GALILEE

There are some events and personalities we are destined to meet in this world.
When that pre determined moment arrives that person or event arrives or happens.
Good or Bad we do not have any control over it.

I was destined to be part of such an event and to come across a personality whose sight and sound had me spellbound.

I call it the Galilee experience. The Galilean anchors my life. The peace and joy that I enjoy inspite of my shortcomings is the fruit of walking His way.

I was overwhelmed with joy when I found another soul on the same wave both in body and spirit.

Thank you my lord for the incredible experience.

Christmas & New year

My friend about Whom I have written about in my last post, his wife died on the Christmas eve. Though sad, everyone who knew the couple were feeling a huge relief, as the poor lady was finally relieved of all her pains.
We all mourned for her on Christmas.
My work got busier with the year end and I got into it deeply. Christmas and New year was not a holiday but part of work. The hard work over the new year weekend was very productive, I thank God for the opportunity.
The new year brought the happiness of meeting a dear friend after almost a decade.
Some emotions still work.😊

My lord I pray, to bring me the most deserving for whom I offer my  service (work) as a tith and as thanksgiving for the blessing. In Jesus name I ask.

Happy New year, my dear friends. May we continue to be in the Lord and enjoy his peace and happiness.

A morning tea with a stranger in the Christmas month

An old man who sat by my side at church in the morning had a sad heart. I didn't feel like he had much to pray for when we were pouring our hearts out through the mass and Mary's Novena, later. 

I invited him for a tea after the service, he came gladly clutching a bottle of water he filled from the drinking water tap at the church. 

Over the tea,  I asked him about his life. Close to 75 he is an unmarried old man who is living with his sister who is just a few years younger to him in an old house nearby the church. A mason in his younger days, today he is at the mercy of others, for sustenance and medical expenses. 

A sad story. But thank God, he had a surprisingly clear mind. 

The incident made me realise that I have grown real old. 'cos the old man's life did not stir much emotion, through the years, we have come across many such life experiences that only thought that passed my mind was to find a way to set a side something for him once in a while. 

Later, on the way back to home, I came across a childhood friend whose wife has survived a near death situation medically and has to be taken to hospital twice every week for dialysis. He did not have the resources to handle such a huge medical expenses. His tearful eyes and broken heart did shake me, eventhough I urged him to keep going with his part whole heartedly as he seemed to be breaking under the enormous emotional turmoil to see his dear wife in pain almost every hour of the day. 

A morning that started with a tea with a strange old man and ended with a tearful and broken hearted old friend, I got home rather mystified and praying in my heart;

"...My God, my life is not any different, if You choose to take me to tests, help me with the strength to climb over it gracefully."

Sunday

Last Sunday I couldn't come to  Vallarpadam since I had to travel with work. I came to Kochi early this morning, slightly feeling crumbled by sitting in an overnight bus to Kochi.
I was happy that I could go to church even though it was noon and hot. Problem with hot days is that we couldn't keep our mind focussed especially at noon.
My thoughts were like this when I walked into the new church and saw this picture. Also, an elderly neighbour who took the big risk of coming to Vallarpadam alone by bus and was flushed by the noon heat.
She was so happy to see me as she was worried about going back and I was glad I could be of some help by dropping her back home.
Church was not crowded at all. Peaceful day..

Mahabalipuram

My work took me twice to Mahabalipuram in three weeks.
While walking around I came across the St. MARYS church there which is under renovation. Every evening they have rosary at 6.30,pm followed by Mass at 7pm.
The Sacristan Augustine ringing the bell hung on the Mango tree while his grandchild coming back after school running upto him.

Sr. Rani Maria

A board announcing the beatification of Sr. Rani Maria and the celebration at her home parish St. Thomas church at Pullavazhi. 

My late mother had talked about her a lot and had told me the incident that led to her death which was shared by a priest at the Potta Ashram. Since it happened so far away, the newspapers did not had much details about it then.  We were quite taken aback by the brutal killing and the disastrous impact it had on our thoughts about the fate of all those involved in the mission work in the Tribal areas. I had meditated over her life very deeply and was touched by the mission life of this humble and simple sister from a small village of Kerala with whom I could connect very well as we knew some sisters personally who had dedicated their lives for similar missions. 

The last few years, after her beatification process was started I haven't thought much about Sister Rani Maria. 

Last Friday afternoon,  on 3rd November, while I was taking a nap after a long forenoon work, I dreamed of Sr. Rani Maria, coming to me and sitting by my bedside and asking me about a very personal issue which was bothering me and she put a cross on my forehead while looking deeply into my eyes, my soul. 

I didn't knew which sister it was, but the next day when I went to my parish there was a picture put outside the church announcing the beatification of Sr. Rani Maria. You could imagine my surprise, when I realised it was the same sister who had visited me on the previous day. 

Dear Sister, thank you very much for visiting me, you certainly know how much we have thought and remembered you in our prayers immediately after your death , when your death was just a small letter news item in the National page of our local dailies. But for us your life mattered even then as it is now. We were truly elated when your sister visited the man who killed you and tied "Rakhee" on his hand.  There were many who thought about you then, I am sure, I pray they too might have had a similar beautiful experience. 

Incidentally, my mother's seventh death anniversary was today, a day after Sister's beatification. 

So long, darlings...till we see again!

Sent from my Windows Phone

November 5, Sunday

Mission Sunday ventures. 

Remains of the All Souls day. November continues to be a special month of Remembrance of the dear departed.. 

North East Monsoon eventually drench the November evenings. 

Today, the dark clouds hovering behind the church in the east. 

The Marian towers standing majestic in the grey back ground, I couldn't help stopping to take pictures of the awesome sight. 

Church Neighbourhood