40 days of Reading the Bible by a Clueless, Wandering, Wannabe Christian

20 March, Day 35: John 8: 21-30 Hope you will read beyond the extremely cheesy title!!  (Backstreet Boys, 1997 😁) I remember that the first few months after moving to London to study in 2010 being some of my loneliest days. It wasn't fun being uprooted from my comfort zone of family and friends and moving to a foreign country on my own (cold, grey days that added to the depression!). I recall those times as I read today's verse from John 8: 21-30  The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him. Thoughts: Words of hope that could have served me well earlier if I had gone looking for it. I noticed that this week the Gospel readings about Jesus have him increasingly speaking about his divinity and while the words are quite plain, its meaning is often intense and heavy and requires real introspection. Of course this needs faith and trust of a spectacular sort, but we're called to follow Jesus's example here. 1) p...

19 March, Day 34: Matthew 1:16.18-21.24a I remember my mom telling this story in my childhood.  It was about her father who was posted in Iraq as an accountant during the first World War in the early 1900s. He apparently fell in love with a local girl there, and wanted to marry her. However, he had a dream where St.Joseph appeared to him and told to return home to Kerala, India where there was another, a Catholic girl called Mary (my grandmother :)) who was waiting for him, and she was the one who was meant to be. In an age of nearly extinct letters, postcards, 'message in a bottle's - this story always struck me as quaint and whimsical. Also, it paints a little picture of my grandfather, who I know so little of, as I have never met or seen him. This little story came to mind when I read today's verse which is from Mathew 1:16.18-21.24a : Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this chil...