Oh! Pops, guide me...

A Baptism in progress on Sunday 29 June 2025

The church wasn’t crowded today, yet I still couldn’t find a place to sit for the 11:30 am service. The seating was full.

So I made my way to the Adoration Hall — a recent extension to the main church. Clean tiled floors, plenty of lights, and enough electric fans. It has a certain neatness, but also a temporary feeling to it. Perhaps that’s why I never prayed there before. Today was the first time.

I found myself sitting at the back, on the floor, leaning against the wall. Polyester pants — not the best choice. I kept slipping as I tried to stay in that leaning position, legs stretched out fully in front of me. But I stayed.

This church is many hundreds of years old, dedicated to the Holy Ghost. Generations have prayed here. The Adoration Hall, though new, is still part of this sacred space. And today, despite the slipping and discomfort, I prayed.

I started slowly, whispering the Adonai prayer — the one we’re supposed to say a hundred times a day. As I repeated the words, something within me grew still. The prayer deepened. The intensity grew. And slowly, I reached that final, quiet realisation.

I remembered what Jesus said during His trial. He declared He is the Son of God — not only that, He also promised that they will see Him return, seated at the right hand of the Father. And then… He died. And He rose again. And He consecrated His Body and Blood — His everlasting sacrifice — for the forgiveness of sin.

These four truths I believe with all my heart. And if I believe this, truly believe, then my prayers will be heard. That is His promise. As I thought about this, it filled me — this fierce, humbling hope. I could feel its power settle into me.

Yes, I had lost the opportunity God gave me — the work that came my way. If that loss was my mistake, I admit it. I learn the lesson. Maybe I’m not meant for jobs. Maybe I’m meant to do something on my own. But I confess, after giving up that job, the guilt lingered. How could I stand before God? How could I pray for new things when I let opportunities slip away, one after another?

But I know this much — at that job, I had no problems with anyone, except one. I can say it to You, my God — it was that man and his attitude. Real men do not blame others. Huh! 

Creator of the Universe, I believe in You. If I am to do something on my own, let it come my way. Make it clear. Give me the strength to rise and get on with it, as soon as possible.

I believe in you  Jesus. Amen.

Hand notes

Beautiful hand notes found at Vallarpadam on Sunday.

Our Lord is good. He is forever merciful. His faithfullness lasts for generations. (Psalm 100:5).

May the author of the hand note find mercy of our Lord and enjoy His faithfulness in life.

"Mother of the Word which became flesh, please do not reject, but mercifully hear my prayers. I plead"

May everyone be blessed in their job and in their family, may everyone have the grace to live every moment of their life with the companionship of our Lord.

"Enter His house singing His praise, When you walk through His doors, hum His praise. "
There is always a reason for thanks giving. Do not ever loose heart. We will be heard.

Strength and Grace my friends.

Consolations

As the years pass and our mind evolves, we learn to face the storms in life, realizes the fact that the tough hour will pass and our reliance on the Almighty help us to survive the incidents without any emotional wounds. Last week I got the opportunity to hear Fr. Mathew Naickomparambil stress this again. Just when we are down with our miserable situations, offer it to God and pray for strength of thousands of others who are going through the same situation.

Using our pain to reach out to others spiritually, who may not know how to deal with them.

With these thoughts I was sitting near the doorway of the church, the cool sea breeze that blew through the church made me fall  asleep. :)

Mary's Assumption

In our own life, in our little ways to deal with the "everyday", Mary and her ways is a great inspiration. 

No surprise, she is found worthy to be crowned as the queen of life. 

Thank you Meenakshi Amma, for being our example in the way you remained a slave to Her ways, for life.

In the line of bread...

Mary and Joseph kept up their life, happily no matter how troublesome and difficult their days were. The strange land they were forced to live in or the trouble Joseph had to undertake to find work in new places or the worry and anxiety over the fate of their child Jesus, never took away the happiness and love they both shared even for a moment. They might have, just like our own faith require us to do, offered everything including their happiness and worries to God in their daily "time" with the Father, Almighty. 

Today the results of the national level exam which I had taken a few weeks back in the new subject I am pursuing now, came out. I have been selected along with 24 others to train at the Nation's premium institute for six months for an add on qualification. 

I am thankful to my God, not only for helping me through the qualifying exams, but also for giving me a mind to rely on Him everyday, for giving me the strength and grace to face and see through the troubles of each day and walk along the way He has so mercifully shown me.

Thank you Joseph & Mary, for being such an inspiration to believe in God, even when everything seems so bleak and impossible. Eventually, our lights will shine better. 

My friends, please join me in my joy and Gratitude towards God for this unbelievable miracle. 

Sabbath

Remember to keep the Lord's day Holy. Six day work and one day for the Lord. In effect that is basically resting ourselves, a need if we want to do our next six days well.

Usually, on Sundays I go off to some church and spend the day there. Lady of Ransom is my favorite, but its crowded often, making it impossible for us to spend quiet time there for long.

This Sunday I spent at home, cleaning up my Pooja Room and then later on, with God. Sadly there is no escape from the heat and the mosquitoes. We just have to bear them, unless we are rich enough to aircondition our home or to have mosquitoe nets on all the windows and doors.

While going through the old boxes I found these beautiful frames. The holy family and that of Mary.

Hope

Like in yesterday, today too, My Lord You will help us, with our troubles and worries. Thoughts of You, Mary, is blessing us with the strength and grace to walk the path that holds our hope and our peace.

May all those who desperately need it, find it without delay, so that they too enjoy the peace and happiness.

No, today do not weigh me down, 
My strength is my yesterdays,
My hope is in the Hands, 
That held me and lifted me up,
When I was miserable and a wreck!

St. Sebastin's feast day

 St. Sebastin's Feast day, is celebrated all over the world with great devotion and festivity. The patron saint of many cities of the world is attributed with special powers of consolation at the times of Plague, famine and wars.

This year too, the parishoners at our local church celebrated the feast with everything they had. The roads were decorated with lights and colorful hangings to welcome the Saint as his great life as a faithful follower of Jesus was rememmbered to strengthen our own faith to live our lives staying close to THE WAY, to deal with the trouble and worries of our life. The procession announcing the faith and allegiance to the WAY was done with great passion.

Conviction

An early morning visit to Vallarpadam. When I got there, the morning mass was just about over, and the church goers already left. Few of the elderly parishoners stayed back and was finishing their rosary.

The church looked pristine and clean in the December morning sunlight. Its been a while since I have come to Vallarpadam. Took some pictures and stayed around for a while.

Returned with the conviction, that faith meant, keeping our harmony with God and believing Lords Will will prevail in our lives. Lord is always merciful and compassionate.

Later in the day, the same thought, I shared with a grieving heart and I could feel the way Lord was using my conviction, to console.

Thank you Jesus, the way I felt, the satisfaction from the effort to touch a heart positively is my offering for my GOD for the day. You gave me the heart to do it.

The light of our heart!

What does our heart reflect, the light or darkness?

How come can a young man, kill 20 innocent children? Was he that bad? What brought him to such a frame of mind?

Does the belief that on December 21st the world is going to end, has anything to do with that young man's behaviour?

Ignorance of spiritual truth, can be destructive ?

Channukh

Wishing all my friends who are celebrating Channukh this week (December 8th to 16th) in the true tradition of Mother Mary a wonderful celebration. Just like Judith (Yahudith) was inspired by Yael, may we all be inspired during this festival of light, to live The way and to do everything possible by us for who are In The Way.

True offering

Micah 6“What shall I bring when I come to Yahweh and bow down before God the most high? Shall I come with burnt offerings, with sacrifices of yearling calves? 7Will Yahweh be pleased with thousands of rams, with an overabundance of oil libations? Should I offer my firstborn for my sins, the fruit of my body for my wrongdoing?”
 8“You have been told, O man, what is good and what Yahweh requires of you: to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.




One of my best friends, a hindu, survived a tumour in his brain. He and his family had thanks giving offerings to make at many temples. When he went to the Meenakshi Ammen temple at Madurai, he asked me to accompany him. For me, it was one wonderful chance to visit the old city of temples and to see the art and culture of that dearly beloved historical town once more.

While being there, I was fondly reminded of the rich spiritual tradition our country has.How much of importance and significance we Indians give to stay close to God and remain spiritually clean.

Yes, indeed, What Micah 6 : 8 reveals is very true, what our God our Lord want from us is to be just and compassionate and walk humbly with God.

All the faith and religion is solely for this purpose, we will learn with experience of compassion. No amount of rituals or practices or fasting wont save us unless and until our mind accept that truth and delight in it.

The picture is that of an young bride, who got married at the temple when I was there. May all her wish come true and she be happy. Or rather May she have the grace and wisdom to be happy no matter what life bring for her.  

Colors of life

At the seminary where I have a class, we planned a photo-shoot for making Christmas cards for the coming season. I took around 220 pictures of each students and the priests there. But unfortunately the pictures did not come good. I pushed my old camera to the extreme for better quality and it took a lot of unwanted colors, making each frame a mockery. A disappointing venture, especially when I am in no position to replace my old camera. 

No matter how bad or hard life's circumstances be, if we stay close to GOD and keep our thoughts in Him in everything we think and do, things gotta turn around. That's our belief. The blind man who called out to Jesus, "Son of David.." was granted his wish. Jesus merely asked him, "...What is that you wish that I do for you.."

So basically, it's all about our faith. That, He can do everything. Everything is possible for Him, if we keep ourselves worthy for His Divine grace.

I wish for my two friends, who has told me that their peace is wrecked, that they find their harmony soon. May they have the grace and strength to win over everything that is wrecking their peace.

Smile

Sorry to admit, but I do not have any more of fresh pictures from Vallarpadam. Not surprised though, its been over five weeks since I went there. Work mostly, on Sundays too.

Come to think of it, I have been blessed with one of the best opportunity of work at one hand, but on the other hand I have a lot of troubles to deal with.

That's more or less how my life has been, a mixture of both at the same time - good and bad, happiness and sadness, weakness and strength...

With age, I have learned to be strong with Lord, never to let anguish overtake me... (Smile)..but its not easy...(Smile).

Inspiration

Dr. Bettina Topoll, Germany.

An inspiration, to live. We all have our own troubles in life, Jesus and our Faith in Him is our Way to live our life without letting the troubles get the better of us.

“Faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” (James 2:17)

A honour to have met you Doctor. You are a true inspiration indeed. May our Lord keep you well and let you be an inspiration to many around you.

True Blessing.

Proverbs 19:14

"14House and wealth are inherited from a father but a sensible wife is a gift from Yahweh."

The ongoing Soorya festival was a blessing to me. It took my mind out of my plaguing worries. I was fascinated by some artist couples who do the classical art forms. I was wondering about the family atmosphere they might have to cherish and practice such fine arts which is the manifestation of spirituality. 

No wonder then, we should be really careful about the persons whom we take into the holy and the most holy place deep inside our hearts, if they do not have the inclination to respect the purity of their own souls and those of others by birth they can destruct our soul-its peace- and our everything. 

I used to believe anyone can turn to God anytime, but I have realised lately that not anyone, only some, have the mind to turn to God, to make Him their way of life, to enjoy His feast of peace and happiness. They are chosen by God, even before their birth. But it is true, God do not go by caste or creed. 

Thank you My Lord, for blessing me to turn to you, to find peace in You. Please keep me that way till I die. Thank you Jesus. 

PS: The picture is the new altar at the Lady of Ransom, built for the parishioners.