God is our loving Father. The eternal plan of God is that we live our lives in Him who is Love, Light and Truth. In Him alone is hope and certainty for our future and a guarantee for an eternal life. “We know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life” (1 Jn. 5.20). We should not be alienated from the life of God, for that would result in ‘darkening of our understanding, becoming ignorant of the truth and getting hard hearted’. St. Paul writes what will be the outcome, if we lead a life which is independent of God. “They have lost all sensitivity and have abandoned themselves to licentiousness, greedy to practice every kind of impurity” (Eph. 4.18, 19). This is what paganism is. St. Paul reminds the Ephesians: “This is not the way you learned Christ!” (4.20).

The Sacrifice of Jesus Christ, Son of God – F. Floris (WGoA)

Yes, there is a big difference between paganism and Christianity. We Christians are aware of the truth that we all are created in the image and likeness of God – who is Love, Truth, Generosity, Kindness, Humility, Purity and the like. Paganism stands for all that is opposite to these. Is my thinking according to what God says or what the pagan world says? When we believe what God says, we are living by Faith. Today our thinking is much more secularised and therefore there is a natural tendency to revolt and react in contradiction to what God says. Great change is required in our attitudes, feelings and convictions to abandon paganism in order to become to God’s image and likeness. To accomplish such a change we have to imitate the only model in the whole world – Jesus Christ because “He is the image of the invisible God” and in Him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily” (Col. 1.15; 2. 9). St. Paul writes: “Truth is in Jesus” (Eph.4.21); “In Him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col. 2. 3). He is the eternal Word of God who became man to live among us to reveal the Father to the whole humanity, in order that we live like Him.

“You were dead through the trespasses and sins in which you once lived,following the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient. All of us once lived among them in the passions of our flesh, following the desires of flesh and senses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like everyone else” (Eph.2. 1-3) The two models, Pagan and Christian, are really present in this world; present in each one of us. When we look into our lives, we realise how much ‘paganism’ is there in us that we need to change into Christ-like life. So the Holy Spirit reminds us through St. Paul: “You were taught to put away your former way of life, your old self, corrupt and deluded by its lusts, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to clothe yourselves with the new self, created according to the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” (Eph. 4. 22-24).

The people in Thessalonica realised that Christ’s message brought to them by St. Paul and Silas was turning their paganism upside down. “These people who have been turning the world upside down have come here also” (Acts. 17.6). So they did not want to accept the message. Jesus, the perfect Jew, the perfect Israelite was persecuted and crucified for living and teaching the message of the Father. Christians are persecuted in every century because they live and teach The Way of God and not the way of the world. Jesus has foretold everything: “If the world hates you, be aware that it hated me before it hated you. If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own. Because you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” (Jn. 15. 18, 19). Those who have recently seen the attack by gay women activists on a Belgium archbishop for backing the Church’s teachings on homosexuality and expressing his concern for those who live the homosexual lifestyle shows how hateful the devil is towards Christians who follow The Way of the Lord. (For full story please click on the following link :  Assaulted by gay activists )

But we are not frightened, for we do not belong to this world as our citizenship is in heaven. “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul” (Mt. 10.28). We are living in the time about which Jesus had foretold: “Indeed, an hour is coming when those who kill you will think that by doing so they are offering worship to God. And they will do this because they have not known the Father or me. But I have said these things to you so that when their hour comes you may remember that I told you about them” (Jn. 16. 2-4)

Fr. J. Mariakumar , MaryPereira

The following is a photo from one of my friend’s emails. He has taken the photo of his colleague wearing a T-Shirt depicting this ‘quite funny’, anti-Christian, or rather satanic message.

(With the aim of avoiding any unwanted publicity for the Evil one the mentioned photo can only be viewed by clicking on this link)     God is busy…

We understand from the Bible that Satan is the deceiver of the whole world (Rev. 12.9). St. Paul writes that we should not be outwitted by Satan and we should not be ignorant of his designs. (2 Cor. 2.11) Nowadays it is a fashion among the teenagers to wear T-Shirts with satanic symbols and captions ‘proclaiming’  lies. Lie is the main weapon of Satan. There are only two kingdoms: the kingdom of God and the kingdom of Evil. In the kingdom of God there is selfless love, lasting joy and peace, truth, honesty, humility and all the divine qualities which make one lead a saintly life. On the contrary, in the kingdom of Evil there is hatred, selfishness, momentary pleasures, cruelty, dishonesty, pride and all that makes one lead a life of sin. Jesus has said: “The thief comes only to steal, to kill and to destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly’” (Jn. 10, 10).

“God created us for incorruption, and made us in the image of his own eternity”. But the devil who is also called Satan (Rev. 12.9), does not like human beings enjoying the eternity with God the Creator; he wants us to suffer with him for all eternity. Since he has lost Paradise due to his rebellion and disobedience (Is.14. 12-15; Ezk. 28. 11-19; Rev. 12. 7-9), he is jealous of human beings getting into Paradise to live for eternity. “Through the devil’s envy death entered the world, and those who belong to his company experience it” (Wis. 2. 24).

Jesus came to give us victory over death and Satan. The core message of the Bible is the good news that “God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life” (Jn. 3. 16). Through His Son’s death on the Cross, “He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, forgiveness of sins” (Col.1. 13, 14).

As we are journeying through the Solemn Season of Lent, the Church is calling each one of us to check our ways to see whether we are treading on the path of Truth leading us to eternal life in the kingdom of God or whether we are treading on the path of Lie and deception which will lead us to eternal damnation. As the Word of God exhorts us: “Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the Lord” (Lam. 3.40).

Lent is the Season to reflect on what the wickedness of Evil and our sins have cost the Lord – the most painful Passion, the most heinous and shameful Crucifixion. He willingly embraced the Cross in order to redeem us from the clutches of the Evil. Such was His love for the humanity! But Satan, who is the enemy of man’s salvation, ‘comes disguising himself as an angel of light’ (2 Cor. 11. 14).

Quite a number of people are alarmed at the news of ‘warning’ about the End of the Age. Jesus has foretold the signs of the End of the Age 2000 years ago. (Mt. 24. 3- 44; Mk. 13;  Lk. 21. 7- 36). Many things are already happening in the world now. But we are not to be alarmed, but only need to prepare to reach our goal by returning to the Lord through our fasting, penance and treading on the ‘narrow path’ that will lead us to heaven, our eternal destiny. Jesus is telling us lovingly: “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Mt. 7. 13, 14)

Also let us take note of what the Word of God reveals about the working of the devil in the end days: The end day “will not come unless the rebellion comes first and the lawless one is revealed, the one destined for destruction. He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, declaring himself to be God. The coming of the lawless one is apparent in the working of Satan, who uses all power signs, lying wonders, and every kind of wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.” (2. Thess. 2. 3, 4, 9). Those who choose the lie and the ‘fleeting pleasures’ of this world will be such as revealed by the Holy Spirit: “since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God handed them over to their undiscerning mind to do what is improper. They are filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed, and malice; full of envy, murder, rivalry, deceit, and spite. They are gossipers, slanderers, God-haters. They are insolent, haughty, boastful, ingenious in their wickedness, and rebellious toward their parents. They are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know the just decree of God, that all who practise such things deserve death, they not only do them but give approval to those who practise them” (Rom. 1. 28-32).

Let us pray for those who are ‘refusing to love the truth and so be saved’, who are brainwashed by the tactics of the Evil and blindly follow the path of destruction. Jesus shed His Precious Blood to save everyone irrespective of caste, creed, language and nation (Rev. 5.9), to redeem all for the kingdom of God. But the Holy Spirit reminds us that we need to ‘work out our own salvation with fear and trembling’ (Phil. 2, 12). “You know what time it is, it is the hour now for you to awake from sleep. For our salvation is nearer now than when we became believers; the night is advanced, the day is at hand. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us live honourably as in the day, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in promiscuity and licentiousness, not in quarrelling and jealousy. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires” (Rom. 13, 11-14).

Lord, help us in this Season of Lent to make a radical decision to choose your way that will make us mature in you, by living our baptism against the currents of the world. Lord, by choosing the narrow path, and thus discovering the beauty of Christian life and wisdom we are prepared to become fools in the eyes of the world.

Mary Pereira, Fr. J.Mariakumar

It is our experience that we can see things when there is light; in the absence of light we experience darkness, and in the darkness we are unable to see anything. When people do not see the light of the sun they experience depression, sadness; whereas when people experience the light of the sun, they are happy and they celebrate.  In the light we can recognize people and things and beauty; whereas darkness is the sign of meaninglessness. Hence the light gives meaning to life. The greatest punishment one can get is solitary confinement, where people cannot see the light, nor commune with other people. Such situation can make people crazy. Without light people cannot live.

Created light : sun, moon, stars

Therefore, the Creator of the world created light first: “Let there be light” and there was light. God saw that light was good. And he separated light from darkness. God called the light day, and the darkness night (Gen.1.3-5).The light was the sign of God and darkness was the sign of absence of light or God. At the command of God, Moses stretched out his hand, and the whole Egypt was in total darkness except the areas where the Israelites lived; the Egyptians could not

Disputation with the Doctors – D. di Buoninsegna (WGoA)

see anyone else or leave their place for 3 days (Ex.10.23).  This shows that Light was the sign of God’s presence and darkness was the sign of the opposite, lack of God’s providence.

As the sign of God’s presence and providence He created the sun to give light on the earth during the day and moon and the stars at night. (Gen.1.14-18). In their ignorance the nations worshipped sun and moon and stars, that were created by God, instead God the Creator Himself. God made it clear to His Chosen People through Moses: “When you look up to the heavens and see the sun, the moon, and the stars all the host of heaven do not be led astray and bow down to them and serve them, things that the Lord your God has allotted to all the peoples everywhere under heaven” (Deut.4.19)

GOD – The uncreated light

God is eternal light. “God is light; in him there is no darkness at all” (1 Jn.1.5). This Divine light became man in Jesus Christ, the Divine Word. He lived and showed the divine Light to all human beings. “In him was life, and that life was the light of all people. (Jn.1.4)

Yearning for God in Pre-Christian Religions

Every human heart yearns for light, life and truth. The people of Eastern religions sing in a prayer:

Asathoma satgamay,
Thamaso ma jyothir gamaya,
Mruthyo ma amritham gamaya….  (in Hinduism)

Lead me from untruth to truth,
Lead me from darkness to light
Lead me from death to life.

In non-Christian religions, especially in Hinduism and Parsee the people see God in the luminaries like sun and moon, planets, and fire and worship them, which is a sign of their longing for the uncreated Light.

JESUS, the uncreated Light in the world

I am the light of the world – Bantry Church of St. Brendan, Detail

It is God who is Truth, Light and Life, who sustains us in His truth, leads us into His light and extends His life. He sent Jesus, His Son into the world in answer to the prayers of people; to satisfy their longing.  Jesus said: “I am the way, the truth and the life”; “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life” (Jn. 14.6; 8.12). “I have come as light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in the darkness” (Jn. 12.46). St. John testifies about Jesus, the Word has become flesh: “The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world” (Jn. 1.9).

True believers reflect the Light of Christ to the world

In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told the disciples: “You are the light of the world, A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven” (Mt.5. 14-16). Jesus taught and did what His Father revealed and thus lived as the light of the world. He taught us how we can be the light of the world. When we do good works, we are in the light; whereas when we do evil, we are in the darkness. As the Holy Spirit says through St. John: “This is the judgement, that the light has come into the world, and people loved rather darkness than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light. But those who do what is true come to the light” (Jn 3.19-21). St. Paul exhorts: “Let us lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armour of light” (Rom. 13. 12). St. Arnold Janssen prayed: “May the darkness of sin and  the night of unbelief vanish before the Light of the Word and the Spirit of Grace”

“Those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God”(Jn.3.21). “Whoever says, “I am in the light”, while hating a brother or sister, is still in the darkness. Whoever loves a brother or sister lives in the light, and in such a person there is no cause for stumbling” (I Jn. 2.9, 10). So when we live God’s word, we share the light of God. And only then can we bring forth the fruits of the light which consist in  goodness, righteousness and truth. The Psalmist, king David, was convinced that God’s word is ‘a lamp to his feet and light to his path’ because he has experienced that it is the ‘unfolding of God’s words that gives light’ (Ps. 119.105, 130). Nowadays many do not want to live God’s word and hence are not able to experience the light of the Lord. “There are those who rebel against the light, who are not acquainted with its ways and do not stay in its paths” (Job. 24.13).

The mission of Jesus is entrusted to every disciple : ‘To be the light of the world.’ (Mt.5.14). “So the Lord has commanded us, saying, ‘I have set you to be a light for the Gentiles, so that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth” (Acts. 13.47). Many people around us are groping in the darkness of sin, doubt and confusion. Like St. Paul, let us be aware of this mission, that the Lord is sending us “to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in Jesus” (Acts. 26. 18). When we are in the light of the Lord, we can be “a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of the infants” (Rom. 2.19).The Lord is inviting all of us, as He invited Bl. Mother Theresa: “Come, be my light”.

In this Year of Faith let us become more aware of this mission to become the light of the world by believing the truth of the Word of God and living it. “We are the aroma of Christ for God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing” (2 Cor. 2.15). May the Holy Spirit of God enlighten our minds so that we may reveal Christ to the world.

Fr. J. Mariakumar, Mary Pereira

“This is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent” (Jn. 17,3)

God appeared to Moses in a burning bush on mount Horeb, the mountain of God, and told him: “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob”. When Moses asked for the name, God said to him, “I AM WHO I AM” (Ex.3,1-14). “I am the Lord your God” (Is.43,3).Though God told Moses: “This is my name for ever” (v.15), when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman”, revealing through Angel Gabriel, that this Son, who “is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation”(Col.1,15),  ‘will be called Jesus,

Moses and the burning bush – D.Bouts  (WGoA)

for he will save his people from their sins” (Mt.1,21). Through his incarnation, God entered into humanity to reveal God to us, to make us like God, to make us God’s children. (cfr.Catechism of the Catholic Church- para 460)

In the Old Testament, Israelites knew the God of all creation as an awesome God, mighty and transcendent; slow to anger and full of compassion. But the form of God was not revealed to them (Deut. 4,15). Since Jesus came as the image of the invisible God, it became possible for humanity to see the face of God. Jesus has said: “The Father and I are one”; “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father; I am in the Father and the Father is in me” (Jn.10,30; 14.9,f11).  As we pray in the Liturgy of the Hours, ‘it was the Father’s will that men should see him in the face of his beloved Son’ (Intercession- Fridays of Advent).

Jesus told the Jews: “If you do not believe that I AM, you will die in your sins; Amen, Amen, I say to you, before Abraham came to be, I AM” (Jn. 8.24; 58 – The New American Bible). Thus He stated that He existed before He was born in ‘flesh and lived among us’ (Jn. 1,14). St. John, the Apostle, whom Jesus loved and who was reclining at Jesus’ side at the Last Supper, brought out the ‘bold’ sayings of Jesus, which again reveals He is ‘who I AM’:

“I am the bread of life” (6,35)
“I am the light of the world” (8,12)
“I am the gate” (10,9)
“I am the good shepherd” (10,11)
“I am the resurrection and the life (11,25)
“I am the way, the truth and the life” (14,6)
“I am the true vine” (15,1)

In the discourse of Jesus with the Samaritan woman at the well, when she said to Jesus, “I know that Messiah is coming, (who is called Christ) the one called the Anointed (New American Bible), Jesus revealed his self- designation: “I am he” (it could also be translated “I am”- NAB footnote) (Jn. 4.26).

The Season of Christmas is a joy and celebration for all, because it is the remembrance of this great event of God the Father, sending His son to reveal Himself to us. “In Him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily” (Col.1.15; 2.9). Through His life and teachings, especially through the Parables, Jesus revealed Father’s unconditional love, compassion and mercy.  Father sent us the Son to ‘rescue us from the power of darkness and transfer us into the kingdom of his beloved Son’ (Col.1.13) He came to give ‘abundant life to all’ (Jn. 10.10), and he invites all, “Let anyone

The Nativity – Jacob de Backer (WGoA)

who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink” (Jn. 7.37, 38); “Come to me all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, I will give you rest” (Mt.11.28). He came to show us the way to the Father. In Him we have redemption, for He came to ‘purchase for God with His blood those from every tribe and tongue, people and nation” (Rev.5.9-NAB). He alone is the God who died for the whole humanity.

Yes, there is every reason for all to rejoice at the birth of Jesus, for He came not only for Christians, but for all who thirst for God, who  seek the face of God, who long to know and experience God. He came as the answer to all our questions; as the solution for all our problems. “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life” (Jn. 3.16). All of us are created, not to die, but to have eternal life. Let us be filled with the Holy Spirit in this Year of Faith, to grow deep in the conviction of the truth that “there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved” (Acts. 4.12). He invites ALL to drink from Him, the Source of the fountain of Living Water.

There is a lot of pomp and celebration during Christmas time – decorations, stars and Christmas trees, Carol singing, giving out gifts, family get-together, sumptuous meals etc. But do we take to heart the real significance of this great event in the history of the world – the God I AM, incarnated to become God Immanuel? Are the joys and celebrations the expressions of proclamation of this truth? Let the Holy Spirit of God help us, especially in this Year of Faith, to really understand the reason for all our celebrations in this Season.

Prayer: Abba, our loving Father, we rejoice in this Season of Advent as we look forward to the feast of our salvation. In the midst of our outward pomp and festivities, may we not miss focussing on the Messiah whom you sent for us, for He is the truth, the way and the life; and in believing in Him we will have our eternal life.

Mary Pereira

“Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe” (Jn. 20,29)

As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard a crowd going by, he asked what was happening. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”(Mk.10,48). Then he shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.”

Christ healing a blind man – LE SUEUR, Eustache (WGoA)

Those who had eyesight looked at Jesus as only ‘Jesus of Nazareth’—“a carpenter’s son” (Mt.13,55). But the beggar who was blind perceived in his heart that this was ‘Jesus, Son of David’, and expressed his faith loudly. Holy Spirit of God tells us through St. Paul: “we walk by faith, not by sight”. (2 Cor.5,7)

Once a lady of about 62 years of age came to attend my retreat. She was blind. When she met me she said: “Father, for the last 60 years I was seeing the world with my eyes. Two years back I lost my eyesight. But now I can see Jesus with my inner eyes.” She was quite content even though she lost her eyesight. “Of course, there is great gain in godliness combined with contentment” (1 Tim. 6,6).

What matters in our life is our sight of faith which enables us to see everything as God sees it. In order to see a three-dimensional film, one has to use particular glasses, so too is our sight of faith. The Psalmist says: “the heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork” (Ps.19,1).The beautiful creation which we see with our physical eyes, should open our inner eyes to recognize it as the handiwork of God. If we do not have faith, we will miss this truth.

Also only if we have faith, we can see the hands of God in whatever happens in our lives.  The sight of faith frees us from many a problem in our life, such as  worry, sorrow, disappointment and depression. if we recognize that GOD OUR PROVIDENT FATHER HAS PERMITTED EVERYTHING FOR MY GOOD, along with St. Paul we can profess our faith in all adverse circumstances: “We know that in all things God works for good with those who love him” (Rom. 8,28).  Job of Old Testament had this faith as he was going through great peril, and hence even at the face of the teasing and ridicule of his wife, he could say: “Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and not receive the bad?” (Job 1. 9,10)

Once when the disciples were sailing through a stormy sea, they got frightened seeing ‘somebody’ walking in the storm and they shouted: ‘it is a ghost’. But it was Jesus who was walking towards them and He strengthened them reassuring: “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid” (Mt.14,27). The disciples had eyesight, but they did not recognize Jesus; Bartimaeus, the blind beggar was blind, yet he recognized Jesus. Where do I stand?? Do I have my physical eyes opened, but am blind in my spiritual eyes?

Let us pray :

“Open my eyes Lord, I want to see Jesus,
To reach  out and touch Him, and say that I love Him
Open my ears  Lord, teach me to listen
Open my heart Lord, I want to love Jesus”

Fr.J.Mariakumar

“Whatever does not proceed from faith, is sin” (Rom.14, 23)

After a retreat we were in the Munich railway station waiting to board the train to Vienna for the next retreat. One advertisement on the platform caught my attention:  ‘Endlich hab ich es gelernt:-  “Lesen und Schreiben – mein Schlüssel  zur Welt;” (‘Finally I have learnt: “Read and  write- my key to the world”). Suddenly a truth struck my mind: “Endlich hab ich es gelernt:  Die Bibel lesen und leben – mein Schlüssel zu Gott;” (‘At last I have learnt it: Read the Bible and live it – my key to God’!)

In this Year of Faith how nice would it be if everybody would understand this truth! Only if we live by faith, and live what God’s word tells us, our life would be different.  It is our ‘listening to the proclamation of the Word of God (or reading and meditating it) that increases our faith’ (Rom. 10,17). But we also need to ‘be not only the hearers of the word but to be doers of the Word’ (James 1,22). “For length of days and years of life and abundant welfare, they will give you” (Prov. 3,2). “You must follow exactly the path that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live, and that it may go well with you” (Deut. 5,33).

Through the Sacrament of Baptism, we enter into this Covenant Relationship with God to live His Word and be His people. The life of the Risen Lord, which flows into me at Baptism, needs to grow in me day by day. We are called ‘to be the Word and give the Word to others’. Daily feeding on the Word of God and the Holy Eucharist helps one to grow into the maturity of Christ. The Holy Eucharist is the programme of acting our Christification. The institution of the Holy Eucharist is the fulfilment of the Covenant Relationship in the New Testament. “This cup that is poured out for you, is the new covenant in my blood” (Lk.22,19).

Jesus gave the Eucharist to his disciples (Mt.26,26). A disciple is one who does what the Master says. Nowadays there is a ‘shipwreck of faith’ in our lives; we do not know what real Christianity is, and the implication of the Sacraments which Jesus has instituted. We go wrong in many areas of our lives due to our ignorance of God’s Word (Mk.12,24) influenced by the modernism and secularism; we often lead lives outside the boundary line of the Ten Commandments and bear the consequences in our lives. To solve the problems we go to occult practices and paganism while rejecting the True Living God. And yet, without any prick of conscience we also go to church and receive the Holy Eucharist. St. Paul makes it clear that when we receive Jesus in the Holy Eucharist, we partake in the Body and Blood of Christ; whereas when we go for pagan practices we become partners with demons. We cannot partake of the table of the Lord and of the table of demons. (cfr. 1 Cor. 10,16-21).

The Holy Eucharist is the Presence of Jesus’ life in my life and in the Church. In order to receive the Holy of holies, I need to keep my body and mind holy. Due to the frailty of my human nature if I commit sin, God gives me the provision to repent, confess, renounce my sin and decide myself to live as the disciple of Christ by living his Word. Yes, He is faithful to His Covenant Relationship!

A lot of cleansing is needed in the Church throughout the world. For example, The ‘voodoo’ cult has joined with the Church in Africa, South America and the Caribbean islands; in many countries in Europe many anti- Christian methods of meditation, occult healing practices, trying to know the future by approaching the evil spirits etc are being practised by many Catholics; still they consider themselves as ‘good practising Catholics’ because they go to church, pray and even receive Holy Communion.  ‘They do not know what they do’, but that is not an excuse for breaking the Commandments, especially the First Commandment.

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. The Lord your God you shall follow, him alone you shall fear, his Commandments you shall keep, his voice you shall obey, him you shall serve, and to him you shall hold fast. Although the nations that you are about to dispossess do give heed to soothsayers and diviners, as for you, the Lord your God does not permit you to do so” (Deut. 6,4; 13,4; 18,14).  Due to the ignorance of the traffic rule, if we go wrong while driving the vehicle, we will have to face the consequences. So too, many people are suffering psychologically and physically,

Moses with the Ten Commandments – Ph. de Champaigne (WGoA)

as a consequence of their deeds of ignorance in matters of pagan practices. Is it not our great responsibility to awaken the conscience of our people, especially in this Year of Faith?

Fr. J.Mariakumar

“Many live as the enemies of the cross of Christ” (Phil.3,18).

The Cross is the symbol of Divine Love, of salvation of the whole humanity. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life” (Jn. 3,16). This is the good news and the core message of the entire New Testament/ Covenant. Sin came into the world through the disobedience of our first parents, who ate the fruit of the forbidden tree; salvation came for humanity through the obedience of the ‘last Adam’, Jesus Christ (cfr. 1 Cor. 15, 45), ‘who willingly accepted the death on the cross (cfr. Phil. 2, 8) becoming ‘a life-giving spirit’. Even though Jesus is Risen and is seated at the right hand of the Father we find meaning in the crucifix – the cross with Jesus crucified – because the crucifix that we wear, kept in our churches, homes and institutions is a constant reminder for us of what Jesus has accomplished for us through his death on the cross. It is the symbol of the whole summary of Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection, which we proclaim till the end: ‘Christ has died, Christ is Risen, Christ will come again’. So we honour the Crucifix as the most sacred object and symbol of our faith.

The Exaltation of the Cross – unknown Russian painter (WGoA)

Human spirit and reasoning can never understand the mystery of suffering and the Cross. But it was fitting for the wisdom of God to ‘make the pioneer of our salvation perfect through suffering’ (Heb. 2,10). The Holy Spirit has revealed through St. Paul: “The message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God. We proclaim Christ Crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are the called, Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength” (1 Cor.1, 18; 23-25)

Am I ready to accept the foolishness and weakness of God which, in turn will be my real wisdom and strength; or do I prefer to accept the wisdom and strength of the world which will result in my destruction. As St. Paul points out: “Many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I tell you even with tears. Their end is destruction” (Phil. 3,18 – 19).

We Christians are called to ‘consider ourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus’ (Rom. 6,11). We are called to live the joy and glory of the resurrection. But we know that it is only by going through the ‘Good Fridays’ of life, that we can reach the ‘Easter Sunday’. So Christ crucified is our strength and hope. Saul, a Roman citizen and great scholar of that time, ( having studied under Gamaliel, an eminent Teacher of the Law) who was persecuting the followers of ‘The Way’, had a tremendous transformation of life after his confrontation with Jesus on his way to Damascus (see Acts. 9,1-22). He became fully convinced of the ‘wisdom and power of God’ hidden in the ‘foolishness and weakness’ of Crucified Christ. So he said: “I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified” (1 Cor. 2,2). He had no complaint of ‘carrying the marks of Jesus Christ branded on his body” (Gal. 6,17), for he was sharing the desire of God that everybody be saved, and hence was willing to go through ‘the pain of childbirth until Christ is formed in all’ (Gal. 4,19). “May I never boast of anything except the cross of our lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (Gal.6,14).

The Cross, which in former times was a sign of torture, shame and curse, has become for us a sign of salvation, victory over the powers of darkness, source of deliverance from the bondages and curses, sin and Satan – all because of Jesus’ death on the cross. “We speak of God’s wisdom, secret and hidden, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age understood this; for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory” (1 Cor. 2, 7- 8). Yes, the cross was a mystery for human mind, in the past as well as in the present. But those who are spiritual, led by the Spirit of God, discern all things. When Jesus foretold about his suffering and death to his disciples, Peter, our first Pope, was reluctant to accept it (see Mt.16, 21-23). But after being filled with the Holy Spirit on Pentecost day, he was enlightened about the ‘mystery of the Cross’ “If any of you suffer as a Christian, do not consider it a disgrace, but glorify God because you bear this name” (1 Pet. 4,12-16).

The crucifixion of Jesus has great significance for the entire humanity. “For he was slaughtered and by his blood he ransomed for God saints from every tribe and language, people and nation.  He has made them to be a kingdom and priests serving our God, and they will reign on earth” (Rev. 5, 9 – 10).  The historical event which took place at Jesus’ crucifixion was this: “It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land, until three in the afternoon, while the sun’s light failed, and the curtain of the temple was torn into two. …..When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, “Certainly this man was innocent”. And when all the crowds who had gathered there for this spectacle saw what had taken place, they returned home, beating their chests” (Lk. 23, 44-48).

But the people of ‘this world’ always want to hide the ‘truth coming from above’ (cfr. Jn. 3,31). In order to prevent Jesus’ disciples finding the cross, they threw it into a pit and covered with stones and mud. St. Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine could succeed in tracing the Cross on September 14^th, 326 AD. Among the three wooden crosses which they got after digging various spots at the hill of Calvary, the real cross was discerned through the miraculous healing of a sick woman and the coming to life of a dead man who was being carried to burial, when both the bodies were brought into contact with the cross. To commemorate the finding of the Holy Cross, Constantine dedicated two churches on Mount Calvary. Later the Persians attacked Jerusalem and carried the Cross to Persia.

The Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross on 14^th September specially commemorating the Recovery of the relics of the Holy Cross from the Persians by Emperor Heraclitus in 629.

The Emperor Constantine who was wavering between Paganism and Christian Faith was given a sign: A sign of the Cross appeared on the sky and he heard a voice .Through this sign of the Cross, you will gain victory in the battle. The king gave order to his soldiers that they wear on their shields the symbol of cross .Constantine won the battle of the Milvian Bridge.

We have every reason in reassuring our faith in joyously praying: “We adore you Oh Christ and we praise you, because by your holy Cross you have redeemed the world”.

Mary Pereira

“Hail Holy Queen, Mother of God, our life, our sweetness and our hope”

On August 22^nd the Church celebrates the feast of the Queenship of our Blessed Virgin Mary.  In the Encyclical of Pope Pius XII, 1954, October 11, on proclaiming the Queenship of Mary, the Vicar of Christ and  Shepherd  of the Church, stated thus: “From the early times Christians have believed, and not without reason, that the Blessed Virgin of whom was born the Son of the Most High received privileges of grace above all other beings created by God. He ‘will reign in the house of Jacob forever’ (Lk. 1.33), ‘the Prince of Peace’ and the ‘King of Kings and Lord of Lords’ (Rev. 19.16). And when Christians reflected upon the intimate connection that exists between a mother and a son, they readily acknowledged the supreme dignity of the Mother of God. In the last decade of the glorious mystery of Rosary we meditate on the crowning of Blessed Virgin Mary as Queen of heaven and earth.

Coronation of  the Virgin – S. Botticelli (WGoA)

Hence it is not surprising that the early fathers of the Church called Mary “the Mother of the King” and “the Mother of the Lord”, justifying their attitude by the words of St. Gabriel the Archangel, who foretold that the Son of Mary would reign forever’ (Lk. 1 32, 33); and by the words of Elisabeth who greeted her with reverence and called her ‘the Mother of my Lord’ (Lk. 1.43). Thereby they clearly signified that she derived a certain and exalted stance from the royal dignity of her Son” (From Ad Caelli Reginem).

Yes, Mother Mary’s Queenship is a share in her Son Jesus’ Kingship. The mother of a king has the reputation and reverance of a queen. In the first book of Kings we read an incident wherein Bathsheba, the mother of King Solomon had an influence on the King, persuading the latter to do something: “Bathsheba went to King Solomon, to speak to him on behalf of Adonijah. The king rose to meet her, and bowed down to her; then he sat on his throne, and had a throne brought for the king’s mother, and she sat on his right. Then she said: ‘I have one small request to make of you; do not refuse me’. And the king said to her, ‘Make your request, my mother; for I will not refuse you” (2. 19, 20). This exactly is what Mother Mary, Queen of heaven does for us. The inevitable condition for her intercession is that we are her children by obeying her by doing what her Son says. (cfr. Jn 2. 5)

The Blessed (Cardinal) Newman who was formerly an Anglican Priest, when he embraced the Catholic Faith realising the ‘treasure hidden in the field’ (cfr Mt. 13. 44), fully believed and upheld all the ‘pearls of faith’ (Mt.13.45) in the Church. In his words: “No one has access to the Almighty as His Mother has, none has a merit such as hers. Her Son will deny her nothing that she asks; and herein lies her power. While she defends the Church, neither height nor depth, neither men nor evil spirits, neither great monarchs nor craft of man, nor popular violence, can avail to harm us; for human life is short, but Mary reigns above, a Queen forever”. (John Henry Newman; ‘Meditations and Devotions’ Part 1). St.Bernard, a fervent devotee of our Blessed Virgin Mary prayed: “Remember O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to Thy protection or implored thy help or sought Thy intercession was left unaided.”

The teaching of the Church on the Queenship of Mary is very clear. In ‘Benedito Seia’ of Pope Pius XII, we read: “Jesus is King of the Eternal Ages by nature and by right of conquest; through Him, with Him and subordinate to Him, Mary is Queen by grace, by divine relationship, by right of conquest and by singular choice of the Father” (Radio message to Fatima, May 13, 1946, AAS 38.266). “The purpose of the feast is that all may recognise more clearly and venerate more devoutly the merciful and motherly sovereignty of her who bore God in her womb” (Pope Pius XII Ad- Coeli Regina)

Yes, Mother Mary is Queen because she is the mother of the Creator, who is “King of Kings and Lord of Lords” (Rev. 19.16). Hence the Church joyfully prays in the morning prayer of ‘Divine Office’ on this feast day:

“The Lord has chosen her, his beloved one from the beginning; he has taken her to live with him” (Responsory)

“Mary, ever Virgin, most honoured Queen of the world, you gave birth to our Saviour, Christ the Lord” (Benedictus Antiphon)

So let us pray along with the Church:

“O God, who made the Mother of your Son to be our Mother and Queen, graciously grant that sustained by her intercession, we may attain in the heavenly kingdom the glory promised to your children. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, One God, forever and ever. Amen” (From the Psalter of ‘The Divine Office’)

Fr. James Mariakumar and Mary Pereira.

Jesus asked his disciples: “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others, Elijah, and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”Then Jesus wanted to know their personal opinion and He asked them: “But who do YOU say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God”. It was a true revelation to Peter by the Father in heaven.

Let us recall the incident at the lake of Genesareth where people gathered to hear the word of God. Jesus got into the boat of Simon to preach to the people. How symbolic was it when the Lord

St. Peter – Peter Paul Rubens

chose Simon’s boat and no one else’s to sit and proclaim His truth! God’s plan was being gradually unfolded. “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Mt.16.18,19). It is aptly said: ‘Where there is Peter, there is the Church.’

When we live God’s word, God will reveal His secrets to us. In the lake of Genesareth, Peter worked the whole night to catch fish but caught nothing. But when Jesus asked him to ‘put out the net into the deep waters for a catch’, he obeyed. Though an efficient fisherman, Simon did not argue with Him. Thereafter committing himself to the given mission ‘to catch people’, PETER LEFT EVERYTHING and followed Jesus. (cfr. Lk. 5. 1-11).  It was an expression of his total obedience to God’s word and immediate response to His call which made the heavenly Father gave the great revelation about Jesus to Peter!  Jesus considered the unshakable faith and sincere loyalty of Peter to be as a rock. We too are called to have this faith and loyal commitment to the Lord. The Catechism of Catholic Church teaches that ‘faith is man’s response to God’s word’  (CCC. 26, 166). “By the saving word of God, faith is nourished in the heart of the believers. The proclamation does not stop with a teaching; it elicits the response of faith as consent and commitment” (CCC. 1102). Peter was an example of this faith to all the flock of Christ.

From the early Church, Peter was the Apostle who was leading the ‘members of the household of God’ (Eph. 2.19),  the Church. On Pentecost day Peter stood up and boldly proclaimed to the crowd: “Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem,….you that are Israelites,….. let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with deeds and power, wonders and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know – this man, handed over to you according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of those outside the law. But God raised him up, having freed him from death, because it was impossible for him to be held in its power…..Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah (Christ), this Jesus whom you crucified”. (cfr. Acts.  2, 14-36)

“Day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.” (2,47). Due to weak human nature, factions, confusion and disagreements did come at times among the believers; it was Peter who was the leader of the councils where they discussed the matter. While writing the Jerusalem Council’s letter to the believers, he wrote: “It has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us….”  Yes, it is the Holy Spirit of God who ultimately leads the Church through weak human instruments. In the words of St. Paul: “Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are competent of ourselves to claim anything as coming from us; our competence is from God, who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of letter but of spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life” (2 Cor 3, 4-6).

It was Peter whom the Lord used to give the good news to the Gentiles (Cornelius and others Acts 10).

Several heresies and wrong doctrines have come in the Church due to human weakness of rebellion, licentiousness, strife, quarrels and dissentions but the Chair of Peter remained. All others disappeared in course of time. So many world powers have tried to destroy the Church. But the Church of Christ has survived all these because it is ‘founded on Jesus Christ himself as the corner stone, and built upon the foundation of the Apostles and the Prophets’ (Eph.2,20). In accordance with the eternal purpose that God has carried out in Jesus Christ our Lord, through the church, founded on Peter’s faith, the wisdom of God in its rich variety is being made known to the rulers and authorities in heavenly places’ (cfr. Eph. 3, 10 – 11).

In the words of St. Jerome: “We must abide in that Church, which was founded by Jesus on the Apostles”. The Catholic Church of today is one with the Church of the Apostles in origin, doctrine and mission. There is no break in the line of succession from St. Peter whom the Lord entrusted the mission of ‘feeding and tending the sheep’ (cfr. Jn.  2, 15-17).

Down the centuries, God is speaking to His Church through Peter and his successors. “Whoever listens to you, listens to me and whoever rejects you rejects me” (Lk. 10.16).

P. JMK + Mary Pereira