GPS - GOD POSITIONING SYSTEM

Do you know what GPS stands for? George PackiaSamy. Is it? No!

GPS is an abbreviation for "Global Positioning System". It is a gadget or a satellite based navigation system that we use for a journey or traveling to direct us to one destination to another destination. 

How accurate is the GPS? Today, they say that the GPS receivers are extremely accurate but due to certain atmosphere factors and other sources of error can affect the accuracy of GPS receivers. At times, this gadget will lead you to nowhere. You may not reach the right destination.

But Jesus is our Spiritual GPS pointing to the actual and right destination in our lives. When you come and hold onto your Spiritual GPS which is "Jesus, the Pioneer and Perfecter of our Faith," (Door of Faith - Porta Fidei) surely he will lead you and direct you in the actual direction. There won’t be any source of error in Him. He is not only the Pioneer and Perfecter of our faith but he is our Spiritual GPS pointing to the actual and right destination our faith life. He is our source of our strength, our hope, our faith and our love.

In this Year of Faith, "Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus," (Heb 12:2), our personal GPS (God Positioning System) and pioneer and perfecter of our faith so that others may enter into the life of Jesus.

The Bible Sunday 2013

On 14th July, we have celebrated 

Bible Sunday. Without the Bible it’s very hard for us to know the purpose of our being on this earth, extremely difficult to hear God's voice and hard to learn much about His existence.

The PRIMA: 

Prima is the Latin word for first. So PRIMA stands for a method in reading and studying the Bible either individually or with a group.

P – Pray. Begin with a prayer that your time with the Bible (Word of God) will draw you closer to God.

R – Read attentively. Trusting that God will grant you what you need to learn and how to grow in the understanding of His word. 
I – Imagine what was going on when the text was first written. What was its cultural and historical context? Try to imagine yourself into the story. What was the author trying to get across?

M – Meditate on what you have read. How does this fit in the context of the Bible’s teaching, with the Church’s teaching? What do you think God is revealing you?

A – Apply what you have read in your personal life and carry Jesus into the rest of your day, the rest of your life.

(An extract from the Introduction of CATHOLIC YOUTH BIBLE)

Commit to Live Faith Joyously

A Message For All Those Pilgrims For The WYD 2013

A total  102 pilgrims are all set to take off for the World Youth Day 2013 in Rio. My dear young people, the WYD experience is an invaluable one. You will have the great opportunity and maybe even a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of meeting our new Holy Father, Pope Francis and also meeting thousands of other young people of various race and colours from all the continents throughout the world. You will experience first-hand the different cultures, traditions and languages and so much more. I urge all of your to fully immerse yourselves and experience this beautiful cultural exchange, events, catechism with the bishops and priests. I am sure it will be a truly wonderful experience.

Allow me to quote from the latest encyclical and the first encyclical signed by Pope Francis, The light of faith – “Lumen Fidei” (LF) where it says that it is in the World Youth Days that the young people demonstrate “the joy of faith” and “their commitment to live faith solidly and generously, and their desire “to live life to the fullest,” (Lumen Fidei, no: 53). Your faith enhances your life as youths and brings hope for your generation. It is another opportunity for you to encounter Christ through various cultures, languages and people. I am sure the best of the WYD will take effect in your life as you encounter Christ in the Word of God, Sacrament, sharing and in various cultural experiences and events.

 

Have a blessed and safe journey. Be assured of all our prayers for you – our individual prayers and the prayers that we will offer during the Sunday liturgy. Our Lady of Aparecida (the image which is widely venerated by Brazilian Roman Catholics) will grant you her maternal care and protection.

Best Wishes.