A prayer

The creator of heaven and earth, our God, praise and worship, power and authority be always with You. May everyone everywhere who are praying in their own ways be praying to You, The Creator, and they be blessed with your peace and joy. Please do not let anyone anywhere perish. Thank you for allowing us to know more about You from the culture and tradition of the country you let me born in. I pray for the forgiveness of my sins which I have committed in my human impulses by offering the body and blood of Jesus Christ as my sacrifice for reconnecting with You. Not my grace but Your Mercy Father. Thank you Apostles for bringing the good news to us. Thank you Joseph and Mary. 

At Vallarpadam, again!

Though I came back to Kochi a week ago I could make it to Vallarpadam only on the following Sunday. It was very good to be back at my favorite church and its environs. It was about afternoon and the church was not so  full with devotees coming and going. The 4pm Tamil mass was very spirited but I would have preferred a local mass since I haven't been to one in months. I should have come little more early.

My thoughts were jumbled when I left the college after the semester. There were a few things I had started towards the benefit of our students and all those were left in the midway with no way to continue the effort after I left the village. It was rather disappointing, so much of efforts has been put into all those, but then I was also expecting it too. When ones work is under a contract one cannot predict what happens once it ends.

A day and night journey from the East coast to West coast. 

The cyclone Fani was rattling Odissha when I left the East coast village. Luckily we were spared the destruction. Immediately after that Chennai and our area just three hours away from that big town became unbearably hot. Koimbedu, the big bus station at Chennai became my refuge as I waited for the connecting bus from Chennai to Kochi.

Thank you my Lord for the wonderful opportunity to move around, help me do it well and complete the associated requirements on time and well. Bless us with our working tools and the knowledge to use them well. May everyone my Lord have the means to earn their bread and the grace to do it well gratefully. 

...Past the day and the task!

The day was hot and humid. When I reached the Lady of Ransom the 11.30 mass was just about starting. Even though the heat was whipping my concentration very badly the Sunday reading took all my heart. The disciples were informing Jesus about the Greeks who had come to see Him and in response what Jesus tells the disciples rather as a discourse than as a reply reveals how much Jesus was aware the way His teachings would be accepted by the rest of the world and rejected by many Jews for whom He had come. Since my Lent thoughts was around the social and political back ground of Israel in the time of Jesus, this reading was of a special interest to me. 

I guess my mind was feeling jerky not really 'cos of the heat of the sun, but rather for the bombardment of the emotional stress I have been taking for a dead line I had to meet soon. Inspite of all my efforts I was not in control  of the situation and needed divine help to get past the task I had to face and win in the next few days. Though my faith was strong and I believed with all my heart that I would go past the day and the task successfully, I still didn't know how. The uncertainty has kicked my peace out, though I looked and behaved cool. 

Blessed are you Adonai, our Lord, the creator of the universe. Thank you for sending Jesus to us. Thank you Jesus for glorifying your Father and being our way and truth to Him. Thank you Apostles for bring the Gospel to us, the men and women of far and wide. 

This day, we pray, Father, help all of us, who are facing difficult situations in life, help us with the wisdom to trust in You, the creator of everything. In Jesus name we ask and pray. 

We believe Adonai, You will help us go past the day and task and we will continue to worship and thank You the day and the next just like our forefathers have. 

Story..

I don't know how my story is going to end, but whatever it is, My Lord, please do not let me 'Give up' on life.

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.

Thank You

After a few weeks I went to Lady Of Ransom yesterday early morning. I enjoyed the cool lonely walk up to the church from the highway. Seeing the bright colored dome of the church from a distance was very consoling and comforting. 

Being a week day, there were not many in and around the church. The schools kids were just about arriving to the school which is in the church compound itself. Those who come early were playing around in the Rosary park. 

I had a special mention of my mother whose death anniversary was last week. Like me she too was a frequent visitor at Lady Of Ransom. As I sat there in the freshly painted and polished inside of the church, I was grateful, that I got an opportunity to teach "Accounting" again to a batch of seminary students, of the very congregation which was my mother's favorite. Since I had moved away from that subject to "Art and Art History" lately, I was happy I take up that classes, even with considerable strain on my time. 

Thank you Mary at Vallarpadam, You with Your infinite grace and bearing help us to be true to ourselves and our faith.

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.

Reward of the Obedient

Reward for obedience to the Lord 

Psalms 128
1 Blessed are you who fear the Lord
 and walk in his ways.

 2You will eat the fruit of your toil;
 you will be blessed and favored.

 3Your wife, like a vine,
 will bear fruits in your home;
 your children, like olive shoots
 will stand around your table.

 4Such are the blessings bestowed
 upon the man who fears the Lord.

Some times, we search for reasons, why life is not good for us, why we are not successful, why our labor is not bearing fruit, why we are not married or why our marriage is not happy?

Psalms 128 has the answer to it all.

A request!

My Lord and My God!

My joy and my peace, when I am tired and lonely with twists and turns of my life, please gift me a companion, who will talk to me about YOU and YOUR WAYS and help me live better in every way!

The flame

Psalms 144:1

1 Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war and my fingers for battle .

The flames that is raging in my heart....

I am imperfect my god, I cannot love completely with my own heart, please come into my shortcoming, please let me, please help me love with your true love, unconditional love. 

Save me, O! LORD from the consequences of my imperfections-anxiety, fear, disappointment, anger. Fill my shortcomings with your perfection My LORD, liberate me O! Jesus, from the bondage of these emotions.

Love

John 15:12
"This is my commandment: love one another as I have loved you."

Oh! My God, Thank you for teaching me how to love, forgive me for the times I have hurt, I have let down those who have trusted my love. 

Help me Lord! Please help me, to forgive who deliberately booted my trust and enjoyed it like children playing in the mud.