Aneel Aranha is an author and preacher who endeavours to bring a knowledge of God and his great love to the people of the world. 

Aneel Aranha

Seven of the twelve men that Jesus chose to be his apostles are believed to be fishermen.  Although fishing might have been a dominant profession in first-century Israel, the number of fishermen Jesus chose looks pretty disproportionate. So, why? 
 
Read and reflect on the gospels — one little bite at a time. To receive these via WhatsApp, please message "subscribe" to +91 93214 56817.

Seven of the twelve men that Jesus chose to be his apostles are believed to be fishermen.  Although fishing might have been a dominant profession in first-century Israel, the number of fishermen Jesus chose looks pretty disproportionate. So, why?

Read and reflect on the gospels — one little bite at a time. To receive these via WhatsApp, please message "subscribe" to +91 93214 56817.

The Bite-Sized Gospel with Aneel Aranha — Matthew 4:18-22

John the Baptist was a “preparer.” This is a word I really like. It describes somebody who is setting up something for someone else. It is a word that should describe all of us. 
 
Read and reflect on the gospels — one little bite at a time. To receive these via WhatsApp, please message "subscribe" to +91 93214 56817.

John the Baptist was a “preparer.” This is a word I really like. It describes somebody who is setting up something for someone else. It is a word that should describe all of us.

Read and reflect on the gospels — one little bite at a time. To receive these via WhatsApp, please message "subscribe" to +91 93214 56817.

The Bite-Sized Gospel with Aneel Aranha — Matthew 3:1-12

In today’s reading, we have two instances of God speaking to Joseph in his dreams, which leads to the question: does God speak to us in our dreams too? The short answer is: yes. 
 
Read and reflect on the gospels — one little bite at a time. To receive these via WhatsApp, please message "subscribe" to +91 93214 56817.

In today’s reading, we have two instances of God speaking to Joseph in his dreams, which leads to the question: does God speak to us in our dreams too? The short answer is: yes.

Read and reflect on the gospels — one little bite at a time. To receive these via WhatsApp, please message "subscribe" to +91 93214 56817.

The Bite-Sized Gospel with Aneel Aranha — Matthew 2:19-23

Herod was a man of great power. Not everyone becomes as powerful as Herod, but many of us would like to have power over other people: to dominate them and to be able to control them. That is the way of the world; not of heaven. 
 
Read and reflect on the gospels — one little bite at a time. To receive these via WhatsApp, please message "subscribe" to +91 90821 01605.

Herod was a man of great power. Not everyone becomes as powerful as Herod, but many of us would like to have power over other people: to dominate them and to be able to control them. That is the way of the world; not of heaven. 

Read and reflect on the gospels — one little bite at a time. To receive these via WhatsApp, please message "subscribe" to +91 90821 01605.

The Bite-Sized Gospel with Aneel Aranha — Matthew 2:1-12

Today we take a look at what Joseph must have gone through when he heard the woman he was to take as his wife was pregnant. 
 
Read and reflect on the gospels — one little bite at a time. To receive these via WhatsApp, please message "subscribe" to +91 90821 01605.

Today we take a look at what Joseph must have gone through when he heard the woman he was to take as his wife was pregnant.

Read and reflect on the gospels — one little bite at a time. To receive these via WhatsApp, please message "subscribe" to +91 90821 01605.

The Bite-Sized Gospel with Aneel Aranha — Matthew 1:18-24

When we don’t understand something, we often make the mistake of modifying its essence into something understandable. We do the same with Jesus. #Reflectonthis #DailyReflection https://youtu.be/mqlZoVsMDKo 
 
Scripture Reading: Mark 9:2-10 
After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus. Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.) Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus. As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what “rising from the dead” meant. 
 
Reflection 
A couple of weeks ago (see In the Image of Man), we looked at how we often try to remake God in our image and likeness because we can't seem to fit into his. We find something similar happening in today's story of the transfiguration. Let us look at the background, so we understand what is happening. Jesus has asked his apostles, "Who do you say I am?" And Peter responds, "You are the Messiah" (see Luke 8:27-30). Six days later, Jesus goes up a high mountain with Peter and two other of his favorite disciples in tow. They are James and John. 
 
On the mountain, Jesus is suddenly transfigured, and his clothes became dazzling white, whiter than Clorox could make them. And two other people, Elijah and Moses, long since gone, appear and start talking to Jesus. This is a spectacular event. Picture it. There are six people on a mountain. Two are prophets who have done great things for God. Three are apostles who are going to do great things for God. And standing in their midst is a man who is glowing. This is to let them know that he is neither apostle nor prophet; he is something greater. Then Peter opens his mouth and says to Jesus, "Teacher, it is good for us to be here." 
 
Teacher? Less than a week ago, he was calling Jesus the Messiah; how was he demoted to "Teacher" again? Especially now, when he was shining like the sun. In any event, Peter was delighted to be there. Wouldn't you be — to be in the middle of a conversation between two of the greatest prophets who ever lived and your boss. But then, Peter doesn't want to be in on the conversation; he is terrified by what he is seeing and wants to turn the event into something he can understand! "Let us put up three tents here," he says, "one for each of you." "And I'll be in your tent," are the unspoken words to Jesus. 
 
When we don't understand things — and much of heavenly matters are not understandable if we look at them with worldly eyes — we try to make them understandable by reshaping them to fit our understanding. We do the same with Jesus. We try to put him in a box. Peter was trying to do that here, and it took a sharp voice from heaven to set him straight. "Guys! This is my Son! Stop trying to put him in a box. He is here to break you out of yours. Listen to him!" And the advice to the apostles is advice to us. I know there is much we don't understand about the things that Jesus says. But we don't always have to! We just have to listen. 
 
So, as the Father says, listen to Jesus! And do what he says. 
 
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Today's devotional — Jesus In A Box — is based on Mark 9:2-10, the gospel reading for the day. The reflection is by Aneel Aranha, founder of Holy Spirit Interactive (HSI). Follow him on Facebook: fb.com/aneelaranha 
 
Subscribe to Daily Reflection with Aneel Aranha and receive this every morning to your WhatsApp account. Save +91 9321456817 to your contacts. Message SUBSCRIBE to this number. It’s FREE!

When we don’t understand something, we often make the mistake of modifying its essence into something understandable. We do the same with Jesus.  #Reflectonthis #DailyReflection https://youtu.be/mqlZoVsMDKo

Scripture Reading: Mark 9:2-10
After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus. Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.) Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus. As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus 

February 28, 2021 - Jesus in a Box - A Reflection on Mark 9:2-10 by Aneel Aranha

Inflicting wounds upon others for the hurt you’ve experienced will only result in a bloody and wounded world. Would you want such a world as your home? #Reflectonthis #Dailyreflection https://youtu.be/ZautE0TJq_g 
 
Scripture Reading: 
You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” 
 
Reflection: 
 When you hurt someone’s eye because your eye has been hurt by that person, then it a result of the urgent or immediate urge in your heart to get justice for the wrong done to you. In other words you are quick to take revenge for being hurt by someone. This system of justice which gives an eye for an eye is not just a proverb but in fact an ancient law, practiced even in our modern world. Lex talions or Law of revenge or law of retaliation existed from as long as the 18th century BC. Hammurabi, a Babylonian king preserved this law along with other laws on a pillar which was discovered 1901 and is on display in Louve.  
 
In today’s gospel, our Blessed Lord is giving us a new law, which is desires to inscribe on our hearts and not on some pillar on a book. On our hearts because this law is not merely a code of conduct but a lifestyle. A lifestyle which is far more difficult to practice than a tough rule the are expected to comply with. Lex talions permits an eye only for an injured eye, a hand only for an injured hand. It does not permit a head for an injured eye or murdering a person because he injured your a hand. Our Lord on the other hand teaches us by example, a new code of life, which is to love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you.  
 
Right now, at this very moment, if you are thinking of that person who has wounded you deeply. Someone whom you might think deserves great pain or even death for that matter for the sorrow and suffering he or she has caused you or your dear ones. If this is what you might be desiring for the one who hurt you, why should you shy away from the same code of justice for yourself from God for having hurt God with your sin? God alone is the doer of justice. By abandoning the person who hurt you to the justice of God is a great act of mercy on your part towards that person.  
 
 
My dear friends, our Blessed Lord is inviting you to the lifestyle which makes us children of our Father in heaven. God has given us a heart made in the image and likeness of God’s heart. The measure of love and mercy, compassion and forgiveness, forbearance and patience, self control and acceptance of the human heart filled with God is mighty and extraordinary. Loving those who love you back will make you feel good. Loving those who hurt you back will make you a saint. 
 
 God bless you!

Inflicting wounds upon others for the hurt you’ve experienced will only result in a bloody and wounded world. Would you want such a world as your home? #Reflectonthis #Dailyreflection  https://youtu.be/ZautE0TJq_g

Scripture Reading:
You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Reflection:
When you hurt someone’s eye because your eye has been hurt by that person, then it a result of the urgent or immediate urge in your heart

February 27, 2021 - Law of Revenge - A Reflection on Matthew 5:43-48.

Like Elton John sang, “sorry” seems to be the hardest word. But it can bring so much healing, peace, and restoration. #Reflectonthis #DailyReflection https://youtu.be/Wv24QxchW74 
 
Scripture Reading: Matthew 5:20-26 
For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister, will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift. “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny. 
 
Reflection 
Ok, here’s a question to get us started. When is the last time you said, “I am sorry” to somebody? We’re not talking about apologizing when we bump into someone or drop something by mistake, but about apologizing to somebody for a grievous hurt that we may have caused them. If you a “typical” person, the probability is high that it has been a very long time since you asked for forgiveness for something that you did to cause someone pain. Why? Why is sorry such a hard word to say? 
 
We all make mistakes. And despite our best intentions to the contrary, we will continue to make them. We will say things we shouldn’t say and do things we shouldn’t do. This will happen in the best of relationships. When we apologize, we take responsibility for our actions, admitting that we made a mistake. This brings healing to relationships, which will otherwise deteriorate and break, sometimes irreparably. Why would we want that to happen, especially after all the time and energy invested into relationships? 
 
Pride is what stops us from admitting our mistakes and apologizing for them. We think it is a sign of weakness or a confirmation of guilt. We believe the other party will take advantage of what they perceive as weakness or hold our admissions against us for the rest of our life. Admittedly, while some people might do this, most will not. They will accept the apology with grace, and although saying “sorry” can’t do anything to change the past, it would have eased the heartache that the harsh words or actions caused. 
 
In today’s passage, Jesus emphasizes the need for being at peace with the people we have hurt. “If you come to me with an offering,” he says, “and you remember that your brother or sister (our spouse or partner!) has something against you, leave your gift at the altar. Go make peace with them, then come and offer your gift. Otherwise, I don’t want it.” We are in the season of Lent. It is an opportunity to make things right with those we have offended or hurt. I know that sorry seems to be the hardest word, but God will give you the grace to make it easier to say. Say it. 
 
I want to take this opportunity to say sorry to all the people that I have hurt out there. Please forgive me. 
 
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Today's devotional — The Hardest Word — is based on Matthew 5:20-26, the gospel reading for the day. The reflection is by Aneel Aranha, founder of Holy Spirit Interactive (HSI). Follow him on Facebook: fb.com/aneelaranha 
 
Subscribe to Daily Reflection with Aneel Aranha and receive this every morning to your WhatsApp account. Save +91 9321456817 to your contacts. Message SUBSCRIBE to this number. It’s FREE!

Like Elton John sang, “sorry” seems to be the hardest word. But it can bring so much healing, peace, and restoration.  #Reflectonthis #DailyReflection https://youtu.be/Wv24QxchW74

Scripture Reading: Matthew 5:20-26
For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister, will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift. “

February 26, 2021 - The Hardest Word - A Reflection on Matthew 5:20-26 by Aneel Aranha

People keep asking for proof that Jesus really is God? How about using some mathematical reasoning? #Reflectonthis #DailyReflection https://youtu.be/WVxku0zC3AU 
 
Scripture Reading: Luke 11:29-32 
As the crowds increased, Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation. It asks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation. The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom; and now something greater than Solomon is here. The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and now something greater than Jonah is here. 
 
Reflection 
How about a little lesson in mathematics for something a little different today? A proof is a logical argument that tries to establish without any doubt that something is true. We generally use two forms of reasoning to arrive at a conclusion: inductive and deductive. I'm not gonna go heavy, so stay with me. Let's imagine that you have seen a hundred sheep, and all of them are white. You might conclude that all sheep are white. That's inductive reasoning. Since you haven't seen all the sheep on the planet, there's no saying there isn;t a black sheep hidden away. But inductive reasoning allows you to revise your conclusion if you come across a black sheep, so it's ok. 
 
Deductive reasoning starts from a general statement we know for sure is true. Let's say you know that all sheep eat grass and the animal in front of you is a sheep, then you know that animal likes to eat grass. This is a fact, established without doubt, if your basic premise is correct. It can be wrong only if your basic premise that all sheep eat grass is wrong, or if your observation that the animal in front of you is a sheep is incorrect. Now, what has this gotta do with what we read today? 
 
People keep asking for proof about who Jesus is. It began with Satan in the wilderness who demanded Jesus prove he was Son of God (see Matthew 4:1-11). Then the Pharisees and teachers of the law kept asking Jesus to prove that he was who he said he was (see Luke 5:21). Later, John's disciples would go to Jesus asking him to prove if he was the one they were expecting or they should look for another (see Luke 7:19). And, here, in today's passage, we find the crowd asking him to prove who he was! So, how about using some deductive reasoning? 
 
Jesus had just delivered a man from a demon. Who can deliver a man from a demon except for God? So, if Jesus had delivered a man from a demon, then who was he? Who can work miracles like multiplying food to feed thousands, calm storms, walk on water, and bring the dead back to life except God? So, if Jesus worked all these miracles, then who was he? Who can die and rise from the dead except God? So if Jesus died and rose again, then who was he? Of course, skeptics would say they have no evidence of any of this. Good thing, then, that Jesus continues to work miracles, no? 
 
And for those who still say, "Prove it!" Jesus says, “Ok. On Judgement Day, I will." 
 
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Today's devotional — Prove It! — is based on Luke 11:29-32, the gospel reading for the day. The reflection is by Aneel Aranha, founder of Holy Spirit Interactive (HSI). Follow him on Facebook: fb.com/aneelaranha 
 
Subscribe to Daily Reflection with Aneel Aranha and receive this every morning to your WhatsApp account. Save +91 9321456817 to your contacts. Message SUBSCRIBE to this number. It’s FREE!

People keep asking for proof that Jesus really is God? How about using some mathematical reasoning?  #Reflectonthis #DailyReflection https://youtu.be/WVxku0zC3AU

Scripture Reading: Luke 11:29-32
As the crowds increased, Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation. It asks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation. The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom; and now something greater than Solomon is here. The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and now something greater than Jonah is here.

Reflection
How about a little lesson in mathematics for something a little different today? A proof is a logical argument that tries to establish without any doubt that some

February 24, 2021 - Prove It! - A Reflection on Luke 11:29-32 by Aneel Aranha

As God’s children, Jesus asks us to have a relationship with our heavenly Father through meaningful prayers. #Reflectonthis #DailyReflection https://youtu.be/UiJ83h5GrDw 
 
Scripture Reading: Matthew 6: 7-15 
When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words.  Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.  “Pray then in this way:  Our Father in heaven,   hallowed be your name.   Your kingdom come.   Your will be done,   on earth as it is in heaven.   Give us this day our daily bread.   And forgive us our debts,   as we also have forgiven our debtors.   And do not bring us to the time of trial,   but rescue us from the evil one. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.    
 
Reflection 
Jesus says, "Beware of practicing your piety before men in order to be seen by them” (Matthew 6:1). He says, "When you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners that they may be seen by men. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (see Matthew 6:5-6). So, does this mean we should only pray within closed doors? No. Community prayer is essential. It builds the family of Christ.  Jesus has commissioned us to make disciples of all nations (see Matthew 28:19). How are we going to do that if we don’t worship God in the company of others? The question to ask ourselves is our intention for doing things in public. Whether it is praying or preaching or teaching, our motives are what Jesus questions. Is it to glorify God’s name or ours? 
 
 We could compare that to someone who frequently posts about their love for their family on social media, perhaps accompanied by beautiful family pictures. And what is our response? We tend to hold them in high esteem while we comment on their posts with an array of emojis.  But what if the sad reality is that they do not spend any personal time with their family and the love seen on social media doesn't really exist? In this passage, Jesus emphasizes the need for personal prayer as he wants us to have a relationship with our Father. We are his children, after all, aren’t we? (see 1 John 3:1) He wants us to receive rewards of heavenly peace, joy, and love.  And to guide us on how to pray, he gifted us a beautiful prayer that we now call the Lord’s prayer.  
 
1. We start by acknowledging and praising our Almighty God. 
2. We submit to the will of God in repentance and obedience. 
3. God knows what we need, so we pray with confidence and trust, knowing that he will give us what is right and necessary.  
4. We ask for forgiveness of our sins with a promise to forgive others too.  This ensures complete healing and renewal of our soul. 
5. We ask for discernment, strength, and self-control to not yield to temptation and that we may be delivered from the evil one.  
 
We have established that our personal time with God is important so that our public prayers are more meaningful and only for the glory of God and not ourselves. The public, on the other hand, also needs to do the same.  We can encourage speakers and leaders but cannot allow ourselves to idolize and glorify the messenger of God's word more than the word who is Jesus. Whatever side of the fence we are on, let us just remember that it is all about our God. 
 
All glory and praise are only to him.

As God’s children, Jesus asks us to have a relationship with our heavenly Father through meaningful prayers.  #Reflectonthis #DailyReflection https://youtu.be/UiJ83h5GrDw

Scripture Reading: Matthew 6: 7-15
When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words.  Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. “Pray then in this way:  Our Father in heaven,  hallowed be your name.  Your kingdom come.  Your will be done,  on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread.  And forgive us our debts,  as we also have forgiven our debtors.  And do not bring us to the time of trial,  but rescue us from the evil one.For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. 

Reflection
Jesus says, "Beware of practicing your piety before men i

February 23, 2021- Meaningful Prayer – A Reflection on Matthew 6:7-15

What was the driving force behind Jesus’ mission – and how can we make it the one behind ours? #ReflectOnThis #DailyReflection https://youtu.be/s-tiSsrYR-Q 
 
Scripture Reading  
And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him. Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”  
The Gospel of the Lord 
 
 Reflection  
The temptation of Jesus. Mark doesn’t say very much about it – he devotes all of two lines to it, but let’s just take a minute to really think about it. If we do, we’ll see that Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness was not much better than being crucified itself! Imagine being ravenously hungry, alone, with only dangerous wild animals for company – besides having to say no to Satan himself! And for over forty days! Sounds like a super extreme version of one of those survivor reality TV shows, doesn’t it – where it’s man versus wild. They send out a group of contestants into a forest far from civilization with maybe just a backpack of a few essential items, and they have to survive the dangers of the forest. Whoever survives, wins. And it's not a small prize either – the prize money itself amounts to a cool million dollars! And then there’s the respect, fame and glory. After all, who would put themselves through such torture for something that wasn't worth it? 
 
 So why did Jesus decide to go into the wilderness – what was the prize he was looking for? And was it worth it? Even though Mark doesn’t spend too much time writing about Jesus’ temptation – far less than Matthew and Luke did – he does tell us something very important that the other two gospel writers don’t. In their versions of this story, both Matthew and Luke say that Jesus was “led” by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted, but Mark writes, “The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness to be tempted.” He uses the word “drove” instead of “led”, and in doing so, immediately conveys the power of the Holy Spirit – not just as a quietly leading light, but as a powerful driving force.  
 
And if you think about it, there’s something that ‘drives’ each of the contestants of those survivor reality shows too – the need to prove themselves, a desire to be famous, the need to overcome a fear – it could be anything. It is this ‘driving force’ that causes them to sign up for the challenge – and it is also this that will take them through in the moments that they feel like giving up. For instance, if Bill signs up to impress his children who will be watching on TV, they become his driving force. And maybe when he needs to wade through a freezing lake, the thought of his children will propel him through the last leg of it! Jesus, after his baptism, was filled with one of the most powerful driving forces ever – the Holy Spirit – that compelled him to go into the wilderness. And through all that he suffered there, it was this driving force, the Holy Spirit, that kept him going and strengthened him. And all because he believed that we were worth it. 
 
 So what is our driving force? Like Jesus, we too receive the Holy Spirit at our baptism. When Jesus appeared to his disciples after his resurrection, he promised them (as he promises us), “ I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you.” ( John 14:26) We have not only been promised the Holy Spirit, the driving force behind Jesus’ own mission, but have also been assured that he will take us through our mission of proclaiming God’s word too.  
 
We need only to allow ourselves to be driven by the right force – not ambition, fame, or pride – but the Holy Spirit.  May the Force be with you, God bless.

What was the driving force behind Jesus’ mission – and how can we make it the one behind ours? #ReflectOnThis #DailyReflection https://youtu.be/s-tiSsrYR-Q

Scripture Reading
And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him. Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”
The Gospel of the Lord 

Reflection 
The temptation of Jesus. Mark doesn’t say very much about it – he devotes all of two lines to it, but let’s just take a minute to really think about it. If we do, we’ll see that Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness was not much better than being crucified itself! Imagine being ravenously hungry, alone, with only dangerous wild animals for company – besides having to say no to Satan himself! And for 

February 21st, 2021 - Driving Force - A Reflection on Mark 1:12-15

“It is not the healthy who need a doctor but the sick,” Jesus said. The church needs to be a hospital. #Reflectonthis #DailyReflection https://youtu.be/MRqa80nEL-E 
 
Scripture Reading: Luke 5:27-32 
After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,” Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him. Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” 
 
Reflection 
All around the world, churches are being sold off and converted into temples, stores, homes, and nightclubs. People are leaving the faith in droves, and for every person who comes to Christ, there are a thousand who go away. In churches across Europe — those that are still open, that is — it is common to find just a handful of people attending a Sunday service, and all of them are grey-haired. The question for any concerned Christian has to be: "Why? Why don't people want to come to Jesus anymore?" 
 
The answer, unpleasant as it might be, is us. People don't come to Jesus because those of us who call ourselves his followers do not show the face of Christ to the world. If we appear to be unmerciful, unforgiving, and unkind, people think that Christ must be like that. Do you see? We have to be like Jesus in our attitude toward people. He said, "Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). This is what people need to feel when they see us. 
 
However, we seem to have become like the Pharisees we so despise. When Jesus had a meal with people that the Pharisees considered "bad", they complained. "Why do you eat and drink with sinners?" And Jesus answered them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." Churches should be like hospitals, inviting the sick and the wounded, the bruised and the broken; not like airports where you have to show a Covid-free certificate before they let you enter. 
 
Millions of people in the world today are lonely and suffering, wounded and hurting, depressed and suicidal. They struggle with addictions and sinful habits that they want to put an end to but can't. Only Jesus can help them, but they won't find him unless we introduce him to them. But they have to see him reflected in us if we are to do this. Paul says: "As God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another as the Lord forgave you." 
 
And then he says, "And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity" (Colossians 3:12-14). God is love. Let us show people this love. And see how millions of people start packing our churches again. 
 
Before I go, I’d like to invite you to register for the next School of Discipleship starting Sunday, March 7, where we will learn how to show people this love. Classes will be held on Zoom every Sunday at 9 am GMT. This corresponds to 12 noon in Kenya, 1 pm in the Middle East, 2.30 pm in India, 5 pm in Manila, 6 pm in Japan, 8 pm in Melbourne, 10 pm in Auckland. You will find more details in the registration form. The link is https://bit.ly/hsischool. 
 
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Today's devotional — The Hospital — is based on Luke 5:27-32, the gospel reading for the day. The reflection is by Aneel Aranha, founder of Holy Spirit Interactive (HSI). Follow him on Facebook: fb.com/aneelaranha 
 
Subscribe to Daily Reflection with Aneel Aranha and receive this every morning to your WhatsApp account. Save +91 9321456817 to your contacts. Message SUBSCRIBE to this number. It’s FREE!

It is not the healthy who need a doctor but the sick,” Jesus said. The church needs to be a hospital. #Reflectonthis ...

February 20, 2021 - The Hospital - A Reflection on Luke 5:27-32 by Aneel Aranha

What’s the point of gaining the whole world but forfeiting our own self? What’s the point indeed? #Reflectonthis #DailyReflection https://youtu.be/sTwCeYyes44 
 
Scripture Reading: Luke 9:22-25 
And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.” Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? 
 
Reflection 
May I ask you to imagine something for a moment, because there is no other way to understand this correctly? Yes? Ok. Imagine you are a Jew in 1st century Palestine. You have been waiting for the Messiah for the longest time, somebody who would liberate Israel from the yoke of Roman rule and establish David's throne again. You've been following this guy called Jesus for a while now, and you've seen him do some pretty fantastic stuff. He is standing in front of you now, and he asks you a question. "Who do you say I am?" What's your answer? Well, you say, "You are the Messiah! The Savior!" Excellent. You answered what Peter answered (see Luke 9:20). 
 
Then, he tells you not to tell anybody who he is. Then, to your complete shock, he says he will suffer many things, be rejected by everybody who is anybody, and then be killed! He continues by saying that he will be raised on the third day, but you didn't hear that because all you heard was the Messiah — the SAVIOR — you and everybody else was waiting for is going to suffer and be killed! Take a minute to work your head around that. THEN, he says that if you want to continue to follow him, you gotta suffer and die too! Now wrap your head around THAT! 
 
Now, we're not Jews in 1st century Palestine waiting for the Savior to come. The Savior has come, died, and risen. All those who believe in him will not perish but have eternal life (see John 3;16). So, do we still need to suffer and die? The short answer is yes. Jesus says, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me." We all have new life in Christ, but we have to die to the "old" life to live this "new" life. There are still vestiges of the "old person" in us, and that person has to die. There are four aspects to what Jesus asks us to do. 
 
One, I must deny myself. This means choosing to follow Jesus' way, and we cannot follow his way if we want our way! Therefore, I have to deny myself. If we break it up, it becomes easier to understand. Deny MY SELF. Two, I have to take my cross. This isn't lifting life's burdens; this is dying to MY SELF. Three, I have to do it daily. We may die to something today, but it comes back to life tomorrow, so it is a daily dying to MY SELF. And, finally, four, I have to follow Jesus. This means going with him wherever he takes us. And, for what purpose all this, you might ask? 
 
Well, to live. Because, as Jesus asks, what's the point of having everything in the world to satisfy MY SELF if it means losing MYSELF for all eternity. It's a matter of life and death, quite literally. 
 
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Today's devotional — Life and Death — is based on Luke 9:22-25, the gospel reading for the day. The reflection is by Aneel Aranha, founder of Holy Spirit Interactive (HSI). Follow him on Facebook: fb.com/aneelaranha 
 
Subscribe to Daily Reflection with Aneel Aranha and receive this every morning to your WhatsApp account. Save +91 9321456817 to your contacts. Message SUBSCRIBE to this number. It’s FREE!

What's the point of gaining the whole world but forfeiting our own self? What's the point indeed? #Reflectonthis #DailyReflection ...

February 18, 2021 - Life and Death - A Reflection on Luke 9:22-25 by Aneel Aranha

The glamour of this world often encourages us to engage in practices only for public acclaim. Today’s gospel sternly cautions us about the same. #Reflectonthis #DailyReflection https://youtu.be/8xHnU-i4DLI 
 
Scripture Reading: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 
“Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you - The –Gospel of the Lord. 
 
Reflection 
‘Beware’ is how the Lord begins today’s gospel teaching, cautioning us right from the start, but what is he cautioning us about? If we read further, he goes on to give us a specific list of dos and don’ts as we journey with him through the season of lent which begins today. The passage categorically speaks about ‘rewards’, some of which we have already received, and some which our Father has reserved for us. What do all these rewards signify? Let’s find out. Lent is intended to be a time of true repentance; an opportunity to closely examine our lives, acknowledge our sins and renew our commitment to God. It helps us to cut ourselves off from the world and deepen our relationship with Jesus by walking along the path he trod. Prayer, fasting or abstinence and acts of charity are some of the practices we adopt during this period to help us develop a sense of discipline, austerity and empathy. This, consequently, serves to increase our dependence on God. Hence it is crucial to examine our motives when we adopt these practices, so that they don’t become mere rituals that have to be followed, but meaningful devotions observed with utmost humility and reverence. Our Lord has pointedly mentioned that these gracious acts need to be done discreetly and should be a personal experience between us and God - that will bring him all the glory and honor. However, if we engage in making a public display of it, insist on blowing our trumpet and posing for flashlights, all for garnering worldly acclaim, then we will relinquish the eternal rewards our Father has kept aside for us in Heaven. As Jesus says in today’s passage: you have already received your reward here on earth; you’re not gonna get another one in heaven.  We should never forget that we are ambassadors for Christ (See 2 Corinthians 5:20), so our lives should reflect his virtues. He cautions us because there are people watching who can be influenced by our words and actions; hence we must be mindful and sensitive and do nothing to let him down. “Yet even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; rend your hearts and not your clothing” (See Joel 2:12-13). He urges us to return to him with truly repentant hearts as he waits for us with open arms to receive us with love. (See Luke 15:20, Luke 15:7)  So let’s be quiet as we meaningfully begin this season of lent and allow the noise of our silence to resound in heaven. God bless you!

The glamour of this world often encourages us to engage in practices only for public acclaim. Today’s gospel sternly cautions us about the same.#Reflectonthis #DailyReflection https://youtu.be/8xHnU-i4DLI

Scripture Reading: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18
“Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenev

February 17, 2021 – Quiet Please! - A Reflection on Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

A hard heart prevents us from understanding spiritual truths. What causes it, and what’s the antidote? #Reflectonthis #DailyReflection https://youtu.be/xfdCdhRhS3I 
 
Scripture Reading: Mark 8:14-21 
The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. “Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.” They discussed this with one another and said, “It is because we have no bread.” Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?” “Twelve,” they replied. “And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?” They answered, “Seven.” He said to them, “Do you still not understand?” 
 
Reflection 
A few days ago (see February 13: Slow Learners) we reflected upon how the apostles were slow to understand what Jesus was trying to teach them. Not surprising, really, because everything he said contradicted everything they had been taught. Consequently he had to repeat lessons. One of them was multiplying a few fish and loaves to feed thousands. This was to demonstrate his ability to work miracles. The purpose was two-fold: one, to let them know who he was and what he was capable of doing; and, two, to let them know what they were capable of doing through him. 
 
After everybody was fed, there were seven basketfuls leftover. They got into a boat and set sail to the region of Dalmanutha. There, Jesus was questioned by the Pharisees, who asked him for a sign. He told them there were going to be no signs for them. Then, he got back into the boat with his apostles and set sail again. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees,” he told them. He was cautioning them about how the Pharisees’ teachings could corrupt their listeners. However, the apostles didn’t get the point. “It is because we have no bread,” they said among themselves. One can picture Jesus shaking his head in bewilderment. 
 
“Why are you talking about having no bread?” he asked. "Do you still not see or understand?” Obviously, they didn’t, and the lessons begin here in earnest. “Are your hearts hardened?” he asked. This was the problem with the apostles. A hard heart prevents us from understanding spiritual truths. A sermon in church is heard by hundreds of people, but although the message that everybody hears is the same, not everybody will understand the truths contained in it the same way. “Though seeing, they do not see,” Jesus would later say. “Though hearing, they do not hear or understand" (Matthew 13:13). 
 
So, what causes the hardening of a heart? The “heart”, incidentally, is considered to be the hub of human personality, producing things we would normally ascribe to the “mind”. So what hardens the heart? Well, sin for one. Pride for another. Setbacks and disappointments for a third. What’s the antidote? We need to confess our sins to God, asking for the grace to lead a changed life. We need to humble ourselves, especially before God. And we need to let setbacks and disappointments serve to build character, not destroy it. See Romans 5:3-5 how this can happen. 
 
And, of course, seeking God with all our heart. There’s no better antidote than this! 
 
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Today's devotional — Hard Hearts — is based on Mark 8:14-21, the gospel reading for the day. The reflection is by Aneel Aranha, founder of Holy Spirit Interactive (HSI). Follow him on Facebook: fb.com/aneelaranha 
 
Subscribe to Daily Reflection with Aneel Aranha and receive this every morning to your WhatsApp account. Save +91 9321456817 to your contacts. Message SUBSCRIBE to this number. It’s FREE!

A hard heart prevents us from understanding spiritual truths. What causes it, and what’s the antidote?  #Reflectonthis #DailyReflection https://youtu.be/xfdCdhRhS3I

Scripture Reading: Mark 8:14-21
The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. “Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.” They discussed this with one another and said, “It is because we have no bread.” Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?” “Twelve,” they replied. “And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?” They answered, “Seven.” He said to them, “Do you still not under

February 16, 2021 - Hard Hearts - A Reflection on Mark 8:14-21 by Aneel Aranha

Looking for signs? All you need to do is pick up and your Bible and open it. #Reflectonthis #DailyReflection https://youtu.be/rkRrn3uGnvg  
 
Scripture Reading: Mark 8:11-13 
The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, asking him for a sign from heaven, to test him. And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation.”  And he left them, and getting into the boat again, he went across to the other side.  
 
Reflection 
By now, Jesus has not only been teaching powerfully but has performed many miracles. Jesus knows that unless people see signs and wonders, they will not believe (see John 4:48). He has healed the sick, cast out demons, multiplied loaves and fish to feed thousands, and worked many other great wonders. Word of this had already spread over many regions.  The Pharisees would have not only heard of this, but many of them would have been a witness to these miraculous signs that could only be performed by one from God.  Despite this, the Pharisees began questioning Jesus again, asking him for a sign from heaven.  
 
Don’t we wonder as we read about this: “What more does he need to do? Why do they not believe? It is so obvious who is he, isn’t it” But then the same questions can be asked of us, don’t you think?  Even though we claim to be believers, we are continually asking for signs from heaven, aren’t we?  So, if we doubt, how are we going to talk about Jesus to anyone who does not know him. When the Pharisees asked for a sign from heaven, he deeply sighed in his spirit, asking why this generation asked for a sign? Wouldn’t Jesus be sighing even more deeply when we ask for signs because we have even more reason to believe?  
 
Our doubts and lack of faith and trust lead us to believe that we continuously need signs. After being filled with the Holy Spirit in the Upper Room, Peter said, "Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know this. (Acts 2:22). And later, he goes on to say, "Let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah” (Acts 2:36). 
 
The signs and wonders that Jesus performed are all written here. All we need to do is believe with total faith. Paul says “that by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ” (see Romans 15:19). So also, it can be with us. With the power of the Holy Spirit, we will not only be able to speak about Jesus but perform signs and wonders so that others may believe, and we may glorify God. 
 
May we believe in order that others may believe.

Looking for signs? All you need to do is pick up and your Bible and open it.  #Reflectonthis #DailyReflection https://youtu.be/rkRrn3uGnvg

Scripture Reading: Mark 8:11-13
The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, asking him for a sign from heaven, to test him. And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation.”  And he left them, and getting into the boat again, he went across to the other side.

Reflection
By now, Jesus has not only been teaching powerfully but has performed many miracles. Jesus knows that unless people see signs and wonders, they will not believe (see John 4:48). He has healed the sick, cast out demons, multiplied loaves and fish to feed thousands, and worked many other great wonders. Word of this had already spread over many regions.  The Pharisees would have not only heard of this, but many of them would have been a witness to these miraculous signs that could

February 15, 2021- SEEKING SIGNS – A Reflection on Mark 8:11-13

We can sometimes get over-enthusiastic about bring people to Jesus and exaggerate what he has done for us. There is a simpler, more effective way. #Reflectonthis #DailyReflection https://youtu.be/JiP5I9KTGQE 
 
Scripture Reading: Mark 1:40-45 
A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus was indignant. He reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed. Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: “See that you don’t tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere. 
 
Reflection 
In this passage that we have reflected upon several times before, we find a leper approaching Jesus for healing. After healing the man, Jesus sends him away with a stern warning: "See that you don't tell anyone about this." However, the man went around telling everyone he came across what had happened. As a result, Jesus couldn't enter towns freely and had to stay in isolated places. Now, two questions arise. One, why did Jesus tell the man not to tell anyone about the healing? And was the man right in disobeying Jesus? 
 
Let us answer the first question first. Why did Jesus forbid the man from speaking about the miracle? This is not the only time Jesus has stopped people from saying things that might reveal his identity or purpose. A little earlier, when he was kicking out demons, he would not let them speak because they knew who he was (see Mark 1:34). Later, he would ask his apostles, "Who do you say I am?" When Peter answered that he was the Messiah, "Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him" (Mark 8:30). So, why? 
 
The main reason was that everyone expected the Messiah they were waiting for to do something very different from what he was actually going to do. They believed the Messiah would be a liberator who would give them victory over the Roman rulers and re-establish David's throne. This is why they spread branches on the road when he entered Jerusalem, shouting, "Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!" (Mark 11:10). They would understand who he really was and what he came for only after his death and resurrection. That was the time to spread the news about his identity. Now they only wanted to make him king on earth (see John 6:15). 
 
This brings us to the second question: was the leper who was healed right in disobeying Jesus' instructions. While it is always wise to obey God, I don't know how the leper could have kept quiet about the miracle because everybody would have noticed he was healed and wanted to know how. What he could have done was keep his enthusiasm in check, and this is the lesson for us. We can get a little over-enthusiastic in telling people about Jesus and exaggerate the things he has done for us. 
 
If we want to attract people to Jesus the better — and simpler — way is simply by letting people see that Jesus has made us clean, not from leprosy but from something as leprous: sin. 
 
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Today's devotional — Made Clean — is based on Mark 1:40-45, the gospel reading for the day. The reflection is by Aneel Aranha, founder of Holy Spirit Interactive (HSI). Follow him on Facebook: fb.com/aneelaranha 
 
Subscribe to Daily Reflection with Aneel Aranha and receive this every morning to your WhatsApp account. Save +91 9321456817 to your contacts. Message SUBSCRIBE to this number. It’s FREE!

We can sometimes get over-enthusiastic about bring people to Jesus and exaggerate what he has done for us. There is a simpler, more effective way.  #Reflectonthis #DailyReflection https://youtu.be/JiP5I9KTGQE

Scripture Reading: Mark 1:40-45
A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus was indignant. He reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed. Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: “See that you don’t tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.

Reflection
In this passage that we have reflected upon several times

February 14, 2021 - Made Clean - A Reflection on Mark 1:40-45 by Aneel Aranha

Every miracle is a simple equation – x times Jesus. Can you solve for ‘x’? #ReflectOnThis #DailyReflection https://youtu.be/chhmctN_1Cw 
 
Scripture Reading 
 In those days when there was again a great crowd without anything to eat, he called his disciples and said to them, “I have compassion for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way—and some of them have come from a great distance.” His disciples replied, “How can one feed these people with bread here in the desert?” He asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven.” Then he ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground; and he took the seven loaves, and after giving thanks he broke them and gave them to his disciples to distribute; and they distributed them to the crowd. They had also a few small fish; and after blessing them, he ordered that these too should be distributed. They ate and were filled; and they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. Now there were about four thousand people. And he sent them away. And immediately he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha.  
–The Gospel of the Lord 
 
 Reflection 
 On first reading, it seems as though Gospel writer Mark had gotten a tiny bit muddled up. After all, just a little while earlier (see Mark 6:30-44) he’d written about Jesus feeding a crowd of five thousand and here was Jesus, again, feeding another large crowd in such a similar fashion that only the numbers seem different – in chapter six, it was a crowd of five thousand, fed with five loaves and two fish, with twelve basketfuls left over. Here, in chapter eight, it’s a crowd of four thousand, fed with seven loaves and a few small fish, with seven basketfuls left over. Even the method that Jesus follows to work these miracles is almost exactly the same, right from the question he asks his disciples at both times – “How many loaves do you have?” So is the same story? We may think so, but, ahh there are differences, when you look for them. So let’s look – and see why Mark thought he needed to include both of these miracles in his story. 
 
 In the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand, it is the disciples who go to Jesus when it gets dark. But here’s what they say to him “Send [the people] away so that they may go and buy something for themselves to eat”. And when he tells them, “You give them something to eat”, they respond with “Are we to go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread?” You can sense the frustration in their voices. They’re poor men, so it’s like asking, “Do you expect us to buy a hundred thousand dollars worth of bread?” They’re incredulous at what he’s asking them to do because they had just come back from a tiring mission and tried to go to a deserted place to rest and eat, but even there, the crowd had followed them to listen to Jesus. They had been working non-stop to cater to the people and it was perfectly logical for them, as it sometimes is for us, to think – “Lord, you can see I’m tired, I’m hungry and I’ve already given so much of myself. If I have to give any more, what will become of me?” Have you had any of those moments?  
 
But Jesus tells us what he told the disciples then – check your pockets, buddy. And because they did, Jesus gave them something very valuable that day – compassion. And he continues to teach them, by example, to exercise this compassion. All the miracles that follow are born out of Jesus’ compassion, for his disciples and for others – his walking on water when he sees them straining at the oars, healing the sick who touched even the fringe of his cloak, delivering the Gentile woman’s daughter from the unclean spirit and curing a deaf-mute man. 
 
 So when it’s time again to feed a large, hungry crowd, the disciples don’t ask Jesus to send them away. They’ve learnt their lesson – they understand, and probably feel, Jesus’ compassion. But while they’ve understood the why, they still haven't figured out the how! Despite all the amazing miracles that they have recently witnessed, they’re still limited by the logistics, and ask Jesus “How can one feed these people with bread here in the desert?” What they’re asking is “How can anyone feed these people?” But Jesus wasn't just anyone – he was the One. All he needed was for them to reach into their pockets with compassion, and he would provide. And so, when we find that we somehow, miraculously, have the resources to help someone else even in the middle of our own desert, we should know that it was simply because we reached within ourselves with compassion –– and Jesus took care of the rest. 
 
 
We can all be miracle makers – all it takes is a little compassion, multiplied by Jesus.  God bless you.

Every miracle is a simple equation – x times Jesus. Can you solve for ‘x’? #ReflectOnThis #DailyReflection https://youtu.be/chhmctN_1Cw

Scripture Reading
In those days when there was again a great crowd without anything to eat, he called his disciples and said to them, “I have compassion for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat.  If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way—and some of them have come from a great distance.” His disciples replied, “How can one feed these people with bread here in the desert?” He asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven.”  Then he ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground; and he took the seven loaves, and after giving thanks he broke them and gave them to his disciples to distribute; and they distributed them to the crowd. They had also a few small fish; and after blessing them, he ordered that these too should be distributed. They ate and were filled; and

February 13, 2021 - Miracle Makers - A Reflection on Mark 8:1-10

Desperate times seek desperate measures. Do those measures bring forth miracles or further desperation? #Reflectonthis #Dailyreflection  https://youtu.be/N7n42zq8ktY 
 
Scripture reading: 
From there he set out and went away to the region of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know he was there. Yet he could not escape notice, but a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately heard about him, and she came and bowed down at his feet. Now the woman was a Gentile, of Syrophoenician origin. She begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. He said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” But she answered him, “Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” Then he said to her, “For saying that, you may go—the demon has left your daughter.” So she went home, found the child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.”  
–The Gospel of the Lord.  
 
Reflection 
A Jew who is familiar with His scriptures would know well that the gentile region called Tyre was the hometown of Jezebel, the enemy of prophet Elijah (1 Kings 16:31). It is the place which witnessed the anger of the prophets Ezekiel (26: 15-17) and Zechariah (9:3). Today’s gospel is another example of how Jesus surprises His Jews by entering the region of Tyre, inspite of knowing it’s historical background. However, the element of surprise or unfamiliarity is only when you do not allow God’s word to take deep root in your heart. If you do then in good time, you will understand what God’s word and His actions truly mean.  
 
Sometimes we might have to engage with people who might come across as intimidating or rude or discouraging. In the same manner, at times when we hesitate to approach Jesus knowing how sinful we are and how holy He is, we should follow the example of the Syrophoenician woman who being a gentile shows great courage by approaching Jesus who is a Jew, and also manifests extraordinary faith by acknowledging Jesus as her Lord. As a parent, she did not allow her obvious apprehensions to forfeit the opportunity to provide something exceptional to her daughter who was in a desperate and critical situation.  
 
The Lord knows our desperation, just as He knew that of this gentile woman. But are we willing to let go of our pride or doubts and place ourselves at the Lord’s feet, like a dog at its master’s feet? Or do we take God’s love and providence for granted with limited patience and conditional faith, even when our life seems falling apart? If not, then we ought to engage with God in persistent prayer and do something with unrelenting faith, so that we experience the fruit of God’s favour upon us.  
 
 
My dear friends, even though Jesus spoke to the Syrophoenician woman in an intimidating manner, she responded with astonishing words of faith, which brought about instant freedom to her daughter from the demon which possessed her. You too might be desperate for a blessing or a healing or for deliverance. Jesus need not always say or do something in order to grant you your request. At times it is what you say or do with persistence and faith, even against all odds, which will move the Lord to grant that miracle which you desperately desire in your life.  
 
God bless you!

Desperate times seek desperate measures. Do those measures bring forth miracles or further desperation? #Reflectonthis #Dailyreflection https://youtu.be/N7n42zq8ktY

Scripture reading:
From there he set out and went away to the region of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know he was there. Yet he could not escape notice, but a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately heard about him, and she came and bowed down at his feet. Now the woman was a Gentile, of Syrophoenician origin. She begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. He said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” But she answered him, “Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” Then he said to her, “For saying that, you may go—the demon has left your daughter.” So she went home, found the child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.”
–The Gospel of the Lord.

Reflection
A Jew who is fa

February 11, 2021 - Desperate, Yet Faithful - A Reflection on Mark 7:24-30.

All of us — every single one of us — is inwardly corrupt. How do we heal the corruption? #Reflectonthis #DailyReflection https://youtu.be/TdZjy3sBoW4 
 
Scripture Reading: Mark 7:14-23 
Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.” After he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about this parable. “Are you so dull?” he asked. “Don’t you see that nothing that enters a person from the outside can defile them? For it doesn’t go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out of the body.” (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean.) He went on: “What comes out of a person is what defiles them. For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person.” 
 
Reflection 
We often focus on the external appearance of a thing and ignore its internal condition, primarily because it cannot be seen. But this can fool us into believing something is better than it actually is. For instance, what do you think when you see a car that is shining and gleaming with a fresh coat of paint? That it's in good condition, yes? Only a look under the hood will tell us if it truly is in good condition or not because, despite the shine and the gleam, the engine might be dirty and rusted and falling to pieces. If we are not careful, this can describe us: externally holy, inwardly corrupt. What are the signs of corruption? 
 
In today's passage, Jesus describes some of them: sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance, and folly. "All these evils," he says, "come from inside and defile a person" (Mark 7:23). But we know this already. What we may not realize is that all of us are internally corrupt. We sometimes get on a high horse of self-righteousness and say we have never committed murder or adultery. Let us pay heed to Jesus' words to the self-righteous Pharisees: You call somebody a fool, and you've committed murder; you think of someone with lust, and you've committed adultery (see Matthew 5:21-30). 
 
Therefore, we all need to get our internal affairs in order. The question is, how? First, we acknowledge that WE need deep cleaning. We often believe that everybody else is in need of cleansing except us, but like the song goes, "Not my brother, not my sister, but it's me, O, Lord, standing in the need of prayer." Second, we can't purify ourselves; only Christ can through the blood he shed for the forgiveness of sins. When we are washed in the blood of the lamb, we are made white as snow (see Isaiah 1:8). 
 
Third, although we are forgiven and cleansed, we will continue to struggle with temptation as long as we inhabit these bodies and will, on occasion, fall. Therefore, ongoing cleansing is required. The parts that are not purified need to be made pure. When Jesus told Peter that unless He washed Peter's feet, he could have no part of Jesus, Peter told him to wash his hands and head as well. Jesus answered, "Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean" (John 13:10). 
 
And, finally, if we become saturated in the word of God, immerse ourselves in continuous prayer, rely on supportive brothers and sisters, God will do wonderful things with our internal condition! 
........................................................................................................ 
 
Today's devotional — Internal Affairs — is based on Mark 7:14-23, the gospel reading for the day. The reflection is by Aneel Aranha, founder of Holy Spirit Interactive (HSI). Follow him on Facebook: fb.com/aneelaranha 
 
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All of us — every single one of us — is inwardly corrupt. How do we heal the corruption?  #Reflectonthis #DailyReflection https://youtu.be/TdZjy3sBoW4

Scripture Reading: Mark 7:14-23
Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.” After he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about this parable. “Are you so dull?” he asked. “Don’t you see that nothing that enters a person from the outside can defile them? For it doesn’t go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out of the body.” (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean.) He went on: “What comes out of a person is what defiles them. For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these ev

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