Day 1 of RETREAT: 14th July 2017.
Dedication: Our Lady of Mt. Carmel.
Retreat: Hope Centre – Amboli
(Speaker: Fr. Ashlyn)
The theme: Contemplative Thinking.
Retreat: Hope Centre – Amboli
(Speaker: Fr. Ashlyn)
The theme: Contemplative Thinking.
We begin at 9:00 am. I was at the place at 08:05 not knowing the time. This is my first Retreat and my very first day.
- We are always thinking hence it is crucial to become aware of what we think.
- We think even in sleep.
- We must observe what happens each and every time we become aware of a thought.
- We must think in silence.
At the Eucharistic Adoration Fr. Ashlyn told us to think and become more aware.
We were instructed to write down all our thoughts, especially the ones that trouble us. We were asked to invite Jesus into our thoughts and ask Jesus to heal us as we become more aware with our process of thoughts. We were told to write them down in a book. We were to bring the book with us when our name is called out. Time mentioned for the talk was 10 minutes. And Fr. Ashlyn mentioned that it could go even up to 15 minutes on day 2. Even before Fr. Ashlyn could mention to write down our thoughts I had already written this.
We were instructed to write down all our thoughts, especially the ones that trouble us. We were asked to invite Jesus into our thoughts and ask Jesus to heal us as we become more aware with our process of thoughts. We were told to write them down in a book. We were to bring the book with us when our name is called out. Time mentioned for the talk was 10 minutes. And Fr. Ashlyn mentioned that it could go even up to 15 minutes on day 2. Even before Fr. Ashlyn could mention to write down our thoughts I had already written this.
'Life is full of surprises. As Fr. Ashlyn has told us to become aware I see myself standing by the window. I look at the greenery around me and the pretty white flowers.
Every 1st Saturday when we stand below the tree I have never thought about which tree is the one giving me shade. Today I got the room 204 (I share with 2 other roommates). And as I get to the passageway and I gaze at the tree I come to know it’s the Chikoo tree (reminds me of the tree my grandmother had planted in Mangalore). Only when I come to the ground floor do I realize that on all the other Saturdays it never dawned on me to come to even want to know under whose shade I stand. It’s raining heavy and I feel God’s wonderfulness around me. I am at Peace. I find this is what God desires of me to feel His presence, His awesomeness in everything I do. And I love Him so. I have to rise through my hurt to understand the love of Christ. I stand under the shade of God.'
This is what I wrote prior to everything that Fr. Ashlyn told us. Fr. Ashlyn asked us to write down our problems whatever comes to mind in the presence of Jesus. Jesus strictly asked me to not write anything. I obeyed.
But when Fr. Ashlyn made the announcement that everyone has to write I was terrified, because I was in obedience to Jesus and I had not written anything. I did not want to disobey Fr. Ashlyn either. How do I explain myself?
And in obedience to Fr. Ashlyn, Jesus reminded what I had written just some moments back and to take it to Fr. Ashlyn. Praise God!
We prayed the Rosary together.
07:00 p.m Fr. Ashlyn & Fr. Samuel.
Mark 4:35-41 Gospel:
JESUS AMIDST THE STORM. There is a sudden storm in the lake. Jesus was
asleep. This is also a reminder that Jesus had His complete faith in His
Father.
The fishing boat is about to drown. The disciples were experienced fishermen, who had been on the lake in storms before. But now they are afraid. This indicates the severity of this storm. There is fear and chaos in the boat. “Lord, save us” was an urgent request.
Jesus rebuked their weak faith. Their request shows that they had faith that He could save them. But they were in a panic. He did not rebuke them for waking Him to ask Him to save them, but for waking Him in fear. The circumstances of the storm terrified them and they thought they were going to drown. The question, “Why are you afraid?” is meant to tell them that since He was there they had nothing to fear.
Then, after this Jesus rebuked the winds and the waves and they became calm. Jesus demonstrated that He has the power of Heaven at His command. He might truly be a man, but He is also clearly the “Son of Man”. This was the Messiah, the Son of God and ‘Nothing is impossible for Him’.
This being only a storm, is a symptom of something else about nature. Jesus command was not only to calm the storm on the sea, but also to calm their {and our} fears. Fr. Ashlyn during the Eucharistic Adoration asked us to invite Jesus into the troubled areas of our life and ask Jesus to heal our wounds. (When Jesus is at the helm of the boat we need not be afraid. Jesus will steer us through all troubles. Jesus is with us always). Jesus had rebuked His disciple’s faith in order to show a weakness that He alone could resolve.
Their response is amazement! Here is a man having dominion over the earth and the sea. Jesus calmed the storm even though they had “little faith.”
Look for Jesus in the storm and let Him fill you and me with the peace that comes from knowing He is here.
Explained as homily by Fr. Ashlyn and also during the Bible study.
The fishing boat is about to drown. The disciples were experienced fishermen, who had been on the lake in storms before. But now they are afraid. This indicates the severity of this storm. There is fear and chaos in the boat. “Lord, save us” was an urgent request.
Jesus rebuked their weak faith. Their request shows that they had faith that He could save them. But they were in a panic. He did not rebuke them for waking Him to ask Him to save them, but for waking Him in fear. The circumstances of the storm terrified them and they thought they were going to drown. The question, “Why are you afraid?” is meant to tell them that since He was there they had nothing to fear.
Then, after this Jesus rebuked the winds and the waves and they became calm. Jesus demonstrated that He has the power of Heaven at His command. He might truly be a man, but He is also clearly the “Son of Man”. This was the Messiah, the Son of God and ‘Nothing is impossible for Him’.
This being only a storm, is a symptom of something else about nature. Jesus command was not only to calm the storm on the sea, but also to calm their {and our} fears. Fr. Ashlyn during the Eucharistic Adoration asked us to invite Jesus into the troubled areas of our life and ask Jesus to heal our wounds. (When Jesus is at the helm of the boat we need not be afraid. Jesus will steer us through all troubles. Jesus is with us always). Jesus had rebuked His disciple’s faith in order to show a weakness that He alone could resolve.
Their response is amazement! Here is a man having dominion over the earth and the sea. Jesus calmed the storm even though they had “little faith.”
Look for Jesus in the storm and let Him fill you and me with the peace that comes from knowing He is here.
Explained as homily by Fr. Ashlyn and also during the Bible study.
JOSEPH AND BROTHERS.
Joseph was the first son born to Jacob through Rachel, and therefore, he was his father’s favourite son. This favouritism caused Joseph to be hated by his brothers. Favouritism is everywhere and sometimes it can get to our head.
The worst he could do was tell them his dreams which seemed to indicate that Joseph’s older brothers would be his servants, and it only made them hate him more. He believed what the Lord had spoken, and he immediately announced it to his family. This hatred made his brothers end up throwing him into a pit and then selling him to the traders headed to Egypt. Jacob’s sons used goat’s blood on Joseph’s robes to deceive their father of his death.
Joseph was the first son born to Jacob through Rachel, and therefore, he was his father’s favourite son. This favouritism caused Joseph to be hated by his brothers. Favouritism is everywhere and sometimes it can get to our head.
The worst he could do was tell them his dreams which seemed to indicate that Joseph’s older brothers would be his servants, and it only made them hate him more. He believed what the Lord had spoken, and he immediately announced it to his family. This hatred made his brothers end up throwing him into a pit and then selling him to the traders headed to Egypt. Jacob’s sons used goat’s blood on Joseph’s robes to deceive their father of his death.
Joseph finds himself as the slave in the household of Potiphar. Joseph’s master soon appointed him manager over his entire house. The master’s wife began to solicit him to lie with her, but Joseph refused. Potiphar’s wife persisted in her seduction of Joseph. He was falsely accused of attempting to rape his master’s wife and was sentenced to jail on false accusations? But Joseph was a righteous man and he trusted God.
Joseph interprets the dreams of two other prisoners. After this he asks the butler to remember him with Pharaoh so that he may gain release from prison.
Pharaoh has a dream that cannot be interpreted by any of his wise man and magicians. Pharaoh sends for Joseph to give him an interpretation of his dream. Joseph interprets Pharaoh’s dream that there will be seven years of plenty, and seven of famine, and that Egypt should prepare by storing up food for the lean years that were coming.
This proposal seemed good to Pharaoh. Joseph is then elevated to the ranks of the second most powerful man in the whole of Egypt.
Famine has struck the land of Canaan, and Jacob sends his sons to Egypt to buy grain. Joseph now begins to see the plan that God has put in place, a plan to save.
This bowing down fulfilled Joseph’s dreams, the same dreams that got him thrown in a pit in the first place. It was the dream that angered his brothers that led to him being sold into slavery that led to him being accused of attempted rape and thrown in jail, then to the palace of Pharaoh, and now as governor of all Egypt. A long journey, God’s plan for Joseph was ready to bear fruit, but only if Joseph cooperated.
Joseph calls his brothers spies and has them all thrown in jail. While pretending to need an interpreter, he overhears their remorse for how they treated their brother. Joseph is moved to tears. Joseph holds Simeon hostage. The other nine brothers return to Jacob and tell him that they must return to Egypt with Benjamin, but Jacob is unwilling to risk his youngest son. Jacob and his family run out of food and after much convincing sends Benjamin to Egypt.
When they tried to return to Canaan Joseph has Benjamin arrested for stealing. After listening to Judah’s insistence to take the place for his younger brother, Joseph can’t take it anymore and reveals himself to his brothers.
They had sold him into slavery 17 years earlier. Joseph understands that he was put into the position he’s in for this moment. God preordained this exact moment. Joseph has forgiven his brothers and he tells them not to be angry with themselves because this was all in God’s plan.
SUMMARY:
- Joseph knew his dreams were God’s purpose and plan for his life.
- To know his brothers hated him-that they would sell him out?
- To be 17 - To never waver. Joseph kept his eyes on God, and He used Joseph greatly. What an encouragement to all of us.
- Sometimes some of our fiercest opposition will come from those close to us. It did for Joseph.
- Joseph understood that what God had spoken to him and declared about him was true no matter what the circumstances indicated.
- True prosperity is in knowing that God is with us, that His vision is alive in our heart. It is God’s favor, anointing, and power that work in our life.
- Serve with praise and thankfulness, knowing that God will complete what He has begun in our life.
- Joseph lived a God-dependent life, and he lived it in the midst of great adversity.
- Promotion had truly come from God. Its 17 years after the time that his purpose was revealed and before it was fulfilled. It’s easier to be impatient. But don’t give up and don’t give in.
- Joseph remained dependent on God, and he never lost his way in the midst of such power and wealth.
- Joseph had 9 years in power before his brothers came to Egypt seeking help. He could have got impatient; he could have done just about anything.
- If we seek to do Gods will then everything will work out. God brought the dream to fulfilment!
- We have to remember each of us is created with a Divine Purpose in Will! God Speaks, LISTEN!
After the mass – we had the Eucharistic Adoration till 10:00 (I am not sure of the time).
I had the most troubled day and considering this was my first Retreat-1st day, thank God, God made me make it through.
Day 2 of RETREAT: 15th July 2017.
We begin at 6:00 a.m. with The Eucharistic Adoration. We pray the Rosary
with the first 2-3 decades and then the other 2 decades are said as the day
proceeds.
Fr. Ashlyn began with the topic King Baby and how KB wants everything
and how the KB is in each one of us.
Babies love the warmth, security, comfort of the
womb. Babies have all their primary needs taken care of. Babies cry as a demand
for food, attention, care and expect to get it to feel secure. Once
into adulthood, most of the KB mentality is replaced. However, some people tend to overgrow physically while sticking to the selfish notion of the ‘King Baby'. Big Babies want someone for them at all times.
KING BABY is:
- Their needs come first with no concern for others
- My way ....
- Extreme EGO/PRIDE and ANGER.
- Dependency on others
- Feeling misjudged and unappreciated
- Superiority that act as a cover for insecurity
- Jumping to conclusions
Fr. Ashlyn spoke on COMMUNICATION. And I wanted to ask Fr. Ashlyn on Compassion, but it remained unsaid... I have added it here, Fr. Ashlyn had stressed on this point during the Bible study, this is what I wanted to ask, because nobody thought about compassion with regards to communication, but it is important. Communication is between 2 or more people. The modes of communication are:-
Verbal communication is dependent on our tone. The words we speak, how we speak - are used to convey a message to the person across. In verbal communication the person may be face/face or maybe miles away, thus words are of the utmost importance. The tone must be a happy one.
Non-verbal communication Choose your words very carefully. Words when read remain in memory far longer than when we speak. When we write we think, when we speak we don’t think as much. Hence be very careful with words. Sign language is a part of non-verbal communication.
Listening The most important aspect of any communication is to listen. To me this is the most crucial aspect of any communication. When you listen to a person – when you actually listen you have opened a Gateway of communication that is beyond the Stars. There are people I may have never spoken with. But when they open up I never ask them anything they don’t want to tell.
I listen to them when they have not spoken.
Understand If you do not carry any agendas on you I promise you this-you will understand what the person is trying to speak, when they don’t speak at all. Actually to listen and to understand is a handshake because I repeat both go hand in hand.
Emotions They play a big role in all modes of communication. When sad, hurt or angry, the best thing to do is avoid all means of communication for or till the time that one can be calm. Because the words we use will in more than one way speak of the mindset that we were in at the time of communicating.
Compassion At the grave of Lazarus, Jesus wept. The apostle Paul said, "Weep with those who weep." The scribes and pharisees were proud and corrupt; they despised the common people, but Jesus had compassion on them, and He taught and loved them.
I can let the bad that people do affect me and I can get bitter or I could let those experiences that people throw on me teach me so that I could learn and with God's grace get to be better. And most important in this journey to life is to be like Jesus, to have compassion at all times especially on people who do the wrong to you. Don't worry, my sweet person everything will come in time.
Just remember in your encounter today with a person, you don't really know what that person has been through. That person could have faced something that we know nothing about. So please be the face of Jesus to this person who needs you. Do that and you will have understood compassion. It's not the big things we have to do, but it is usually the small things that we think are insignificant are actually a gigantic leap. Tread carefully!
Gospel John 20:24-28 - JESUS APPEARS TO THOMAS.
“Doubting Thomas” doubted the other disciples, when they told him that Jesus was alive (the resurrection)!
Thomas said “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
Thomas great courageous words, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”
On Easter Sunday Jesus was raised from the dead
- When all the disciples were in a locked room together, Jesus appeared to them. Jesus said “Peace be with you.” He showed them His hands and His side? The Disciples were overjoyed when they saw Him. Thomas missed seeing Jesus. The Disciples tried to tell Thomas about it later. Thomas doubted what they said.
- The next Sunday Jesus appeared to His Disciples again
- This time Thomas was there too!
- Jesus showed Thomas His hands and His side
- Jesus told Thomas, “Stop doubting, and believe.”
- Thomas said to Jesus, “My Lord and my God!”
God is LOVE! Forgiving requires calling forth the strongest love contained within the human soul.
The Lord orders JONAH to go to Nineveh and preach repentance. Jonah did not want to go because he was afraid that if he did go with his message they would believe and repent. But Jonah ran the other way, he found it hard to digest that God was going to bless his enemies.
The Lord orders JONAH to go to Nineveh and preach repentance. Jonah did not want to go because he was afraid that if he did go with his message they would believe and repent. But Jonah ran the other way, he found it hard to digest that God was going to bless his enemies.
Jonah flees in the opposite direction and boards a ship in Tarshish. In his disobedience Jonah was determined to go as far as he possibly could go.
Just after the ship leaves, a great storm arises. Jonah is asleep and God commands the sea to rage. The storm is dark, violent, and deadly. Only when it appears that all is lost does he confess his identity and asks to be hurled into the ocean so that the ocean will cease raging. A sacrifice to save others, Jonah must believe that the ship is in danger of breaking up and that the mens' lives will be saved if his is lost at sea.
Just after the ship leaves, a great storm arises. Jonah is asleep and God commands the sea to rage. The storm is dark, violent, and deadly. Only when it appears that all is lost does he confess his identity and asks to be hurled into the ocean so that the ocean will cease raging. A sacrifice to save others, Jonah must believe that the ship is in danger of breaking up and that the mens' lives will be saved if his is lost at sea.
Instead of drowning, Jonah is swallowed whole by a fish. For three days, Jonah is in the belly of the fish. Jonah concludes that "Deliverance is the Lord's!" God forgives Jonah and he is blown by the winds back to the land.
After Jonah is released, he obeys God's second command and goes to Nineveh. Nineveh was well known for its violence. Yet Nineveh represents a second chance to hear and obey the Lord. The people and their king repent. God decides to save them from destruction. But Jonah is not pleased with the outcome. God forgives everyone.
Jonah paid the full fare and did not get to the end of his journey.
Jonah paid the full fare and did not get to the end of his journey.
Moses was conceived during a time of great persecution by the Egyptians, a time in which the young male children were being thrown into the river to die. When Moses was born, his mother hid him for 3 months. She made a little boat of bulrushes and placed Moses in it and set it in the reeds by the river's brink. Then she stationed Moses' sister, Miriam, at a distance to watch. She trusted the matter to God, allowing Him to do as He wished with her and the child.
The daughter of Pharaoh came down to the river and when she saw the basket in the water she sent her maids to fetch it. When it was opened she saw the baby. He was crying. This so touched her that she determined to raise him. But obviously the child needed a nurse.
Miriam, who had been watching from a distance, came forward and asked "Shall I go and call you a nurse from the Hebrew women, to nurse the child for you?" "Go," said the princess.
At this point Moses’ mother would have done anything to keep him. Instead Pharaoh's daughter gave her the child, declaring, "Take this baby and nurse him for me, and I will give you your wages" Exodus 2:9 The point is Moses mother went God's way-she did God's will. God paid the fare, and she got everything.
When you run away from the Lord you never get to where you are going, and you always pay your own fare (could be anything other than money). But when you go the Lord's way you always get to where you are going, and He pays the fare.
When God calls you, when it is His will, all you have to do is just show up. That's it! Simple isn't it?
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