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SAM’YO SUNDAY/ BLIND RECEIVES SIGHT: APRIL 7, 2019
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K’FIPTHO SUNDAY/ HEALING THE CRIPPLED WOMAN: MARCH 31, 2019
The wounds of people’s infirmities rarely escape Jesus’ notice and he was always ready to offer a healing touch. The woman in the story was walking around the church bend over, to see how the world looks from her vantage point. How does it feel to walk that way? What are the burdens that weigh you down and bend you over? Take a deep breath and stand up straight, offering your burdens to God. Stretch out your hands in praise to God, who declares you have been “set free!” Feel the tightness and pain, in your heart and on your body parts. Breathe in and breathe out slowly. Each time…
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4TH SUNDAY OF GREAT LENT/ CANAANITE WOMAN: MARCH 24, 2019
Jesus was amazed by the faith of the Canaanite woman and her daughter was instantly healed. The physical and practical nature of Jesus’ ministry is remarkable. Not only does he teach deep truths, but he also heals people who are sick or disabled and take time to feed a crowd of hungry people. In what ways can we minister to people- caring for the “whole person”- as Jesus did? To whom might we reach out today?
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HEALING THE PARALYTIC/ M’SARYO SUNDAY: MARCH 17, 2019
In the story of healing the paralytic, there were two categories of people around Jesus; those who were ‘hearing God’s words’ (they think they are close to God and listening to the Word!) but indirectly ‘blocking’ the needy from reaching God. The second category is those who helped the paralytic to reach God; those who are helping the needy to reach God. Who are we? Are we blocking (directly or indirectly) the needy from reaching God? or Are we helping the ‘needy’ to reach God to receive healing and blessings?
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TOUCHING THE UNTOUCHABLE! REFLECTIONS ON GARBO SUNDAY: MARCH 10, 2019
The study of the Bible is absolutely necessary for the nourishment of Christian life. The facts which the Scriptures present are the basis of faith in the Trinitarian God. Acquaintance with these prophetic and devotional facts in the light of the contemporary world realities is the only sensible means to imbibe and disseminate a true dynamic Christian faith. The nourishment of the Scriptures is necessary to the spiritual life as that of food to the body. The following Bible study is based on the Gospel reading on the ‘Sunday of the Leper’ from St. Luke 5: 12-16; and St. Luke 4: 40-42. And it happened when He was in a…
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PETHRATHA SUNDAY AND SHUBKHONO (ALSO CALLED KOTHANAE SUNDAY- MARRIAGE AT CANA) MARCH 3, 2019
The Sunday before the Great lent is called the PETHRATHA Sunday. The Syriac word, ‘Peturta’ means “looking back” or “reconciliation”. The Liturgical Season of Great Lent is one of the kinds of introspection- looking back to one’s own life, and of real reconciliation. As a reminder one of the hymns in the Shubquono (Liturgy of Reconciliation) liturgy says, “Brethren, let us love one another, for it is the completion of the commandments.” The reading is from St. John 2: 1-11; which depicts the Marriage at Cana, where we can see the first sign of the Son of Human. Jesus and his friends were invited to a wedding feast in the…
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ANEEDE SUNDAY (REMEMBERING ALL THE DEPARTED): FEB 24, 2019
The Sunday specifically to remember all the departed believers is called the ‘Aneede’ Sunday. The Syriac word ‘Aneede’ means the departed. How blessed are we! How unique our faith is! This may be the only Christian faith where you are a part of the continuum of life; a continuum of life that begins with the birth to the second coming of our savior Lord Jesus Christ and beyond. Physical death is not a separation from the continuum of life: the departed believers are continuing their journey of salvation until the day of last judgment. We are indeed blessed because we are also on this journey! Neither life or death,…
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KYAMTHO (EASTER SUNDAY): APRIL 16, 2017
The Lord is risen! Indeed He is risen! Resurrection gives hope for the humanity. Despite Christ is risen, our struggle to follow Christ will continue with all our fears and doubts. But the good news is, He is risen! He is risen to give us a new beginning… He is risen to remind us that goodness is more powerful than evil… He is risen to remind us that love is more powerful than hatred… He is risen to remind us that faith is more powerful than doubt and despair…
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PAS’AHO/ MAUNDY THURSDAY: APRIL 13, 2017
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HOSANNA SUNDAY: APRIL 9, 2017
Praying for people we know can be difficult-praying for people we don’t know is even more challenging. Jesus said the temple was a place of prayer for all nations; where all people could come to God. This year when we cry Hossanna, it should be a cry for the nations, a prayer for the people we don’t know, a plead to save not only us, but also those who are suffering and weeping across the nations…