Day 23: Love your enemy

On a sunday evening, candle light prayer meeting was organized in the premise of Cathedral to pray for the Christians who were persecuted by the religious extremists in certain parts of the country. In the event, the congregation prayed for the attackers and their families too. A journalist was shocked by this attitude of the congregation. She asked the organizer, "How can you people pray for your persecutors?" The organizer calmly responded, "That is what our Lord has taught us."

"But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven.....(Cf. Mt 5, 44-45)."

Love your enemy and then all are your friends.

Day 22:Be busy with God's work

Once a guru wanted to give some work to his disciples. He called the in-charge and asked, "Is any disciple free? I have something to be done immediately." The incharge said, "All the disciples are free except one. He is involved in a new project." Guru requested, "Please give this work to the disciple who is busy." The incharge could not understand the wisdom of guru and asked, "Is it wise to give more work to person who is busy?" Guru said with conviction, "If you want something to done immediately, give it to the person who is already busy, he/she will find time to do this too. One who is free will not be able to time for it."

"For we hear that some of you are living in idleness, mere busybodies, not doing any work. Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly nd to earn thier own living. Brothers and sisters, do not be weary in doing what what is right (2 Thes 3, 11-13)."

Do not delay, keep on doing the good work of God.

Day 21: Room for improvement

Once someone met a famous and well-known constructor and asked him, "What does life teach you?" He said humbly, "Everyday life teaches me something new. I mean to say, life is like the construction of a house with many rooms where the room for improvement is always kept wide open."

"I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus (Phil 3, 14)."

Let the room for improvement be wide open in your lives.

Day 20: Dare to be different

There was a team leader in an office. He was not very happy with the common way of greeting the people. It was so common hearing 'How are you?' 'What are you doing?' 'How was your day?' 'Any plans?' and so on. He dared to be different. He greeted him differently, "Have a smiling day?" "Just smile" "Did you smile today?" and so on.

"I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; that I know very well (Ps 139, 14)."

You are unique. Dare to be different. For you are different.

Day 19: Treat People Well

In one of the parishes, a youth was going abroad for studies. She came to the parish priest to get his blessings. The parish priest asked her, "How do you feel about going abroad for studies?" She said, "On the one hand I am very that my dream is coming true. On the other hand I am anxious how the people over there would treat me." The parish priest said smiling, "It is very simple. Wherever you go, people treat you the way you treat them."

"In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets (Mt.7, 12)."

It is a golden rule we all need to follow. It is a simple treatment we need to undergo.

Day 18: Wisdom and Knowledge

Once a disciple asked his Guru, "What is the difference between wisdom and knowledge?" Having understood the disciple well Guru expressed in a simple manner, "Knowing tomoto is a fruit is knowledge and not using it in the fruit salad is wisdom"

"Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you (Prov 4, 6)."

Seek wisdom to discern what is right and wrong.

Day 17: Colourful Life

Once a journalist interviewed a famous painter and asked a philosophical question, "What does life mean to you?" The spiritually-tuned painter said, "Life is like painting. Let us draw lines with prayers, erase errors with forgiveness, dip the brush with lots of patience and colour it with lots of love." As the journalist pondered over the deeper meaning of this statement, he remarked, "Sir, your life is colourful." At once the painter said, "We hold the colour, God makes it colourful."

"Can I not do with you, O house of Israel, just as this potter has done? says the Lord. Just like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel (Jer 18, 6)."

Do we allow God to make our life colourful?