The greatest enemy — the greatest sin

 

I am a sinful man

 

A life in humility

 

Overcoming sin

 

The sacrifice most pleasing to God

 

Good Friday

 

A very Blessed and Peaceful Easter to all.

 

Jesus Christ loved us so much, that from the cross, HE extended HIS forgiveness to all generations.

Jesus exhorts us to extend our forgiveness to all, through a life of love, in HIM.

 

May the joy of the resurrected Christ bring peace and unity in every family and among the nations in the world — through a life of love, and forgiveness.

 

A very Blessed and Peaceful Easter to all.

A new beginning — a new life in Christ

 

Christ crucified

 

Where is your Faith?

Faith¹ is invincible— fear is conquerable.
Faith leads us to life— fear drives us towards death.

1. Faith in God.

Once again, Simon Peter is sinking into troubled waters, for the weakness of Faith.
Pestilence strikes us and fear of death causes our weak Faith to sink into the mire of surrounding tribulation.
We need to focus more on Jesus— rather pestilence, which is around us.
Remember, God is in the city, it cannot fall… God is with us. [Psalm 46:5]
Our God is a God, who saves. [Psalm 68:20]

As in the times of King David, when Epidemic struck the land, he chose to submit himself to the great mercies of God. [2 Sam 24:13-15]
Instead of trusting our lives to the Mercy of God, we are demonstrating the weakness of our Faith, by falling prey to the fear of pestilence.

When hand sanitizer takes precedence over Holy water ( that is Blessed during Easter, to banish the unclean spirits; to trample the complete strength of the enemy; to cure every kind of uncleanness and infections)  for safe guarding life, what remains of our faith? What kind of Faith do we profess?
When a reverential kiss in veneration of Crucified Christ, is avoided for the fear of contamination, what kind of Holy reverence do we profess?

Our Faith will count to be of more worth, in the eyes of God, if we stand firm in our Trust in HIM— in these difficult times.


As in the times of Prophet Moses, when people were bitten by fiery serpents, for their disloyalty against Yahweh. [Numbers 21:9]
We need to look with Faith and Hope on the standard of Christ ( who suffered; died and Resurrected for our salvation )


The first Christians sacrificed their lives and saved their Faith in God ( and saved their soul ).
Where is our Faith?— that we are giving in to panic and fear and shrinking from our Christian duties.

Once again, the Shepherd is struck and the sheep are scattered.
We are betraying our Trust in God, in the face of pestilence (in the fear of death ).
The Lord says: "Anyone who loses his life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it." (Mark 8:35)
Losing our life for God's sake doesn't necessarily mean yielding to death— rather, to act prudently in Faith and to put our lives in HIS care ( to HIS great Mercy ).

Once again, the Disciples cry out in fear: "save us Lord, lest we perish".
And even in these troubled times, we will still hear HIM say: "why are you so frightened, you who have so little faith?"

Our God is always with us, to calm all our fears and anxieties.


Not far from our own times, in 1854, when Turin (Italy ) was struck with Cholera epidemic,  St. Don Bosco, along with his oratory boys,  demonstrated his heroic Faith, by helping and serving the abandoned cholera victims— without he or his boys contracting the fatal disease. And St. Mother Teresa, is another great example for our times— who served the lepers, in her great Trust in God.


Christ has won victory over death and sin.
As we prepare our hearts in repentance and our trust in God, during this lent, are we going to let fear become victorious over our weak Faith?

What kind of Easter are we going to celebrate?

Let our Faith in God, become victorious in the Resurrected and Triumphant Christ—and let fear be vanquished from our hearts.


P.S. The Church has certainly not acted Prudently in Faith, in this respect.
Corona virus pandemic has induced fear in many hearts and has scattered their Faith in God.
And many tribulations of such kind might happen in the future.

Are we going to let our Faith suffer in the face of fear?

All these catastrophic events with reference to our Faith in God, allude to Jesus's words:
"But when the Son of man comes, will he find any Faith on earth?"  (Luke 18:8).

P.S. I am glad, Bishop Pascal Roland (Belley-Ars, France) is acting Prudently in Faith, on his part, for his Diocese.

Living by the Spirit of God

Human nature is weak and is more bent towards sin.
Sin will continue to dominate our flesh, as long as we are inclined to live by our natural inclinations¹.
When we choose to live by the Spirit², the Spirit inclines our heart towards the love of God— to live humbly and obediently, in the reverence of God.
Consequently, wicked nature begins to subside— when God's presence is enthroned in our heart.
Sin no longer continues to tyrannize our flesh, when Faith and Love begins to live in our life.

1. Natural inclinations are inclined towards fulfilling selfish and disordered desires of the flesh.
Natural inclinations follow human principles and is opposed to God's  Commandment of Love.  Natural inclinations burden  and attack our soul— with sin.

2. To commit our daily life to Prayer; to Faith ( be calm and believe that God is always with us ); to Reverence (doing our daily work, to the best of our ability, as done for God); to loving and understanding others; Spiritual reading (reading Holy Bible and lives of Saints); to Charity and to deeds of Mercy— as much as opportunities and circumstances allow. Frequently receiving Holy Sacraments viz. Holy Eucharist and Confession. Fasting (when inspired by God ) in the honour of God. Doing little sacrifices— abstaining from certain habits and activities that do not lead us towards God.

Remember, God loves a cheerful giver— so do everything cheerfully, without reluctance or under compulsion.

Easter

Easter

Easter is the celebration of Jesus's victorious Love— the Love in which HE came into this world; the Love in which HE suffered for our sins; the Love in which HE offered HIMSELF as a sacrifice for our Salvation.

HIS Love defeated death for us and gained Eternal Life for us.

This Glorious day the Lord invites¹ us to rejoice with HIM and celebrate the victory of HIS Love— over death and sin.

And HE commands us to live our life in HIS victorious Love— that we too, may receive the Grace to triumph over our sins and difficulties of this earthly life and rise again in HIM, in Eternal Life.

1. Despite the difficulties which we may be going through in our life; despite our gloom— it is in HIM alone, we find solace for our soul.

MAY YOU LIVE YOUR LIFE FRUITFULLY IN THE 'VICTORIOUS LOVE' OF CHRIST.

I WISH YOU ALL A 'BLESSED EASTER'

PALM SUNDAY' 2019

PALM SUNDAY' 2019

Summary:

In the picture, we see Jesus (the light of the world) triumphantly heading towards HIS sorrowful and Glorious Passion.

Description:

1. The light with the brilliant hearts in the background symbolizes Jesus (the light of the world) full of Love— eagerly and triumphantly entering into HIS sorrowful passion.

2. The heart with palm leaves in the background symbolizes a friendly and august welcome given by Jews to Jesus, Son of David. Further, the heart is inclined towards Jesus (the light of the world) symbolizing a moment of warm and Reverential welcome— as opposed to the 'night of betrayal' — which is inclined towards HIS crucifixion.

3. Among those who acclaimed Jesus as the 'King of Israel" were also the accusers who were to accuse HIM to crucifixion. The green hearts with palm leaves symbolizes friendly Jews who revered Jesus. The red hearts bordered with green symbolizes the hostile Jews and Pharisees— with a guile in their wicked hearts.

4. The betraying kiss of Judas Iscariot hiding behind the 'palm leaves welcome' alludes to the betrayal which is to follow soon. Judas's lips are shown in dual colour. The black lips smeared with blood symbolizes his deceitful nature. The white borderline denotes Judas as a 'false angel of light'.

5. The 'night of betrayal' is torn, denoting the disowning and scattering of the Disciples. The chains in the background denotes the captivity of Jesus. Judas's kiss and the night is inclined towards the condemnation of Jesus.

6. The fiery background; the pouring of blood; the lips of the accusers;  the thorns and the Cross denotes the intense suffering of Jesus; HIS sacrifice and HIS death— for our Salvation.

7. Amidst the intense suffering, the Cross is inclined towards the Glorious Resurrection, denoting Jesus's way of Salvation (from suffering into Glory)— and also a spiritual path for Christian way of life.

May our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen your Faith and make your Faith victorious in HIM.

I wish you all a 'Blessed Holy Week'.

 

God is never in a hurry— God waits, waits and waits

The enemy, the tempter, is restless¹ and  always in a hurry.

God is never in a hurry². God is Mercifully Patient³ and waits longingly⁴.

1. To devour the souls; he is restless to break our faith relationship with God (especially in difficult circumstances);  seeking every moment and every opportunity to make the weak souls fall into sin. He hurries to build anxiety and zeal in one's heart to pursue worldly success and happiness— and keep them rooted in worldly vanity.


2. To punish our guilt and make an end of wickedness.

3. Waiting for each soul to repent and return to HIM with Faith and Humility.

4. God understands the weakness of human flesh. HE gives sufficient time to make an amendment of sinful life.

The rooster still crows

The rooster¹ still crows for every person that denies² and disowns³ Jesus Christ and sins against God.

Lord, forgive me- have mercy on me, a sinner.

1. The rooster reminds us that each one of us is connected with the Passion and death of Christ. Jesus Christ suffered and died for the salvation of each person in the world. The rooster crowed not only for Peter's denial of Jesus but also for every person in the world, who still refuses to acknowledge Jesus Christ, as their salvation.

2. Deny to believe Jesus Christ as the son of the living God and our true salvation.

3. When we behave unfaithfully and irreverently towards God- unbecoming of the children of God.

Christ crucified, Christ resurrected

Christ crucified gives us the strength to bear our sufferings Humbly and Patiently, with Faith and Love, in HIM.

Christ crucified inspires us and motivates us for a life of Faithful and Humble obedience to God's Most Holy will.

Christ crucified gives us the Grace to live a life of Love, in HIM.

Christ crucified inspires us for the life of Simplicity and Humility, in HIM.

Christ crucified gives us the proof of one, True God–  the proof of True Love.

Christ resurrected gives us the Hope of victory,¹ in HIM.

Christ resurrected strengthens our Faith that HE is for us² and is with us, always.

Christ resurrected gives us the Hope of Resurrection and Eternal life, in HIM.

Christ resurrected gives us Joy; Happiness and Peace, in HIM.

Christ resurrected gives us the Hope of Salvation, in HIM alone.

1. Victory over our sinful self; victory over the wickedness in the world, through life of Love, in HIM.

2. HE died for us, and HE resurrected for us, that we may live with HIM, forever.

Be Joyful, Be Hopeful– For I AM Risen

Be Joyful, Be Hopeful– For I Am Risen

HE came into this world, to teach us the way of Love.
HE came into this world, to show us that true love always suffers– even unto death.
HE came into this world, to give us the living evidence by HIS Life, Death and Resurrection that HE alone is the TRUTH– the one True God and HE alone brings us to Eternal life.
HE came into this world, that we may live the way of HIS Love.
HE came into this world, that we may believe in the TRUTH of HIS Life.
HE came into this world, that we may inherit Eternal life through HIM, and in HIM.

Does Jesus Christ (the Way, the TRUTH and the Life) who lived 2000 years ago, live in you– today?
Or
Is HE despised and ignored in your heart , the way HE was despised 2000 years ago, by the Jews and the Romans?

 

 

For God so loved the world

For God so loved the world

Summary: In the picture, we see Jesus Christ (the Bread of Everlasting life ) offering HIMSELF as a loving sacrifice for the salvation of the world.

Description:

The broken Bread: The broken Bread symbolizes the Body of Christ, lovingly offered as a sacrifice for the life of the world.

The living Bread is full of  love– for God is love.

The green color outlining the Bread symbolizes the innocence of Jesus. ["For if this is what is done to green wood, what will be done when the wood is dry?" [Luke 23:31] ]

The red Cross made up of thorny mesh symbolizes the intense sufferings of Jesus.

The radiating Heart symbolizes the outpouring of Jesus's abundant love. It further symbolizes the Joy of victory over sin.

The Blood drops: The Blood of Jesus Christ (full of Merciful love; full of Grace; full of life; full of Holy Spirit.) poured out for the salvation of many.

In the picture, we see the Blood of Jesus Christ ( the light of the world ) dispelling the darkness of sin from the sinful world.

The background: The violet- purplish shade of the sky symbolizes Heaven– in mourning. The fiery colors of the sky symbolizes the Passion of Christ; the anger and the  hostility of the Jews; the ruffled environment. The dark clouds  enveloping the earth symbolizes the darkness of sin.

Suffering- a good companion for life

In the journey of life, suffering is our good companion¹.
For Christ suffered for us, first- HE died for us.
Now, it's our turn, to take up our cross² and follow³ HIM daily.
And HE will bring us to Eternal Glory.

1. Good companion: In suffering patiently and willingly for God, we find Jesus for our 'good companion'.  HE assures us of HIS strong presence during the moments of our weaknesses and sufferings. By patiently bearing our suffering, we share in HIS sufferings. Through suffering we are perfected in God's grace.

2. The difficulties and pain that time and circumstances bring in our life.

3. To trust HIM wholeheartedly despite the contrary circumstances and to persevere in deeds of Love and Mercy.

A Right turn

Turn away from sin.
Turn your heart towards God.