Fine Words and Fine Deeds

The parable of the two sons is very instructive (Matt 21:28-32). The father approached his first son and asked him to go to the vineyard to work. The first son told the father he would not go to the vineyard. He later changed his mind and carried out the wishes of his father. The father also approached the second son with the same request. The second son enthusiastically agreed to do what the father commanded. But he would not lift even a finger.

Jesus uses this parable to teach us some fundamental truths about the Christian life. Christianity is not about words but actions; not fine words but fine deeds; not what we say but what we do; not profession of faith but performance of faith; not external obedience but interior compliance; not sweet talk but long walk. Talk is cheap. We need to walk our talk.

This parable has a special resonance for all Christians, especially Catholics.  We made a number of promises to God at our baptism, confirmation and matrimony. What matters is not what we promise publicly, not what we say we are or what we want people to believe we are. The most important thing is promises kept and not promises pronounced; internal disposition and   not external propositions; internal appropriation of our religious values and not good resolution.

Jesus wants us to be very careful about labeling people. The Lord wants us to be very cautious about putting people in the categories that they do not belong. At first glance, the first son may appear to be disobedient and the second son obedient. We should exercise some caution about assessing the moral stand of an individual; whether good or bad.

Often our assessment is short-sighted; at best, one-sided. Even outrightly wrong. Since our judgment is only external. We judge only the appearance. Appearance is not reality. At least, appearance is not the whole of reality. What a person is and what a person appears to be are not exactly the same thing.

The person who appears to be disobedient may well be doing the will of God. As it often happens in history, the bad can turn out to be good, and the good bad. Man looks at appearance while God looks at the heart (1Sam 16:7). The Lord is asking us to choose between lip-service and selfless service. Fine words can never replace fine deeds.

Common Challenges of Forgiving Others

The Bible encourages us to forgive our brothers and sisters when they offend us. Be merciful as your Father is merciful (Lk6:36).  But in our efforts to be merciful like the Father we may face many daunting challenges. This article discusses some of these difficulties.

Hardness of Heart

One of the commonest challenges we may face is hardness of heart or lack of forgiveness. We may find it difficult to forgive because our hearts are hard and hardened, bitter and embittered. We know we have to forgive, but in our heart of Heart we don't want to forgive. When we find it difficult to forgive, let us remember the parable of the ungrateful servant (Matt 18:23-35). The Bible warns us that "merciless will be the judgement of those who show no mercy" (Jam 1:13).

Initiating Forgiveness

Our Lord Jesus Christ says if we are offended, we should take forgiveness to those who offended us. We should take the first step. We have to make the first move and initiate forgiveness and reconciliation. "If you are bringing an offering to the altar, and remember that your brother has something against you. Leave your offering at the altar, go and reconcile with your brother" (Matt 5:23-24). "If another member of the Church sins against you, go and point out the fault when two of you are alone"(Matt 18: 15-17).

Initiating Forgiveness is very difficult for many of us. When we are offended, we become very angry. We rage. We foam.  The last thing we want to do is to go and meet the offender. We say in our hearts:  if the offender wants forgiveness let him come and beg for it. In our pride and narrow mindedness we wait for people to apologise first before we forgive. The offender may not come and beg for forgiveness. We may wait for ever. We may wait in vain.

God did not wait for humanity to ask for forgiveness before He sent His only begotten Son to die for us. God took the first initiative and He is asking us to do the same- to swallow our pride, come down from our thrones, go and offer mercy to our brothers and sisters.

Forgiveness and Memory

Many preachers have said that we have to forgive and forget. Sometimes we may forgive but we may not forget. Many Christians go around with guilt because they can't forget the wrong perpetrated against them. It is common to hear people say: "I have forgiven but I can't just forget". We need to understand that certain horrendous events cannot be forgotten because we are human beings, because we have memory. A victim of rape may never forget her ordeal even if she forgives her rapist.

We don't have to feel guilty because we have not forgotten the hideous experience we endured. However, we don't have to deliberately recall these horrible events or habitually bring them to mind. We must not brood over the past events. It is not necessary to revive or relive the feeling of anger, hatred and sadness over and over again.

We can remember the awful and dreadful events of our lives without anger, malice, hatred and sadness. We can ask God to purify our memory.

Forgiveness and Reconciliation

Sometimes in life reconciliation does not always follow forgiveness. It is possible to forgive and still find it difficult to reconcile with others. Especially if the other party is not ready for reconciliation. We don't have to feel guilty because our efforts to reconcile with somebody fail. We can't force anybody to reconcile with us. We can pray for the other party. We can involve others in our attempts at reconciliation.  We can hope that one day we will reconcile. We should  be always open to reconciliation.
Meanwhile we are at peace.  We maintain our peace of mind while waiting for reconciliation to succeed. We don't have to live in debilitating guilty because we have not yet reconcile with the other.

Be merciful like the Father can be very challenging but not impossible. Every effort at forgiveness and reconciliation is worth the trouble. Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy.

Tragedies As Urgent Warning

Jesus was informed of the grisly atrocities that Pilate committed. Pilate was notorious for some prodigies of cruelty. He slaughtered many people with ruthless barbarity and mingled their blood with their sacrifices. Few days before this horrendous crime, the tower of Siloam fell and killed eighteen people. Jesus used the occasion of these calamities to call the people to repentance.

Every day we hear tragic news of natural disasters- earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes and flooding; acts of terrorism, kidnappings, beheadings and accidents.  Over one million people die in road accidents. Thousands of people have lost their lives in senseless war and violence.

When we hear about these tragedies, we become a little sober. We sympathize with the victims or even empathize with them. Then we simply go back to our normal routine, return to our old sinful way of life. We tell ourselves these horrible things will never happen to us. The victims of these horrendous events also entertained the same belief, but today many of them are lying in their graves.

We are not better than the random victims of these tragedies. In this valley of tears, bad things happen to good people all the time. Misfortune can happen to anybody at anytime. The sudden and unexpected death of others should remind us of our fragility, vulnerability and immortality. This is the reason Jesus invites all to repentance. The call to repentance is infused with sense of urgency. Life can be very unpredictable. Life is precarious. Human existence is capricious.

Repentance is an urgent priority. A wise person will reconcile with God, with his neighbors and with himself.  A true Christian will live each day fully as if it is his last. He will work for his salvation with fear and trembling. Tragic news should remind us of our need for repentance.
 

Prayer of Consecration to St Michael the Archangel

Oh most noble Prince of the Angelic Hierarchies, valorous warrior of Almighty God and zealous lover of His glory, terror of the rebellious angels, and love and delight of all the just angels, my beloved Archangel Saint Michael, desiring to be numbered among your devoted servants, I, today offer and consecrate myself to you, and place myself, my family, and all I possess under your most powerful protection.

I entreat you not to look at how little, I, as your servant have to offer, being only a wretched sinner, but to gaze, rather, with favorable eye at the heartfelt affection with which this offering is made, and remember that if from this day onward I am under your patronage, you must during all my life assist me, and procure for me the pardon of my many grievous offenses, and sins, the grace to love with all my heart my God, my dear Savior Jesus, and my Sweet Mother Mary, and to obtain for me all the help necessary to arrive to my crown of glory.

Defend me always from my spiritual enemies, particularly in the last moments of my life.

Come then, oh Glorious Prince, and succor me in my last struggle, and with your powerful weapon cast far from me into the infernal abysses that prevaricator and proud angel that one day you prostrated in the celestial battle. Amen.

-Opus Sanctorum Angelorum

Padre Pio's View of Suffering As An Expression of Love

"Don’t be daunted by the cross. The surest test of love consists in suffering for the loved one, and if God suffered so much for love, the pain we suffer for Him becomes as lovable as love itself."

"True and substantial devotion consists in serving God without experiencing any sensible consolation. This means serving and loving God for His own sake."

"The greater your sufferings, the greater God’s love for you."

"In darkness, at times of tribulation and distress of the spirit, Jesus is with you. In such a state you see nothing but darkness, but I can assure you on God’s behalf that the light of the Lord is all around you and pervades your spirit. . .You see yourself forsaken and I assure you that Jesus is holding you"

"Remember, our suffering is brief but our reward is eternal. You must remain calm, or at least resigned, but always convinced in the voice of authority. You must confide in it, without fearing the rages of the storm, because the vessel of your soul will never be submerged. Heaven and earth may pass away, but the Word of God, that assures the one who obeys it will find victory, will never pass away and will always remain fixed in indelible script in the Book of Life: I will exist forever."

-St Pio of Pietricina

The Exaltation Of The Cross

Historically the cross is an instrument of torture and death. Our Lord Jesus Christ was nailed to the cross. Jesus Christ in turn nailed our sins to the cross (Col 2:14). After the death and the glorious resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, the cross has become the symbol of our salvation and redemption. The cross is now the symbol of our triumph over sin and death.

The cross occupies a pivotal place in Christian life.  Christian life will be impossible and incomprehensible without the cross. A Christian life devoid of the cross is not authentic. A Christian message devoid of the cross is not a Christian message but some erroneous human speculation. The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing (1Cor 1:18). St John Chrysostom says " the cross, is wood which lifts us up and makes us great ... The Cross uprooted us from the depths of evil and elevated us to the summit of virtue"

The cross is not something to be avoided at all cost.  We cannot be ashamed of the cross (the instrument of our salvation). The cross is not so much what we talk about but what we embrace and carry everyday of our lives. Like St Paul, every Christian is nailed to the cross with Christ (Gal 2:9). Every Christian must take the place of Christ on the cross and make up for whatever is lacking in the sufferings of Christ (Col 1:24). The only way to heaven is the way of the cross.

The Vows of Consecrated Life (Part III)

The vows are first of all a response to God’s calling.  You did not choose me, I chose you: and I commissioned you to go out and to bear fruit (Jn 15:16). The initiative is from God: “it is an initiative coming wholly from the father (Cf. Jn 15:16), who asks those whom he has chosen to respond with complete and exclusive devotion” (Vita Consecrata, n. 17). The vows are free and radical responses to God’s call to follow in the footsteps of our Lord Jesus Christ as enunciated in the Gospels. The religious is both responsive and responsible.

The response demanded from the consecrated person is voluntary, spontaneous, unreserved, and generous. He responds with his whole life for all his life. He generously responds to this call in his own historical context according to promptings of the Holy Spirit and the specific needs of the Church. The different content and context of one’s vocation admits of some divergence and convergence. That is why there is a great variety of responses in the Church namely: monastic life, mendicants, societies of apostolic life and the secular institutes. The multiplicity of different forms of consecrated life is considered as both a gift and activity of the Holy Spirit.


An expression of undivided love

Primarily, the vows constitute a response to the unconditional love of God, an acknowledgement of God’s faithful and unrelenting love, surrender to God’s tremendous and everlasting love. The evangelical counsels are ravishingly lovely. They are intended as a concrete expression of passionate love of God (Cf. Apostolic Letter of His Holiness Pope Francis To All Consecrated People on the Occasion of the Year of Consecrated Life). They are an act of personal love for God who first generously loved us.

 Love is the motive and goal of evangelical counsels, “such love should fill each of you … from the very source of that particular consecration which—on the sacramental basis of holy Baptism--- is the beginning of your new life in Christ and in the Church; it is the beginning of the new creation” (Redemptoris Donum, n. 8). The consecrated persons are naturally lovers- lovers of Christ and the whole humanity.  Having derived their love from the contemplation of Trinitarian love, they “show that the power of God’s love can accomplish great things precisely within the context of human love” (Vita Consecrata, n. 88).


The wonder of amazing grace

The intention to take the vows is inspired and elicited by the promptings of divine grace; the vows are an outward response to the inward grace. Stupendous grace disposes the religious to respond joyfully to his/her religious vocation. Therefore, religious profession is an external manifestation of the inner workings of unmerited grace in the life of the consecrated person. The whole project of consecrated life is a testimony of what the grace of God can achieve in the face of human weakness and imperfections. This divine grace necessarily accompanies the consecrated person in all his endeavours to fulfill the obligations of his vows. The Lord who invites a Christian to embrace the vows also furnishes him with all the necessary graces he needs to live the vows joyfully and convincingly.

In the bogs of doubt, quicksand of fear, and winds of anxiety, the consecrated person realizes his/her need for grace.  Without the grace of God, no consecrated person can fulfill the vows. Without me you can do nothing (Jn 15:5).  Every consecrated person needs the grace of God to weave the fabric of his destiny. Consecrated life is an adventure that requires a willingness to surrender to divine grace.  “Religious, therefore, at pains  to be faithful to what they have professed, should believe our Lord’s words and relying on God’s help, should not presume on their own strength” (Perfectae Caritatis, n. 12).

Psalm 23: The Praise of Divine Providence

Psalm 23 is one of the most popular, most beautiful and most meaningful poems in the bible. It is more than a poem; it is also a profound prayer of trust in divine providence and protection. It has been translated into almost all the living languages, sung by millions of musicians and memorized by countless number of people.

This psalm is suitable for all times and places- in times of peace or war; joy or sorrow; plenty or want; well being or sickness. It provides sense of meaning and purpose in times of distress and uncertainties of life.

It is loved by different kinds of people- children sing it every morning in school, soldiers recite it in war fronts, prisoners say it in the darkness of their cells, and the sick pray it on their sickbeds. It has inspired and enlivened both old and young, rich and poor, believers and non believers alike. The dying wish to sing it as the last song on their lips.

This beautiful Psalm has brought smiles to distressed faces, peace to restless hearts, confidence to the fearful, encouragement to the discouraged, hope to the hopeless and guidance to the lost. It has calmed fears, addressed concerns, removed sorrows and dispelled anxieties and hopelessness.

The theme of this beloved Psalm is reassuring, the structure is endearing and the appeal is magnetic. It has a compelling force and enduring attraction. In any situation we find ourselves, the psalm reminds us of the abiding presence of God and his unfailing providence.

If we forget everything in this world, even if we forget our names, we must never forget that the Lord is our shepherd. There is nothing we shall want. Fresh and green are the pastures where He gives us repose.  And near restful waters he leads us, to revive our drooping spirit.

He guides us along the right path; he is true to his name. And even if we should walk in the valley of darkness, we will fear no evil. He is there with his crook and staff to give us comfort. And surely goodness and kindness shall follow us all the days of our lives. In the Lord’s own house, we shall dwell forever and ever.

The Fallacy of Generational Curses

The generational curses have become a perennial issue in our own time.  A lot of hype and hysteria surround the ‘breaking’ of generational curses. The generational curses can be traced to the utterances of Yahweh in some books of the Old Testament. For example, in Exodus 20:5 the Lord says “I the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me.”

 There are also passages in the OT that appear to suggest that God actually punished the children because of the sins of the parent(s). For example, the death of the child of Bathsheba after the adultery and murder committed by King David ( 2 Sam 12: 15-19).

However, in the prophesy of Ezekiel, the Lord announced a new order. No longer will the children be punished for the offences of their forbears. “The person who sins shall die. A child shall not suffer for the iniquity of a parent, nor a parent suffer for the iniquity of a child; the righteousness of the righteous shall be his own, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be his own” (Ezek 18:20).

Jesus authoritatively confirmed this new order when the disciples asked him whether a man was born blind because of the sins of his parents. Jesus replied: neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him (Jn 9: 1-3). St Paul says that Jesus became a curse for all of us sinners and nailed the curses to the wood of the cross (Gal 3: 10-14).

The notion of generational curses does not exist in the New Testament. It is futile to have recourse to some passages in the OT even in the NT to justify it. Revelation of God and divine truths are taught in stages beginning from the OT to NT. For example, God commanded the sacrifice of animals for the forgiveness of sins and the circumcision of the flesh in the OT. But these practices (that were once recommended) are abolished in the NT. The idea of generational curses is not an inviolable or immovable code in the bible. It will be futile to quote some passages of the OT to justify animal sacrifice or circumcision of the flesh in our own time.

It is true that the children may suffer the negative consequences of the bad choices of their parents. For example the children may suffer for a long time the consequences of the bad choices made by an alcoholic and abusive father. But consequences are not coterminous with curses. It is almost a truism to say that life is full of twists and turns. It is callously lame to blame one’s parents for all the challenges of life.

Life can be very tough even for the children of ‘virtuous’ parents. "In the world you will have trouble. But be of good cheers I have overcome the world" (Jn 16:33).
 In the face of challenges of life let us turn to Jesus. He will furnish us with the strength we need to carry our cross everyday and follow Him. Come to me all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest (Matt 11:28).

The Vows of Consecrated Life (Part II)

St Thomas Aquinas identifies three stages of the vows of consecrated life (Summa theologica IIa-IIae Q 88 art 1). The first stage is deliberation. The vows presuppose a critical and honest soul-searching. At this phase, the consecrated person carefully examines himself/herself, life, history, motives, strengthens and weaknesses. He critically assesses the denotations and connotations of the vows. He seeks the will of God. He asks the fundamental question in Christian life: Lord what do you want me to do? The goals of this stage are self knowledge and discovery of the will of God. Hopefully, this will lead to the second stage which is purpose of the will.

This second stage is very critical. It is a time of incisive and decisive undertaking. It is the moment of decision and consent. The Christian gives his fiat. He responds willingly and enthusiastically to the invitation to follow Christ as a consecrated person. This is a turning point in the life of every aspiring Christian to consecrated life.

The third stage is profession of the vows. With poise and sense of purpose, the candidate makes his vows in the church and for the church. The consecrated person experiences these stages in his own unique way under the unfailing guidance of the Holy Spirit.


The Vows are Public

The profession of vows is often public not private. The vows are not pronounced in a clandestine manner since they are neither arcane nor esoteric. The profession of the vows often takes place in a public liturgical celebration with a form approved by the Church. The public pronouncement of the vows before God and the people of God instils in the consecrated person the gravity, implications and demands of the vows. Words and external signs can move the heart to devotion; fixed the mind more firmly on the thing promised and on the person the thing is promised.

Also, expressing the vows publicly strengthens the resolve of the consecrated person to avoid violating the vows not only through the fear of God but also through respect for people (Cf. Ibid). In Nigeria, the profession of vows whether temporary or perpetual often takes place in a colourful and elaborate ceremony. It is a tremendous sight, full of power and beauty. It provides a stellar opportunity for the family members of the professed to express their joy and support; the family members also gain some insight into the nature of consecrated life.


A Stupendous and Gratuitous Gift

The sacred vows are first all a gift of God. The evangelical counsels constitute a stupendous, unmerited, undeserved and gratuitous gift. “The evangelical counsels are above all a gift of the Holy Trinity. The consecrated life proclaims what the Father, through the Son and in the the Spirit, brings about by his love, his goodness and his beauty” (Vita Consecrata, n. 20). Nobody can take the honour on himself. The consecrated person is fully aware that he is undeserving of this gift, that there is nothing he/she could have done to merit his/her vocation and the gift of evangelical counsels.

The consecrated person is awed and humbled by the awareness of God’s generous and irrevocable gift; and is forever grateful to God for such supernatural gift of his/her vocation. Inasmuch as one’s vocation is gratuitous and unmerited, the pronunciation of the vows is an expression of gratitude to God – a song of praise. It is an outburst of awe, wonder and mystery. The consecrated person observes his/her vows with an attitude of gratitude.


A Response to God’s Unique Call

The vows are first of all a response to God’s calling. You did not choose me, I chose you: and I commissioned you to go out and to bear fruit (Jn 15:16). The initiative is from God: “it is an initiative coming wholly from the father (Cf. Jn 15:16), who asks those whom he has chosen to respond with complete and exclusive devotion” (Vita Consecrata, n. 17). The vows are free and radical responses to God’s call to follow in the footsteps of our Lord Jesus Christ as enunciated in the Gospels. The religious is both responsive and responsible.

The response demanded from the consecrated person is voluntary, spontaneous, unreserved, and generous. He responds with his whole life for all his life. He generously responds to this call in his own historical context according to promptings of the Holy Spirit and the specific needs of the Church. The different content and context of one’s vocation admits of some divergence and convergence. That is why there is a great variety of responses in the Church namely: monastic life, mendicants, societies of apostolic life and the secular institutes. The multiplicity of different forms of consecrated life is considered as both a gift and activity of the Holy Spirit.

The Vows of Consecrated Life (Part1)

A vow is simply a promise to God.  The religious vows are sacred promises made to God, in the Church by which one is incorporated into a canonically approved institute. According to Canon law, “by religious profession members assume by public vow the observance of the three evangelical counsels,  are consecrated to God, and are incorporated into the institute with rights and duties defined by law” (CIC 654). The vows set consecrated persons apart from the people; they become ‘consecrated’ persons by the virtue of this total dedication.


Varieties of Vows

There are three major vows (also known as evangelical counsels) often professed by most consecrated men and women namely; poverty, chastity and obedience. The vows can be differentiated according to their duration. Thus, we have temporary and perpetual vows (sometimes called first and final vows respectively). Temporary vows are taken for certain period of time and they can be renewed a number of times before the perpetual vows. Perpetual vows are professed for one’s life time.

A vow can also be simple or solemn. A simple vow is a promise made to God concerning certain actions or inaction but not recognized as solemn as such by the church.  A vow can be public and still be simple. A solemn vow is any vow designated as such by the Church. Though most religious orders and congregations profess three vows, there are exceptions. Some congregations profess the fourth vow. For example, the Jesuits profess the fourth vow of obedience to the Pope, while Daughters of Charity profess the forth vow of service to persons who are poor.



The Purpose of Vows

The vows of consecrated life are essentially an expression of a unique, personal and intimate relationship with God. Vatican II suggests two fundamental reasons for professing the vows:  “first, in order to be set free from hindrances that could hold him back from loving God ardently and worshiping Him perfectly, and secondly in order to consecrate himself in a more thoroughgoing way to the service of God” (Lumen Gentium, n. 44).

By pronouncing the vows, the consecrated persons enter into a profound and exclusive relationship with the Trinity. This unique relationship between the Trinity and the consecrated persons is spousal in nature. The consecrated persons are totally and irrevocably united with God. God becomes their ALL. Ultimately, the goal of the vows is union with God. The profession of the vows is a pledge of total, unequivocal and unreserved dedication to God. The profession of vows is an act of self donation; the pledge of ultimate self giving.

An Irresistible Invitation

“Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt 11:28). In order to appreciate the full import and impart of this invitation, we have to consider very closely who is inviting us. Far more important than the invitation is the person who is inviting. In this context, the person who is inviting us is Jesus- the second Person of the Trinity. The Word in Whom and through Whom we are created. The Word who displayed his everlasting love by assuming our flesh, who ultimately died for us on the cross. Because the person who is inviting us is supremely divine, this invitation assumes a unique dimension and meaning.

“Come to me” is a beautiful invitation, so timely, so loving, so consoling, and so reassuring.  Just knowing who is inviting us even without knowing why we are invited- we are already full of hope; anticipating wonderful, stupendous things. This invitation is an expression of love, a manifestation of tenderness, an initiation of God’s boundless mercy, a clear sign that the Lord sees and feels what we are going through.  This tender appeal is a “divine penetration into man’s true condition…Jesus looks with clear-sighted compassion into the inmost history of all hearts, and sees the toil and the sorrow which weigh on every soul.” It is a pledge that the Lord will put an end not just to our sorrow but the cause of our sorrow.

Considering the fact that this gracious invitation is coming from our loving Savior and expressed with infinite compassion, it becomes almost irresistible. Who will be blind not to see who is extending the invitation? Who will be deaf not to hear such affectionate invitation full of tenderness? Who will be so slow in responding to this urgent invitation? Who does not desperately desire the rest that only the Lord can offer? It is a huge disservice to labour in vain and carry our burdens alone when the good Lord is graciously, almost impatiently waiting to assist and comfort us.

We will spend our whole lives responding to this loving invitation. Our response is absolutely consequential. We come to Jesus not with fear or trepidation. We come to Jesus with reverence and trust.  And He will give us rest, relief, and refreshment. The Lord’s promise can never fail. The Lord will always fulfill his promise. Only God can give us the rest we desperately desire.

St Patrick's Breastplate

I bind unto myself today the power of God to hold and lead, His eye to watch, His might to stay, His ear to hearken to my need: the wisdom of my God to teach, His hand to guide, His shield to ward; the Word of God to give me speech, His heavenly host to be my guard.

Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ behind me,
Christ before me, Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort me and restore me, Christ beneath me,
Christ above me, Christ in the hearts of all that love me,
Christ in the mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself the Name, the strong Name of the Trinity, by invocation of the same, the Three in One, and One in Three, of Whom all nature hath creation; Eternal Father, Spirit, Word: praise to the Lord of my salvation, salvation is of Christ the Lord. Amen.


I bind myself to God's power to guide me, God's might to uphold me, God's wisdom to teach me, God's Eye to watch over me, God's Ear to hear me, God's way to lie before me, God's shield to shelter me, God's host to secure me...Against the snares of demons, against the seductions of vices, against the lusts of nature, against everyone who meditates injury to me, whether far or near, few or many.

Composed by St. Patrick

The Immaculate Heart of Mary

The Immaculate Heart of Mary is a symbol of love. It is a symbol of undivided love of Mary for God the Father, her motherly love for Jesus her Son, and her faithful love for the Holy Spirit. It is also the symbol of her ardent love for all of us her children.  The Immaculate Heart of Mary is most pure, most chaste, most generous and most compassionate.

Archangel Gabriel brought a message from God to our Mother Mary. She responded positively to God’s request from her Immaculate Heart. “Let it be done to me according to your word.” With these adorable words our Lady gave her consent to become the mother of God (LK 1: 26-33).

Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth (Lk 1:39-45). The child in Elizabeth's womb leapt for Joy. The song of gratitude (Magnificat) exuded from the Immaculate Heart of Mary. My soul magnifies the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my savior…

The Immaculate Heart of Mary was bruised and anguished. A sword of sorrow pierced the loving Heart of Mary in fulfillment of Simeon’s prophesy. Mary saw her Son dying on the cross, her Immaculate Heart was sorrowful and distressed.

This Immaculate Heart would rejoice at the resurrection of Jesus on the third day. The Immaculate Heart of Mary was filled with hope at the sight of the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ into heaven.

The Immaculate Heart of Mary is our shield against sin, temptations and evils. It is the refuge of sinners. It is our refuge when we are facing the challenges of life. There is nothing we ask the Immaculate Heart that we will not receive because it is most loving, compassionate and understanding. The Immaculate Heart of Mary assists us to live a good Christian life and attain the reward of eternal life.

Pope Pius XII consecrated the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on Oct 31, 1942. Pope John Paul II in union with bishops all over the world also consecrated the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on March 25 1984.

The Tale of Two Processions

The joyful procession led by Jesus entering the town of Nain and the sorrowful procession led by a corpse leaving the town evoke a profound imagery of human existence (Lk 7:11-17). Our existence is essentially a tale of two processions of life or death. The two processions represent the consequential choices we have to make in realms and realities life.


THE PROCESSION OF LIFE

The procession of life was led by Jesus- the author of life.  Jesus says: I am the way, the truth and the life (Jn 14:6). Jesus, the Way was also leading the way. The disciples led by the Life were  enlivened; following the Light were illumined; taught by the Truth were enlightened;  strengthened by the power of god were energized. In the company of Jesus, the disciples were happy and joyful because the joy of the Lord is their strength (Neh 8:10). The procession of life is both a lively possession and a lovely company.


THE PROCESSION OF DEATH

The procession of death was led by a corpse- a lifeless body. A large crowd of mourners was following this procession. This possession was anything but joyful. The people following this procession were sad, mournful and sorrowful. Their hearts were filled with anguish, agony and pain of a great loss. The mother of the young man swooned and was inconsolable because she lost her only child. She was shaken and shattered. She was absolutely devastated.


SYMBOL OF SPIRITUAL LIFE AND SPIRITUAL DEATH

Life is a tale of two processions. The two processions are symbol of Christian life (spiritual life) and sinful life (spiritual death). The first procession- the procession of life is the imagery of those living authentic Christian life by following Jesus. We follow the procession of life when we live according to the Spirit, follow the commandment of God, cultivate virtues and avoid vices, carry our cross everyday and follow Christ. Like obedient sheep, we follow the shepherd wherever He goes (Rev 14:4). Our ultimate reward is eternal life.

The second procession- the procession of death is allegory of sinful life. The people in this rueful procession follow the way of death. We follow The procession of death when we live in hoary denial of existence of God, live unspiritual life, live according to flesh, wallow in our sins, ignore the commandments of God, and follow our depraved inclinations. The road to damnation is broad and many travel it (Matt 7:13). The wages of sin is death (Rom 6:23).

LIFE AS A PROCESSION

We often say that life is a journey. But life is more a procession. Since we do not undertake the journey of life alone. No man is an island. We undertake the journey of life in a procession, in the company of others. We have to choose between the procession of life and the procession of death, between spiritual life and spiritual death.  Who is leading my procession? In whose company am I travelling? Where is my destination? We will spend our whole life answering these fundamental questions.

Lord you will show me the path of life and in your presence happiness forever (Ps 16:11).

Sacred Heart of Jesus

Divine Jesus, You have said, "Ask and you shall receive; seek and you shall find; knock and it shall be opened to you." Behold me kneeling at Your feet, filled with a lively faith and confidence in the promises dictated by Your Sacred Heart to Saint Margaret Mary. I come to ask this favor: Mention your request).

To whom can I turn if not to You, Whose Heart is the source of all graces and merits? Where should I seek if not in the treasure which contains all the riches of Your kindness and mercy? Where should I knock if not at the door through which God gives Himself to us and through which we go to God? I have recourse to You, Heart of Jesus. In You I find consolation when afflicted, protection when persecuted, strength when burdened with trials, and light in doubt and darkness.

Dear Jesus, I firmly believe that You can grant me the grace I implore, even though it should require a miracle. You have only to will it and my prayer will be granted. I admit that I am most unworthy of Your favors, but this is not a reason for me to be discouraged. You are the God of mercy, and You will not refuse a contrite heart. Cast upon me a look of mercy, I beg of You, and Your kind Heart will find in my miseries and weakness a reason for granting my prayer.

Sacred Heart, whatever may be Your decision with regard to my request, I will never stop adoring, loving, praising, and serving You. My Jesus, be pleased to accept this my act of perfect resignation to the decrees of Your adorable Heart, which I sincerely desire may be fulfilled in and by me and all Your creatures forever.

Grant me the grace for which I humbly implore You through the Immaculate Heart of Your most sorrowful Mother. You entrusted me to her as her child, and her prayers are all-powerful with You. Amen.

Source: EWTN

The Mystery of the Most Holy Trinity

The mystery of the Trinity is not a myth. It is not a mirage. It is not a puzzle that cannot be solved or resolved. It is not what we cannot know or understand. We can understand the Trinity to the extent human mind can understand the profound mystery of God.

We know that there is only one God. In this one God, we have three divine persons-Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The three persons are distinct. The Father is not the Son. The Son is not the  Holy Spirit. And the Holy Spirit is not the Father. Though the three divine persons are different, they are also equal. The Father is not superior to the Son. The Son is neither inferior or superior to the Father and the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is not inferior or superior to the Father and the Son. All are equal. There is no rivalry, competition, and struggle among them. The three persons are united in love and as one. There is harmony, understanding, sharing and unity among them.

The Trinity provides some valuable lessons for us. First, the Trinity is a community. The Trinity is a community of three divine persons. God also intends that we live in community. It is the will of God that human beings live harmoniously in communities. No man is an island. It is not good for a man or woman to live alone. We are created as social beings to live in love, unity, and interdependence in human communities.

Second, the three persons of the Trinity are equal. None is inferior or superior to the other. Inspite of differences in quantity and quality of our gifts and possesions, all human beings are equal before God. No human being is superior or inferior to the other. We all enjoy the equal dignity of imago dei. Power, money, position, influence, education and achievements should not make us feel that we are superior to others. Those who enjoy power, positions, money and leverage should not feel superior to those who do not have these things. "All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others" - this is the type of equality invented by humans, not the equality intended by God. Those who have no power, money, positions and influence should not feel inferior to those who have these things.

Third, the three persons of the Trinity are different from each other. God also intends differences in our world. Differences in language, cultures, race are intended by God. God wants each one of us to be different, unique and be comfortable with our differences. Our differences can enrich us. We can accept, appreciate, and even celebrate our differences. Our differences must never be the cause of discrimination and division.

Our Lady of Sorrows

Who could ever imagine the excruciating pain and enormous suffering of our Lady at the foot of the cross? What sorrow is greater that the pain of a mother who witnessed the execution of her only child? Mary was present at the foot of the cross. She saw the pain, agony and suffering of her only Son.

From the moment she conceived Jesus in her womb, Mary shared every aspect of the mission and ministry of Jesus.  But the climax was her sharing of the suffering of Jesus on the cross. At the foot of the cross she saw her Son ‘bruised, derided, cursed and defiled.’  She saw her Son gasping for his last breath. Nothing could be more painful to a mother. Nothing could be more dreadful. The prophesy of Simeon was fulfilled. A sword pieced the soul of Mary (Lk 2:35).

Yet Mary accepted the immolation of her Son with faith. She accepted everything with utter submission and resignation to the will of God. According to Vatican II, “the Blessed Virgin advanced in her pilgrimage of faith, and loyally persevered in her union with her Son unto the cross. There she stood, in keeping with the divine plan (Cf. Jn 19:25), suffering grievously with her only begotten Son. There she united herself with her maternal heart to his sacrifice and lovingly consented to the immolation of this Victim which she herself had brought forth” (Lumen Gentium, n. 58).

Mary reminds us that our place is at the foot of the cross. Like Mary we offer our little discomforts, sufferings, and pains as a sharing in the suffering of Christ. If we share in the suffering of Christ, we shall also share in His glory (Rom 8:17).  Mary also teaches us how to accept the tragedies of life (like the loss of our loved ones) with faith, submission and resignation to the will of God. The best way we can confront the tragedies of life is the way of the cross.  The way of the cross is the Christian way.   It is the road less travelled. But it is the only way that leads to glory.

Cast Your Net into the Deep Again

Peter a professional fisherman and his friends went to the sea for fishing. They worked hard all night long without a single catch. Worn out and run down, he came to the shore. He was embarrassingly disappointed. Jesus a professional carpenter asked despondent Peter to cast out his nets again. Peter answered, “Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.”  Peter protested first but obeyed at last. He cast his nets again. He caught so much fish that he needed some help to haul his nets ashore (Lk 5:1-7).


Disappointments As Blessing in Disguise

Life can be very difficult and irksome. Setbacks and Disappointments can thwart our noble attempts to succeed in life. Nevertheless, disappointments can initiate soul searching, uncover our oversights and provide fresh insights; open our minds to new opportunities and horizons. In other words, disappointments can be a blessing in disguise.

The failure and disappointment of Peter provided for him an opportunity to experience the abundance of divine providence. Paulo Coelho says “when you find your path, you must not be afraid. You need to have sufficient courage to make mistakes. Disappointment, defeat and despair are the tools God uses to show us the way.”


The Courage to Dare

Peter enjoyed bountiful catch because he had the courage to dare again. He had a million reasons not to make another attempt. Against all odds, he tried again. And this time he succeeded. If we dare to try again, to our pleasant surprise, what is impossible will become possible; obstacles will be crushed; dreams will become reality.

Success belongs to those who will dare to believe, hope and try again. We must never stop trying again. Les Brown says “anytime you suffer a setback or disappointment, put your head down and plow ahead.”  As long as we have the courage to dare, try again, our success is absolutely guaranteed.

The Price of Giving Up

If we will not cast our nets again, if we give up in ourselves, we will lose everything.  When we stop trying and start giving excuses, we are only inviting failures. When we give up and give in to despair we begin to go down a spiral; talents atrophy; opportunities are wasted; we descend so fast and so low; we settle for less and eventually settle for nothing. We lose everything.

Despair and excuse can never guarantee success, if anything, they exacerbate the unsavoury situation. The greatest evil in the world is not failure or setbacks. The greatest evil in the world is lack of courage to dare, lack of desire to try again. The greatest evil in the world is loss of confidence, enthusiasm and energy to try again. There is nothing as tragic as giving up on oneself when success is inches away. If we retire, we expire.

A Salutation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Hail, holy Lady, most holy Queen, Mary, Mother of God, ever Virgin;

Chosen by the most holy Father in heaven, consecrated by Him, with His most holy beloved Son and the Holy Spirit, the Comforter.
On you descended and in you still remains all the fullness of grace and ever good.
Hail His Palace.Hail His Tabernacle.Hail His Robe.Hail His Handmaid.Hail His Mother.
And hail, all holy Virtues, who, by the grace and inspiration of the Holy Spirit, are poured into the hearts of the faithful, so that, faithless no longer, they may be made faithful servants of God through you. Amen.

- St Francis of Assisi

Hidden Reason For Difficult Events Of Life

Everything happens for a reason. The reason may be obscure. Yet there is a purpose for everything in divine providence. Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery (Gen 37: 12-36). After so many years, Joseph confronted his treacherous brothers in Egypt. He broke down in tears before his brothers-tears of affection and tenderness for his greatest enemies (Gen 45).

The reaction of Joseph to his brothers was rather curious. We would expect Joseph to be very angry; to fret and fume, to rage and form. Joseph could have debased, dehumanized and demoralized his brothers. However he chose the path of forgiveness and reconciliation.

Throughout the difficult years of his incarceration and slavery, Joseph was edified and fortified by the belief that everything happens for a reason. He believed that every event unfolds according to the plan of God and for a purpose. He saw the hand of God guiding the events of his life. As if God was personally supervising his history.

In the darkest and dreariest moments of his life, when he was at his nadir, he believed that God can make all things work together for the good of those who love Him (Rom 8:28). This is the reason Joseph was generous to forgive his brothers. He realized that “hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny.”  In the bogs of doubt, quicksand of fear and winds of anxiety he held on to this truth. Later he saw the big picture- how God used his personal tragedy to save his people.

Joseph did not come to the conclusion that everything happens for a reason in a flash. He spent so many years trying to make sense of his pitiable condition. He must have stayed awake many nights trying to understand the unusual path of his life. This belief is a fruit of years of reflection and soul-searching. It is an inverse insight gained from so many trials and pains. It is the grain of wisdom that helped him to become one of the most outstanding figures in Jewish history.

The conviction that everything happens for a purpose is not a justification for evil in the world. This conviction is not a chimera. It is not a theodicy. It is not an expression of fatalism or determinism. This conviction may not solve all our problems. It may even sound unreasonable or meaningless in the face of tragedies of life. Yet it is a profound Christian truth that helps us to put all our (negative) experiences in the proper perspective. It helps us to see the big picture. It can save us from bitterness, cynicism, pessimism and self pity. This belief can furnish us with fresh hope and the strength to carry on in the face of absurdities of life.

Everything happens for a purpose. This truth is far more profound than facile serendipity. Even the most unfortunate event in life can actualize the plan of God, help us to develop our potentials, and provide an opportunity for tremendous growth. God is not the cause of evil in the world. He takes no pleasure in human suffering and miseries. But God can bring good out of evil.

God’s providence ensures that every event ultimately fulfils God’s plans. God’s ways are mysterious and inscrutable. His ways are not our ways and his thoughts not our thoughts (Is 55:8-9). “Someday, everything will make perfect sense. So for now, laugh at the confusion, smile through the tears, and keep reminding yourself that everything happens for a reason.”

The Last Will Be First

The parable of the labourers in the vineyard seems to insult our sense of justice and fairness. Labourers came to work at different hours. And at the end of the day, they all received the same wage. Those who came first complained about this ‘injustice.’ They believed they were unjustly treated; they believed they deserved more.  We may share the sentiments of the first labourers. We too believe that those who do more should receive more and those who do less should receive less. Jesus employs this parable to challenge our notion of merit, time and superiority.


Eternal Life is a Gratuitous Gift

In human affairs, a wage is based on merit. It is something that can be earned. The amount of work can determine the size of a wage. Huge amount of work can translate into huge amount of wage. A wage is never a gift (Rom 4:4). It is a right. But this idea of a wage is not applicable to eternal life.

Eternal life is not a ‘wage’ or a ‘reward’ for our labours or efforts. Eternal life is absolutely gratuitous. There is nothing we can do to ‘merit’ it. Strictly speaking nobody can merit heaven by his efforts, labour, even his good works alone. Eternal life will always remain a free gift from God. Our prayers, devotions and good works are necessary but not sufficient to win for us eternal life. It is only by the grace of God that we can receive it. We cannot earn it by our efforts. But we can receive it as an underserved and unmerited gift of God.


A Day Like A Thousand Years

We exist in time. We use time. We need time to make sense of our lives. We see almost everything from the perspective of time. For us, time can be long or short; time can be more or less. Time is a quantity. Again this idea of time is not applicable to eternal life.

God existed before time began. God created time. God reckons ‘time’ from the perspective of eternity. For God a day or an hour does not exist.  From divine perspective, a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years is like a day (2Pet 3:8). God cannot be too early or too late. If God gives the same reward to those who came early and those who came late, it is because He does not operate with earthly time. God is not bound to reckon time the way we do.


The Last Will Be First

We refer to those who come first as seniors and those who come last as juniors. And we believe that the seniors deserve more and that the juniors deserve less. The senior should enjoy some privileges and leverage. There is no equality between seniors and juniors.

God does not subscribe to our notion of superiority and inferiority.  Jesus says "the last will be first and the first will be last" (Matt 20:16). God rewards as He pleases, as His generosity dictates. God does not owe us anything. All his gifts are gratuitous. We should be grateful for whatever we receive. There is no justification for envy. Those who receive more should not boast and those who receive less should not complain.

The Truth About Lying

Lying is a common human phenomenon. It is very difficult, if not impossible, to find an adult who does not tell lies (at least once in a while). Most people tell lies all the time. St Augustine wrote a short but profound treatise on lying (De Mendacio). What makes a statement a lie is the intention to deceive.

According to Augustine, “ a man lies who has one thing in his mind and utters another in words or by signs of whatever kind.”  In order to deceive a liar must have what St Augustine calls ‘double heart’.  The liar’s double heart consists of two things. First, what he knows or thinks to be true and he decides not to say. Second, what he says knowing or thinking that it is false. He defines truth as “that which sets free from all error” and falsehood as “that  which entangles in all error.”


Not All Falsehood Is A Lie

St Augustine argues that not everyone who makes a false statement tells lies. If person says something that is false while he believes it to be true in his heart, he is not telling lies. The person who makes false statement believing it to be true is not telling lies because he has no intention to deceive; he does not have double heart because what he says corresponds to what he believes.

Though he is not telling lies, he is in error. “His error lies in the fact that he believes what he should not believe or thinks he knows what he does not know.” St Paul teaching strict observance of the law as means of attaining salvation was not lying. He truly believed what he taught. He later realized that he was in error.


A True Statement Can Be A Lie

It is also possible to say something that is true and still be guilty of lying. A person that makes a true statement believing it to be false with the intention of deceiving is actually lying. He believes something to be false in order to deceive though what he says turns out to be true.

If John says he is the son the president in order to deceive and defraud, without knowing that he is actually the lost son of the president. He is lying though his statement is true. When he utters the statement he believes in his heart that it is false, though he utters it as true. He has a ‘double heart.’ There is a dichotomy between what he believes and what he says.


Truth Sets You Free

Whether a person lies or not does not depend on the objective veracity or falsity of his statement. What determines whether a person lies is his state of mind- his intention to deceive. When a person has an intention to deceive, whether what he says is true or false, he is lying. Veracity or falsity is a matter of logic. Lying is a matter of morality. The intention to deceive is immoral. Only the truth can set us free (Jn 8:32).

Divine Mercy Sunday

Lord Jesus Christ,

you have taught us to be merciful like the heavenly Father,

and have told us that whoever sees you sees Him.

Show us your face and we will be saved.

Your loving gaze freed Zacchaeus and Matthew from being enslaved by money;

the adulteress and Magdalene from seeking happiness only in created things;

made Peter weep after his betrayal,

and assured Paradise to the repentant thief.

Let us hear, as if addressed to each one of us, the words that you spoke to the Samaritan woman:

“If you knew the gift of God!”

You are the visible face of the invisible Father,

of the God who manifests his power above all by forgiveness and mercy:

let the Church be your visible face in the world, its Lord risen and glorified.

You willed that your ministers would also be clothed in weakness

in order that they may feel compassion for those in ignorance and error:

let everyone who approaches them feel sought after, loved, and forgiven by God.

Send your Spirit and consecrate every one of us with His anointing,

so that the Jubilee of Mercy may be a year of grace from the Lord,

and your Church, with renewed enthusiasm, may bring good news to the poor,

proclaim liberty to captives and the oppressed,

and restore sight to the blind.  

We ask this of you, Lord Jesus, through the intercession of Mary, Mother of

Mercy; you who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit for ever and

ever. Amen

(Prayer of Pope Francis for the Jubilee)

Canticle of the Sun

Most high, all powerful, all good Lord!
All praise is Yours, all glory, all honor, and all blessing.

To You, alone, Most High, do they belong.
No mortal lips are worthy to pronounce Your name.

Be praised, my Lord, through all Your creatures,
especially through my lord Brother Sun,
who brings the day; and You give light through him.
And he is beautiful and radiant in all his splendor!
Of You, Most High, he bears the likeness.

Be praised, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars;
in the heavens You have made them bright, precious and beautiful.

Be praised, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air,
and clouds and storms, and all the weather,
through which You give Your creatures sustenance.

Be praised, my Lord, through Sister Water;
she is very useful, and humble, and precious, and pure.

Be praised, my Lord, through Brother Fire,
through whom You brighten the night.
He is beautiful and cheerful, and powerful and strong.

Be praised, my Lord, through our sister Mother Earth,
who feeds us and rules us,
and produces various fruits with colored flowers and herbs.

Be praised, my Lord, through those who forgive for love of You;
through those who endure sickness and trial.

Happy those who endure in peace,
for by You, Most High, they will be crowned.

Be praised, my Lord, through our sister Bodily Death,
from whose embrace no living person can escape.
Woe to those who die in mortal sin!
Happy those she finds doing Your most holy will.
The second death can do no harm to them.

Praise and bless my Lord, and give thanks,
and serve Him with great humility.

Composed by St Francis of Assisi