Reflections

  Authenticity of the Word of God 2 Timothy 2:8-15   Vs.8: Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David—that is my gospel Paul’s second letter to Timothy is focused on helping Timothy reaffirm the true meaning of the Gospel. Paul gives us a straightforward yet powerful meaning of the Gospel. In Verse 8, Paul states,  “Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. That is my gospel”.  It is as simple as that. These words may seem short but have so much deep meaning to them. We often refer to Gospel as the Good News or the Word of God. There is no better time for Good News than the present time. Recently I watched a movie in which there was a statement that Good News doesn’t sell and doesn’t make money. No one wants Good News. On the other hand, Bad News is profitable and can drive droves of customers to the news channel. If we think about it, it’s true. Bad news drives fear in our hearts, creates panic, and somehow we get hooked to it. When tha

  Authenticity of the Word of God Heb  4:12-16 Vs.12: For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, even penetrating as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.  The word of God is living "alive" because the author of the Word and the Word itself is life and living  - St.John 6:63, Hebrews 3:12. And like we see in the parable of the sower (St. Matthew 13:1-23), seeds like the Word  of God is a living organism that when spread and planted in fertile soil produces abundant life, and we have the imperishable seed in us as in 1 Peter 1:24-25 The word of God is active and the Greek word is “energes” from which we get our word energy, it means that the character of the Word of God is inexhaustible and dynamic energy operating in us, through us, and around us, it is not static or idle in the lives of a genuine believer, as in 1 Thessalonians 2:13 The Word of God is

  Authenticity of the Word of God St. John 17: 17 - 26 Vs.17 -19: Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. Just as You sent Me into the world, I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes, I sanctify Myself, so that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. The root word for sanctify in Hebrew is “to be Holy, set apart to and for a sacred purpose”. Jesus sanctified himself as in John 17:19 because he alone was qualified for the whole work of redemption. There is a further meaning in the use of the word sanctify in reference to man, because of the presence of sin, of evil, in man, and in the world, this word not only means separation TO a sacred and holy purpose but separation FROM that which is sinful and evil as in 2 Corinthians 7:1 There are twofold aspects of being sanctified We are  positionally sanctified  and  We are  progressively sanctified Hebrews 10 verses 10 and14 talks about positional sanctification - we have BEEN sanctified because what Christ has do

  Visit of Mary to Elizabeth- Sharing the Good News Exodus  15:19-21  “Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked him. “There, in the tent,” he said.  Then one of them said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son. . vs 9-10 Mary’s visit to Elizabeth is discussed in Luke 1:39-56, preceding the foretelling of the birth of John the Baptist (Luke 1:5–24), and Angel Gabriel’s annunciation to Mary of the Incarnation, the miracle of Jesus as God in human flesh (Luke 1:26–38). Exodus  15:19-21  records the song of prophetess Miriam, following the miraculous parting of the Red Sea, where Pharaoh and his army drowned while the people of Israel walked on dry ground. Miriam led the women of Israel in dancing with tambourines, as a sequel to the song of Moses to the LORD (Exodus 15:1-18). Both the Red Sea and the Incarnation miracles demonstrate the glorious triumph of the Lord, a God like no other (Isaiah 44:6). Just as God parted the Red Sea to deli

   Sharing of the Good News Visitation of the Virgin Mary to Elizabeth  St. Luke 1:39-45 Vs. 42 & 45: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”  Sharing of the Good News is the theme that the Mar Thoma Church has chosen for this week's meditation - the responsibility entrusted to everyone who believes in the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. During my teenage years, I deliberated on the word  'Good News' . To understand the Good News we need to go back to the book of Genesis in the Old Testament and at least read through the four Gospels of the New Testament. Genesis records the creation of man as representatives of God to expand the Kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven. Humans were placed in the 'Garden of Eden' which symbolizes a place where we can experience God's presence and hear God's voice. But God didn't want to force humans to foll

  Visit of Mary to Elizabeth- Sharing the good news  Romans 10:9-17    Vs:13   For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. As we are celebrating thanksgiving this weekend let our thoughts, prayers and devotions may all be filled with thanksgiving and count His numerous blessings in each one’s life. Let us thank God for His abundant mercy that we have experienced as a country, as a diocese, as a church, and as individuals in the past year, and let us march on to the new year with new vigor and enthusiasm to share the gospel and testifying Him wherever possible. Sharing the good news is the title of our devotion. Human beings are good at sharing new discoveries or new experiences with others as soon as it is available. Ironically the best news in the world that will benefit everyone is the one that most of us are hesitant to share with others. It is nothing but the good news of salvation offered through Jesus Christ. When Mary found out from the angel that she is going

  Sharing the Good News 1 Thessalonians 3:6-13  Vs.6: But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you. Paul grew increasingly concerned about the church of Thessalonia as they were facing a rising tide of persecution. The beginning of this chapter talks about Paul sending Timothy to the Thessalonian church and the verses that follow describes the  'sharing of the good news'  by Timothy that in spite of its suffering, they were continuing in faith and love. Recently during one of our fellowship meetings, a question was asked - If we are held at gunpoint and asked to deny Christ, what would we do? The response was mixed but the only thing we could conclude was to pray to God that none of us are put into a similar situation and even if we are, we pray to God to give us the grace to overcome the situation victorio

  Visit of Mary to Elizabeth- Sharing the Good News  Genesis 18: 1-15  “Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked him. “There, in the tent,” he said.  Then one of them said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son. . vs 9-10   “Mom, Dad, I got in!” Those are the words every person wants to tell their loved ones as they get the news of their acceptance into college, university, or a professional program. Even hearing those words from them brings such elation. Now imagine receiving the news that the Lord and Savior wants to make His dwelling with us. The account of the visitation to Elizabeth by the Virgin Mary is a well-known story that could easily be described as one of the best-loved stories in the Bible. If for nothing at all, we are reminded of this event practically every time we recite the Magnificat, the same song Mary sang when she visited her cousin. Elizabeth and Zachariah, in their advanced age, are blessed with the news that t

  Visit of Mary to Elizabeth- Sharing the Good News  Psalm 146: 1-10  “Praise the Lord, oh my soul.” (v.2) Psalm 146 is book-ended by the phrase “Praise the Lord”. But what does praising God really mean? To acknowledge the place God holds in our lives, to give Him glory, or to recognize that He is the source of every blessing and goodness. In Hebrew, the phrase is Hallelu- (praise) Yah (short for Yahweh or “the Lord”). The first verse summons us to praise from our soul. So we shouldn’t utter it in vain or mindlessly, but mean it from the very depth of our beings. We are called to pause and intentionally reflect on God’s goodness. Verse 2 begs us to praise God unceasingly. But how often do we go the whole day without praising God, and instead, think of all the things that went wrong? I know I am guilty of that. We have to be intentional about turning our complaints into praise. When we train our minds and remember to praise God and give Him thanks, He fills us with His joy. The negative

Visit of Mary to Elizabeth: Sharing the Good News and Having Faith in God’s Promises Gal  3:15-22 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” - Luke 1:45 When Mary hears from the angel Gabriel that she is going to give birth to Jesus, she has complete faith in God’s vision for her life. Mary runs to tell Elizabeth the good news of Jesus to which Elizabeth responds with the above verse. Through the stories of Mary and Elizabeth, we see God’s infallible ability to bless and fulfill His promises to those who are faithful to Him. Both Mary and Elizabeth have circumstances that should prevent them from conceiving a child, but hearing God’s promise to them once is enough to convince them to demonstrate their faith by sharing the good news they have received with each other. While Mary and Elizabeth were promised children, all of us as believers in Jesus, are also beholden to God’s promise. But what is this promise and how can we follow in the example of

  Annunciation to Virgin Mary Psalms: 8 V1 “Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens.” Israel was waiting for the Messiah to deliver them from oppression and to reestablish the throne of David. Every Jewish woman had the desire for the Messiah to be born in their home. Virgin Mary submitted to the will of God, even without consulting with Joseph to whom she was betrothed, when angel Gabriel spoke to her.  The Creator of the universe left all his glory, humbled himself and came down to earth as a fetus in the womb of Virgin Mary. This is the greatest miracle. He was born to a village girl and lived dependent on her to meet his needs. Virgin Mary had the unique privilege to be the mother of the Son of God. This fulfilled the annunciation of angel Gabriel to Virgin Mary, about the birth of Jesus. Father God used Virgin Mary as His chosen vessel to send his Son, as a gift to the world. She was the only person, fit to be the mother o

  Annunciation to Virgin Mary Luke 1:26-38 Vs 38 “I am the Lord's servant, may your word to me be fulfilled”. In the Christian Church calendar, Advent is the season of preparation for the celebration of Christmas and also of preparation for the second coming of Christ. Advent comes from the Latin word ‘Adventus’ which is translated from the Greek word ‘Parousia’- which means ‘coming’. Parousia was used to describe both the arrival of Jesus as a baby and His second coming. It also signifies the longing for the messiah's coming into our hearts and lives. Moreover, it alerts us of His second coming as the king. In this passage, St. Luke portrays the encounter between Angel Gabriel and Mary, a village girl, who was betrothed to Joseph. As per the Jewish custom, a betrothal lasted for a year, and it was as binding as marriage. It could be dissolved only by divorce. Mary was living with her parents in Nazareth and waiting with happy anticipation for the day of her wedding. This was t

  Annunciation to Virgin Mary Ephesians 1:3-10 V3 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ”. 1. We are chosen by the Father (vs.4-6)       Lord chooses before the creation of the world, He blessed us, and He predestined us in accordance with His pleasure and will. It is by grace alone that we are chosen by the Father to be holy and do according to His will. 2. We are redeemed by His blood (vs7, 8)       It is only by the blood on the cross, shed for us for the forgiveness of our sins. He has lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. Our Lord's stamp is upon our body. We should know them, obey them and live by them. For they are life. 3. We are chosen for a purpose (vs. 9, 10)       Our life is to fulfill the purpose Lord has made us. Everything not only in heaven but on earth is made in its structure by Him and for Him and works only when it works in His way. If we try to liv

  Slave to Heir Galatians 4:1-7 V7 “So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir through God”. In the United States, the 18th birthday is seen as one of the most important days in the life of a child. This is the point when youth graduates to the stage of adulthood. Many of us grew up looking forward to that day when we officially became grownups. There were no more restrictions to our drivers’ licenses, we were allowed to vote, and the next step was going off to college. The age of 18 meant FREEDOM! It’s ironic how becoming an adult gave us this false sense of maturity and autonomy. One thing however remained true; I was still my parent’s child, heirs of their love and legacy.   Many of Paul’s letters were directly in response to Judaizers, a faction of the Jewish Christians, who regarded the laws of the Torah as still binding on all Christians. Specifically, they tried to enforce Jewish circumcision upon the Gentile converts to early Christianity. This w

  Annunciation to Virgin Mary 1 Samuel 2: 1-11 V 7-8 The Lord sends poverty and wealth; he humbles and he exalts.  He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor. “For the foundations of the earth are the Lord’s; on them, he has set the world. Our theme today is the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary. Angel Gabriel came to a virgin named Mary in the Galilean town of Nazareth. She was told that she will conceive a child who will become great and be called the son of the Highest. She later went to visit her elderly cousin Elizabeth who became pregnant at an old age. When both of them met, Elizabeth blessed her saying, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!  But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” (Luke 1: 42-43)   The response of Mary was that “He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;  he has scattered those who are proud in their inmos

  Annunciation to Virgin Mary 1 Samuel 2: 1-11 V 7-8 The Lord sends poverty and wealth; he humbles and he exalts.  He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor. “For the foundations of the earth are the Lord’s; on them, he has set the world. Our theme today is the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary. Angel Gabriel came to a virgin named Mary in the Galilean town of Nazareth. She was told that she will conceive a child who will become great and be called the son of the Highest. She later went to visit her elderly cousin Elizabeth who became pregnant at an old age. When both of them met, Elizabeth blessed her saying, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!  But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” (Luke 1: 42-43)   The response of Mary was that “He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;  he has scattered those who are proud in their inmos

  Annunciation to Virgin Mary 1 Thessalonians 3:6-13. V6 “But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. The Apostle Paul's second missionary journey included a visit to the prominent Greek city of Thessalonica. Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians is written about AD 51, and in this letter, he expresses his gratitude for the Thessalonian believers' spiritual progress, and their resolute faith and love.  For them, ‘Faith means putting the trust in God and having confidence that He will fulfill His promises. They did not capitulate their faith under all the intense pressures and trials they faced.  Here we can see that Paul prays for two vital things to be true in their lives. 1)  In verse 6 we see, “their faith and love should expand and grow.” The Christian life is dependent upon Faith and Love. By faith, and by walking in the Spirit, we can love Him, and do His will. Faith is loved and honored by God more than anythin

  Annunciation to Virgin Mary 1 Thessalonians 3:6-13. V6 “But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. The Apostle Paul's second missionary journey included a visit to the prominent Greek city of Thessalonica. Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians is written about AD 51, and in this letter, he expresses his gratitude for the Thessalonian believers' spiritual progress, and their resolute faith and love.  For them, ‘Faith means putting the trust in God and having confidence that He will fulfill His promises. They did not capitulate their faith under all the intense pressures and trials they faced.  Here we can see that Paul prays for two vital things to be true in their lives. 1)  In verse 6 we see, “their faith and love should expand and grow.” The Christian life is dependent upon Faith and Love. By faith, and by walking in the Spirit, we can love Him, and do His will. Faith is loved and honored by God more than anythin

  Annunciation to Virgin Mary Acts  16:11-15 Verse 15: When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us. When the Angel of God appeared before Mary and declared to her of God's great plan for her without question she accepted it. In the scripture reading we see in the same manner how Lydia believed and accepted Lord and persuaded her household to believe and accept Lord. In the same manner we need to be prepared to be used by God by putting our faith in Him and living our lives as a servant of the Lord. During all the challenges we face in a culture that has forgotten God, we have been chosen to be a part of God's loving plan and to be the Gospel that is intended for all men and women. When we hear the Word of God don’t just listen take it to our hearts, understand what is being told to us and what is being expected of us, remember to foll