Theme 31 : The Greatest Sacrifice

If we truly knew the VALUE of the Greatest Sacrifice, we would simply be in the amaze of gratitude !!!  “God so loved the world that HE gave HIS only Son, so that everyone who believes in HIM may not perish but may have eternal life." (Jn 3:16)

Jesus: "This is my body which is given for you" and "This cup which is poured out for you is the New Covenant in my blood."
In the Eucharist, Christ gives us the very Body which he gave up for us on the Cross, the very Blood which he "poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." The Eucharist is thus a Sacrifice because it re-presents (makes present) the sacrifice of the Cross. The Sacrifice of Christ and the Sacrifice of the Eucharist are one single Sacrifice: The victim is one and the same. 'Growth in Christian life' needs the nourishment of the Eucharistic Communion.(Ref. CCC 1365-1367,1392-1394)

Prayer :

Dear Jesus, I am in awe and wonder as I realize of your immense love for me and the whole humanity. By giving yourself to me, you revive me. As 'bodily nourishment' restores the lost strength, so your 'Eucharistic nourishment' strengthens my weakened aspects. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Theme 30 : 'Direction' to the Right Track

Our existence is from God and in God. The universe was created instatu viae (state of journeying towards completion). This journey takes place in the personal relationship with God. In this is our actual life-track, which takes us completely to HIM at the end of our earthly life. The Eucharist is the sum and summary of the whole track. The parts of the Holy Mass remind us of the steps in the track and give the perfect direction. By participating in the Eucharistic celebration daily, we already unite ourselves with the heavenly worship daily. Thus, our way of thinking is attuned to the Eucharist, and the Eucharist in turn confirms our way of thinking according to the right track. (Ref. CCC 1326,1327)

Prayer :

God, the Source of my existence, I worship you. Help me to make my life more meaningful in the light of my true Identity and Path. Direct me, day by day, through the Holy Mass, to keep to my real track so that the purpose of my earthly life is well fulfilled leading me to eternal life. 

Theme 29 : Essential & Interesting Battle

The wise does not wait to start praying until 'in utter chaos and nothing else works'. The human nature is such that we are in a constant battle against the wiles of the devil who is alert to turn us away from our union with God. Without the daily prayer, we lose the battle and face internal death daily. If we are convinced of the great role of Prayer in human life, we long for the time of Prayer. Only the 'consistent effort' to sit in prayer will give us this conviction.  Today's prayer is essential for today's battle. Prayer is interesting if we depend on the Holy Spirit who teaches our spirit to pray and win the battle. 

                              (Ref. CCC 2725-2730)

Prayer :

Jesus, my Model for Prayer,
I want to enjoy praying.
I am aware of the blocks and distractions for and in prayer. Let my preferential love be for you alone and I offer you my heart to be purified. Take away the dryness in my prayer life by letting me have my roots by the stream.

Theme 28 : Soul in a Relationship

Every human soul is called to a Love-Relationship with the Creator. In that unique relationship with God, the soul goes through the following stages by becoming a :

I      Child
II     Disciple
III    Friend
IV    Lover
V     Newlywed
VI    Like-minded Spouse
VII   Co-Parent
VIII  Co-Grandparent
IX    Heavenly Bride

Prayer :

O my beloved God, let my soul long for a growth in the relationship with you. Open my inner eyes to see which stages I have been to. Guide my steps from time to time.

Theme 27 : 'Outcome of Suffering' in hand

Everyone goes through suffering and each one, each time, chooses its outcome for oneself. Even the Holy Family (Joseph, Mary and Jesus) went through suffering many a time and chose the outcome of every suffering. Without suffering, pride can override us giving satan certain power over us. Suffering could be a 'preventive medicine dose' or a 'healing/purifying process'. By giving oneself in God's hands, one feels light at the time of suffering and feels bright after the time of suffering.

Prayer :

Dear Jesus, on the Cross you showed me the value of suffering and how to face suffering. Let me, at the foot of the Cross, learn the sweet lessons of suffering placing myself into your loving hands.

Theme 26 : Belonging to 'the Poor in spirit'

In the Biblical 'Poor', the Holy Spirit is making ready "a people prepared for the Lord."  Who are these 'Poor'? They are those, who are humble and meek, who rely solely on God's mysterious plans (emptying human plans) and who await the justice of the Messiah. These 'poor' are, in the end, the great achievement of the Holy Spirit's hidden mission preparing for Christ's second coming. It is this quality of heart, purified and enlightened by the Spirit, which is expressed in the Psalms. Thus, those who belong to the category of 'Poor in spirit' keep the soul pure and shining. (Ref. CCC 716)

Prayer :

Ever Faithful God, I believe in your Words and Promises. I want to belong to the 'Biblical Poor'..humble and meek..relying completely on your plans... Be at my side guiding my thoughts and attitudes...

Theme 25 : Healthy & Beautiful Soul !

Have you been to a 'Soul Care centre' (a clinic or a beauty parlour for souls) ? Good health and beauty of the soul bring about the holistic health and beauty in the person. "I want to see God" expresses the true desire of the eternal human soul. When this desire is not fulfilled, the soul tends to become unhealthy and ugly. It then needs special care. And this care frees one from the immoderate attachment to the goods and situations of this world so that one can find one's fulfillment in the vision and bliss of God.(Ref. CCC 2548,2557)

Prayer :

Supreme God,
make me aware of the present state of my soul. Do pour on me 'all that I need' to keep my soul healthy and beautiful. Bless me with the bliss of your presence and may my inner eyes see you. 

Theme 24 : Being Wholesome

Most of us value good health, strength, well being, happiness, beauty and youthfulness. One becomes wholesome by taking good care of physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and moral aspects.

The Beatitudes in the gospel respond to the natural desire for happiness. This desire is of Divine origin: God has placed it in the human heart in order to draw us to the One who alone can fulfill it. The Beatitudes reveal the goal of human existence, the ultimate end of human acts. In seeking God, one seeks a happy life. God alone satisfies and makes us wholesome. (Ref. CCC 1718)

Prayer :

O Lord, my body and mind draw life from my soul and my soul draws life from you. Let me seek you, my God, so that my soul may live fully and I may be wholesome. To you alone be all glory.

Theme 23 : Poverty in spirit

If we are rich in spirit, the human kingdom may be ours but not the Divine Kingdom. Each person accepts or rejects the Eternal Kingdom by his/her own choice. The choice is whether to own only God emptying the rest or not. If we have poverty in desire, we are letting God possess our spirit completely leaving no idols in us.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."  (Matthew 5:3)

Prayer :

Eternal God, only your Kingdom is everlasting. Though I am unworthy, your loving invitation gives me a chance to enter that Kingdom. May I help myself by allowing myself to be poor in spirit.

Theme 22 : Energy of Emptying

Without emptying, the effect of filling is less fruitful. The 'culture of collecting' is a block to enjoy the 'energy of emptying'. Emptying empowers us with the detachment for a 'really worth attachment' and an effective filling. This empowering can best be done in the daily personal prayer. Only the one who is humble can empty oneself to be filled with the Divine and be full of positive energy.

"Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited,
but EMPTIED himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness."    (Phil 2:5-7)

Prayer :

Almighty God, you humble yourself so much in spite of being so powerful. Teach me your wise ways that I may empty all that I possess in order to be filled with only what comes from you. 

Theme 21 : Culture of Collecting

It is worth pondering over the following :

What have I collected for myself so far ?
What am I busy collecting presently ?
What do I actually want to collect ?
What is the purpose of collecting it ?
What all are involved in the effort of collecting ?
To what extent, were 'the collections' helpful ?
To what extent, does 'collecting' keep me happy ?

Prayer :

God, my Provider,
help me to trust your Providence. I know... 'what is seen' came about from the unseen. Give me the light to evaluate my way of living and to make it more real. 

Theme 20 : Grace - a bright Reality

God forgives our sins when we repent and confess. Sacraments are instruments to efface our sins and give us the grace of justification. Grace is the help God gives us to respond to our vocation of becoming HIS adopted children. Grace responds to the deepest yearnings of human freedom, calls freedom to cooperate with it and perfects freedom. Sanctifying grace is infused by the Holy Spirit into the soul to heal it of sin, to sanctify it and to make us "pleasing to God." (Ref. CCC 2021-2024)

Prayer :

O Fountain of Grace,
I need you. I trust in your Grace. Pour your Grace on me and my entire life and thus safeguard me from the hold of sin. Grace is sufficient and I am bright.

Theme 19 : Sin - a dark Reality

Sin is present in the human history. Any attempt to ignore it or to give it other names would be futile. One may be tempted to explain 'sin' as merely a developmental or psychological weakness or mistake. 'Sin' is an abuse of the freedom that God gives to created persons so that they are capable of loving. The revelation of Divine Love in Christ manifested at the same time the extent of evil and the superabundance of grace. No disorder stems from the nature of man and woman, nor from the nature of their relations, but from sin. As a break with God, sin brings the rupture of the communion between persons. Their relationships get distorted. Their attractions, the Creator's own gift, change into relationships of domination and lust. 

(Ref. CCC 385,1607)

Prayer :

Lord of the whole Universe,
help me to relate in grace and not in sin.
May my relationships be harmonious being free from domination and lust. 

Theme 18 : Pleasure Hunt

Senses are given to us and certain pleasure is attached to every sense (seeing, hearing, touching, smelling, tasting, sensing heat/cold). But, going after 'pleasure' is like going for a trap. Before being inside a trap, no one knows that it is a trap and if known, one would certainly avoid it. Who will seek a trap and be purposely caught in? A trap is not the end in itself, but will be gradually led to a greater disaster.

Prayer :

God, Giver of Joy, let me not limit myself to hunting pleasure, but seek to own joy, which is deep and lasting. Heal all my inner wounds and fill my vacuums with joy. And thus, may I enjoy living everyday with contentment. 

Theme 17 : Self-love

'Self-love' is a part of us as our creator has put that provision in us out of HIS pure love. We can make choices in the measure and proportion we love 'self', God and others. God wishes that when we love HIM, it should be out of our free choice. Just because the self-love is in the human system, if one glorifies it, one is considering oneself greater than one's Maker. Such state creates a false self image giving rise to the domination of pride and pleasure. This indeed is destructive.

Prayer :
God, the source of Pure Love, fill me with your love so that I may love freely and infinitely. Help me to be constructive and to be instrumental in building myself and others.

Theme 16 : Man/Woman - not 'half-made'

Man and Woman are created in perfect equality as human persons. Both have the same dignity in the image of God. God is neither man nor woman, but pure spirit. Man or woman is not 'half-made' or 'incomplete without the other', but they are to be a communion of persons as helpmates. They are equal as persons and complementary as masculine and feminine. In their 'being-man' and 'being-woman', they reflect the Creator's Wisdom and Goodness. (Ref. CCC 369-372)

Prayer :

God of Perfect Wisdom,
Grant that I may ever reflect your Wisdom. I am sorry for the times I have not respected the other's dignity. Purify my attitudes and intentions in all my interactions.

Theme 15 : Image and Likeness

God's 'Image' is the 'Personhood' of God. 

God's 'Likeness' is the 'Eternity' of God.
Human beings are created in the image and likeness of God. We are persons with eternity.
A person is the one who is capable of self-knowledge, of self-possession and of freely giving oneself and entering into communion with other persons.
The human body is animated by the eternal soul. In our human nature, we unite both spiritual and material worlds. (Ref. CCC 355-366)

Prayer :

Thank you, dear God, for creating me in your own image and likeness. I need you in order to always be a good person and to keep my soul pure. Let me not be caught up in the material world but spend enough time in the awareness of my soul

Theme 14 : 'Heart' and 'Prayer'

Human beings, knowingly or unknowingly, are in search of God. 

"God thirsts that we may thirst for HIM. Prayer is the encounter of God's thirst with our thirst." - (from CCC 2560)
"The heart is the depths of one's being where the person decides for or against God." - (from CCC 368)
A prayer made, with heart far from God, is not a true prayer.
"The heart is the place of decision, deeper than our psychic drives. It is the place of truth, where we choose life or death." - (from CCC 2563)

Prayer :

O Sacred Heart of Jesus, make my heart like yours. Let my heart always decide for my Creator...choosing life.
O Immaculate heart of Mother Mary, help me to pray with my heart close to God. 

Theme 13 : 'SWITCH' - 'Personal Prayer'

'Personal Prayer' is the 'Switch' that one either puts ON or puts OFF. Personal Prayer is the personal relationship with God. It is the time a creature spends with the Creator to absorb HIS mind for the function of one complete package of 1 day (consisting of 24 hours). The one who includes 'personal prayer' in those 24 hours, gets the full benefit of the package.

Prayer :

O my God,
You are an awesome Creator, who created me in love and destined the best for me in love. Help me to be in communion with you through my daily Personal Prayer. My dearest Mother Mary, you are an excellent example for keeping the SWITCH on everyday for the continuous connection with the Creator. Continue to be at my side. 

Theme 12 : 'SWITCH' spirituality

Each day, everyone can be a 'saint' or a ' non-saint'.  How? 

Without God, we can do nothing. And all that we need to do is to handle a SWITCH for either connection to or disconnection from God. It is up to every individual whether to put that switch on or off. Whenever we put it on, we are saints and otherwise, non-saints. Once one experiences the 'SWITCH ON' effect, one will not want the 'SWITCH OFF' experience.

Prayer :

Ever waiting God, 
Thank you for the times I could be connected to you. I depend on your grace all the more when I am not able to put the SWITCH on. I want to be ever connected to you and I know you are there for me. 

Theme 11: Eligibility to discern

Who is eligible to discern ? 

All human beings are eligible to discern. Therefore, we are to discern instead of judging. Behind every happening is either human spirit, Divine Spirit or evil spirit. Discerning the spirits from the fruit of every happening gives us the proper direction and sets our lives on the right track. And this indeed enables us to enjoy living everyday.

Prayer :

O God, the Source of true Wisdom,
Guide my steps to make discerning a way of life. Fill me with your Wisdom so that I may be able to discern the spirits in the happenings in and around me. Let your Holy Spirit take control of my spirit.

Theme 10 : Eligibility to judge

Who is eligible to judge?
Jesus Christ is the only one who is eligible for judging.

"Christ is the Lord of eternal life. The full right to pass definitive judgment on the works and hearts of all belongs to HIM as the Redeemer of the world. He acquired this right by HIS CROSS. The FATHER has given all judgment to the SON. Yet the SON did not come to judge but to save. By rejecting grace in this life,  one already judges oneself." - from CCC 679

Prayer :

Jesus, be the Lord of my life. Teach me how to receive your grace consistently and to depend completely on that free gift. Let me not judge anyone today but be a help to everyone I meet to count on your AMAZING GRACE.

Theme 9 : The Last Judgment

After the first 3 aspects (Law, Mercy & Righteousness) of God's loving goodness, God's Justice will have no compromise with those who have still been choosing evil.

"The resurrection of all the dead, 'of both the just and the unjust' will precede the Last Judgment.  In the presence of Christ, who is Truth itself,  the truth of each one's relationship with God will be laid bare. The Last Judgment will reveal that God's justice triumphs. The message of the Last Judgment calls all to conversion while God is still giving them ..the acceptable time.." - from CCC 1038-1041

Prayer :

Merciful & Just God,
At this time of the abundance of your Ocean of Mercy, may I help myself to stay in your compassionate love and prepare myself to face your justice at the time of the Last Judgment.

Theme 8 : The Good God

Our God's Goodness is expressed in extending to us the 4 aspects of the Divine Love :

- Law
- Mercy
- Righteousness
- Justice

'Law' shows us what is good and brings in us an awareness of sin.
'Mercy' invites us to be good and waits for us to return from sin.
'Righteousness' pours grace on us to remain good and washes sin away.
'Justice' accepts only what is good and rejects what is sinful.

Prayer:

My Good God,
May I wholeheartedly receive from you these 4 aspects of your loving goodness and cherish them to imitate you closely in my day to day life.

Theme 7 : Prayer - Sensing God :

God is 'spirit'. God is 'person'. God is 'love'. 

Prayer is sensing that Spirit... that Person... that Love...
In true prayer, spiritual senses are awakened.
"God is spirit and those who worship God must worship in spirit and truth." John 4:24
'Personal Prayer' is the union of the person's spirit and God's Spirit.
'Group Prayer' is the union of those persons' spirits and God's Spirit.
'Intercessory Prayer' is the union of the intercessor's spirit, the spirit of the one in need of prayer and God's Spirit.

Prayer :

O Divine Spirit,
Let my spirit be connected to you...
Help me to be connected to others and together be united to you...

Theme 6 : 'Mother' factor essential !

The absence of 'mother', who gives birth, affects the child in all aspects. Just as 'mother' is an essential factor in human life, 'Spiritual Mother' is very essential in Spiritual life. Mother Mary's role in our salvation can not be forgotten. At the time of the Great Sacrifice at Calvary, Jesus gave us HIS mother and she is the mother of the members of Christ, the Head of the Mystical Body. She is indeed a sweet and tender mother.

Prayer :

Loving Jesus,
you rejoice when I come to you through your beloved Mother. May I always stay in the protecting embrace of my Spiritual mother.

Theme 5 : Equal Dignity for all

In God's sight, all the human beings are equally important and special. God loves all equally. In accordance with each one's role (duty), gifts are given. These gifts, given for a purpose, do not decide the worth of persons. Those who get opportunities to experience God earlier than the others are to help their fellow human beings to experience God. All the human souls have equal value and dignity and no one is better than the other. It is only God's Love that sustains all.

Prayer :

Ever loving God,
I thank you for your gift of my life and for all the gifts you have blessed me with. May I ever use all of them to draw myself and many to you.

Theme 4 : Gaining God-consciousness

When Adam lost God-consciousness,  he was self-conscious that resulted in fear. Gaining God-consciousness results in being courageous and full of love.
Repeating the powerful name 'JESUS' in one's mind and heart helps one to set a continual connection with God.

Prayer:

O God,
"My soul clings to you;
Your right hand upholds me." Psalm 63:8
How I desire to bask in your presence!!! 

Theme 3 : Asking God 'God'

God chose to reveal and give God-self to us. It is up to each of us to be open to or ignore that Divine initiative. God's love does not impose anything on anyone.
A wise prayer is asking God 'God'. It is Wisdom that enables human beings to receive any gift from the Divine Being. Thus, we are taught the ways of our Maker and then are our paths set right.

Prayer :

My Lord and my God,

"Even the one who is perfect among human beings will be regarded as nothing without the Wisdom that comes from you."   (Wisdom 9:6)
Give me YOURSELF.  With your Wisdom, enable me to receive YOU. 

Theme 2 : Our enemy - satan

When God's nature is to wait and to lead,  satan's nature is to pull and to push. God, our Creator, gives us freedom to make free choices. When we do not make a choice for friendship with God, satan pulls or pushes us and forces us to choose death. Behind the disobedient choice of our first parents lurks a seductive voice, opposed to God, which makes them fall into death (C.C.C.391).

Prayer :

Jesus, help us to make a choice for you and thereby to choose life. With you, we can destroy the works of satan and be full of life.

Theme 1: Friendship with God

To be in friendship with God is to share in God's life. Wisdom is the original software programming needed to set one in friendship with God. Wisdom gives the best operating instructions to relish the Divine friendship.
"Those who get Wisdom obtain friendship with God. God loves nothing so much as the person who lives with Wisdom. " (Wisdom 7:14,28)

Prayer :
Dear God, I long to be in friendship with you. Fill me with your Wisdom.