MARCH

2016

Let us confidently
approach the throne of grace
to receive mercy and to find
grace for timely help.
(Hebrews 4:16)

Reflection:

We all need the mercy of God. No one can enter into Gods rest without his mercy. And we know that Gods character is
mercy itself. But how do we approach him to receive this mercy?
Though we are sinners, we act as if we are not. As much as possible, we try to cover up our sins and behave as if we are
holy or do whatever possible to keep our image of a nice person remain intact.
To receive the mercy of God, St. Paul proposes a kind of boldness and confidence that a person should possess. Let us
look back to our last months reflection, where the sinful woman approached Jesus. She embodies the kind of boldness
and confidence St. Paul is talking about. All the people in Simons house knew what kind of a woman she was and she
knew that they knew! She also was well aware what they would be thinking in their hearts and how they would be
looking at her. Most of all, she knew who Jesus was as the throne of grace, the throne of holiness - God himself. In spite
of all that she was within and without, she took much effort and great pains to be at Simon's house to see Jesus. But
she was confident of one thing - that she would receive mercy. And she came boldly to meet Jesus! She was not afraid
of anybody or anything when it came to meeting Jesus. And look at what Jesus did to her not only did he defend her
and her actions - but forgave her many sins (Luke 7:47). What joy she would have experienced then and how fruitfully
she would have lived her life thereafter!
Today we are called to approach the throne of grace, Jesus himself, with the same kind of boldness and confidence that
the sinful woman had. Our sins may be many probably bigger - than the womans sins. We may have tried all sorts of
things to cover up our sinful habits to appear nice among people. God is calling us ever so lovingly to come to him.
So, with a humble heart, let us take a firm decision to approach the throne of grace. With all confidence in the unfailing
and unending mercy of God, let us receive his grace that is sufficient for all our needs. There is no one or nothing to stop
us from receiving his mercy and grace, except our own doubts. This is our challenge now - boldly approach the throne
of grace -Jesus - and experience the transformation he brings into our lives.

Saints quote:

What a sweet joy it is to think that God is Just, i.e., ... He is perfectly aware of our fragile nature. What should I fear then?
(St. Thrse of Lisieux)

Popes Quote:

How do you abide in the presence of the Lord? When you visit the Lord, when you look at the tabernacle, what do you
do? Without speaking But I speak, I talk, I think, I meditate, I listen Very good! But do you let yourself be looked
at by the Lord? Letting ourselves be gazed upon by the Lord. He looks at us and this is itself a way of praying. Do you
yourselves be gazed upon by the Lord? But how do you do this? You look at the tabernacle and you let yourselves be
looked at it is simple!
Pope Francis, September 27, 2013 (to participants in the International Congress on Catechesis)

Acts of Mercy: Pray for the living and the dead; Visit the imprisoned.
In all our challenges we are called to celebrate and experience the Divine Mercy of God - the sacrifice of Jesus on the
Cross. The Lenten season is a time of prayer, fasting and works of charity to contemplate more on our Lords passion.
Living moments of intense prayer, listening to and meditating on the word of God, praying psalms of mercy, office of the
hours etc, lets strive to approach this throne of grace. The prayer and fast the Lord has chosen is to loosen the bonds of
the wicked and to free the oppressed. With constant efforts, lets try to be close to the oppressed - being a presence of
help and support to them and to those who are deprived of freedom and basic rights in our society; supporting their
families, lets be the witnesses of His unending mercy.
Mother Mary, Mother of our Saviour, pray for us. Hail Mary...

Easter Message : Fr. Bitaju Puthenpurackal, O.SS.T, Jesus Youth Int'l Chaplain
That I may know him and the power of his resurrection (Phil 3:10)
Every Christian, in fact every human being, experiences a deep desire and passion within him/her for what is beyond
him/her. The accounts of the scriptures reveal this truth. Moses says to God, I pray you show me your glory (Ex 33:18).
David prays, As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God (Ps 42:1). Paul says that his soul
longs to know Christ and the power of his resurrection (Phil 3:10). St. Augustine cries out, Our hearts are restless until
they rest in Thee. In other words, this passion for what is beyond gives direction, meaning and newness in ones life.
No wonder, the risen Christ is the very foundation of Christian faith and hope. If Christ were not raised, Christianity would
lose its very meaning. The Resurrection of Christ is an invitation for us to go beyond our selves like Moses, David, Paul,
St. Augustine, Easter reminds us that in Jesus, love has triumphed over hatred, mercy over sinfulness, goodness over
evil, truth over falsehood, life over death. It means that the love of God is stronger than evil and death itself; it means
that the love of God can transform our lives and let those desert places in our hearts bloom.
How many deserts, even today, do human beings need to cross! Above all, the desert within, when we have no love for
God or neighbour, when we fail to realize that we are guardians of all that the Creator has given us and continues to give
us. Remember, Gods mercy can make even the driest land become a garden; can restore life to dry bones (Ez 37:1-14)
(Easter Message of Pope Francis 2013).
May you be filled with the joy and peace of the Risen Lord during this season. Happy Easter!

Prepared by the Jesus Youth International Formation Team. Email: formation@jesusyouth.org