the Advocate; " But the Advocate , the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. John 14:26 NRSV ". Whereas in 1 John 2:1 we find Jesus as the Advocate.  So now what is the role of this advocate? Will Jesus justify on behalf of every person on account of hi...

Short reflection on Jesus choosing his 1st disciples and followed by Apostles   Synopsis:-   [ Mt 4:18-22; Mt 9:9-13] > Jesus calls Simon and Andrew while they had just retired for the day from fishing > Jesus calls Levi or Matthew while he was sitting at the tax booth > Before both incidents Jesus prayed in a deserted place or mountains > Finally Jesus appoints Apostles   Reflection:- (1) The call of Jesus came to Simon, Andrew and Levi while they were busy with their own jobs. We too sometimes feel like once we are old we can work for the Lord, whilst the old people say the younger generation is full of energy and so they can serve God. The call can come anytime, but we need to respond it soon. Or else it will be a misscall. There is a huge difference between the one who chooses to follow Christ alone and others later and the one who keeps his foot in two boats. In the exhortation of Pope Francis' call to holiness he says that, one m...