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?

Day 16: Heaven

On a theological discussion, a disciple aired a question, "Is there heaven?" "I believe there is one," responded the Guru spontaneously. The disciple continued, "Is it true that we go to heaven when we die?" Guru remained silent for a while and said, "It is not important to go to heaven after we leave. It is important to create heaven in the hearts of everyone before we leave."No more questions. Silence prevailed.

"For I am about to create new heavenns and a new earth; the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind (Is 65, 17)."

Can you create a heaven here on earth through your words and deeds?

Day 15: Respect Your Parents

In an old-age home, an old women used to take a photo from a bag, look at it and smile for an hour everyday without fail. The caretaker observed it. Once the caretaker asked the old women, "Who is it so precious to you?" The old woman shared with tears in her eyes, "This is a photo of my son. I love this photo. Because the best thing about it, is that, it never changes, even when the person in it has changed."

"Honour your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you (Ex 20, 12)."

Let your heart be big enough to take care of your parents who gave their best to you.

Day 14: Good Friends

Once a girl asked her friend, "How do you describe a good friend?" He responded thoughtfully, " Good friends are like stars, you don't always see them, but you know they are always there."

"I donot call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father (Jn 15, 15)."

Are you a star who is always there for a friend?

Day 13: Make others happy

s he was ordained a priest, Fr.John was posted in a small parish. He was very happy with his ministry. Months passed. On an occasion, Fr. John met his Bishop. Bishop greeted him and asked him, "How is your ministry going on?" He said, "I am very happy." Bishop thought for a while and replied, "My dear son, the beauty of our life does not depend on how happy we are, but on how happy others can be because of us."

"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has given you (Eph 4, 32)"

The best way to be happy is to make others happy.

Day 12: Positive Thought

Once a spiritual guru was invited for the inaugural address in the department of Psychology. In his address, he said, "Hate and Love are of 4 letters each, Enemies and Friends are of 7 letters each, Lying and Truth are of 5 letters and Hurt and Heal are of 4 letters. Both positive and negative energy consists same amount of letters. What kind of energy do we imbibe? It is our perception that makes the difference in the way we feel. Transform every negative energy into a positive energy."

"The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel (Mk 1, 14-15)."

Can we transform every negative energy into a positive energy by turning to God?

A nun was involved in the prison ministry. In one of her visits, she met a hard core criminal. He laughed at her. He made nasty comments. Later, he started sharing to her about his life. One day with a repented heart he asked the nun, "Does God still love me?" The nun said, "Everyday God thinks of you (Ps 68,19). Every hour God looks after you (2 Thes 3, 3). Every minute God cares for you (1 Pet 5, 7). Because every second God loves you."

"O give thanks to the God of gods. For his steadfast love endures for ever (Ps 136, 1-3)."

God loves us always. Do we love God?

Day 10: Winning hearts for Christ

After the formation, the disciples were sent to different places to practice and share what they had learnt with the people around. Before the beginning of the mission, the disciples asked for a message. The monk showed them a butterfly in the garden and said, "Butterfly lives 14 days, but it flies everyday joyfully and wins many hearts. So, be happy and keep winning hearts for Christ."

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age (Mt 28, 19-20)."

Go and win hearts for Christ.

Day 9: You mean so much to Jesus

On Good Friday, during the reflection on Passion Narration, an elderly priest asked the congregation, "What did keep Jesus on the Cross?" The congregation was silent. "Were th

ey nails?" the priest asked again. The silence got a momentum. The priest said, "It wasn't the nails that kept Jesus on the Cross, but His love for you. You mean so much to Jesus."

He loved them to the end (Jn 13, 1).

We mean so much to Jesus? Does Jesus mean to us anything?

Day 8: Get up and Walk

A disciple, after his preparatory course, came to his master, sat down in front of him and asked, "What should I do to make marks in the history of time?" The master said it spontaneously, "Get up and walk" and he spiced it up with a traditional proverb, "Footprints on the sands of time are not made by sitting down."


"Jesus said to Levi, "Follow me." And he got up and followed him (Mk 2, 14)"


Paths are created by walking, not sitting down.

Day 7: Take up your cross

Once a famous writer was asked by an interviewer the same million dollar question, "What is the key to success?" He said emphatically, "Accept every trouble on the walk of life as a challenge, because pain is the best teacher, and failure is the highway to success."

"Jesus called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me (Mk 8, 34)."

Pain is gain. Else everything is in vain.

Day 6: Worry not, Work

A student was so worried that he did not complete his class work. He was in tears. Understanding the situation well, his mother came near him and said, "Do not worry, My dear son. By worrying the work is not going to be completed but by doing it. Get up and do it."

"Can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? (Mt 6, 27)"

Worry not, but work.

Day 5: Good Morning

The gatekeeper in an office used to wish the staff as they enter "Good Morning Sir/Madam" everyday without fail. Some wished him back and others did not mind. On a fine day, one of the staff asked the gatekeeper sarcastically, "What is good about the morning?" The gatekeeper said politely, "Sir, it means one more innings given by God to play and win what you missed yesterday." This brought smile to his face.

"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness (Lem 3, 22-23)."

Let us wish everyone "Good Morning"

Day 4: Who is a good leader?

A parishioner got promotion as a team leader in the office. He thanked God for everything and asked the parish priest, "How can I be a good leader?" The parish priest thought for a while and asked him, "Do you have a mobile?" Parishioner said, "Yes." The parish priest continued, "The life of a leader is like a mobile service. A leader places oneself in different phone setting modes: Keep 'Listening' on speaker mode, keep 'learning' on silent mode, and keep 'leading' on vibration mode and most importantly keep 'your ego' switched off. Then you will be a good leader."

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations (Jer 1, 5)."

Led by the Spirit of the Lord, lead the people.

Day 3: Learn Something New Everyday

There was a music school in a town. One of the students always chose a difficult song to perform on the stage in the evenings. The Guru observed the student for a long time and one day asked him, "Why do you choose difficult songs to perform on the stage, for every mistake you make brings your score down?" The student replied confidently, "I Choose difficult songs so that I can learn something new. I don't mind making mistake for I am ready to learn from it." Guru said proudly, "Keep up this attitude, you will never feel ashamed in your eyes."

"I can do all things through him who strengthens me (Phil 4, 13)."

Don't make the mistake of not making a mistake. But learn from it.

Day 2: Loss may be gain

An employee lost his job recently. In despair, he approached a spiritual guide. He steamed out his problems to the guide. Specifically, he singled out the bias attitude of his employer. Having given a listening heart to him, the spiritual guide spoke politely, "My dear son, do not worry much about losing your job. Everything is for good. Learn from it. For, St. Paul lost his sight for a while, thereafter he saw the things clear, St.Ignatius broke his legs in the war, then he walked faster and better in the Way of the Lord, and Mahatma Gandhi lost his teeth when he was thrown out of train in South Africa, thereafter he started biting the social issues better, similarly you might have lost his job, hereafter you might earn life."
"I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in Him (Phil 3, 8)."

Loss may be gain for the Glory of God. Accept it. Get up and walk.

Day 1: Happy New Year

Hi, Guess what you have got!
Oh! You've got a mail from your friend. It reads,
Dear Friend...............................
"Wish you 12 months of happiness, 52 weeks of fun, 365 days of success, 8760 hours of good health, 525600 minutes of joy and 31536000 seconds of God's grace. Wish you a Happy New Year."
Your Friend for life,
..................................

"I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly (Jn 10, 10)"

Jesus is wishing us a new life. Shall we live it to the brim with love?