CHRISTIAN NEWS MAGAZINE FOR KERALA MALAYALEE CHRISTIANS FROM INDIA AROUND THE WORLD
AUGUST 2003 ARCHIVE
VOL:2ISSUE:P8
DEVOTIONAL MESSAGE


WHERE IS THY BROTHER ?

By JOSHUA MAR IGNATIUS
Diocesan Aux. Bishop Of Trivandrum Arch Diocese
Malankara Catholic Church

Due to the proliferations of social evils, man get subjugated to a culture which loves the obscurity and darkness than the life. Religion is the relationships between the man and God. We should constitute families and society which uphold the love of God and values of the Kingdom of God.



H.G. JOSHUA MAR
IGNATIUS

The social evils like corruption, nepotism, intolerance, religious fundamentalism, politicization of religion, flamboyance, religious hatred, friction, exclusion, oppression etc. upsurge in our society day by day. These evils proliferate separatism, division, egocentrism and selfishness in the society and in mind of the people. Consequently, man get subjugated to a culture which loves the obscurity and darkness than the life.

Religion is the relationships between the man and God. Human being, the very constituent part of God, is being relegated as a commodity to be played with. Each one is suspiciously looking others for fear that they play up. The question which God asked to Cain is very pertinent to our society; 'Where is your brother ?'.

In this state of affairs, it is apropos a deliberation about the alcoholic addictions. Alcoholic addiction heave the man back to the beast. An addict is inexorably diseased, both biologically and psychologically, may be even for a life time unless it is remedied by developing the insight that alcohol is devil's brew. The addicted patients filled with inferiority and despondency is traveling towards the valley of the shadow of death.

The heart and mind of an alcoholic addict is dormant and impassive. It devoid the man from spirituality, as this evil within is the work of a dark spirit. Breakage of relations, family rupture, severance from the family and social aggression are some of the malicious eventuality of this disease.

Majority of the alcohol distribution centers are in the hands of the Government and many of the alcohol merchants are Christians. This fact reveals the substantial involvement of Christians in alcoholism and its merchandising.

The Church and Society have a big responsibility to confront this social and ecclesiastical menace. How we can worship as a congregation, disregarding the harrowing parents, spouse and children of the alcohol addicts ? Government and the Church, both have responsibility to be concerned about the tears in their eyes. We should grow up to be contributing members of society, dissenting the evils unitedly. Church by Church we should pledge, not to be in unison with the devastating forces which make the man back to beast, and to concord with proceedings taken to defeat this evil.

It is a great need of the time that all Churches should be united to retaliate with the evils, especially with alcoholism. Church is one of the main entity which can impede this evil against the family and society. For that, we should make decisions as Church, family and individual. Liquor wealth does not embellish the Church. It does not crave for riches of injustice. Church should look for the money of poor and ordinary. Churches should be able to take stance for it.

It is the responsibility of each Christian to upkeep our human body created in His own image, with out devoid of the Godly presence and love. Church should be capable to exhort this, through the fellowship and worship. As Church and family it is inevitable to take this challenge. We should resolve and act so that, me, my house, my parish, my society will be devoid of alcoholism. Then we will be able to constitute families and society which uphold the love of God and values of the Kingdom of God.

[Maramon 2003: Original in Malayalam]
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COVER MESSAGE


MASTERING OUR PASSIONS

By THOMAS KOSHY WASHINGTON

Passions exert a powerful influence over us. Passions entices us to use our good gifts in ways that God never intended. The more we yield to passions, the more they tighten their grip on us, making us slaves to their every whim.

TYPES OF PASSIONS:

  • Desires of the flesh
  • Food of every kind is found irresistible and results in obesity
  • Plunge into debt, unable to prevent the impulse to buy anything and everything
  • Drink themselves into oblivion or take drugs to dull awareness of a painful world

Yet in every case, the warning of Scripture is clear: unless we master our passions, they will master us. We will explore self-control in five crucial areas: controlling our tongue, our body, our desires, our appetites, and our finances.

CONTROLLING OUR TOUNGUE
REFERENCE: JAMES, CHAPTER 3

Why does James assume that if we can control our tongues, we must be perfect ?

3:2 "We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check."

How is the tongue like a horse’s bit, a ship’s rudder, and a small spark?

3:3-5 "When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. “

How can the tongue’s impact on people be similar to a fire, a wild animal, and a deadly poison?

"Words have killed more people than all wars combined"

3:6-8 "The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison."

How does the tongue violate the laws of nature?

3:9-12 "With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water."

James is very pessimistic, or perhaps realistic about the tongue. In light of his pessimism, what advice does he give to the “wise and understanding”? Why are our deeds a better gauge of wisdom than our words?

3:13 "Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom."

CONTROLLING OUR BODY
REFERENCE: I CORINTHIANS 6:12-20

Even if something is “permissible,” why might we still refrain from doing it? What examples can you give of “permissible” actions that may not be beneficial for you or might even be enslaving?

6:12-13 "Everything is permissible for me"--but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"--but I will not be mastered by anything. "Food for the stomach and the stomach for food"--but God will destroy them both. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body."

Some claimed that just as the stomach was meant for food, so the body was meant for sexuality. What is wrong with their logic?

6:13-14 "Food for the stomach and the stomach for food"--but God will destroy them both. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also."

Why should our spiritual union with Christ make sexual immorality unthinkable?

6:15-17 "Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, "The two will become one flesh." But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit."

How should we address sexual immorality? “flee from sexual immorality.” Why is a swift retreat usually better than a calm, rational approach to temptation?

6:18 "Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body."

How should the fact that our body is a “temple of the Holy Spirit” give added force to Paul’s statements?

6:19-20 "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.”

CONTROLLING OUR DESIRES
REFERENCE: JAMES 4:1-10

James speaks of desires that battle within us. What kinds of desires might lead people to covet or quarrel or even fight and kill?

4:1-2 "What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God."

Why do we often fail to get what we so intensely desire?

4:2-3 "You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures."

What does it mean to be “a friend of the world”?

4:4 "You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God."

CONTROLLING OUR APPETITES
REFERENCE: PROVERBS 23

What do alcoholism and gluttony have in common?

23:20-21 "Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags."

It is easy to imagine how a “drunkard” could become poor. But how could gluttony lead to poverty?

3:21 "for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags."

In what ways are alcoholic beverages, such as wine, both alluring and deceptive?

23:29-35 "Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? Those who linger over wine, who go to sample bowls of mixed wine. Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly! In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper. Your eyes will see strange sights and your mind imagine confusing things. You will be like one sleeping on the high seas, lying on top of the rigging. "They hit me," you will say, "but I'm not hurt! They beat me, but I don't feel it! When will I wake up so I can find another drink?""

Based on your experience or that of someone you know, how accurate is the proverb’s description of what it is like to be drunk?

23:33-35 "Your eyes will see strange sights and your mind imagine confusing things. You will be like one sleeping on the high seas, lying on top of the rigging. "They hit me," you will say, "but I'm not hurt! They beat me, but I don't feel it! When will I wake up so I can find another drink?""

CONTROLLING OUR FINANCES
REFERENCE: 1 TIMOTHY 6

Paul tells us to be content with our food and clothing. What other material things do we often feel we need to be content? In what ways does our culture make it difficult to be content with mere food and clothing?

6:6-10 "But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."

Paul reminds us that we brought nothing into this world, and we can take nothing out of it. How should these facts affect our attitude toward possessions?

6:7 "For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.”

Instead of pursuing wealth, what does Paul urge Timothy and us to pursue? Why are these qualities more valuable than riches?

6:11 "But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness."

How are those who are already rich to view themselves and their wealth?

6:17-19 "Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life."

OVERCOMING PEER PRESSURE

  1. Ask 101 questions: why should you accept it, what is good and bad about it etc.
  2. Have the will to say no and actually mean it.
  3. Be repetitive: Do not hesitate to hold your well searched and convinced opinion. Seek and find a Christian approach rather than jumping to conclusions.
  4. Get away from the pressure zone: avoid situations that you, according to your divine wisdom, do not feel comfortable in.
  5. Use the buddy system: Find a friend that shares your Christian values
  6. Consider the results of giving in. Learn about the consequences of yielding to such temptations
  7. Look at positive role models: Admire the ones who held on to their Christian principles
  8. Don’t believe “everyone is doing it.” First it is not true, second even if many people are doing wrong things that does not make it right in the sight of God.
  9. Seek support and gain inner strength
  10. Find ways to excel while holding on to Christian values
  11. Evaluate your friendships: If your friends are often compelling you to do what is doubtful and questionable in Christian perspective, you need to rethink your friendships
  12. Find Godly friends that honor Christian principles. The wrong friendships and association could take you away from your God or bring you closer to God.

THE TEST FOR CHRISTIAN DECISION MAKING

  1. Does this focus on Godliness instead of worldliness?
  2. Is it consistent with "The world is crucified unto me and I unto the world"?
  3. Can I commune with the Lord as freely after indulging in it?
  4. Can I look to the Lord for a blessing for it?
  5. Will it be looked upon honorably from the judgment seat of Christ?

If the answer is negative, you should not proceed.


Forward your comments or questions to tomkoshy@aol.com

Thomas Koshy, of Washington Mar Thoma Church, is a Senior Nuclear Scientist serving US federal government. His primary service area is Sunday school where he held several offices for the Diocese and Southeast Region. He devotes most of his time in teaching and preaching the Word of God to reaffirm our faith. He lives in Maryland with his wife Elizabeth and two children Benjamin and Annie.

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ARTICLE 1


PEACE, PEACE,....... EVERYWHERE PEACE

By E.S.JOHN AUSTRALIA

The mechanical vehicle of peace is in contravention against the peace imbibed by the Spirit of God. The politics of peace and security becomes a dirty game unless funneled from the depth of heart and fear of God. We should confront with the inherent woe, which are the indispensable ingredients for the spiritual struggles for inner transformation. Solving problems by love does the only seem remedy but too late to save the chronically bleeding mankind.

The lethal weapons and terrorism that changed the road map of regions and countries and their infrastructures as piles of rubbles finger point that man has returned to the monolithic age of barbarism and savagery by the completion of a wheel of fire. Despite we reverberated back to the starting point, we never have come across a human bomb in the cycle of our cultural revolution, other than the mythical Hanuman resembling a robot setting its tail on fire for the destruction of his enemies, but not at the extinction of himself. ‘Sati’ only had been a religious practice of paying homage to the dead husband. Mimicking the egalitarian peace once prevailed in the past, at least to a minimum extent, with a mechanical peace that works through wars is a sacrilege towards the dignity and decency of mankind.

The religious war that kindled by Cain in the beginning of history has been conflagrating all throughout history by culminating into today’s weapons of mass destruction. The Holocaust, which killed millions of Jews, is a glaring monument of the brutal religious war of a civilized human race at the fag end of history. The mutual tribal and ethnic cleansings have been nothing but monstrous religious fanaticisms as each of them belongs to a different form of worship dedicated to different deities or spirits. The Dark Ages were further blackened by Crusades, schisms and other religious brutalities. The butcheries between Roman Catholics and Orthodox believers, Catholics and Protestants, Sunnis and Shiites are the products of internal rivalry and feuds generated by the clash of animal magnetism. We have been propagating the religion of hatred and aggression all along. Altar, the hotbed of Religious Wars.

What we bequeathed from Cain was a war that started at the altar. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. (Gen.4: 4-8). Adam was created in place of Lucifer, the leader of the fallen angels, who refused to worship God. God might have taught the fallen Adam how to perform the worship of the Creator by the animal sacrifice, the precursor of Jesus’ sacrifice, with unblemished sheep. God probably clothed Adam and Eve with sheep’s skins that used for the first sacrifice as their garments Gen.3: 21). In order to deter the continuity of pure worship of God the fallen angels hijacked Cain from offering an animal sacrifice; instead he brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground. The evil trinity’s presence since then has been felt wherever there is religion and worship, particularly the chaste worship. It has been the business of the devil to foster trivial problems at the places of worship and tempt the righteous ones with infernal vices, so that man may not become a substitute for the fallen angels and the subsequent total defeat of Lucifer and his legions. This is the reason for Babel of confusion wherever there is sacrosanct worship of the Creator. Multiplication of religions and duplications and duplicities of churches are all glaring examples of the connivances of the spirit of darkness.

Numerous spiritual stalwarts like King David, his son Solomon, Judas....have been entrapped by the snare of the diabolic powers. The worldwide religions which claim superiority over one another with regards to the faith, dogma, traditions and the way of worship, dragging all the inhabitants of this planet to a conflagration of total devastation, are the prototypes of Korah (Num.16.26-34). Cynical multitude assents that there have been wars all along, nothing to worry now also, therefore. Did the past ever develop a global pop culture aided with computer and information technology, global economy and an insidious global pornographic network? Such skeptics should refer to 2.Pet.3: 4-12.”Where is the promise of his coming....? But by the same word the heavens and earth now exists have been stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgement and destruction of ungodly men”. Yes, this globe is destined for engulfing to a total fire at the close of the age, in parallel to the perilous flood of Noah’s time, with the weapons of mass destruction and cataclysmic fires.

Whatever cosmetic decorations are coated with, the present worldwide conflicts, rebellions and wars are based on ethnicities and religious fanaticism triggered by religious fomentation. The mediation that played by the League of Nations and later replaced by U.N.O has been keeping the equilibrium so far, its ineffectiveness in number of unpredictable situations or the belligerent attitude of some member nations throw it in its own oblivion.

HAPPINESS:
As one man’s food is another man’s poison, one person’s happiness is another man’s misery. One individual’s happiness or sensual pleasure is another individual’s vice. Hence no definition for the abstract word ‘happiness’. One contemporary writer of Jesus wrote that the Son of Man had never laughed in His life because of the mission that He envisaged was very cumbersome and trivial. Man’s life in the midst of the spirit of this world is unimaginably trivial. Despite life is an amalgam of laughter and wailing, they depend on the mood and mental conditions for which man has no control.

Man cannot control the destiny of man while there is a remote control harnessing the microcosm from outside this system. The first man, like the fallen angels, started the war against his Creator, making life a funeral parade beginning with his fall from grace. The agony of the pain of childbearing and the eating of bread in the sweat of face that has been bestowed upon us by Adam cannot be altered till we return to the ground (Gen.3: 16-19). One cannot escape from such natural but inherent woes, which are the indispensable ingredients for the spiritual struggles for inner transformation. Flesh and blood signals the recipe for struggle, pain and agony. No thorns no crown is a ladder for Christ’s ascending glory from the cradle to the crown of Judgement Throne.

In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world (Jn.16: 33). Following His footprints by carrying the daily crosses is the panacea for salvation as well as keeping sanity and healing up our wounds inflicted by our enemy. Happiness in life, says Thomas Hardy, is an occasional episode in the general drama of pain. In order to escape from the mortifying flesh, Jesus said to the young man to sell all what he had and follow him after giving everything to the poor (Mt.19: 21). His messages to individuals, churches, groups and the whole world has been the same. The Savior came into this world for the fall and rising of many in Israel and for a sword piercing through the soul of his mother, too (Lk.2: 32-35). Iniquities of Israel made a place of desolation of the city of David and the holy temple. Behold your house is forsaken (Lk.13; 35). I came to cast fire on earth....Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division...(Lk.12: 49-53).

HOW TO ATTAIN PEACE AND ENJOYMENT:
As long as the Spirit of God and the spirit of this world clash together there won’t be any peace on earth (1.Cor.2; 10-16). Being involved in two categories of affiliations mainly can derive enjoyment and merriments. Either be with God by killing the flesh or flirt with the passions of the fleeting pleasures of body by grieving the Spirit of God. But the happiness that the spirit of this world gives is transitory and ephemeral which reviles the Spirit of God. The spirit that is breathed by Holy Spirit into the nostril of man should be kept and cultivated pure and clean for its peaceful return to the giver. Only pleasing God by chaste faith and work can achieve peace and equanimity of mind by crisscrossing through the valley of death (2.Cor.11: 23-32; 12:10). Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased (Lk.2: 14). This Christmas message emphasizes that those who worship in truth and spirit get peace with a higher price. Every real Christian constrains to a baptism of fire at any phase in this life.

PEACE MAKERS:
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God (Mt.5: 9). Recycling our bygone natural life in tune with the abysmal dark life has invited untold sufferings as a result of crimes and violence and bloodshed boosted by the onset of scientific and technological achievements. Peacemakers are not only negotiators, like Nelson Mandela or Koffi Annan, but are the real servants who work and live at peace with one another by submitting obediently to endurance, love, forgiveness and helping others by giving and sharing anything what they have as aid and financial help (Jas.1: 27; 3:17). They should be a solace and refuge to people belonging to all walks of life.

PEACE THROUGH WAR:
War begets wars; jungle justice is not a means to solve the problems of man at any means. There have been peacemaking battalions of U.N. in number of places, quelling the intimidation of further wars but has not eliminated wars which uproots the entire regions to scatter around the globe as uninvited refugees to foster the trade of illegal migration, sex slavery and terrorism in the name of God. In order to crack down the religion of terrorism and militant theology the powerful union of nations is waging a counter threat to neutralize and wipe out the threat of international terrorism. It is apparently as equivalent as destroying an entire township for wiping out the plague of mice. Nothing can work efficaciously against the retaliation of human bombs.

Solving problems by love does the only seem remedy but too late to save the chronically bleeding mankind other than helping by a superficial and expensive biopsy. We have gone too far into terrorism and counter- terrorism means, it is likely that nothing can save mankind from the pyre that has been prepared for by our past vicious sins and crimes of a glorious killing field of global homicides and genocides. The prophecies dictated to His sages will have to be fulfilled (2.Pet.1.21), no matter whatever amount of crocodile tears we have shed. The Omniscient God’s patience has been running out eventually as no heed was given to His premonitions. The appointed time for a final blow between the forces of the Spirit of a slow to anger God and the Spirit of this world is fast approaching. .... For the end is yet to be at the appointed time (Dan.11: 27,35,36).

Wars and enmity are the wiles and weapons of the devil implementing through the Principalities, Powers, world rulers of this present darkness and the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places (Eph.6: 11-12). The road map of the Middle East peace sponsored by the influential nations and accepted by the moderate Palestinians may seemingly prove as a smoke screen eventually; beware, the scorched serpents are pouching behind for a timely insurrection. Pay attention to St.Paul who speaks about the ripe time for the Savior’s second coming... The day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. When people say, “There is peace and security”, then sudden destruction will come upon them as travail comes upon a woman with child, and there will be no escape (1.Thess.5: 3). All the top world leaders personally and the reading public are kept informed by the author about the possible nuclear attacks on Israel and New York in 2006 A.D. (Refer to The Bible Code, both volumes, by Michael Drosnin).

The nuclear retaliations and the consequences are unimaginable now. The Jewish race (Mt.24: 32) and Christian churches are the barometers for the revelation of God’s plans on earth. The formation of a new Israel in 1948 and subsequent events are transparent signs of His imminent second coming. The female and gay clergy (Mt.24: 15) is a standing monument for the abomination of desolation of the holy places as warned by Christ. Wasting time and energy, I am not writing these things on account of aversion or antipathy towards any individual, creed, faith, community, nation or for earning name and fame but my love of mankind impel to forewarn you the impending calamities of an extirpating war and the subsequent Divine intervention. It is likely that we are not too far away to that irrevocable end. In his place shall arise a contemptible person to whom royal majesty has not been given; he shall come without warning and obtain the kingdom by flatteries (Dan.11: 21; 8; 23-25). This is the apparent pseudo peace leading to a catastrophic exeunt.

This mechanical vehicle of peace is in contravention against the peace imbibed by the Spirit of God. The politics of peace and security becomes a dirty game unless funneled from the depth of heart and fear of God.

THE MODERN DILEMMA:
Humanity is plunged into a night of dilemma where no one can find a solution. We are at a crossroad of blindness and helplessness. The light that led us so far is seemingly dead. We face the trifling dilemma of biblical Samson, blinded and chained, blinded by egoistical religious fanaticism and fettered by vainglory and power of an unbridled lunacy haunting humanity now from every corner of crimes committed in our seen and unseen lives (2.Thess.2: 9-12). Hence the pernicious returns are also from all sources: cataclysms, plagues, terrorism, aborted psyche, drug addictions, incurable diseases, social upheavals, wars, ecology, natural imbalances, and so on. Bioterrorism is transmitting as many plagues in biblical proportions. Man thus has become a prey of inconceivable problems that have no attainable solutions by the civilized man. When man himself has become a problem, only his Creator can work out a solution. Einstein was outright correct when he said that a fourth world war might be fought with bricks and bats followed by a nuclear war.

While a minority nations sitting on the weapons of mass destructions, the majority is plagued by starvation, malnutrition, servitude, repression caused by suppression and privations of all types. Some nations manufacture such abominable weapons by starving and trampling over the innocent and helpless victims, even denying drinking water and pure air. The whole mankind is turned into slum dwellers, either spiritually or domestically or environmentally. The stronger doesn’t like to listen to the weaker, nor does the weaker likes to submit to the stronger. This is the sheer epitome of pride and fear once cherished by the fallen angels. Piling up of nuclear arsenals in the Korean peninsula and the interdiction of weapons movements are the signs of another global impasse confronting the international community now or later. The wars that won on Iraq and Afghanistan and other places seem to be defeats as the terrorist opposition is gathering momentum to strike the remote controlled Govts. at any moment.

No sign of retreat either by Goliath or David confronting the heavy armored one by slings and stones. A king is not saved by great army......The war horse is a vain hope for victory (Ps.33: 16-17). Peace initiatives, peace initiatives,..... everywhere peace initiatives because there are new and renewed problems simmering up in every country, in every region and in the four corners of the world, exhibiting the distress calls with despair, insecurity and helplessness in families, communities and all over the nations without having trace of sanity anywhere in the world. In tune with the biblical apocalypse it is perhaps impossible to go back to the life style prior to September 11(2001), unless the intervention of some cosmic powers come in between with a solution. Even if the roadmap of peace is attained in the Middle East and elsewhere, it is likely that it may have only a short life. Time is running wild for its ferocious death.

HOLY WAR:
The militant theology of murder is neither a homage nor oblation to a peace- loving God who always teaches ‘to turn the other cheek’ to the adversary. “You shall not kill” is one of the components of the Mosaic laws followed by the adherents of every religion who are at loggerheads with one another at present. We all live in an era of post- religious piety eclipsed by religious fanaticism and violence; the religion of love and non-violence is dead and buried at the deep. The age of true religion or spirituality is killed; what is persisting is the religion of lunacy triggered by irreligious secularism (Ps.2) and economic consumerism favouring only a minority of self-indulging population. The regimentalized off shoots of religious fermentations assassinated the real religion of love, peace and concord. The religious war that initiated by Cain at the altar in the beginning of history has been conflagrating ever since, so that ‘the prince of perdition’ could gulp the altar at the arise end of history.

Thanks for millions and millions of dedicated people who work for and nurse the downtrodden and storm tossed by the torments inflicted by a minority miscreants. These are all conjectures based on the bible; God alone knows only what is in the womb of time. Proclaim this among nations: prepare holy war (Malayalam bible); stir up the mighty men.... The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining (Joel.3}. The war mentioned here has not so far taken place because the sun and the moon and the stars have not darkened for a perpetual gloom. The events leading to this holy war and the seven years of tribulations are delineated in the book of Daniel and the Revelations in figurative language with mythical tones. The effigy of Christian nations, with their supporting nations on one side, and the effigy of non- Christian nations aligned with their vast followers on the opposite side will wage a fiery holy war for the devastation of this planet. It is a holy war because they fight for God, forgetting the fact that God does not require any support or unionism from anybody.


The details of this war are portrayed in my books (12 volumes).

The equivocal spirit of this world does not want to give peace; it is the spirit of confusion and malady. The peace that derived out of the inherent and natural sufferings generates peace here and the abundance of peace in the life yet to be bloomed. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you (Jn.14: 27). The prayer for a peaceful end of this sojourn expedition has become a remotest mirage in this age of nuclear arsenals. The culture of terrorism or counter terrorism can do nothing to alleviate the impending struggle or sufferings of people rather than paving the way for the annihilation of two thirds of humanity, leaving behind a third as mere paraplegic and mentally retarded orphans to be tested like gold in the fire in an utterly barren and frigid planet (Zech.13:8). Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways (2.Thess.2: 16).

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ARTICLE 2


WITNESSING OUR LORD - THE MOST IMPORTANT CHRISTIAN RESPONSIBILTY

By JOSE KURIEN PULIYERIL, ABUDHABI

God intends us to witness Jesus through our internal spirituality and not by the external showcase. To witness Jesus in the true spirit, we should attribute the same quality of Jesus and bear the image of God in us. This is the truth that Jesus taught us in His public mission.

If someone would ask our Sunday school children, What is our most important responsibility being Christians, they might answer in different but sincere wordings. Our Lord advised his followers to wait for the Holy Spirit, the promise of Father, and about whom they have heard from Him. (Acts 1: 5) He made them understand the need of the anointment of the Holy Spirit. He said “You shall receive power, after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you and you shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the world”

The Christian Church exists in this world since about last two millenniums. Were the Churches in each part of the world able to witness Christ as our Lord envisaged? There are exceptional cases of individuals in each and every Church in the different corners of the World. But how many Churches could claim they were sincere and honest in the mission. Missionaries and Missionary movements as well as their systematic works are not at all ignored. But everywhere in the matter of the Churches, there were drawbacks based on misinterpretations and misunderstandings. With great appreciation for the hardships and sufferings of the ones engaged in sincere witnessing, I do honor them. I am not trying to ridicule anyone or any Church in particular. The first and most important reason is that we failed in defining ‘witnessing’. The literal meaning of the term is ‘testimony’ or ‘confirmation’.

Our Lord presented seven testimonies about Himself during His public mission. They are the following:.

  1. I am the bread of life (St. John 6:35) While establishing the Holy Qurbana, our Lord made it clear that his flesh and blood is real food. He took bread in His hands and said, “This is my flesh” and took wine in His hands and said, “This is my blood” and exhorted the faithful to partake from them. And also commanded to continue the sacrament till the end of the world. He also said “if you partake from this, I will stay in you and you could stay in me”. The very purpose of the incarnation.
  2. “I am the light of the world” St. John 8:12. Our Lord incarnated to free the mankind from the bondage and darkness of Satan and the evil powers. He filled His own light and shining in us and made us to shine.
  3. “I am the resurrection and life” St. John 11: 25. Our Lord defeated Satan and death. He granted us everlasting life through the administration of His own flesh and blood. Our citizenship the ‘kingdom of God’, which is eternal, is made sure.
  4. “I am the way, life and truth”. St. John 14:6 He directs us to the correct aim, which is the life with our God, who is real love and truth.
  5. “I am the door” St. John 10:9 Through the door only we could enter the room of our hope and faith. Our Lord says that He is the door. Only through Him, one could reach the presence of Lord God.
  6. “I am the good Shepherd”. St. John 10:11 Since the beginning of His public mission, our Lord announced several times that He is the shepherd who has come in search of the lost sheep of Israel. And He did what was right to regain the lost sheep.
  7. “I am the true vine” St. John 15:1 Here our Lord establishes that our link with Him is like a branch of vine with the real vine. He expects that all branches in Him must bear the good fruits.

From the self identity of our Lord, He expects that His followers also must have certain qualities. He expressed his hope and desire about us during his public mission. All his expectations about his own followers could be summarized as two:

  1. Our Lord declares: “You are the salt of the world” St. Mathew 5:13. Salt as we all know has so many qualities. The white color itself declares that the salt is pure in nature. It adds taste. It preserves food items. These are the qualities of salt.
  2. “You are the light of the world” St. Mathew 5:14. The light could eradicate darkness. Being salt refers to our internal spirituality and the state of being the light is meant for the external spirituality. Our Lord means that we must be internally and externally rich in spirituality. Then only our spiritual lives would be meaningful. If our internal spirituality is sound enough our external spirituality will be also equally good. Now a days ordinary faithful look for external spirituality and they often appreciate the external spirituality. Such people could never witness Christ in the way it should be. If one feels that he or she could not witness Christ well, understand that their internal spirituality is not upto the mark. Rectify your troubles regarding the internal spirituality May God bless us.
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VISION


ANSWERS TO GOD'S MYSTERIES

By: MRS. CICILY SUNNY M.A., B.Ed., MSE

Many of God’s mysteries are revealed through the Holy Bible, but still many remain unanswered. The Holy Spirit helps us to unfold mysteries through very spiritual people. Knowledge based on God's wisdom stands substantial. The day is given to us by God and living the life is a sanctification.

Many of God’s mysteries are revealed through the Holy Bible, but still many remain unanswered. The Holy Spirit helps us to unfold mysteries through very spiritual people. Mysteries are revealed mostly through visions and dreams. Through this article, I would like to unfold some of the mysteries of God, which was revealed to Maria Valtorta in her visions from 1943 to 1947. She narrated her visions in five thousand pages through her book “The Poem of the Man-God”, which has been published in five volumes and in different languages. It starts with the life of Virgin Mary’s parents and ends with the assumption of Mary and the Acts of the Apostles. Even though I would like to ask the whole world to read it for God’s sake, I am aware of the difficulty of reading it because I took almost three years to read it. So I took the pain of jotting down important notes about the things I was not sure before so that I can give to the world in the form of a small tablet.

This is not the summary of her visions, but a small interpretation of certain important aspects, especially things that are not explained in detail in the Bible. In the visions, Jesus himself interprets to the author things that he wanted to reveal to the world. We get a thorough picture of the lives of Mary and Jesus through this book. Just reading this tablet form will be far from reading the whole book in terms of faith, feelings, and love for God.

Science and Religion: Speaking to people of all ranks and nationalities at the harbor of Tiberius, Jesus says, “If Science is not based on God, it becomes error and does not elevate but abases. Knowledge is not corruption if it is religion. He whose knowledge is based on God will not fall, because he is not conscious of his dignity and believes in his eternal future. But you must look for the real God, not for phantoms that are not gods, but mere frenzies of men still enveloped in spiritual ignorance so that there is not even the shadow of wisdom in their religions or the shadow of truth in their faith….Good will is sufficient to find the Truth, which sooner or later will be found (Vol. 2, Ch. 241, P. 549). This statement proves that God is behind all scientific achievements.

Prayer: Answering the question of a little boy named Marjiam about prayer, Jesus says, “The day is given to us by God. The whole day, the bright one and the dark one, day and night, is a gift to live and have light. Our way of living is a means of sanctification….So we must sanctify the moments of the whole day to preserve in holiness and have the Most High and His bounty present in our hearts, and at the same time, keep the Demon away. Watch the little birds. They bless the light. We must bless the light as well, because it is a gift of God, and we must bless God who grants it to us and who is the Light. We must crave for God as from daybreak to put a seal, a note of light on the whole oncoming day, that it may be entirely bright and holy. And we must join the whole creation in praising the Creator. Then, as hours go by, and going by they make us aware of how much sorrow and ignorance there is in the world, we must pray again that sorrow may be relieved and ignorance may vanish and God may be known, loved and prayed to by all men, who, if they knew God, would be comforted in their suffering.

At the sixth hour we must pray out of love for our family, to enjoy the gift of being united to those who love us. That is also a gift of God. And we must pray that our eating, instead of being useful, may not become an occasion of sin. And at sunset we pray remembering that death is the inevitable end waiting for all of us. And we must pray that our end, be it today or later, may take place with our souls in grace. And when the lights are lit, we must pray to thank for the day which is over and to ask for protection and forgiveness, so that we may go to sleep without any fear of a sudden judgment or assaults of the demon. And, finally, we must pray at night-but this applies only to adults-to make amends for the sins of the night, to keep Satan away from weak people, and that culprits may ponder, repent and make good resolutions which will become facts at sunrise (V. 3, Ch. 290, P. 94).

Marriage and Divorce: In Book 3, Chapter 407 we see that in the house of Joseph of Arimathea Jesus brings together a couple named John and Anne who have a broken relationship. He tells John, “So God did the right thing in joining together man and woman together….Satan, the usual disturber, has come between you and your wife….When love is disorderly, it becomes hatred, John. Satan has worked on your virile sensuality to get you to commit sin because that is where your sin began. One disorder has brought about new and much graver disorders. In your wife you have not seen only a good companion and the mother of your children, but also an object of pleasure. And that has made your eyes like those of an ox, which sees everything altered.” In his last teachings before the ascension, Jesus says about marriage, “In the Mosaic religion matrimony is a contract. In the new Christian religion let it be a sacred indissoluble act, on which may the grace of the Lord descend to make of husband and wife two ministers of His in the propagation of the human race.

From the very first moments try to advise the consort belonging to the new religion to convert the consort, who is still out of the number of the believers, to enter and become part of it, to avoid those painful divisions of thought, and consequently of peace, that we have noticed also among ourselves. But when it is a question of believers in the Lord, for no reason whatsoever what God united is to be dissolved. And when a consort is Christian and is united to a heathen, I advice that consort to bear his/her cross with patience, meekness and also with strength, to the extent of dying to defend his/her faith, but without leaving the consort whom he/she married with full consent. This is my advice for a more perfect life in the matrimonial state, until it will be possible, with the diffusion of Christianity, to have marriages between believers. Then let the bond be sacred and indissoluble, and the love holy” (V. 5, Ch. 631, P. 845).

Baptism and Communion: Several times Jesus mentions the importance of baptism and communion. In his last teachings before ascension Jesus said, “Baptize with water in the name of the God, one and Trine, and in my name and through my infinite merits, so that the original sin may be cancelled from hearts, sins my be remitted, grace and the holy virtues may be infused, and the Holy Spirit may descend to dwell in consecrated temples, that is, in the bodies of men living in the grace of the Lord…..Baptize with my baptism, but in the name of the God Trine because really, if the Father had not wanted and the Spirit had not acted, the Word would have not become incarnate and you would have had no redemption. So it is just and fair that every man should receive the Life through those who joined together in wanting to give it to him, mentioning the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit in the act of Baptism, which takes the name of Christian after me to distinguish it from the others past and future, which will be rites, but not indelible signs on the immortal part” (V. 5, Ch. 631, P. 843). “Great is your ministry of judging and absolving in my name! When you consecrate the Bread and Wine for you and make them my Body and my Blood, you will do a great, supernaturally great and sublime thing.

In order to accomplish it worthily you must be pure because you will touch Him who is the pure one and you will nourish yourselves with the flesh of a God. You must be pure in your hearts, minds, limbs and tongues because with your hearts you must love the Eucharist, and no profane love is to be mixed with this celestial love, as that would be a sacrilege. Be pure in your minds because you must believe and understand this mystery of love. The impurity of thought kills faith and intellect”(V. 5, Ch. 625, P. 758). After his resurrection, while the apostles were going along the way of the Cross, Jesus broke bread, gave to his disciples and said, “This is my viaticum for you who are going away. I have already prepared the food there for my pilgrims. Do the same yourselves, in future, with those among you who will be leaving. Be paternal to all the believers. Everything I do, or I make you do, do it yourselves as well. In future, make also the journey to Calvary, meditating and making people meditate on the Stations of the Cross. Contemplate! Do contemplate my sorrows because it is through them, not through the present glory, that I have saved you” (V. 5, Ch. 627, P. 791). Before his ascension Jesus conducted the Eucharist several times and asked his apostles to do it in memory of him. This was done at the last supper too.

The meaning of ‘Poor in Spirit’: “Happy are those who know they are spiritually poor; the Kingdom of heaven belongs to them” (St. Mathew 5:3). I doubt how many people understand the meaning of that sentence. After the vision on the conversion of Zacchaeus, Jesus explains the meaning of that phrase, ”The man poor in spirit is no longer enslaved by riches. Even if he does not go so far as to repudiate them materially, depriving himself of them and of every comfort by joining a monastic order, he knows how to use them sparingly for himself, which is a double sacrifice, or order to be prodigal of gifts to the poor of the world…. Those are poor in spirit who, losing their possessions, whether large or small, know how to keep their peace and hope, without cursing or hating anyone, either God or men….It means humility of thought which does not swell with pride and does not proclaim itself super-thought, but makes use of the gift of god acknowledging its origin for good….It means generosity in affections, whereby one can deprive oneself also of them in order to follow God, also of life, the most real wealth and the most loved instinctively by the animal creature. All my martyrs were generous in that way because their spirits had become poor, in order to become ‘rich’ in the only eternal riches: God. It means justice in loving our personal things. It is our duty to love them because they are testimony of providence in our favor. I have already spoken about that in previous dictations. But we must not love them more than we love God or His Will; you must not love them to the extent of cursing god, if man snatches them from you. And finally, I would repeat it, freedom from the slavery of money. Those are the different forms of that spiritual poverty that I said will possess heaven out of justice” (V. 4, Ch. 415, P. 19).

Satan: Before sending his seventy two disciples, Jesus advises them, “And be not afraid of men or of demons. They will not hurt you. The only things you are to fear are: sensuality, pride, and avarice. Through them you would hand yourselves over to Satan and devilish men, who also exist” (V. 3, Ch. 277, P. 24). On another occasion, Jesus cured a man possessed by a complete spirit. The demoniac put up so much resistance that Jesus had to face a big encounter with him. At the final command of Jesus, the demon gives a big cry and leaves him saying, “I am coming out. Yes. You have defeated me, but I will avenge myself. You are driving me away, but there is a demon beside you (probably Judas) and I will go into him and possess him, investing him with my full power. And no order of yours will be able to take him away from me. I every age, in every place I, the author of Evil, procreate sons for myself. And as God procreated Himself by Himself, I procreate myself by myself.

I conceive myself in the heart of man and he gives birth to me, he gives birth to a new Satan, that is he himself and I rejoice having so many children! You and men will always find those creatures of mine, who are as many Satan. I am going, o Christ, to take possession of my new kingdom, as you wish, and I leave you this poor wretch whom I maltreated. In his place, as I am leaving him to you, the alms of Satan to you, God, I will take one thousand and ten thousand now, and you will find them when your body in lurid tatters will be given as a plaything to dogs, and I will take ten thousand and one hundred thousand in future centuries to use them as an instrument for me and a torture for you. Do you think that you will win by raising your sign? My followers will knock it down and I will be the winner….Ah! It is not true that I will win! But I will torture you both in yourself and in your followers” (V. 4, Ch. 417, P. 35). Answering the questions of the disciples about that demon, Jesus says, “Some people give themselves to Satan by opening a door to one capital vice. Some give themselves twice, some three times, some seven times.

When one has opened his spirit to the seven vices, then a complete spirit enters him. Satan, the black prince, enters….Do you know along which path Satan comes? Generally three are the beaten paths, and one is never missing. They are sensuality, money, and pride of the spirit. Sensuality is the one which is always present….It passes spreading its poison and everything flourishes with satanic flowering. That is why I say to you: “Be the masters of your flesh”. Let that control be the beginning of everything else, as that slavery is the beginning of everything else. The man enslaved by lust, becomes thief, swindler and cruel murderer in order to serve his mistress. The very thirst for power is also related to the flesh. ….It was through the flesh that Satan entered man and through the flesh he goes back into man, and he is happy if he can do so. He, one and sevenfold, enters with the proliferation of his legions of minor demons” (P. 37). Teaching the Apostles about atonement and the techniques of resisting Lucifer, Jesus says, “You do not offend the Lord, without making amends for the offence. And God the creator was offended by the first man created. Since then, the offence has increased more and more. And neither the water of the Deluge nor the fire that rained on Sodom and Gomorrah helped to make man holy, neither the water nor the fire. The Earth is a boundless Sodom in which Lucifer walks freely and as a king. So let a trinity come to wash it: the fire of love, the water of sorrow, the blood of the Victim. That is, o Earth, my gift. I have come to give it to you” (V. 5, Ch. 591, P. 427). We have to realize the fact that there is going on a continuous fight of the devil to win the hearts of men and defeat God. Every time we make him win, we are giving blows to God.

Answering the questions of people about if the demon is so powerful as to simulate God and God allows him to corrupt people, Jesus says, “He is…but he would be a nonentity if man were holy. The fact is that man is often a demon himself….Satan helps to complete the enslavement. God allows him to act thus because the value of the creature emerges from the struggle between High and Low, Good and Evil. Both this value and his will emerge. He will always allow him to act. Also, after I have been raised, Satan will have to fight against a very great enemy, and man will have a very powerful friend” (V. 4, Ch. 527, P. 729). Speaking at the Feast of the Dedication of the Temple, Jesus answers questions about the purpose of creating Satan. He says, “My reply to you is that Satan is not the work of God, but of the free will of the rebellious angel. God had made him His glorious minister and thus had created him for a good purpose….Creatures are imperfect, even the most perfect ones. There is always a point of inferiority in them, as compared with God.

But God, who loves them, has granted them free will so that through it the creature may be perfected in virtue and thus become more like God Father. The victories over evil are the crowns of the chosen ones….God is merciful towards the souls that get lost when they are abandoned to themselves and are received by Lucifer’s ministers, who are always ready to welcome those who have lost their way, to make them proselytes of their doctrines. God is merciful towards those who have been deceived only because the rabbis of God, the so-called rabbis of God, have taken no interest in them. God is merciful towards all those who come up against depression, darkness, death through the fault of false teachers who have only the appearance of teachers and the pride of being called such….Therefore my sheep of the present times and of the future will have the Life that I give them through my Word, and it is eternal Life for those who accept it, and they shall never perish and no one will ever be able to snatch them from my hands” (V. 4, Ch. 535, P. 799-802).

Jesus warns the apostles about the deeds of Satan, “At present in the world it is the day of God and of Satan. The former sows goodness and the latter throws his damned darnel, his scandals, his wickedness, his seeds that stir up wickedness and scandals, among the seeds of God” (V. 5, Ch. 573, P. 277). Jesus says to his apostles about the corruption of Jerusalem and the strength of Satan, “”And only the Most High knows how I would like to sanctify the town taking there the Holiness that comes from Heaven. I would like to sanctify it again, as it should be the Holy City. But I shall not be able to do anything for it. It is corrupt, and will remain corrupt….Satan is aware that he is about to be defeated and he wants to avenge himself by tearing you away from me. Satan is around us all. He is around me to prevent me from doing the will of my Father and from fulfilling my mission. And he is around you to make you his servants. Be vigilant. Within those walls Satan will take those who are not strong” (V. 5, Ch. 588, P. 396). God has allowed Satan to tempt us as He had allowed him to tempt Job.

Adam and Eve: In Volume 5, Chapter 602, Jesus says about the first parents, “Woman was born of the “virago” whom God had formed as a companion for Adam, building her from the rib of man. She was born with her sorrowful destiny because she had wanted to be born in that way, that is, with her sorrowful destiny, because she had wanted to know what God had concealed from her, reserving for Himself the joy of giving her the joy of posterity without any debasement of sensuality. Adam’s companion had wanted to become acquainted with the good concealed in evil, and above all with the evil concealed in good, in apparent good, because enticed as she was by Lucifer, she had craved for knowledge that God alone could possess without any danger, and she had made herself creator. But by using such power of good unworthily, she had corrupted it into an evil deed because it was disobedience to God and malice and greediness of the flesh.” From this passage we understand that God had had a different plan in His mind about the posterity, one without any debasement of sensuality.

Sensuality has become the cause of many sins. Jesus continues, “And Cain, Eve’s first son, was born hard, envious, quick-tempered, lascivious, wicked, little different from wild animals with regard to instinct, much superior with regard to the supernatural, because in his fierce ego he denied respect to God….And he who derides God does not respect anybody in the world. Therefore those who are in touch with the deriders of God are acquainted with the bitterness of tears, because they have no hope of respectful love from their offspring, no certainty of faithful love in their consort, and no certainty of honest friendship in friends. Abundant tears streamed down Eve’s face and her heart swelled with bitter tears because of the hardness of her son, and those tears sowed the germ of repentance in her heart, and they obtained a diminution of her fault, as God forgives because of the sorrow of those who repent. And Eve’s second son had his soul washed in his mother’s tears, and he was kind and respectful to his parents, and devout to his Lord, Whose omnipotence he perceived shines from the Heavens. He was the joy of his impoverished mother….Abel becomes the means of purification for the guilty mother….How many Cains there are on the Earth! Their cult for me is derisory and hypocritical or is non-existent, and yet they want me to look at them with love and to fill them with happiness.” Jesus draws a parallelism between Cain and Judas.

Take Care of Plants and Animals: Speaking to his disciples about our duty to take care of plants and animals, Jesus says, “The animals and plants, and everything the Creator made to be useful to man, are a gift of love and a patrimony committed to the care of his children by the Father, so that they may use it with profit and gratitude to the giver of all providence. Therefore they are to be loved and treated with proper care….Care does not mean idolatry or immoderate affection for animals or plants, or anything else. Care means feeling of compassion and gratitude for the minor things that serve us and have a life of their own, that is, their sensitivity. The living soul of inferior creatures mentioned by Genesis is not the same as the soul of man. It is life, simply life that is being sensitive to real things, both material and emotional. When an animal dies, it becomes insensitive because death is its real end. There is no future for it. But while it lives it suffers cold, hunger, fatigue; it is subject to injuries, to pain, to joy, to love, to hatred, to diseases and to death” (V. 4, Ch. 538, P. 824).

Penance, Expiation, and God’s Forgiveness: Consoling a woman who cries over the sins of her son, Jesus says, “You are not responsible for his error, and for your own relief you must know that you can bring about his salvation. The ruin of sons can be repaired by mothers. And that is what you will do. Your grief, since it is sincere, is not sterile, it is prolific. The soul you love will be saved through your suffering. You are expiating for him, and with such righteous intention that you are the indulgence of your son. He will go back to God. Do not weep” (V. 3, CH. 357, P. 474). Among the crowd of people who were gathered in the temple of Jerusalem for Pentecost somebody asked Jesus what would happen to those who would not surrender to the voice of the Lord. Looking at the scribes and Pharisees Jesus says, “Jeremiah told you what will happen to those who reply to the flash of divine wrath by increasing their sins and consider divine mercy as a proof of weakness on God’s side….You, as the Eternal God said through the lips of Jeremiah, are like clay in the hands of the potter, as clay are those who consider themselves mighty, as clay are the inhabitants of this place and those of the royal palace.

There is no human power that can resist God. And if the clay resists the potter and wants to take strange horrible shapes, the potter turns it into a handful of clay again and starts afresh and works in into another vessel until it realizes that the potter is the stronger and thus it yields to his will. And it may also happen that the vessel breaks into pieces because it persists in not being modeled, as it refuses the water with which the potter moistens it in order to be able to shape it without cracks. The potter then throws the refractory clay and the useless unworkable bits and pieces into the garbage can and he takes fresh clay and moulds it as he thinks best….And repeating the words of the Lord, he says: “As the clay is in the potter’s hand, so you, Israel, are in the hand of God”. And the Lord adds, as a warning to those who are refractory, that only penance and repentance, when God reproaches man, can change the decree of God to punish a rebellious people” (V. 3, Ch. 411, P. 805).

Love towards Parents: Jesus loved his mother all the time in the same measure. We cannot find another man in the world who satisfied the mother with perfect love until he died. In the last days of his pain and discomfort, he found some solace in the caress and loving words of the mother and by sleeping on her lap. They looked like brother and sister. Jesus was fed on breast milk for long time, especially during their stay in Egypt, because of extreme poverty. Jesus loved his foster father, Joseph, with perfection. Joseph trained him in carpentry, and Jesus helped him a lot. The death of Joseph created a big gap in the lives of Mary and Jesus even though Mary had no physical relationship with him and Jesus had no blood relationship with him. Several times Jesus emphasizes the duty of children to love their parents. In one of his preaching at Gerasa, Jesus says, “It is a duty and a pleasure to love one’s parents. And there is no animal which does not love the mother which gave birth to it”(V. 3, Ch. 287, P. 77).

In another sermon at the temple Jesus says, “It is written: “Anyone who curses father and mother must die”, and death is given not only by the executioner. A more severe death awaits those who sin against their parents: the eternal dreadful death”(V. 3, Ch. 372, P. 594).

In this article I have mentioned only some striking mysteries of God. The mysteries of God are vast and varied and transcend above complete human understanding. That is why God is revealing it to ordinary minds through visions that are simple and easy to understand. This is not the summary of the book, but it is an elaboration of some important points in quotations. The reading of the book gives a good picture of the mysteries, though not perfect. In order to get the patience to read the book and understand it fully, we need special enlightenment from the Holy Spirit. For those who are gifted with the Holy Spirit, God will reveal His mysteries directly. I thank and praise God for giving me enough patience and strength for reading the book and putting ideas together for the convenience and information of others.

Note: The above text is only few salient paragraphs of the tablet. Full tablet can be availed from the Compiler.

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SATIRE

Long time ago, before Christ, there was a Rabbi in ancient Judia by the name Solomon who was very famous for his wisdom, honesty and generosity. Every day of Sabbath many youngsters, both man and woman of Judia, after worshipping Yahweh, gathered in the shade of the trees of Synagogue, to hear and discuss with Solomon whose wisdom they appraised as comparable to that of Wise King Solomon. Rabbi Solomon was so scholastic to answer any questions of the Youngsters with reference to the Holy Scriptures. Yohanes, Martha, Ezekiel, Esther, and Ahaz were some of the active participants of the group discussions with Rabbi. Esther, an young girl, of the group recorded all the sweet discussions with Rabbi day to day As:


QUESTIONS OF LIFE AND DEATH

ESTHER RECORDED ON THE SECOND DAY:
WHERE ARE WE ?
Authored By: JOHN D. KUNNATHU

Today our discussion began with a funny question by Yohanes.

Yohanes:Rabbi, is our world made of fire? A friend of mine told me so. He said that the world we live in is like a large ball surrounded by fire, and what we call stars are really pinholes through which we see the fire, and occasionally the fire enters the world in the form of lightning. Rabbi, what do you think about this?

Rabbi:What our world really is--that is your question. Do you remember what we discussed last Saturday? Our ancestors compared the world to a large farm. We always understand something new by comparing to something we already know. Our ancestors knew what a farm is, and they tried to understand the world by comparing it to a farm.

To understand something in the best possible way, we have to observe it in every way we can. We have to perceive it with all our five senses. We have to see how it is similar to and different from everything else we know. Thus we get the best possible knowledge of it. Although our motive is to know what it really is, we can't because absolute knowledge of anything is impossible. What is possible is only relative knowledge.

Here what we are trying to understand is the world as a whole. We are in the world as a part of it. It is so huge that we don't know where it begins and where it ends. We don't know when it began and when it will come to an end. However, people living at different places and times have tried to understand what our world is made of. There have been different suggestions from various viewpoints. What your friend said is one of such suggestions. Certainly there is some truth in it. Fire seems to be present everywhere in invisible form. Just rub two stones to each other, and fire appears from nowhere.

Our Hebrew forefathers had a different view. They believed that the world came out of water. God separated water above and below, and created the space between the earth and the sky. That is what God did on the second day of creation according to Genesis 1. Hence the sky is water according to our ancestors. If you look at the ocean, and the sky that touches it, you will see that they are almost the same in color. Moreover, we all know that water comes from the sky when it rains.

There has been another suggestion, according to which the basic material of the world is air. There is air everywhere, but it remains invisible. As water disappears in air when heated, we might think that water is just another form of air. And no living being can remain alive without breathing air.

There are also other views. One of them states that the world is not made of just one of these things, but by a combination of fire, air, earth and water. According to another view, everything in the world is made of invisible minute particles.

However, I would say that all these are wild imaginations without satisfactory proofs. Perhaps the future generations will be able to know better. At present we have to be satisfied with the little knowledge we have.

Yohanes:Your answer has satisfied me. Now, could you tell us something about the shape of the world?

Rabbi:The rabbi said: About that also our knowledge is at elementary level. Wherever we go, we see a flat earth including ocean, covered with a curved sky. It is just like a flat plate covered by curved one. Our ancestors' view, which we understand from the first chapter of Genesis, is similar. God separated water above and below, and created space. Then God made the land emerge from the water below. After that, God made the Sun, moon and stars, and placed them in the space.

Such a simple view of the shape of the world is sufficient for our day-to-day life. However, anybody can see that it is far from the reality. How do the stars, Sun and moon set in the west, and then next day rise in the east? To account for this phenomenon, it has recently been suggested that the earth on which we live must be a large sphere or a cylinder, and the Sun, moon and stars must be revolving around us once a day. Or, it could be the earth that rotates while the Sun, moon and stars remain stationary.

To conclude, I repeat that what we know is far from the reality. About the shape of the world, our knowledge is laughably little. Let us hope that the future generations will have better knowledge.

Yohanes and all others enjoyed the discussion. It was interesting and informative.

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FELICITATION


CYRIL MAR BASALIOS : THE GREAT SHEPHERD
TO CELEBRATE EPISCOPAL SILVER JUBILEE

By P.C.THOMAS MANTHUKA, KARAKKAD

MOST REV.CYRIL MAR BASALIOS

Most Rev. Arch Bishop Cyril Mar Basalios, Prelate of Malankara Catholic Church is completing 25 Years in the year 2003 after his ordination as Bishop.

Cyril Mar Basalios was born in August 16, 1935 at Pandalam as son of Mathai Malancheruvil and Aleyamma. Mathai was a close associate of Mar Ivanios who was the originator of the reunion with the Catholic Church. So Mathai was known as the Attorney/Counselor of the Church. Son James also had expressed the same affinity to Church as his father. He had shown a lot of interest in Rosary Prayers and Charity work. James had a strong desire from the childhood to become a minister of the Church. Their family environment was very conducive to build up his desire. So his two brothers joined the ministry as Priests and four sisters got ordained as Religious Sisters.

In 1951 James joined in the Monastery of The Community of Imitation of Christ and changed his name as Cyril. Further Cyril proceeded for Education in Divinity in Papal Seminary at Pune. He had graduated from there very meritoriously in Theology and Psychology. Cardinal Agagiyaniel had ordained Cyril to the order of priesthood in 1960. In October 28, 1978 Holy Father Pope John Paul II declared to elevate Fr. Cyril to Bishop hood and he was ordained as Bishop with the official name Mar Basalios.

Mar Basalios, a great scholar of theology, is very enthusiastic to enlighten his spiritual children for the nourishment in faith. Anticipating that the great hope of the Church is vested on Youth, Holy Father had manifested many creative programs in the Church to rejuvenate them in faith and to accomplish the growth of Church. He had transformed the educational pattern centering on subjects of contemporary significance. Well aware of the fact that Family is upholding the dignity of the Church, Thirumeni always remind youth to concentrate to foster morality and righteousness, household.

His intensive expertise in ecclesiastical canons, great participation in the ecumenical efforts and united world vision distinguish him in the crowd. The God's gift of his appointment as President of Catholic Bishops' Conference of India is the appreciation of the knowledge and experience of Holy Father. Being a spokesman of unlimited human love and the transformer of the society with his own life, the services of his entire life is an achievement for the Church and the Society

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HOMAGE


MRS. K.M. MATHEW

Mrs. Annamma Mathew, popularly known as Mrs. K.M. Mathew, Chief Editor of the Malayalam Women’s Fortnightly ‘Vanitha’, multi-faceted as an icon of Kerala Christian women and had earned her place in the "Healthy Recipes Hall of Fame" expired at 10.30 A.M on July 10, 2003 in a private Nursing Home at Kottayam after a prolonged illness. She was of 81 years of age. She was confined to a wheelchair over the last few years.

Annamma Mathew was born on March 22, 1922. Her father Dr.George Philip was a Civil Surgeon in Madras. She had spent her School and College days in Tamil Nadu. She got married in 1942 to K.M. Mathew, Chief Editor of Malayala Manorama and a prominant public figure in Kerala who is son of Mammen Mappila who became a legendary in News Paper field of the country.

Mrs. K.M. Mathew symbolized the graceful and traditional femininity, which had attracted national and international reverence. Her those who were close to knew her as ‘Annamma Kochamma’ as she became a family person to all those who came in contact with her. Mrs.Mathew was well attributed for her simplicity, generosity, humility, spirituality, deep religiosity and wealth of multidisciplinary knowledge. Her relentless Generosity, selfless services for the needy and her commitment to the cause of women caused her to became a prominent figure in the Social and Cultural arena of Kerala. Annamma Mathew was associated with several voluntary and philanthropic organizations.

Mrs. Mathew had authored over twenty books for which the subjects ranged from Cookery, Health & Beauty Care and Hair Styling to Decorations and Travelogue. Her books of culinary cuisine literature were known as the bible for cooking which are authoritative on traditional and exotic recipes. She had uplifted the status of Cooking from chores to an Art and Science. Her name had become legendary in the minds all traditional Keralites.

Annamma Mathew was also instrumental for the social activities of the Kasturba Social Welfare Centre (Kottayam), which is aimed for empowering women. She was also an enthusiast of arts and music. Her mastery in playing violin was enthralling. She was delighted both in Karnatic and Western Music. She was also one of the awe-inspiring forces for the origination of Sruthi, the School of Liturgical Music of Orthodox Theological Seminary at Kottayam. She had also served as the member of the state film award jury.

Mrs.Mathew's works have won her a number of awards including the Rachel Thomas Award (1992), Vigjanadeepam Puraskar (1994) instituted by Ponnara Sreedhar Foundation, and the Nirmithi Kendra Award (1996).

Mammen Mathew, Editor and Managing Director of Malayala Manorama; Philip Mathew, Managing Editor of Malayala Manorama; Jacob Mathew, Executive Editor of Malayala Manorama; Thangam Mammen are the children of Mrs.Mathew.

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HOMAGE


PROF. K.M. THARAKAN

Well-known Malayalam litterateur, educationalist and former Chairman of Kerala Sahithya Academy, Prof. K.M. Tharakan expired on July 15 early morning 3 O’ Clock at Thiruvalla Medical Mission Hospital. Prof. Tharakan was 73 years old. For a while, he was bedridden and under treatment after a paralytic stroke.

Professor K.M. Tharakan was born on October 6, 1930. His father Prof. Puthencavu Mathen Tharakan was a famous poet, Music Composer and Professor of Malayalam Department of Catholicate College, Pathanamthitta. Prof. K.M. Tharakan served as English Professor in many famous colleges in Kerala. Also he was distinguished as a journalist by serving as editor of many Magazines.

He authored many literal Books and many of them received meritorial awards. Kerala Sahithya Samathi Award, SPCS Award, Puthezhan Award, Akshara Award, Dhikshana Award, Sophia Award, Koduppunna Smaraka Award were the laudable awards bagged for the literary works of Prof.Tharakan. His autobiography titled as ‘Through the Valley of Mercy’ is standing out in all his publications. Altogether he had published 54 literal works. ‘She is the real wife’, ‘Only for You’, ‘The night of remembrance’ are some of the famous novels written by Prof.Tharakan. ‘Ultramodern Western Literal Philosophy’, ‘Malayalam Novel Literature’, ‘Eternal Mary Magdalene’, ‘Blessed Basheer’, ‘Modern Novel Vision’, ‘Modern Literature Vision’ are some of his famous works. In 1991 Prof. K.M. Tharakan was nominated as the Chairman of the Kerala Literal Academy.

Late Rachel was his wife. Mathew Tharakan (Baharin), Dr.Thamari Mavul (Medical Mission Thiruvalla), John Tharakan (Kuwait), Ranjini (Madras) are the Children of Prof. Tharakan. Funeral was done on Sunday, July 20, 2003 at Puthencavu Orthodox Cathedral Cemetery.

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