Introduction to Lauds (Monday) Easter: Week 7.

We have arrived at the last week of the Eastertide. The last 43 days we have been rejoicing and celebrating with lots of Alleluia, more than the usual. We have been listening from the scriptures how Jesus has been walking, eating and communicating with his Apostles after his Paschal Mysteries. Now for us the Paschal Candle reminds us of the resurrection of Jesus and His presence among us.

Next Monday we continue with the Ordinary Time. Just as we have experienced the Resurrection of Jesus, now we are called to get prepared to be His witness in our ordinary life. It is so fitting to end the Eastertide with Pentecost and continue with the ordinary season.

So in these remaining days we pray that the hope and joy of this beautiful season that we have experienced, will remain in our hearts all through the year. For Easter time reminds us that as long as we believe, our Saviour will be here among us still.

Introduction to Vespers for the Memorial of St. Pius V - Pope. (Feastday April 30)

St. Pius V had complete trust in the Lord. Knowing that the Lord was at his side he made very challenging decisions, such as; he challenged his Cardinals to curb their customary luxurious living, Bishops were required to found diocesan seminaries and to reside in their Sees. The secular clergy, the Religious Orders and even the laity came to feel the Pope's influence in carrying out the decisions of the great Council of Trent, which had brought its session to a close in 1563. Church music and liturgical worship were also reformed.

Going through the psalter of Tuesday week 1 for vespers as a reflection, I realized that the first Psalm-Ps.19(20) is a prayer for a king before he goes for battle and the second Psalm-Ps.20(21) is a thanksgiving for a king's victory. Both these Psalms tells us about the complete trust of a king in God who is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. This reminded me that during his reign as Pope, the Turks were attacking Cyprus; Pope Pius V was confident that the allied forces of Venice, Genoa, Spain and the Holy See will win in this battle. He was sure that God will lead them to victory. The Allied forces gained their victory while a great procession of the Rosary Confraternity was passing through the streets of Rome, imploring divine assistance. Pope Pius organized it and in memory of this victory, he instituted the feast of the Holy Rosary and entered this invocation 'Help of Christians' in the Litany of Loreto.

We pray that like Pope Pius V, we too can put our trust in God and confidently be assured that He is with us in all situations.

Introduction to Lauds for the Memorial of St. Pius V - Pope. (Feastday April 30)

This introduction is based on the Psalter of Week 1 - Tuesday.  
'He shall receive blessings from the Lord
and reward from the God who saves him.
Such are the men who seek him,
seek the face of the God of Jacob'. [Ps. 23 (24) :5-6]Today we celebrate the Memorial of St. Pius V. A man who was ordained a priest at the age of 24 and for 16 years devoted himself to the teaching of philosophy and theology. A man of solid piety and self-discipline. He passed long night hours in prayer and, when travel was necessary, went on foot in silence and without a cloak.

In his personal life as a Pope, he continued the practices of virtue that he had followed as a monk and, notwithstanding his great burden of work, twice daily took time-out for meditation before the Blessed Sacrament. To the poor he distributed generous alms, and the sick received his visits and personal ministrations in the hospitals.
We can be guilty sometime, having Jesus at our block (seminary grounds), churches or at chapels in the form of the Eucharist and we visit Him only at strict visitations. We bargain our time with Him. Pope Pius V recognized the need to seek the face of Jesus. He learned how to drain strength from God by seeking His face in the Blessed Sacrament and from the poor, sick and the needy.

Jesus is in our midst; He is here present in the Blessed Sacrament, in our prayer room, in our classrooms, in our rooms, our workplace. He is very much present in our community. We see His face at mealtime, classes, at games and in all places and situations.

Let us then pray, that like St. Pius V we may seek the face of God in all situations, mainly seek Him in one another.

Introduction to Vespers (Tueasday: Easter) Week 4.

Introduction based on the Gospel reading for the day - (Jn 10:22-30).

Whenever I find it difficult to sleep especially after having a very heavy dinner, I use to go out from my room / house to get some fresh air, and when I look out it is pitch black (dark). All the earth is absolutely silent, totally, completely. When I sit out there longer I realized there are sounds. Sounds of insects' chirping, the leaves from the nearby trees hitting each other following the rhythm of the wind. And if listen very carefully I can even hear myself breathing.

It really amazes me how the faintest and gentlest sounds dominate when it is quiet all around. It is in silence that they finally assume their rightful place of importance.

And that's the way with the voice of God. He is difficult to be found amidst the many voices and noises within and around us. He is gentle. He comes only when invited. If our heart is in turbulent, distressed or preoccupied, we will sure miss it. We will drown His voice.

But when we are quite, calm or at peace, when we put aside all the 'noise', we will definitely hear Him so clearly through His still voice, His creations, friends, loved ones and even life's circumstances.

So friends, in this evening prayer, let us take heed to this morning's Gospel in which it says; "The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me". Let us pray that in all situations we still be able to listen and recognize the voice of our Good Shepherd and follow Him.

Introduction to Lauds (Wednesday: Easter) - Week 3

Psalm 97 (98) clearly proclaims a Messianic and Eschatological (religious belief connected with the end of the world) message. It leads us to contemplate God's final victory over evil and salvation for all peoples. "The Lord makes known His salvation!" In this early part of the day; the hour of Christ's resurrection, God manifests His power in the Paschal Mystery of Christ.

The scripture reading this morning (Rom 6:8-11), reminds us that Christ who has risen from the dead cannot die anymore. And we are asked to die to our sins and live a life that looks towards God through the saving act of Jesus.

So, let our lives be a new canticle that proclaims throughout the world God's saving power. God rules with justice; those who walk in His ways will share in the final victory of our God.

Introduction to Vespers - Lent: Friday, Week 4

There is this scene in the Hindi movie Gabhi Kushi Gabhi Gham (Sometimes happy, sometimes sad) where the son (played by Shah Rukh Khan) will affirm and say good things about his father (played by Amitabh Bashan). And the father infront of all his friends, stands proudly listening to him. The look on the father and the smile he gives shows how much the father loves and is proud of his son.

In the past few days, the gospel reading shows Jesus affirming God, his Father. The way Jesus praises and pictures God shows that he is connected and loved by the Father.

We claim to be children of God; have we been sincerely able to affirm God and made Him to be proud of us? Jesus had no problem doing it. He affirmed God through His actions and deeds.

Through today's psalm and canticle, we are given an opportunity to affirm and give praises to God for the wonderful works He has done for us. We pray too that our lifestyles may give glory to God and thus make Him proud of us just like how He was proud of Jesus.

Introduction to Vespers (Lent: Week 4, Sunday - Evening Prayer II)

There is this son, who was finishing his sentenced in the prison. He wrote a letter to his father, which says; "Father, I've been a bad and disobedient son. I don't even deserve to be called your son. I'm coming back home after serving my sentence. Please switch on the porch light as a sign when the night train passes the house so I'll know that I'm allowed to come back home".

The house is near the railway station and the train passes the house. The son who is in the train dare not see the porch of the house, fearing that it might not be lit. So he asked the passenger next to him to see. That guy described; "I see not only the porch lit but the whole house and there are color lights all around as though there is a party. Hey...uh wait!...I see a 'mad man' jumping around with a torchlight". The son could not believe it and he was surprised to see his father with the torchlight.

The season of lent reminds us many times to repent and to go back to the Lord. That 'mad man' in the story is like God; readily to welcome us. No matter what we have done; He'll welcome us back if we go back to him with love and a repented heart. The Magnificat antiphon this evening reminds us of God's love. It says; "...it was right that we should celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life, he was lost and is found".

Let us not allow this season of grace just go by. If we go back to the Lord with a repented heart, for sure we'll have a joyful Easter celebrations.

Going back with a repented heart to the Lord, let us pray...