Without HIM

May Your love be upon us O Lord, as we place all our hope in You (Psalm 33:22)

Had a different weekend with a family trip to a beautiful hill station close to Mumbai... where we participated in Mass on Sunday. The celebrant caught me by surprise, when he invited me, by name, to share the presence of God in my life. 

Yes, God has truly blessed me and my family in oh so many wonderful ways. And the more we thank Him, the more He showers His mercy and love upon all of us. All that I need to do is to stay connected to Him and His grace.

And in the Gospel of today, Jesus tells us how connected we should be...

I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing. (John 15:5)

Yes, indeed! Without Him, I can really do nothing... Took me back to this reflective hymn from back in my childhood. 

Without Him I could do nothing

Without Him I'd surely fail

Without Him I would be drifting

Like a ship without a sail

But with Him I could do all things

And with Him I'd never fail

And over the stormiest ocean

With perfect peace I'll sail

Thank You Jesus

Three Wooden Crosses

We are in the Third Week of Easter... 

The number 3 has a special significance in Christianity... The Holy Trinity... The Third Day... what else...

There's this wonderful story that I came across some years ago... The Three Trees...

Did you like the story? You probably have heard many stories like this before... possibly at Catechism. Cut to the first reading of today... 

"How can I unless someone instructs me?"

Nine years ago, I responded to an announcement inviting volunteers to teach at Catechism at my parish at St. Michael's Church Sharjah. And my life has changed ever since... Thanks to the orientations, recollections, retreats and training courses I've attended over the years, I've learnt so much more about God and am so much better prepared to share about Him - wherever in the world He leads me. 

Chris Tomlin leading Praise for Our God... We got to praise Him in the morning, in the noontime, in the evening... at all times. Incidentally it's Chris Tomlin's birthday today... And as I was researching today's musical birthday for the other blog I write... A Musical Twist To Life, I came across a Country singer with a birthday today, Randy Travis... and a song with a story about Three Wooden Crosses.

A beautiful story to think about... but there's this beautiful picture of the three wooden crosses on a Mount of Calvary that remind me of God who hung there for my salvation... 

I'd included this picture on my blog post on Good Friday 2016 with some of the really touching tracks of the day... Give it a listen if you'd like to be touched by Jesus.

Happily Walking with Jesus

I stood in church last week listening to the Gospel of the day on Wednesday. The Word being proclaimed included the account of the Apostles on the road to Emmaus, and how they encountered the Risen Jesus on their journey and recognized Him in the breaking of bread. The day was a special one for me (a birthday). I had spent another blessed year Walking With Jesus.

When I got home at the end of the day, I got a report on the Vacation Bible Joy (the Spiritual Summer Camp) that was running at the parish during the week, with a request to put music to the song they were singing on the Beatitudes. Incidentally the theme of the camp was 'Happily Walking with Jesus'- Living the Beatitudes. 

We've been on many walks - some long, others shorter. Some of us have our daily share of walking to get to where we need to - school, work, market, wherever. And we do encounter so many different types of people. Would we recognize the Risen Jesus if He were among the crowds we push through each day. Some years ago I came across this beautiful track that was part of the soundtrack of the 1954 movie 'The Student Prince' and was really touched deep within. One year I had the Confirmandis from the choir I was training to sing this beautiful touching song committing our lives in the hand of Jesus - the Son of God.

I just love the readings at the Easter season, and the inspiration they hold for all of us. As the light of the Paschal Candle spreads across the entire congregation at the Easter Vigil, we are meant to carry the Light of the Risen Lord through everything we do in life, as we Walk Walk Walk Walk In The Light.

Let's keep the Light shining...