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New Sunday (1st Sunday after Resurrection)
Jesus Knows What Thomas Need: He Knows What We Need We are sometimes scornful of Thomas, giving him the nickname “doubting Thomas”. But he is not unlike many of us. He needs the data. He needs the visuals. He needs to touch Jesus’ wounds in order for his faith to take root and grow. Jesus accepts that. He knows what we need. What do we need from Jesus in order for our faith to bloom? Tell Jesus. And wait, watch and wonder!
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Kyamtho (Easter Sunday)
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
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Sam’yo Sunday/ Blind Receives Sight
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K’fiptho Sunday/ healing the crippled woman
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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The Sacrament of Confession; 21st Century perspectives
Receiving Christ in communion during the Holy Eucharist is the foundation of living in communion with God, with people, with nature, and with the whole creation. Any act which breaks our communion with God and with God’s creation can be described as a serious sin. Sin is historically viewed as staying off the path, and getting lost from the communion of God. It is for this reason that in most of the Orthodox churches examination of conscience (if necessary going to sacramental confession) is an integral part of the preparation for communion. However, unlike an instant or ritualistic practice confession is an ongoing process of trying to see our life,…
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Healing the Paralytic/ M’Saryo Sunday
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
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 (Also called Kothanae Sunday- Marriage at Cana)
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 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. We all know the episode at the marriage house in Cana; Jesus and his…
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ANEEDE SUNDAY (Remembering all the departed believers)
Aneede Sunday is to remembering all the departed believers. The Church wants the faithful to remember those forefathers and mothers who nurtured and maintained the true faith. Last Sunday the church remembered all the departed clergies. This Sunday is to remember all the departed faithful; our forefathers and mothers, brothers and sisters. How blessed are we! How unique our faith is! This is the only Christian faith where you are a part of the continuum; a continuum that begins with the birth to the second coming of the savior Lord Jesus Christ. Physical death is not a separation from the continuum and the departed believers are continuing their journey of…