Confession of St Peter the Apostle

 The Lord is my shepherd;

I shall not want.

(Psalm 23: 1)

Promise Verse

 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted 

and saves those who are crushed in spirit

(Psalm 34:18)

Promise Verse

 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, 

I will fear no evil, for you are with me; 

your rod and your staff, they comfort me

(Psalm 23:4)

Promise Verse

 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, 

as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 

since you know that you will receive an 

inheritance from the Lord as a reward

(Colossians 3:23-24)

Promise Verse

 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, 

according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church 

and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen

(Ephesians 3:20-21)

Promise Verse

 May He give you the desire of your heart 

and make all your plans succeed

(Psalm 20:4)

First Sunday after the Epiphany

 

The Baptism of our Lord

Baptism of Lord Jesus is a significant event, marking the beginning of His public ministry. This moment also reveals Jesus’ identity as the Son of God.

"And when Jesus was baptized, immediately He went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on Him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, 'This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.'"
— Matthew 3:16-17

God created man to be His own, His own children. But sin came between man and God and man became unholy. God chooses a people called Israel to be His chosen ones, but still they went against The Lord.

Even though God was sad regarding the sins of His people, He gave them sacrifices to have cleansing from the sin. But every sacrifice was temporary. So, He decided to provide His people an ultimate sacrifice so that the mankind can become righteous and have communion with Him. God came himself as a human and obeyed the Laws and then took all the punishments that we have done and became an ultimate sacrifice to cleanse our sins and make us righteous.

The people of Israel were rescued by God from Egypt and through supernatural miracle God helped parting the red sea to cross them on dry ground. God wanted them to leave the life in Egypt, to leave the life as a slave and be the chosen ones to possess the promised land.

God came to the world in the form of man – Jesus Christ. He was born as a child and He grew up and became an adult. He wanted to show to the world about how we need to be born again in Him.

Before Jesus’ public ministry, He studied the word, obeyed it and then He came and took baptism from John the Baptist.

This moment symbolizes that we are leaving our sins by accepting Jesus who became our saviour through the ultimate sacrifice He had done on the cross. Same way as Israel left Egypt where they were slaves, we are leaving the evil ways in which we were slaves and starting our new life. It means that we have killed our evil ways and are being resurrected as a new person in Christ, same way how Christ was resurrected from the dead.

Through baptism we are being called to life a holy life pleasing to God. We are also been called as His children, His chosen people, the New Israel.

Baptism marked the beginning of Jesus’ mission to proclaim the Kingdom of God. Similarly, our baptism is a call to live out our faith in action, to life a moral life that can influence people to Jesus.

May The Lord provide you His Spirit to accept Him and be baptised and be a blessing and an example. May The Lord bless you!

First Sunday after the Epiphany

 The Lord gives strength to his people;

    the Lord blesses his people with peace.

(Psalm 29: 11)

Promise Verse

 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, 

and all these things will be given to you as well

(Matthew 6:33)

Promise Verse

 Commit your way to the Lord; 

trust in him and he will do this.

(Psalm 37:5)

Promise Verse

 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, 

but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. 

Then you will be able to test and

approve what God’s will is - 

his good, pleasing and perfect will.

(Romans 12: 2)

Bible study - About the Laws

 

Law shows us that we are lost because of our sins. Whatever God has written in the law, we have disobeyed it and that disobedience in sin, and the penalty for sin is eternal death.

“For there is not a just man on earth who does good and does not sin” – Ecclesiastes 7: 20.

In fact, in the Old Testament the blessing and curses God gave to His people, Israel, He warns them that the ones who disobeys the laws, curses will be upon them and their generations.

Traffic Laws are given to the citizens to obey, so that everyone will have a safer travel. It decreases the accidents and people will be much safer than when there are no rules. Same way, the Laws of life that has been given to us by God is to make sure that we have a healthy and a blessed life.

Those who obey God’s commandments and Laws will be blessed physically, spiritually and financially. “Godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come” – 1 Timothy 4: 8. God loves the ones who try to obey His laws, and so He can bless them for generations.

God wants us to obey all His commandments. He wants us to obey all, not only in our actions but in our hearts also. “Therefore, you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect” – Matthew 5: 48. But because of sin, no one is able to obey Lord’s commandments fully. “They have all turned aside, they have together become corrupt; There is none who does good, No, not one” – Psalm 14: 3. Noone is righteous according to the Law.

But commandments and Laws are actually good for mankind. It helps us to live life carefully. Especially it helps us to know about the sins. It is almost like a mirror for us to see and evaluate our life. “I would not have known sin except through law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, you shall not covet” – Romans 7: 7.

Laws tech us how to live a life pleasing to God.

“How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word” – Psalm 119: 9.

So, it is important to study each commandment thoroughly. With that we will understand the heart and desires of God and we will be able to try and live a life pleasing to Him.

May The Lord bless you!

Promise Verse

 I can do all this through him who gives me strength

(Philippians 4:13)

Epiphany

 

"When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary His mother, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered Him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh."

— Matthew 2:10-11

Epiphany is a Christian feast day that we think about the visitation of Magi to infant Jesus and it also signifies the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles.

Gentiles means all the ones who are not Jews. In this day we celebrate the revelation of God incarnate as Jesus Christ to save the world.

Earlier People of Israel were chosen to be the people of God through Abraham. But God always had a plan to use His people, Israel to show the saviour to the world. But since they became corrupted and walked away from God’s presence, at the appointed time, God revealed His son to the world as the saviour to mankind.

The journey of Magi symbolizes the search of mankind for truth and God. Magi, who was not a chosen people came to see Jesus which symbolizes that the non-Jews are eligible to be called and worship the God through Jesus. Magi coming from distant lands, represent the nations of the world being drawn to the light of Christ, which is the star they saw in the sky.

In short, Epiphany emphasizes the universal truth of salvation, as Jesus came not only for the Jews but for people of all nations.

Since Jesus came to this evil world, obeyed the commandments which we are supposed to obey, and then took the punishment for the sins, which we are supposed to take, it is our duty to accept Jesus as our saviour. For salvation, we don’t need to climb mountains, or do any things of our own. Only way is to repent on the sins you have done and ask God to forgive you in Jesus’ name, who took all the punishments for your sin. Be a new child of God

May The Lord Bless you!

Promise Verse

 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and 

lean not on your own understanding; 

in all your ways submit to him, 

and he will make your paths straight

(Proverbs 3:5-6)

The Epiphany

 Arise, shine, for your light has come,

    and the glory of the Lord rises upon you

(Isaiah 60: 1)

Second Sunday After Christmas

Jesus - Light of the World

 The Christmas season is over and the decorations might be coming down. We need to know that the light that Christ gave is always on. It continues to shine brightly. Jesus is the light of the world who came to provide us love, joy, peace, hope and salvation (John 8: 12). He gives His salvation to the ones who believes in Him.

Since we have celebrated Christmas, the birthday of Jesus, it doesn’t mean that it is just another historical event. His birth is a revelation of God’s love to transform our lives. He came to bring the light of God’s glory into this dark world.

After the first sin, the world as you know became sinful and corrupted. This world has been under the attack and curse of demonic powers. God gave different ways for people to come out of this bondage, but they were not able to because of their sins. Finally, at the appointed time, as prophesized, He sent His beloved son Jesus to the world as a human child, suffered all the problems that humans suffer, but He kept himself pure, and finally He took all the punishment for the sins which all of us did.

Jesus reminds us that it is vain to go behind any idols for our peace, but God himself came in search for us to give us peace.

When we understand the sacrifice He had done for us even after he obeyed all the laws, we have to acknowledge Him and His salvation. Anyone can believe in Jesus, even satan knows about Jesus. But salvation and hope are given to a person who acknowledges his sins, and believes that there is no way to come out of these sins, even sacrifices won’t be able to make us pure. Salvation is received when you repent your sins in front of God and accept the fact that Christ took the punishment for your sins and because of Christ’s sacrifice for your sins, you are cleansed by His blood and because you are cleansed by His blood you become righteous before God. There is no need to go anywhere to get the salvation. You need to be where you are and accept this fact and sin no more.

Once you are saved, through Jesus you receive grace to overcome sin and truth to guide your paths in this confusing and sinful world. The moment you are saved, it’s your duty to be beacons of light in this world, reflecting love and compassion to those around.

I pray that in this new year, you will reflect this light that Christ gave and walk through the joy and sorrows and invite everyone to have this light and eternal life. May The Lord bless you.

Second Sunday after Christmas

 Lord Almighty,

    blessed is the one who trusts in you

(Psalm 84: 12)

Promise Verse

 I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future

(Jeremiah 29:11)

Promise Verse

 Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. 

They will soar on wings like eagles; 

they will run and not grow weary, 

they will walk and not be faint

(Isaiah 40:31)

Promise Verse

 If anyone is in Christ, 

the new creation has come: 

The old has gone, the new is here!

(2 Corinthians 5:17)

Feast of The Holy Name - New Year Blessings

 The Lord bless you

    and keep you;

the Lord make his face shine on you

    and be gracious to you;

the Lord turn his face toward you

    and give you peace

(Numbers 6: 24-26)

The Holy Name - New Year Blessings - 2025

 

"Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

— Philippians 2:9-11

Happy New Year