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

If your mother had aborted you, you wouldn’t be reading this right now. Think about that as you think about why Rachel still weeps. #Reflectonthis #DailyReflection https://youtu.be/5JqjmIkfP2Y 
 
Scripture Reading: Matthew 2:13-18 
Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, “Out of Egypt I have called my son.” 
When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah: “A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they are no more.” 
 
Reflection 
"A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled because they are no more." Jeremiah's prophecy came to pass 2,000 years ago when a power-crazy ruler slaughtered hundreds of male children because he believed Jesus would grow up to overthrow his kingdom. Today, Rachel continues to weep. So who is Rachel? And why does she weep? 
 
Rachel was the wife of Old Testament patriarch Jacob. After her first child, she didn't conceive for the longest time. When she finally did, it was only to die giving birth to Benjamin (see Genesis 30:1, 35:18, 19). She was buried at Ramah, near Bethlehem. A few years later, during the Jewish people's deportation to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar, many of the Israelites were detained at Ramah. Those too old or too weak to make the journey to Babylon were killed. Rachel, a kind of mother figure in the Old Testament, is said to have raised her head from her tomb and lamented the slaughter of the people. 
 
Many years later, in the story we read today, Rachel would mourn the slaughter of some more innocents who were killed by King Herod. But Rachel continues to weep today, even more bitterly, because innocents continue to be slaughtered in greater numbers than ever before in human history through the abortion of babies in the wombs of their mothers. The numbers are so huge they boggle comprehension. More than 1.5 billion babies have been aborted in the last fifty years. And this year — just this year — over 40 million babies have been murdered. 
 
We find the number of people who die in wars, terrorist attacks, and natural calamities horrifying. Yet, we don't seem to be affected by the vast number of babies being put to death? Why? Partly because we have been led to believe that what is growing within the mother's womb is not human life and partly because we have become so calloused by sin, taking life doesn't seem to be an important thing, anymore! And we are taking life. We had recorded a video a few years ago that will shed more light on the subject. Please watch it. And share it. 
 
It could save somebody's life. https://youtu.be/PVI5dj32BCY 
 
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Today's devotional — Rachel Still Weeps — is based on Matthew 2:13-18, 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!

If your mother had aborted you, you wouldn’t be reading this right now. Think about that as you think about why Rachel still weeps.  #Reflectonthis #DailyReflection https://youtu.be/5JqjmIkfP2Y

Scripture Reading: Matthew 2:13-18
Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, “Out of Egypt I have called my son.”
When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet 

December 28, 2020 - Rachel Still Weeps - A Reflection on Matthew 2:13-18

We are not great on patience, but good things come to those who wait. Especially those who wait on the Lord! #Reflectonthis #DailyReflection https://youtu.be/gVNERckJg1E 
 
Scripture Reading: Luke 2:22-40 
When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord”), and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.” [Please read the rest of the passage from your Bible] 
 
Reflection 
Simeon was a righteous and devout man. The Holy Spirit had told him that he would not die before he saw the Messiah. We don’t know when he was told this, but it was presumably many years before Jesus was born. And what joy for him to finally behold the promised Messiah. His waiting had paid off. We are not very good at waiting, especially when we have these extended periods of darkness like we are in a tunnel and there is no end in sight. If you are going through this now, here is a bit of Scriptural advice that may help. 
 
One: Don’t trust in your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us to “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.” This means we should rely on God’s wisdom rather than our own. As Paul said, “The foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom” (1 Corinthians 1:25). Two: Put your hope in God’s word. Psalms 130:5 says, “I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.” The word of God will not disappoint us because God keeps his word. 
 
Three: Know that God hears you. Sometimes it seems like God is deaf to our cries, but he isn’t. We need to have the confidence of Micah, who declared, “But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me” (Micah 7:7). Four: Wait with expectant hope. It’s like the expectation of a pregnant woman. It’s a nine-month wait for her baby to be born, but she knows that she will soon have the joy of holding a newborn in her hands. So, let us cry with the psalmist: “In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly” (Psalm 5:3). 
 
Five: know that God will take you through because he is with you. One of the most beautiful psalms David ever wrote was when he said the Lord was his shepherd. Remember it? The second half goes something like this: “Even though I walk through the valley of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Psalm 23). 
 
Say Amen! 
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Today's devotional — The Long Wait — is based on Luke 2:22-40, 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 are not great on patience, but good things come to those who wait. Especially those who wait on the Lord!  #Reflectonthis #DailyReflection https://youtu.be/gVNERckJg1E

Scripture Reading: Luke 2:22-40
When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord”), and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.” [Please read the rest of the passage from your Bible]

Reflection
Simeon was a righteous and devout man. The Holy Spirit had told him that he would not die before he saw the Messiah. We don’t know when he was told this, but it was presumably many years before Jesus was born. And what joy for him to finally behold the promised Messiah. His waiting had paid off. We are not very good at waiting, especially when we have these ext

December 27, 2020 - The Long Wait - A Reflection on Luke 2:22-40

Following Christ is more than going for a weekly church service; it is following him to the death. #Reflectonthis #DailyReflection https://youtu.be/ZLvDrN4ycdg 
 
Scripture Reading: Matthew 10:17-22 
Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues; and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the Gentiles. When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 
 
Reflection 
This might seem a bizarre reading following Christmas Day, but today we celebrate the feast of Stephen, the first Christian martyred for Christ. We can find his fascinating story in Acts 6 and 7. Here is the story in a nutshell. The church had begun to grow, and the number of disciples was increasing. However, despite being blessed, people started complaining about the tiffin service: they were not being served food! The fault lay with the apostles who were not only preaching; they were serving food! Talk about humility. 
 
But the multitasking wasn’t working effectively anymore, not with the numbers of disciples increasing. So the apostles decided to appoint the task of distributing food to others. They gathered the disciples and told them to choose seven men from among them who were known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom to wait on tables! (see Acts 6:3). Seriously? Yes! Seriously! We believe “anointed” men and women of God should preach and teach and do other “glamorous” work, but here we find anointed people being told to wait on tables. 
 
Anyway, one of the seven chosen was Stephen, described as “a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 6:5). Now when he was not serving food, Stephen went about preaching the gospel, and great signs and wonders accompanied him. Needless to say, some people got jealous, and they trumped-up charges against him and brought him before the Sanhedrin, where he delivered a long sermon. He wasn’t very diplomatic, and they became furious with him. Scripture says they “gnashed their teeth at him.” God chose that moment to give Stephen a vision of Jesus standing at his right hand. And Stephen decided to share this with the Jews. Totally enraged now, they hauled him out of the city and began stoning him. 
 
And “while they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” (Does that sound familiar?) When he had said this, he fell asleep” (Acts 7:59-60). Which is a nicer way of saying he died. This brings me to what Jesus said today to those he was sending out to preach the good news. “They will persecute you because you preach the gospel. They will hate you because of my name. But the one who endures will be saved.” 
 
And you thought following Christ was just going for Sunday service? :) 
 
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Today's devotional — The Anointed! — is based on Matthew 10:17-22, 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!

Following Christ is more than going for a weekly church service; it is following him to the death.  #Reflectonthis #DailyReflection https://youtu.be/ZLvDrN4ycdg

Scripture Reading: Matthew 10:17-22
Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues; and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the Gentiles. When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

Reflection
This might seem a bizarre reading following Christmas Day, but today we celebrate the feast of Stephen, the first Christian martyred for

December 26, 2020 - The Anointed! - A Reflection on Matthew 10:17-22

In the cacophony of life, how can we expect to hear the soft voice of God speaking to us? We need to go into silent mode. #Reflectonthis #DailyReflection https://youtu.be/Drk2gQ2FVD4 
 
Scripture Reading: Luke 1:67-79 
Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke this prophecy: 
“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them. He has raised up a mighty savior for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us. Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors, and has remembered his holy covenant, the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham, to grant us that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. 
And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins. By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” 
 
Reflection 
In today's passage, Zechariah recites a canticle that has become known as the Benedictus. It receives its name from the Latin translation of the canticle's first word, "Blessed." "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel" translates as "Benedictus Dominus Deus Israel." The canticle is divided into two parts. The first part is thanksgiving for the realization of the prophecies about the Messiah. The second part is an address by Zechariah to his son and the role he would play in the salvation story. But let us reflect on something else. 
 
There are many stories in Scripture where the blind begin to see and the dumb start to talk, but then we can expect such stories when we have a God who heals. There are, however, also stories where those who see are made blind, and those who talk are made dumb. The great apostle Paul was struck blind when he was on his way to Damascus to persecute the Christians (see Acts 9:1-19). And, of course, we know of Zechariah, who was struck dumb when he expressed disbelief at God's word that he was going to become a father. 
 
Zechariah presumably became deaf as well because, after John was born, Scripture says, "They made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child" (Luke 1:62). So, we have a normal man who suddenly finds he cannot speak or hear. What do you think he went through? His first reaction would, perhaps, be to kick himself for his foolishness. As a priest who was very close to God, he should have known better than to doubt. But I think as time went by, he began to realize that in God's rebuke was a reward. Unable to speak or hear, he can ponder and pray in the silence of his mind, and when he is finally able to talk, his canticle is a fruit of this. 
 
Paul, the Apostle, would also have some experience of this. Struck blind on the road to Damascus, he too would have had time to ponder his folly as well as realize his dramatic introduction to Jesus was not without reason. When Paul recovered his sight, he went into self-imposed exile for three years to find out more about this reason. He returned in great strength and power. So, silence might be a good thing. However, we don't need to be struck blind, or deaf, or dumb to go into silence; we can voluntarily choose to silence the world from time to time. 
 
And, then, who knows what we might do. 
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Today's devotional — Into Great Silence — is based on Luke 1:67-79, 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!

In the cacophony of life, how can we expect to hear the soft voice of God speaking to us? We need to go into silent mode.  #Reflectonthis #DailyReflection https://youtu.be/Drk2gQ2FVD4

Scripture Reading: Luke 1:67-79
Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke this prophecy:
“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them. He has raised up a mighty savior for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us. Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors, and has remembered his holy covenant, the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham, to grant us that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. 
And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord 

December 24, 2020 - Into Great Silence - A Reflection on Luke 1:67-79

We all want our children to do great things, but do we want our plans for them to be fulfilled or God’s? #Reflectonthis #DailyReflection https://youtu.be/z9z5IzEiqcw 
 
Scripture Reading: Luke 1:57-66 
Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him Zechariah after his father. But his mother said, “No; he is to be called John.” They said to her, “None of your relatives has this name.” Then they began motioning to his father to find out what name he wanted to give him. He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And all of them were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began to speak, praising God. Fear came over all their neighbors, and all these things were talked about throughout the entire hill country of Judea. All who heard them pondered them and said, “What then will this child become?” For, indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him. 
 
Reflection 
You would recall that about nine months before the incidents related in today's passage, an angel appeared to the high priest Zechariah with the news that God had answered his prayers for a child. "Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John" (Luke 1:13). For his doubt, Zechariah was struck dumb until the child was born. And here, we find him regaining his voice. While there might be plenty to reflect upon here, there is something else that often escapes our notice: the peer pressure that Zechariah and Elizabeth suddenly found themselves facing. 
 
As friends and neighbors are given to do at a child's birth, they dropped in to visit the parents. "What are you going to name him," they wanted to know. When Elizabeth said he was to be called John, they were shocked. The name of the child reflected not just a favorite relative but the identity of the clan itself. Male children would be given an elder's name, and the boy would be expected to follow in his footsteps. They wanted the boy named after Zechariah, believing he would take after his father. "Nobody has this name in your family," they protested and turned to Zechariah, thinking he might talk some sense into his wife. 
 
However, he asked for a tablet and wrote on it, "His name is John." By giving him this name, Zechariah and Elizabeth were obedient to God, who had asked for the boy to be named John. But they were defying convention in the process, risking the anger of their friends and neighbors. However, when Zechariah regained his speech after he did this, they realized that God was involved in this decision. They also realized that God's hand was upon the child and wondered: "What then will this child become?" 
 
Did you wonder when your child was born, "What will this child become?" I am fairly certain you expected her (or him) to become somebody great, perhaps fulfilling your own unfulfilled desires in the process. I am also fairly certain that the people around you had their expectations for your child and might have influenced you in its upbringing. But did you ever consider what plans God may have had for your child? It hardly mattered, right? What mattered was what you wanted her to do. Well, here's something for all of us to remember going forward. Our children are on loan to us; they truly belong to God. So, it might be wise to let him have a say in their destiny. 
 
And then everybody will wonder: What then will this child be? 
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Today's devotional — Your Child’s Destiny — is based on Luke 1:57-66, 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 all want our children to do great things, but do we want our plans for them to be fulfilled or God’s?  #Reflectonthis #DailyReflection https://youtu.be/z9z5IzEiqcw

Scripture Reading: Luke 1:57-66
Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him Zechariah after his father. But his mother said, “No; he is to be called John.” They said to her, “None of your relatives has this name.” Then they began motioning to his father to find out what name he wanted to give him. He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And all of them were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began to speak, praising God. Fear came over all their neighbors, and all these things were talked about throughout the entire hill country of Judea. All who heard

December 23, 2020 - Your Child’s Destiny - A Reflection on Luke 1:57-66

Although we look after the material needs of our children, we seldom bother about their spiritual requirements. If this changes, we will bless our children. #Reflectonthis #DailyReflection https://youtu.be/WGYZpv7fvDE 
 
Scripture Reading: Luke 1:46-56 
And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.” 
And Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home. 
 
Reflection 
This canticle, also known as the song of Mary, is famous all over the world as the Magnificat. It is frequently recited within the Catholic Church and even within major Protestant denominations. But this reflection is not about Mary's universality, but something that I found quite fascinating: Mary's spontaneous outbreak of praise. Breaking out into spontaneous praise does not come to somebody unless they have been accustomed to praising God. 
 
And composing songs on the spur of the moment also does not come easily unless one is habitually in worship. As for quoting Scripture, as anyone will tell you, this can happen only if one spends a lot of time hearing or reading Scripture. All this suggests that Mary is a young woman who spends a lot of time in the presence of God, praising and worshipping him, and despite her young age, has a knowledge of Scripture that goes beyond the ordinary. And, do remember, in those days, they didn't have Bibles as we do. 
 
When Elizabeth greets her warmly with the words, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!" (Luke 1:42), the Holy Spirit propels Mary to burst forth in song. And what a beautiful song it is. There are allusions to the Song of Hannah from the Books of Samuel (1 Samuel 2:1-10) and echoes from the Torah and the prophets' writings. Mary begins by rejoicing at the privilege of being the mother to the Savior, then glorifies God for his power and majesty, continues by looking forward to the wonderful things he will do, and concludes by testifying to his faithfulness. 
 
Now, here is a question. How is a young girl so mature in the faith that she can do all this? The simple answer: her parents. They were a holy and faith-filled couple who brought their daughter up in the ways of God since she was an infant. How do we fare in comparison? Although we look after our children's material needs today, there are very few who look after their spiritual requirements. Perhaps this reflection can inspire the new parents watching this to bring up their children the Mary way. 
 
And, like Mary, they will be called blessed. 
 
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Today's devotional — Bless Your Children — is based on Luke 1:46-56, 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!

Although we look after the material needs of our children, we seldom bother about their spiritual requirements. If this changes, we will bless our children.  #Reflectonthis #DailyReflection https://youtu.be/WGYZpv7fvDE

Scripture Reading: Luke 1:46-56
And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”


December 22, 2020 - Bless Your Children - A Reflection on Luke 1:46-56

God is inviting all of us into his service, and although the temptation is to say “No,” let us have the courage to say “Yes” instead. #Reflectonthis #DailyReflection https://youtu.be/L6DH8fHvDfI 
 
Scripture Reading: Luke 1:26-38 
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her. 
 
Reflection 
Many of us don’t realize that Mary was barely in her teens when the angel Gabriel appeared to her bearing the news that she was going to bear a child who would be called Son of God. Consequently, it was remarkable that the teenager declares, “Here I am, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” She may not have had the time to fully comprehend the consequences of her “Yes,” but on some level, she surely must have known that things were gonna get very rough for her. 
 
Mary stands in sharp contrast to other heroes in the Bible, most of who said yes to God but only after trying to duck his call to service. Take Moses, for instance. When God called him to lead the Israelites out of slavery, he made not one but five excuses! Read the 3rd and 4th chapters of Exodus and see if you can spot all the excuses; you will have a good laugh, at least until you realize that we make the very same excuses. 
 
Gideon was another guy who tried to get out of service. Similar in some ways to Mary — he, too, came from a simple background — he was different from her in that while she simply said yes to God, he asked for sign after sign before he believed that it was really God asking him to do hero stuff. For a third example, look at Saul, who was chosen to be the first King of Israel. When he is declared king in front of the nation, he hides among the luggage and has to be dragged out into public view. 
 
And, of course, we all know the story of Jonah, the prophet who was asked to go and preach repentance to the Ninevites, whom he hated. Instead of obeying God, he headed off in the opposite direction, putting as much distance between himself and the Ninevites that he could. Even Jesus tried to opt out of his mission as he cried out to his Father: “Take this cup away from me.” However, to be fair to him, he did add, “But let not my will, but yours be done.” 
 
None of them had it easy. We won’t either. God is inviting each of us to service too, and I know that most of us are tempted to say “no” to take the easy road. But I just want to ask you one little thing: Is that the path you really want to take? There’s no honor to be found in taking it; no glory at the end of it. You’ll just be one face among millions who copped out of doing God’s will. Or do you want to be a hero? 
 
If you wanna be a hero, say, “Here I am, the servant of the Lord. Let it be done to me according to his will.” 
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Today's devotional — Wanted: Heroes! — is based on Luke 1:26-38, 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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God is inviting all of us into his service, and although the temptation is to say “No,” let us have the courage to say “Yes” instead.  #Reflectonthis #DailyReflection https://youtu.be/L6DH8fHvDfI

Scripture Reading: Luke 1:26-38
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” Mary said to the angel

December 20, 2020 - Wanted: Heroes! - A Reflection on Luke 1:26-38

Faithful. Fearful. Faithless. Favored. Which of these qualities describe us? #Reflectonthis #DailyReflection https://youtu.be/7XRdOMRi7Zo 
 
Scripture Reading: Luke 1:5-25 
In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly order of Abijah. His wife was a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. Both of them were righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord. But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were getting on in years. [Please read the intervening passage from your Bible.] After those days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she remained in seclusion. She said, “This is what the Lord has done for me when he looked favorably on me and took away the disgrace I have endured among my people.” 
 
Reflection 
The characters in the Bible are fascinating. They so often resemble us, especially in how they react to situations or circumstances that arise in their lives. The man in the passage we are reflecting upon today — Zechariah — does not get too much Bible time as others, but he still offers a great study in human behavior. Zechariah, which means "the Lord has remembered," was a priest. We are told that he was "righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord." This doesn't mean he was sinless; it just means he was a little more than a self-righteous legalist. And despite his disappointment that he didn't have children, he remained FAITHFUL to God. 
 
But if he was a faithful priest, he was also a FEARFUL priest. When Zechariah saw the angel, "he was terrified; and fear overwhelmed him." But perhaps he had reason to be terrified. According to Jewish tradition, angels always stood on the altar's left side; only God used the right side, so he believes he is seeing God. And he knows that looking upon the face of God meant death, because as God declares, "No one shall see me and live" (Exodus 33:20). Peter would experience the same emotion thirty years later (see Luke 5:8). 
 
Of course, the angel hastens to reassure Zechariah with words that should be very familiar to us. "Do not be afraid," he says. But despite this reassurance, we now see evidence of a FAITHLESS priest. The angel tells him that his wife Elizabeth will bear him a son, whom he should name John, but instead of rejoicing as the angel suggested, Zechariah doubts the words he is hearing. "How will I know that this is so? For I am an old man, and my wife is getting on in years." And for his doubt, he is struck dumb. 
 
But God didn't rescind his FAVOR upon Zechariah because of his doubt; the dumbness was temporary. His wife Elizabeth conceived and remained in seclusion for five months. When the baby was born, the neighbors and relatives wanted to name him after his father, but Elizabeth said he should be called John. When they protested, saying nobody was called John, Zechariah signaled for a writing tablet and wrote: "His name is John." And with that, his tongue was loosened, and he began to praise God. 
 
So here you have a character sketch of Zechariah: Faithful; fearful; faithless; favored. Let's try to give the middle two a miss, shall we? 
 
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Today's devotional — Character Sketch — is based on Luke 1:5-25, 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!

Faithful. Fearful. Faithless. Favored. Which of these qualities describe us?  #Reflectonthis #DailyReflection https://youtu.be/7XRdOMRi7Zo

Scripture Reading: Luke 1:5-25
In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly order of Abijah. His wife was a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. Both of them were righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord. But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were getting on in years. [Please read the intervening passage from your Bible.] After those days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she remained in seclusion. She said, “This is what the Lord has done for me when he looked favorably on me and took away the disgrace I have endured among my people.”

Reflection
The characters in the Bible are fascinating. They so often resemble us, especially in how they react to situations or circumstances t

December 19, 2020 - Character Sketch - A Reflection on Luke 1:5-25

Every great character in the Bible has shown great faith. How strong is our own faith? #Reflectonthis #DailyReflection https://youtu.be/cMAU3zmNipE 
 
Scripture Reading: Matthew 1:18-25 
Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 
“Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.” When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus. 
 
Reflection 
Have you ever been in a situation where you didn’t know what to do? Well, Joseph must have felt like that, when Mary, the young girl to whom he was betrothed, came to him with a very bizarre story about how she was pregnant by the Holy Spirit and how her child was going to be God’s son. What was he going to do? If he married her, he would have to deal with her apparent mental condition. Not to forget the fact he would be saddled with a child that wasn’t his. He would have to divorce Mary, but this would bring her much shame. And although there might have been a voice in his head that said, “Serves her right,” he was basically a decent man who didn’t want her to suffer public humiliation. 
 
Did it ever strike him that she might be telling the truth? Since Scripture doesn’t tell us, we will never know. But we can empathize with him, can’t we? We can understand what he thought and how he felt. Would we have thought and felt differently? I sincerely doubt it. In any event, as Joseph sank into a troubled sleep, an angel appeared to him and told him that whatever Mary had told him was true; so, he shouldn’t hesitate to take her for his wife. In faith, Joseph does as he was told. And now comes a similar question for us. Would we have done the same? 
 
It isn’t easy. Both Mary and Joseph were faced with difficult choices. You just have to put yourself in their shoes and see how crazy all this was for them. A young teenager gets told she is going to give birth to the Son of God. Her husband, a simple man, is told the son he would raise would be the savior of the world. How do you wrap your head around these things? How did Mary and Joseph comprehend all this? They probably never did, but they obeyed nonetheless. And this is the essence of faith: trusting God even though none of it makes any sense. 
 
Scripture says that “faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for” (Hebrews 11:1). We see every great character in the Bible exhibit this faith: from Noah and Nehemiah to Paul and Philip. Chapter 11 of the Letter to the Hebrews speaks about the faith of many of these great men, and we would do well to read it. These men may have not always understood things, but they went ahead and did what God told them to do anyway. And because they obeyed God, they changed the world around them. 
 
We, too, may not understand everything God asks us to do, but we will be blessed if we obey. And we will change the world too. 
 
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Today's devotional — Faith — is based on Matthew 1:18-25, 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!

Every great character in the Bible has shown great faith. How strong is our own faith?  #Reflectonthis #DailyReflection https://youtu.be/cMAU3zmNipE

Scripture Reading: Matthew 1:18-25
Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
“Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which mean

December 18, 2020 - Faith - A Reflection on Matthew 1:18-25

Do you think genealogies are boring and have nothing to teach us? Think again! #Reflectonthis #DailyReflection https://youtu.be/t2w7P1I6y4Y 
 
Scripture Reading 
An account of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham. [Please read the in-between text from the Bible]. 
So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David to the deportation to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the deportation to Babylon to the Messiah, fourteen generations. 
 
Reflection 
I'm pretty sure many of you were waiting for that to get over. You were probably wondering why Matthew would start his gospel with a long genealogy instead of getting straight into the action as Mark did. Or telling a story of two miracle births like Luke did. Or having the operatic opening we find in the Gospel of John (You know: In the beginning was the Word). The reason is because genealogies were very important to the Jewish people. The Jews were Matthew's primary audience. So, when Matthew begins by writing: "An account of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham," he is introducing Jesus straight off the bat as the Messiah, the long-awaited Savior, linking him to the line of Abraham and to the line of David. 
 
Being of the line of Abraham places Jesus in the nation. Being of the line of David puts him on the throne. Establishing this shows Matthew's Jewish readers that Jesus is from the lineage there were so many prophecies about. Next, Matthew arranges his genealogy in three sections of fourteen. One reason for this was undoubtedly as an aid to memorization. Seriously? Yeah. People in those days didn't find genealogies boring; they were exciting things. And they would actually be able to recite their own origins back to Jacob, whose sons led the twelve tribes of Israel. A second reason for this arrangement is to highlight the importance of David in this genealogy. The numeric value of the Hebrew name David is 14. 
 
There are quite a few lessons we can learn from this genealogy. One is the overriding providence of God. He overrides the "rules" of succession time and time again, deciding who comes next in the line. For instance, he chose Abraham, who starts off this genealogy table; but then he chooses Isaac, not Ishmael, to continue the line. Later, he chose Jacob, and not first-born Esau, to continue it. David, too, was not the oldest in his family. On the contrary, he was the youngest of Jesse's eight sons. Amazing, ya? 
 
Another thing we learn is about the grace of God. Five women are included in this genealogy (see if you can spot them all), four of whom were Gentiles. Three among them were guilty of sexual immorality. This shows us that the gospel is about everybody, and it is for everybody. It is for male and female, for Jew and Gentile, for rich and poor. And, of course, for the sinner. And, finally, we learn that God keeps his promise. Remember, way back in Genesis, he said that the seed of the woman would crush the head of the serpent. Well, here was the seed of the woman: Jesus Christ, redeemer of the world. 
 
So, not so boring after all, ya? 
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Today's devotional — Roots — is based on Matthew 1:1-17, 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!

Do you think genealogies are boring and have nothing to teach us? Think again!  #Reflectonthis #DailyReflection https://youtu.be/t2w7P1I6y4Y

Scripture Reading
An account of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham. [Please read the in-between text from the Bible].
So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David to the deportation to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the deportation to Babylon to the Messiah, fourteen generations.

Reflection
I'm pretty sure many of you were waiting for that to get over. You were probably wondering why Matthew would start his gospel with a long genealogy instead of getting straight into the action as Mark did. Or telling a story of two miracle births like Luke did. Or having the operatic opening we find in the Gospel of John (You know: In the beginning was the Word). The reason is because genealogies were very important to the Jewish people. The Jews were Matthew's primary audi

December 17, 2020 - Roots - A Reflection on Matthew 1:1-17

Did John the Baptist suddenly experience doubt about Jesus? Why does that shock us so much? #Reflectonthis #DailyReflection https://youtu.be/z-4pxaUkEG4 
 
Scripture Reading 
So John summoned two of his disciples and sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” When the men had come to him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?’ ” Jesus had just then cured many people of diseases, plagues, and evil spirits, and had given sight to many who were blind. And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have good news brought to them. And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.” 
 
Reflection 
Very often, when we read Scripture, we are forced to speculate about why somebody did what they did or said what they said because their motives are not revealed. In today's passage, we find John the Baptist sending two of his disciples to Jesus with a rather strange question: "Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?" The question is odd because it was John the Baptist who announced the arrival of Jesus. He said, "I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie" (John 1:26-27). 
 
Scripture says that "the next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29). John said many other wonderful things about Jesus, so it seems shocking that John would now be expressing doubt that Jesus was the Messiah! I have heard it suggested that John wasn't expressing doubt. His question was intended for the benefit of his disciples, to clear THEIR doubt because he, himself, could never have doubted who Jesus was. Although the narrative doesn't support this theory, it could very well be the truth. As I said, in the absence of clear cut facts, we have to speculate. But the real question is, why does John's doubt shock people so much? 
 
The answer is because we have this tendency to expect perfection from people who are spiritual guides. I find this baffling because if there is one thing we should have learned from Scripture, it is that all its heroes failed at various points in their lives and sometimes failed miserably! David, of course, immediately comes to mind because of that sordid thing with Bathsheba, but Moses, Abraham, Jacob, Peter, Paul — every single one of them — goofed up on occasion. So why not John the Baptist? Did he cease being mortal because he was a prophet? Did temptations cease because he was a pious man? Did he never give in to temptation because he was so full of grace he just couldn't sin? 
 
I really want us to think about this today because we have unrealistic expectations of "holy" people. Consider Mother Teresa, whom everybody respects and honors as a holy person. A book of letters written by her revealed that she was deeply tormented about her faith and suffered long periods of doubt about God. I found it heartening that the church did not destroy her letters as she had requested but made them public because they wanted us to know that these things are part of the faith journey. What matters is that we continue the journey and complete it despite these things that come our way. 
 
That is what made Mother Teresa a hero. And John the Baptist. And Peter. And all the others. May we be heroes as well. 
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Today's devotional — Imperfect Heroes — is based on Luke 7:18-23, 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 
 
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!

Did John the Baptist suddenly experience doubt about Jesus? Why does that shock us so much?  #Reflectonthis #DailyReflection https://youtu.be/z-4pxaUkEG4

Scripture Reading
So John summoned two of his disciples and sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” When the men had come to him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?’ ” Jesus had just then cured many people of diseases, plagues, and evil spirits, and had given sight to many who were blind. And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have good news brought to them. And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.”

Reflection
Very often, when we read Scripture, we are forced to speculate about why somebody did what they did or said what they said because the

December 16, 2020 - Imperfect Heroes - A Reflection on Luke 7:18b-23

Our Father is telling us to go and work in the vineyard today. What is our response? #Reflectonthis #DailyReflection https://youtu.be/NIniY4c9jLo 
 
Scripture Reading 
“What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ He answered, ‘I will not’; but later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, ‘I go, sir’; but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him. 
 
Reflection 
In this Parable of the Two Sons, Jesus speaks about a father who tells his two boys to go and work in the vineyard. One says he will go, but doesn’t. The other says he won’t go, but does. Then Jesus asks a question that seems almost rhetorical: “Which of the two did the will of the father?” The answer, quite obviously, is the second son, but Jesus is trying to make a point to the religious leaders he was speaking to. “Guys,” he said, “the tax collectors and prostitutes are going to beat you into the kingdom of God. Do you know why?” I am sure they were too shocked to answer, but it is a question WE must answer because it has ramifications for us. And eternal ramifications, I might add. 
 
So, let us understand this clearly. Why were the Pharisees like the second son? Because they said yes to God, but weren’t doing anything he told them to! But, you might argue, they were following all the rules, weren’t they? Yes, but they most of the rules they were following were of their own making! And in the process they had completely forgotten the things that were really important to God: justice and mercy and faith! (see Matthew 23:23). So, because they were blind to their failings, they believed they had no need to repent. No repentance; no forgiveness. No forgiveness; no salvation. You see? So, how do the sinners get in then? Because they realized their sinfulness. They acknowledged it and admitted it. They repented and were forgiven. 
 
Let us return to the parable, because there are a few more very important things we need to understand. One, the father loved both his sons. He didn’t play favorites. As Scripture says, “he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous” (Matthew 5:45). Two, both the sons were sinful. Again, as Scripture says, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). While we need to remind ourselves of the first fact, we also need to keep reminding ourselves of the second! Otherwise there is the very real danger we will become like the Pharisees. 
 
Three, we are one of the two sons in this parable. And our father is saying to us: “Go and work in the vineyard today!” The vineyard is the world of lost souls. Our father needs our help in bringing his lost children back home. He can, undoubtedly, bring them back with a snap of his fingers, but in his infinite wisdom he has chosen to make us partners in this task. And why not? Isn’t it the pleasure of the son to help out his father in his business? One son — Jesus — did, even to the point of dying on the cross. What about us? Are we going to obey? Ultimately, this will determine which of the sons we are truly like. 
 
So, are we going to work in the vineyard today, or are we going to postpone it for another day? 
 
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Today's devotional — A Tale of Two Sons — is based on Matthew 21:28-32, 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!

Our Father is telling us to go and work in the vineyard today. What is our response?  #Reflectonthis #DailyReflection https://youtu.be/NIniY4c9jLo

Scripture Reading
“What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ He answered, ‘I will not’; but later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, ‘I go, sir’; but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him.

Reflection
In this Parable of the Two Sons, Jesus speaks about a father who tells his two boys to go and work in the vineyard. One says he will go, bu

December 15, 2020 - A Tale of Two Sons - A Reflection on Matthew 21:28-32

People have different ideas about who Jesus is. Who do you say he is? #Reflectonthis #DailyReflection https://youtu.be/42uhWmpTXiw 
 
Scripture Reading 
When he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” Jesus said to them, “I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?” And they argued with one another, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet.” So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 
 
Reflection 
One day Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:13-16). Of all the questions Jesus asks, this is probably one of the most important because our answer to this question will determine how we respond to Jesus. These days, there are many people, including Christians, who don’t look upon Jesus as the Son of God, preferring to call him a great teacher instead, a guru that we could all learn some life lessons from. 
 
The famous author C. S. Lewis had a response to that: “You must make your choice: either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon, or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.” I don’t think anybody could have put it better! 
 
Jesus made it clear to everybody that he was from God and that his purpose was to save the world from the effects of sin that had enslaved it. When he preached, the crowds were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as their scribes (Matthew 7:28-29). Now, if you were a scribe or a chief priest, and you discovered somebody preaching with more power and authority than you, what would do you? Especially if he wasn’t sanctioned by you? 
 
To make things worse, he was not a product of the religious schools like they were. So they went to Jesus and asked him, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” In typical style, Jesus countered their question with one of his own: “Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?” When they couldn’t answer him, he went on his way. His authority came from God. If they couldn’t understand this, they wouldn’t understand anything. 
 
So, who do you say Jesus is? Our actions will determine this more than our words! 
 
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Today's devotional — Was Jesus a Guru? — is based on Matthew 21: 23-27, 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 have different ideas about who Jesus is. Who do you say he is?  #Reflectonthis #DailyReflection https://youtu.be/42uhWmpTXiw

Scripture Reading
When he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” Jesus said to them, “I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?” And they argued with one another, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet.” So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

Reflection
One day Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” A

December 14, 2020 - Was Jesus a Guru? - A Reflection on Matthew 21: 23-27

Despite the tremendous anointing that rested upon John the Baptist, he was remarkably humble. Are we? #Reflectonthis #DailyReflection https://youtu.be/PsuEcthSQDM 
 
Scripture Reading 
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 
This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, “I am not the Messiah.” And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.” Then they said to him, “Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 
He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ ”as the prophet Isaiah said. 
Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. They asked him, “Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?” John answered them, “I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.” This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing. 
 
Reflection 
John the Baptist was quite an amazing man, both in terms of behavior and of ministry. For one, he ate honey and locusts and wore clothing made of camel hair (see Mark 1:6). For another, he called people to repentance, baptizing them in the wilderness in which he lived. Despite the tremendous anointing that rested upon him and the huge following he had, John the Baptist was remarkably humble. This humility stood out in sharp contrast to the pride of the religious leaders of his time, who send a delegation to find out who he was. 
 
John could possibly have used this opportunity to crow, but true to form, he makes no attempt to seek glory. Although he is of priestly descent (remember his father was Zechariah, the high priest), John doesn't claim any lineage. He says flat out that he isn't the Messiah. And he even says he is not “the” prophet, even though he obviously is one. When pressed for an answer, he identifies himself only in terms of his service to God. "I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness," he says, "Making straight the way of the Lord." 
 
But then, they have another question. If John isn't the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet, why is he baptizing people? Again, he deflects the question, pointing instead to Jesus, who was to come. He says, "I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal." Isn't that pretty amazing? But there is something curious about this conversation that's taking place. The people cross-examining John are priests and Levites — people of God — but they don't seem to have a clue about what God is doing in the desert. 
 
And they don't seem to understand what John is doing either. So, they oppose him. And, later, when Jesus appears and announces himself as the one they were waiting for, they stand in opposition to him too. The same thing happens today, as well. People who do God's will in a different manner from what we are accustomed to, face the same suspicion, and often censure. There is a lesson contained in today's passage for those in the role of John the Baptist and those in the role of the Jewish leaders. The former would do well to be humble. The latter would do well to seek the will of God. 
 
Although, when you think about it, all of us should do both. No? 
 
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Today's devotional — Making it Straight — is based on John 1:6-8,19-28, 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!

Despite the tremendous anointing that rested upon John the Baptist, he was remarkably humble. Are we?  #Reflectonthis #DailyReflection https://youtu.be/PsuEcthSQDM

Scripture Reading
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.
This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, “I am not the Messiah.” And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.” Then they said to him, “Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ ”as the prophet Isaiah said.
Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. They asked him, “Why then

December 13, 2020 - Making it Straight - A Reflection on John 1:6-8,19-28

There is a time to wait. And there is a time to move. When it’s time to move, move fast! #Reflectonthis #DailyReflection https://youtu.be/RkWAsRvmrpg 
 
Scripture Reading 
In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.” 
And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior. 
 
Reflection 
Today’s passage speaks about a deeply personal moment in the lives of two holy women, Elizabeth and Mary. They are both pregnant with a child, and both children are miraculous. Elizabeth conceives in her old age when her womb is barren (see Luke 1:7). And Mary, of course, conceives by the Holy Spirit (see Luke 1:35). Now both women would be entirely justified to be absorbed with themselves and the baby they were carrying. However, they put aside personal agendas to be with each other, to support each other in their time of need. Mary, in fact, “went with haste” to be with her relative, so eager was she to help Elizabeth. That’s rapid action! 
 
It would be nice if “rapid action” described the way we did good things too. But unfortunately, although we are pretty quick when it comes to doing worldly things, we are rather laid back when it comes to doing spiritual things. So, let us think about something that might spur us on. Just like Mary carried Jesus within her womb, we carry Jesus too. Paul asked the Corinthians, “Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you” (2 Corinthians 13:5). And just as the baby Jesus grew within her womb, he can grow within us too. However, for him to do that, we need to decrease and let him increase. Just like John the Baptist said (see John 3:30). 
 
As Christ grows in us, we will be led to people and places just as Mary was led, but we need to go with haste. When the Spirit prompts, as he undoubtedly prompted Mary, we need to move! Ambrose of Milan said, “The grace of the Holy Spirit does not know delayed efforts.” This does not mean we always act impulsively, but when we feel the Spirit propelling us towards something, we need to do it quickly. This is what the apostles did. The Holy Spirit often stopped them from doing things, but when he told them to move, they moved! And, consequently, the faith spread like wildfire. 
 
God is lighting a new fire today, and he needs people to carry his light to all corners of the globe. These reflections are now being translated into over 27 languages, reaching out to thousands of people worldwide, many of whom don’t speak English. But there are still millions of people who don’t know Christ. How will Jesus reach them? Through you! If you speak a language that we’re not translating, volunteer to do it. If you don’t, then at least please share these reflections with others. Even one soul saved makes the effort worth it. 
 
Please don’t delay. It’s time for rapid action! 
 
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Today's devotional — Rapid Action — is based on Luke 1:39-47, 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!

There is a time to wait. And there is a time to move. When it’s time to move, move fast!  #Reflectonthis #DailyReflection https://youtu.be/RkWAsRvmrpg

Scripture Reading
In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”
And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.

Reflection
Today’s passage speaks about a deeply personal moment in the lives of two holy women, Elizabeth and Mar

December 12, 2020 - Rapid Action - A Reflection on Luke 1:39-47

They say the proof of the pudding is in the eating. Likewise, the Christian is known by his fruit. #Reflectonthis #DailyReflection https://youtu.be/90a3gZOZ1ps 
 
Scripture Reading 
“But to what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to one another, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not mourn.’ 
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon’; the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.” 
 
Reflection 
Some of us are unteachable. We are so locked into our own ideologies that we are not open to the truth (even though we often claim to be open-minded). And we find a reason to disregard anything presented to us, often without any recourse to logic. This is what Jesus is talking about here when he says something that sounds like a riddle: "We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not mourn." What did he mean? 
 
Let us break it down. Children are playing in the marketplace. A few begin to play wedding music, but the others shout back, "No. We don't want to dance today." So, the group plays funeral music, but the others shout, "No. We don't want to act sad today." There is no pleasing them; they will find fault no matter what. When John the Baptist appeared leading an austere life and inviting people to repentance, they said he had a demon. Then, when Jesus appeared, inviting people to join him in celebrating the kingdom of God that was at hand, they accused him of being a glutton and drunkard. 
 
We find the same thing happening today. We want to hear only what we would like to hear. And when we don't hear what we want to hear, not only do we close our hearts to the message of God, we hurl abuse at those who proclaim the message, finding fault with THEM. This is what the scribes and Pharisees did when they accused John of being possessed and Jesus of messianic pretense. But Jesus said, "Wisdom is vindicated by her deeds." 
 
Elsewhere, Jesus said that a tree was known by its fruit (see Luke 6:43-45). Or, if you prefer a more modern phrase, "the proof of the pudding is in the eating." They all essentially mean that the real value of something can be judged only from results and not from appearance or theory. Although the scribes and Pharisees aren't there to see it today, the ministries of John and Jesus are still impacting the world, while the former are a mere footnote in history. 
 
So, let those of us who preach God's word not worry about the unteachable; it is the others who matter. 
 
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Today's devotional — Proof of the Pudding — is based on Matthew 11:16-19, 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!

They say the proof of the pudding is in the eating. Likewise, the Christian is known by his fruit.  #Reflectonthis #DailyReflection https://youtu.be/90a3gZOZ1ps

Scripture Reading
“But to what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to one another, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not mourn.’
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon’; the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”

Reflection
Some of us are unteachable. We are so locked into our own ideologies that we are not open to the truth (even though we often claim to be open-minded). And we find a reason to disregard anything presented to us, often without any recourse to logic.  This is what Jesus is talking about here when he says something that sounds like a riddle: "We played the 

December 11, 2020 - Proof of the Pudding - A Reflection on Matthew 11:16-19

Jesus often spoke in riddles. Here he springs three of them on us. Can you solve them? #Reflectonthis #DailyReflection https://youtu.be/_CrUWQl5Dz8 
 
Scripture Reading 
Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John came; and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. Let anyone with ears listen! 
 
Reflection 
This is a very short passage, and it seems very enigmatic, almost like a riddle. What did Jesus mean when he said, "among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist, yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he"? It is quite simple, really. The prophets that came before John had predicted the coming of the Messiah. However, John the Baptist would actually see him and testify about him, which made him special among prophets. 
 
So why is John the least in the kingdom of heaven, then? Because although he has seen the Messiah, he still lived according to the Old Covenant. Those born after him who accepted Christ as Savior would be citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven. They would have seen the fulfillment of God's plan, whereas John was still looking forward to its realization. Remember, John the Baptist would die before Jesus had died and risen again. 
 
And what did Jesus mean when he said that "from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force"? This can be confusing because of how we generally understand violence and how it is used twice in the same sentence. However, they are declaring two separate things, and breaking it up makes it easier to understand. The kingdom of heaven suffers violence when those who are opposed to it attack it. In Jesus' time, these would be people like the Pharisees who did not understand John's call to repentance and opposed him and his aim to prepare the way for the Lord. 
 
The second part makes sense if one looks at the word "violent" as meaning "strength of emotion" or "forcefulness" rather than how we typically understand the term. People like John the Baptist did not lead a comfortable life. Opposed to the world's ways, like the prophets before him, John led a life of mortification, penance, poverty, and austerity. He was determined to enter heaven, bulldozing his way through if necessary. Things changed after Christ. As Christians, we are saved by grace. 
 
Aren't we blessed for it? 
 
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Today's devotional — New Dawn — is based on Matthew 11:11-15, 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!

Jesus often spoke in riddles. Here he springs three of them on us. Can you solve them?  #Reflectonthis #DailyReflection https://youtu.be/_CrUWQl5Dz8

Scripture Reading
Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John came; and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. Let anyone with ears listen!

Reflection
This is a very short passage, and it seems very enigmatic, almost like a riddle. What did Jesus mean when he said, "among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist, yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he"? It is quite simple, really. The prophets that came before John had predicted the coming of the Messiah. However, John the Baptist would ac

December 10, 2020 - New Dawn - A Reflection on Matthew 11:11-15

When Jesus promises rest to the weary, it isn’t only the sinners he is calling to him; it is also the righteous. #Reflectonthis #DailyReflection https://youtu.be/IP47CUO26xY 
 
Scripture Reading 
“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” 
 
Reflection 
We tend to be a very weary people. There is, of course, the weariness that comes from the burden of sin, but there is also the fatigue that comes from trying to lead a righteous life on our own will power. It exhausts us. This is why Jesus says the words we heard in the reading today: “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” But then he says something that seems strange: “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:29-30). 
 
But you may ask: isn’t taking on a yoke going to increase the burden? No, it isn’t. Have you ever seen a pair of oxen yoked together? Imagine being yoked to Jesus like two oxen are yoked to each other. The burden is shared! Our burden is shared by Jesus, and given that his shoulders are stronger than ours—much stronger—the burden we carry becomes negligible. Right? And one burden — the burden of sin — is taken away entirely by his forgiveness. 
 
Then there is another aspect of being yoked to Jesus. We can’t go wandering off as and when we please to wherever we may want to go. We have to walk together. We journey in unison. This ensures that we are safe and protected at all times. It ensures that we do not have to worry or be anxious about anything because he is right by our side to make sure that everything is ok. So we don’t have to continually keep trying to be holy; holiness comes almost “automatically” when we are yoked to Christ. 
 
And finally, there is another rest he gives us: eternal rest. Speaking of the age after this one, Scripture declares: “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:3-4). God will dwell among his people in the new earth, and there won’t be any of the pain and suffering there is in this one. 
 
So how about we accept Jesus’ invitation to come to him. We will find rest for our souls. 
 
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Today's devotional — Yoked Together! — is based on Matthew 11:28-30, 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 Jesus promises rest to the weary, it isn’t only the sinners he is calling to him; it is also the righteous.  #Reflectonthis #DailyReflection https://youtu.be/IP47CUO26xY

Scripture Reading
“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Reflection
We tend to be a very weary people. There is, of course, the weariness that comes from the burden of sin, but there is also the fatigue that comes from trying to lead a righteous life on our own will power. It exhausts us. This is why Jesus says the words we heard in the reading today: “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” But then he says something that seems strange: “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for y

December 9, 2020 - Yoked Together! - A Reflection on Matthew 11:28-30

Do you have friends that you care about? How far will you go to bring healing to them? #Reflectonthis #DailyReflection https://youtu.be/f7UVDcQ6s-c

December 7, 2020 - Friendship! - A Reflection on Luke 5:17-26

John the Baptist was a preparer for the coming of the Lord. We need to be preparers for the return of the Lord. #Reflectonthis #DailyReflection https://youtu.be/tgVaQwavmMA 
 
Scripture Reading 
The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 
As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, “See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’ ” 
John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” 
 
Reflection 
When little John was born, Scripture says that “his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him” (Luke 1:67,76). This had been prophesied many times before. Isaiah had said, “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God” (Isaiah 40:3). Much later, the prophet Malachi would say: “See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me” (Malachi 3:1) 
 
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. Unfortunately, most of us don’t like the idea of being “preparers” because “preparers” are never in the spotlight. And we all want to be recognized, right? We think: “Why do so much work if nobody knows that I am the one who did it?” But consider what would have happened if John the Baptist felt like this and said he didn’t want to do the job of the “preparer” because nobody would give him any importance. (That he became famous is another matter!) 
 
Jesus would have come on the scene, and HE would have had to do John the Baptist’s job before starting his own job. But thanks to John preparing the hearts of the people, Jesus could get right into his message of salvation. We need to become “preparers” even if nobody ever notices it. Because the “preparers” are indispensable to God’s work on this earth. Besides, there is greater honor that awaits those who don’t get recognition on earth. Jesus says this repeatedly. 
 
So let us all become preparers. John prepared a way for the coming of the Lord. Let us prepare a way for the return of the Lord. In many ways, our job is more vital than his was. When Jesus came two thousand years ago, he came as the “lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). When he returns, it will be to judge. “He will sit on his glorious throne, and all the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats” (Matthew 25:31-32). 
 
Let us try to ensure that as many of us as possible are counted among the sheep. It’s a huge responsibility, but I think we are up to it. Yes? 
 
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Today's devotional — The Preparers — is based on Mark 1:1-8, 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!

John the Baptist was a preparer for the coming of the Lord. We need to be preparers for the return of the Lord. #Reflectonthis #DailyReflection https://youtu.be/tgVaQwavmMA

Scripture Reading
The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, “See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’ ”
John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sand

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