ALL SOULS DAY

Today the holy mother of the Church celebrates All Souls Day, a day when we remember our loved ones who have passed away. Today is also a day when many will travel miles to visit the graves of their loved one. I asked a parishioner why and he has no answer. All he said is I visit, pray burn candles and put flowers on the grave and come back.

I too have visited graves and blessed them. And what I saw not only shocked me but also made me firm on penning down something to educate our people. At times we do thing without understanding what we are doing and why we are doing. So here are few changes that we could implement in our lives.

1.      It’s good to visit the graves of our loved ones on occasions like All souls day and may be Death anniversary. If you ask me,  I will say “I don’t go.” Why? I simply say, I believe in what I profess when I say the Creed, “I believe in the resurrection of the dead.” Our bodies which were made of mud will turn to mud. “Thou are dust and to dust thou shall return.” So what’s there in the grave is just mud. Our souls are with God, sent to the place that HE thinks best for us. “I am going ahead of you to prepare a place for you so that where I am, you too will be.” John 14:3.

So rather than running to the grave every now and then, spend some time doing what your loved ones loved doing. So if you’re loved ones liked praying you too spend some time praying every day. My parents loved beginning the day with the Eucharist and ending the day with the Rosary. My sentiment then is to imitate them by doing just the same.  

2.      Burning Candle on the grave. Our world is not the same as it was before. Pollution levels have gone up so much, that our children and grandchildren may not see this beautiful place called earth. Or they may have to move around with oxygen cylinders on their backs. In our strive to build a green dioceses lets use less candles. In that place I would invite you to spend that money in planting more trees or give that money to an orphanage. Burning candles on the grave will not do any good to the departed souls. Instead offer masses for them, pray for the lost souls and those who have no one to pray for them.  So next time you think of burning a candle think twice. The same pollution could kill all of us.   

3.      Flowers on the grave. It’s nice to see all the graves decorated on this day. One better than the other. In fact I sometime wonder is there a secret competition going on here. Who’s grave is best decorated. Correct if I am wrong. If that’s not the case then why do we spend so much money no flowers for a person who cannot see it nor smell it. When the person was alive we probably never gave them flowers. So why now? To show whom? Put flowers in the lives of the persons when they are alive, not on their graves when they can’t see nor smell. Love then, spend time with them, talk to them, make them happy when they are alive not flowers on their graves. You do it and teach your kids to do the same so that when you grow old they will do that same for you.  

Our world has changed. We are all educated now. We know what’s good and what’s bad. So like educated people let’s bring about some change in our lives.

God bless you all.

DO WE BELIEVE IN MIRACLES

DO WE BELIEVE IN MIRACLES

We all have dreams of an ideal community, where there is participation from all levels, where the big and the old, thin and tall, all working shoulder to shoulder to build up Gods kingdom. And we ask, “is such a community possible?” The answer is YES. The answer to such a dream was given more than two thousand year ago and it’s found even today in the gospel of Mathew.

“Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”   

I am sure when we read this passage it appears unjust, but in order to understand its true meaning, one needs to solve the riddle, to uncover the mystery, that’s hidden in it.  The answer is to this mystery is Attitude and Gratitude. Attitude of the Animators and the Gratitude towards the people of their community

I see a positive Attitude of the Animators towards the goal that is placed on their shoulders of getting the participation of their members of their community and Gratitude towards their members who take up the challenge that’s place on them. God had blessed them abundantly.

The saying fits well here, “Whatever goes round comes around,” or “You reap what you sow.” The Morning Start community has set an example for each one of us to emulate. They have reaped the abundance and will continue to reap in the future. I wish them all the best in the coming years. 

Words...Words...words...

Words words words...... Words are an important part of our life. Weather spoken or written, they throw light on our own imagination. People in the past have used images to communicate, but after that it has been the word world. 

It’s so surprising to see how words have evolved over the years, and how our so called modern generation, has been using words as if to say it’s taken for granted. What do I mean with that. In the past when we said “I love you” it meant that a person really is emotional, physically in love with a person. Even though it still mean the same today, for many it means just a passing phrase. 

I was sitting in a hotel with a friend and in the side table was a young couple. The guy was proposing to the girl and he had written a nice love letter accompanied with a flower and a chocolate. The girl was stunned. She turns around and asked him if this some kind of a Joke. The guy as taken a back, and he asked her “don’t u love me.” The girl said, yes I love you, but that does not me I and emotionally attached to you or I am going to get married to you.” Then she said something that shocked me, she said, “I love my dog too, does that mean I am going to marry my dog.” 

Words Words words....... they can make or they can break... there were a time when we used certain words to mean a certain action, for example when we said I love u it mean that u love that person. Today the word love is used so common that I feel its lost its really meaning. Its not just about words like love only. But take for example words like I’ll Kill U, Screw U, Fuck U, M*** F***, kick me for these words, not that I did not use these words in my life. But these words are so commonly used today that they have lost their original meaning. 

I was travelling by train in the late afternoon and it was full of college children. And I believe that’s the best place and time to learn new words, even if don’t plan to use them in ur life. And this group of boys and girls were fooling amongst themselves having a great time on their way back home. I was angry at first at the words, but then I began listening to them and they were using words like” I’ll kill u if u tell any one.” Of course she did not me that she will kill him. But in the past it was a very rarest word or sentence you would ever here, except in fights. But today it so commonly used. 

Words...words...words how we used them in the past and how they are used today... Look in the eyes of the person to really understand the meaning....

Good Friday....

The ground began to shake, buildings crumbled, and--within four short minutes--over 25,000 people were dead, many others were severely disabled and more than a half-million were left homeless. The place was Gujarat, and the date was Jan 26, 2001--the day when a massive earthquake almost wiped out the state of Gujarat from the map of India.
In the midst of the chaos and confusion, a frightened father ran to the school where his young son had gone earlier that morning. When he arrived, all he found was a pile of rubble. But he remembered the promise that he had made to his son so many times: "No matter what happens, Amol, I will always be there."
And so he began to dig--with his bare hands. He pulled up bricks and plaster and wood and metal, while other people watched in disbelief. They said, "Forget it, mister. Don't waste your time. They're all dead." He said to them, "You can stand there and grumble, or you can help me carry these heavy bricks." A few did pitch in to help, but most of them gave up once their muscles began to tire.
But the man didn't. He couldn't stop thinking of his son--and his promise--and so he continued to dig: for 6 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours, 36 hours. Finally, after 38 hours of hard labor, he heard a muffled groan from down below. He picked up one final piece of wallboard and he called out, "Amol!" Out of the darkness he heard a quivering voice, "Papa!" Then he heard other voices--14 in all. Of the 200 students who had gone into the school that morning, incredibly 14 were still alive.

When they were all safely out of the demolished building, Amol turned to his friends and proudly declared, "See, I told you my father wouldn't forget us!" And this is what Christians all around the world on this day pointing to the Cross of Jesus will be saying to one another “See didn’t I tell you, My Father would never leave us.”

John 3:16  for God so loved the World so much that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”

“Greater love has no man that this than to lay down his life for a friend.” Whenever I look at the cross of Jesus, I can’t help asking myself this question. Why did have to suffer? Why such a brutal death?

My question leads me to reflect what must be going on in God’s mind. I can’t help but picture God sitting some where there up in heaven on the clouds with Jesus on one side and the Holy Spirit on the other, looking down on earth and saying to themselves, “what more do I need to do to make these people know that I Love them.” And as he was discussing this he looks at Jesus and realizes what going on in his mind, and instantly say NO. And Jesus turns to the Father and says, “Yes I can do it trust me” and God the Father say “No, I can’t let you do this. You don’t know what these children of mine will do to you”. But Jesus convinces the Father and says, “Just give me one chance and I will go down and tell my people that there is a Father who loves them who cares for them.” God the father agrees and bingo it’s Christmas.

Soon 33 years pass by with Jesus travelling the length and breadth of the Israel telling the people that there is a God who believes in them who loves them. Few believed in Him, others called him a mad man, a drunkard and a friend of tax collectors and sinners. They felt it’s better to do away with Him before he corrupts the whole community. And hand Him over to be killed. They gave him the worst treatment that could be ever given to a man at that time. They Crucified him in between two thieves.

But Jesus did not forget his mission. He did not forget his reason for coming into the world. That even though he was humiliated, that even though he was kicked and spitted at, with a crown of thorns on his head, and a heavy cross on his shoulder, and the painful piercing nails in his hand and feet, yet before he died, he makes his final petitation to his Father. “Father forgive them for they do not know what they do.”

The cross, which was a stumbling block, a symbol of defeat, shame, guilt, to many, has now been transformed into a sign of hope, because it was on the cross that Christ gained victory for us. As St Paul say, “By the wood of the cross have we all been saved.”

This evening my dear brothers and sisters, I would like to draw your attention on the three crosses that stood tall on mount Calvary. Yet keeping my main focus on that old rugged cross the emblem of suffering and shame for the Scribes and Pharisees, which when on to become a symbol of Hope for many down the centuries.

The Gospels tells us that on a hill not far away, a place called Golgotha, stood 3 crosses. In centre was a Jesus, whom Pilate called “the King of the Jews” and on either side were two criminals, who too were being crucified for their crimes. I would like to names these crosses as:
1. The Cross of Rejection
2. The Cross of Reception &
3. In the center the Cross of Redemption.
Let’s take a brief look at all these three crosses.

1. The Cross of Rejection:
On the left of Jesus as we have just heard in the passion hung a criminal, who out rightly rejected Jesus. Luke 23:39  “If you are the Christ, save yourself and us as well."

Why did I call this cross a cross of Rejection, for two simple reasons? We see in this person a :
a. Lack of Guilt
b. The Lack of Humility.

Lack of guilt  we see that he had no interest in admitting his guilt, he was mad because he was caught for his wrong doing and was being crucified. He had no sorrow in him that he had offended God and sinned against him. No! he was mad because he was caught. “If you are the Christ, save yourself and us as well he said.” And isn’t this what the world is teaching us today, the 11th Commandment, “do whatever you want but don’t get caught.”
Story of the boy caught stealing pencils in school…

The Lack of Humility  Instead of being humble and looking for mercy, we are told this thief "railed" on Jesus in Luke 23:39  “If you are the Christ, save yourself and us as well." The word "railed" means to scoff; to make fun or to ridicule, to make fun off. Isn’t this what happens most of the time when you try to be a good witness to someone, or a good Catholic?

This thief still had some pride in him to act this way towards the only one who could save him. And the bible tells us the Pride leads to death. So on the first cross hung the un-repented sinner, the cross of rejection, who rejected Jesus out rightly.
He had no guilt or shame for what he did.
He had no belief in the Son of God.
He had no humility for the mess he was.

What about us: Think of the number of time
 I had no guilt for the sins I have committed.
 I did not believe that God could save me of my sinfulness, the mess I am in.
 Refused to humble myself before God.
Have mercy on my O Lord.

2. The Cross of Reception [ read Lk 23: 40 – 41]
On the right of Jesus hung another criminal who was also given the same treatment as the first. But in comparison to the first he accepted his faults. As I reflect on this 2nd cross I notice something very important and that’s why I have name it the cross of reception.

a. He feared God: In Luke 23:40, we read this thief said to the thief that hung on the Cross of Rejection, "have u no fear of God". The Bible says, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom".
 He knew that God controlled his destiny.
 He knew that God was the judge of things.

b. He realized that he too was condemned like Jesus

c. He acknowledges his sin
V 41¨
The Bible tells us that "all have sin and come short of the glory of God."

Acknowledgment of ones sin is the first step of getting saved. A person must first acknowledge they are a sinner. If a person does not see themselves as sinner then there is no need to be save. This is why the Pharisees during the time of Jesus did not repentant and submit to the baptism of repentance under the ministry of John the Baptist. They were self-righteous, trusting in being the physical seed of Abraham to save them. Nothing has changed much the religion of the Pharisees is still around today. Today, most folks are trusting in something else other than the shed blood of Jesus Christ to save them.
d. The thief on the cross of reception acknowledged he deserved his sentence - verse 41, "we receive the due reward of our deeds".
He knew clearly that he reaped what he had sown. In other words, he said "I am guilty for what I have done and deserve to be in the predicament that I am in."
 He acknowledged that he deserved his death sentence.
 He was sorry for his sin, not that he got caught but because he sinned

e. Finally: this thief acknowledged that Jesus did not deserve the death sentence - verse 41 "but this man hath done nothing amiss."
He realized and acknowledged the sinlessness of the man next to him.

There was only one last thing that this man did: He turned to the center cross, the third cross, The Cross of Redemption and uttered these words - verse 42 " Lord remember me in your kingdom."
Unlike the other thief on the Cross of Rejection, the thief on The Cross of Reception had no doubt who Jesus was. He came to Jesus humbly, admitting his sin, accepting his sentence of death, and crying out to God for his mercy. This thief believed that Jesus Christ could save him. John 1:12 "But to those who accepted him, he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name.”


3. The Cross of Redemption
Finally, we want to notice the third cross, The Cross of Redemption.

And what was Jesus’ response to the 2nd thief on the Cross of Reception - verse 43 "Amen, I say to you, Today you shale be in paradise with me."

Show me one religion on this planet that promised paradise to us. Show me one religion in this big wide world, that will tell you for sure, "You are going to paradise ( heaven) and all you had do was ask to go there through trusting in the shed blood of Jesus Christ for the atonement of your sins. The bottom line is there isn’t any. Only Bible can and makes that promise, because it is based on the man on that third cross, The Cross of Redemption.

That’s the Good news for us today. That there is a
 A God who cares for us
 A God that believes in us, who is so madly in loves with us, that He send his only son to die for us, to redeem us and promise us paradise, a place where He is, so that we too may be with him, provide we put out trust in him.

That’s why today is called Good Friday, because today we remind ourselves that we have a Good God who cares for us.

“By the wood of the Cross we have been saved.” Amen.

As we enter into the 1st week of Lent TRANSFORMING LIVES IS HERE FOR YOU....