Rising Starts

Rising Starts
5^th Sunday January 2014
Readings Isaiah 60:1-6 Psalm 72:-12,7-8, 10-13 Ephesians 3:2-3,5-6 Matthew 2:1-12
God’s intention was not only to come down to earth but to become known there; not only to be born but to be recognized. In fact, it is with this recognition in mind that we hold this celebration of the Epiphany, the great day of his manifestation. We are the rising starts with an obligation to preach and live as followers of Christ.
Preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ, going ahead and leading, guarding the sacred heritage of our faith, showing mercy and charity to the needy and the poor, thus mirroring God's merciful love for us, and finally, praying without ceasing: these are the fundamental features of the episcopal ministry. Praying without ceasing means: never losing contact with God, letting ourselves be constantly touched by him in the depths of our hearts and, in this way, being penetrated by his light. Only someone who actually knows God can lead others to God. Only someone who leads people to God leads them along the path of life.
God is restless for us, he looks out for people willing to "catch" his unrest, his passion for us, people who carry within them the searching of their own hearts and at the same time open themselves to be touched by God's search for us. We are called to be stars of God for men, leading them along the path towards the true light, towards Christ. "In the same way, your light must shine before men so that they may see goodness in your deeds and give praise to your heavenly Father" (Mt 5: 16).
"How can this come about?", we also ask ourselves with the words that the Virgin addresses to the Archangel Gabriel. And she herself, the Mother of Christ and of the Church, gives us the answer: with her example of total availability to God's will - (Luke 1: 38) - she teaches us to be a "manifestation" of the Lord, opening our hearts to the power of grace and faithfully abiding by the words of her Son, light of the world.
Have a blessed 2014 full of Gods favour
Compiled by
Jacqueline kamau
Jacquelinewords.wordpress.com

Becoming Greater In God

Becoming Greater In God

The person who turns to God does not become smaller but greater, for through God and with God he becomes great, he becomes divine, he becomes truly himself. The person who puts himself in God's hands does not distance himself from others, withdrawing into his private salvation; on the contrary, it is only then that his heart truly awakens and he becomes a sensitive, hence, benevolent and open person. This is a lesson to learn from the Divine assignment given to Mary.
The closer a person is to God; the closer he is to people. We see this in Mary. The fact that she is totally with God is the reason why she is so close to human beings. In her, God has impressed his own image, the image of the One who follows the lost sheep even up into the mountains and among the briars and thorn bushes of the sins of this world, letting himself be spiked by the crown of thorns of these sins in order to take the sheep on his shoulders and bring it home.
Mary thus stands before us as a sign of comfort, encouragement and hope. She turns to us, saying: "Have the courage to dare with God! Try it! Do not be afraid of him! Have the courage to risk with faith! Have the courage to risk with goodness! Have the courage to risk with a pure heart! Commit yourselves to God, then you will see that it is precisely by doing so that your life will become broad and light, not boring but filled with infinite surprises, for God's infinite goodness is never depleted!".

On this Feast Day, let us thank the Lord for the great sign of his goodness which he has given us in Mary, his Mother and the Mother of the Church. Let us pray to him to put Mary on our path like a light that also helps us to become a light and to carry this light into the nights of history.

Compiled by Jacqueline kamau

Jacquelinewords.wordpress.com