My Scribbling Pad

Paka - Malayalam Kavitha - Murukan kattakkada

2012-01-27T23:04:00.000Z

Prayer

2012-01-14T11:02:00.002Z

Prayer reaches its highest peak when we ask God not to shield us from struggle and hardship, but to give us the strength to endure to the end.

We should not ask God to subdue the mountain, to narrow the waters, but to give us mental and physical strength to climb the mountain, however steep, and to sail the ocean however wide.

We should pray not to be protected from temptations, but for strength to face temptations without yielding to them.

We should not pray to God to separate us from people we do not like, but pray for the Christian grace which will enable us to mingle with all of God's children without prejudice or snobbery.

Pray not to be saved from physical death, but faith to face death unafraid.I like to think that this is the way Jesus prayed.
I like to think that in choosing his disciples he didn't ask God to choose them for him but that he prayed for wisdom to make the right choices.

Evans E. Crawford (Mays, Disturbed About Man, 81-82) JRT XXXII, 1 (1975)

After Christmas..?

2012-01-11T11:06:00.000Z

Christmas celebrations, Holidays are over and many of our Parishes are getting ready for the Lent Season.

We all had good food and spend lot of time in fun and leisure
Over food, food waste, energy waste, consumption of alcohol were some of the features of this Christmas

Many of us wasted lot of money for a grand and luxurious Christmas Celebrations.......
Decorations were cleared from the Churches and Homes and kept safely for Next Christmas
Waiting for next year Christmas....!

Why we don't have Christmas Experience Everyday ?
Visitation of the Magi was one of the lessons of the First Christmas

While they visited Christ there was a detouring experience in their lives......
They changed their journey plan according to their vision from God

They detoured from their plans....
They detoured from Herod's commanded journey plan. Emperor ordered them to come back to Palace...
But they detoured from that instructed journey plan......

Do we had such experience in this Christmas?
Are we still continue with the old journey plan?

Christmas demands such a detouring experience in our thoughts, perceptions, imaginations, actions, decisions, attitudes and that makes Christmas an ongoing experience....

We started a journey , but it will be meaningful and dynamic only when we have a detouring experience in every moments of our life.
When we have such a detouring experience our journey will be not static, ritualistic, and consumeristic...

But our journey will be life protecting, life giving and empowering......
Ultimately we reach in the Kingdom of God....the destiny of our detouring life journeys......

Denied Justice

2012-01-09T10:36:00.000Z

Matthew 24:45-51

45 "Who then is the faithful and wise slave, whom his master has put in charge of his household, to give the other slaves their allowance of food at the proper time? 46 Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives. 47 Truly I tell you, he will put that one in charge of all his possessions. 48 But if that wicked slave says to himself, "My master is delayed,' 49 and he begins to beat his fellow slaves, and eats and drinks with drunkards, 50 the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour that he does not know. 51 He will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Jesus Christ told this parable to teach his disciples about the Second Coming of Christ and how God of Justice will judge the whole creation particularly people who were given responsibilites. This text clearly portrays the inseparable connection between word Faith and Faithfulness. Word faith and word faithfulness will go hand in hand. Faith in Christ always challenge us to be faithful in our daily living and in our responsibilities.

Be responsible and be blessed in the sight of the Lord.

Master entrusted one of the slaves the responsibility to provide the food to fellow slaves. He is one among them and here with a special task. Blessedness is the outcome of our response towards our responsibilities. It is not something which we can buy or earn but it will be given to those who are responsible. V.46,47 says if we are responsible we will be given more responsibilities by God.

Today is Decisive and Important.

Wise people think about today. Without today there is no tomorrow. Our response towards the challenges of today decides the destiny of the world tomorrow . We all are called to live today with God. Arrival of the master will be at the unexpected time and we will be rewarded according to our response towards our responsibilities. Addressing the realities of today are very important. Keep talking about the realities and engage in the process of divine responsibility.

Irresponsible and unwise actions will create a chaotic premise.

How the wicked slave was irresponsible?

1. Wicked slave made a nexus with the people who were driven by the materialistic and individualistic values

Divine community called to resist all materialistic, consumeristic and individualistic values.
Divine community should uphold the vision of an alternate community(another world is possible)
Nexus with the materialism and its agents will change the nature of divine community

2. Wicked slave took control over his fellow slaves and he did whatever he wants to do. Master was not in his imagination, perception, and actions.

Divine community is not a privileged group but it is a responsible group.
Divine community is called not to dominate but to extend love and equality
Divine community is a God-centric community not self-centric Community

3. Wicked slave created an unjust premise. A violent, dominating, persecuting premise.

Responsible community create a just premise where there is no violence
A wicked community would like to create an unjust premise which will be violent and exploitative.
Responsible community affirm peace but wicked community create violence

4. Wicked slave grabbed his fellow slaves' share.

Wicked slave chose a life of eating and drinking which will be possible only by grabbing the resources of others
Master entrusted some resources to the slave to distribute among among his fellow slaves. But through domination he grabbed the resources and used for consumeristic interests

5. Irresponsible, Unjust and Unfaithful slave and a group of victims

Wicked individuals, communities will create victims.
In this parable wicked slave created an unjust premise and there by led a process of victimisation.
Victims are the product of the unjust systems, individuals and communities.

Responsibility and Judgement.

There will be a judgement to the irresponsible and unfaithful servant. But responsible and faithful servants will experience the blessedness.

Listen....!!!!!!!

2011-12-22T17:59:00.001Z

"Do you know why I have decided to serve the Church outside the ordained ministry? Every ordained minister is expected to maintain and in reality is maintaining order and peace in the Parishes in the face of any amount of injustice, that may prevail there. And I want to quarrel, because that is the only effective way of serving the Church, the Church being what it is today. I do not say, I have made myself worthy of the rich heritage that is mine - but if God wills. I shall pick more quarrels with the bishops, the clergy and the laity and with myself - for we as a Chruch have to be perfected. I believe every young man and woman is called to do that, for the sake of the Church that is to be". Dr. M M Thomas

Worship is Protest

2011-12-20T11:30:00.000Z

Worship is a fun....! Worship is an entertainment...! Worship is a social gathering...! Worship is a a kind of psychological or emotional activity...........and read and defined worship as.....this and that........

But what is Christian Worship?

It has many realms...praise, adoration, thanksgiving, repentance, intercession....and so on....

Sometimes all these aspects were compartmentalised....

We read it and understood it in different ways...and sometimes over simplified all these elements....

But now a days in the midst of protests, demonstrations and movements ...how do we read and define worship......

We worship God....only God......

We affirm our faith in God

We believe in human and divine face of God revealed in Christ....

Christ worshipped in the synagogues, and his presence, words,and actions reflected his protest against the religiosity, perceptions, theology, business attitude in the worship, and the passive and materialistic attitude of the all leaders.............

Christ shown his protest in the worship by redefining the basic concept of reading Torah in life's perspectives.....

Christ interpreted Torah from people's perspectives....

Christ affirmed justice in the worship......

Christ democratised the worship place for all

Christ read and interpreted Torah in the perspective of lepers, women, children, outcasts, and many.....

It was a deliberate act....

It was Jesus' protest against sin and its agents......

Worship is a protest....

Protest against Satan and Satanic forces....

While we recite Nicene Creed we denounce Satan and we affirm our faith in the Triune God.....

Worship is an act against falsehood and sin...it is a protest......

While we take part in Holy Communion we look forward a new heaven and earth....

While we pray 'Your Kingdom Come' we look forward for a world there is no poverty....It is a protest...

While we give Kiss of Peace we denounce the discrimination, division and violence....it is an act of protest

Lord's Table is a protest against the accumulation, hoarding, injustice and hatred....

Lord's Table affirm sharing, love, justice and life.........

While we intercede we denounce the concept of 'otherness'....It is a protest....

Worship is a protest against sin...

While we gather in the name of God we denounce Satan and its forces......

While we come together for worship we denounce the forces who crucify the People.....

Worship is a Protest against violence, death, discrimination, poverty, hatred, otherness....

Worship is a movement with God.....

There will not be any compromise with Sin

We declare our love and solidarity to those who hunger and thirst for, peace, justice, meekness, mercy.......

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven

(Read - Mathew 5:1-11)

Mathew 1:18-23

2011-12-19T16:58:00.001Z

St.Mathew 1:18-23.

We are missing the original signs and symbols of the First Christmas and now we have the signs and symbols of the market and materialism. Somewhere we are missing Christ and most of the time we forget the individuals and communities who were used by God, in our greetings, wishes and Christmas gifts. These elements were hijacked by the market and its symbols. But this text portrays how God works through a simple human being for God' great incarnation.

In Matthew, there is no manger or inn, no trip from Nazareth, no shepherds abiding in the fields, no speech or songs of Mary. The focus is on Joseph, who speaks and repeatedly dreams. In fact, dreams are especially prominent.

1. Incarnation in the premise of vision and divine discourses

Jesus' birth narrations were presented in the context of divine revelations and discourses.

God appeared to Mary, Joseph, Wise-men, Shepherds and initiated the discourses and these discourses enlightened and empowered them

Christ is born in a space where divine vision and discourses were valued and listened

Incarnation is a divine intervention and it will be initiated through divine discourses with the people who are ready to be used for incarnation

2. Joseph - A Visionary and Missionary

A visionary will see revelations in the historical space

A Missionary will take bold decisions and stands according to the divine revelations

Joseph had revelation and he took bold decisions on right time

A visionary will hear the divine voice in the midst of powers of death

A missionary will initiate new journeys so that a new exodus will begin

A visionary will identify God's face even it is vulnerable

A missionary will be ready to be vulnerable for a Vulnerable God

A visionary will see a new heaven and earth even in the midst of struggles, alienation and desperate journeys

A missionary will strive for a new heaven and earth.

Joseph was a visionary and missionary in all aspects

3. Challenging Presence of God - God of Exodus.

God is with us through Jesus Christ - Emmanuel

Walter Brueggemann found an etymological connection between the verb form in Exodus 3:14 and the name of God, Emmanuel, in Isaiah 7:14, which Matthew quotes in the nativity story (1:23). If that is true, then Matthew's ending, the Great Commission, has an Exodus connotation, "Lo, I AM with you always, to the close of the age" (Matt. 28:20). The promise of Matthew's nativity is not just the comforting presence of God with us, but the challenging presence of the Exodus God. It is the God of the Exodus who is ready with his new Moses to lead us on a latter day quest for the Promised Land, an aggressive and not a cuddly Christmas presence

Challenging presence of God will energise us to initiate new exodus

Liberation is an experience which helps us to come out of all false securities and parochial premises and this will due to the presence of the God of Exodus

God of Exodus will embrace in the midst of wilderness experience

God will guide us in the midst of humiliating experiences

God Occupied the Earth

2011-12-12T10:57:00.003Z

As a faith community or as a faith movement we believe in a living God. Living God always intervene in the whole creation with God’s words and actions. God’s intervention in the human history and cosmos is not accidental but determined and intentional. God is not a sleeping God. But our God is dynamic and living in the life of the whole creation through God’s divine engagements
Christmas is not a simple story but it is a divine engagement in the midst of darkness.
God occupied the whole creation in the form of a human being to redeem the life of this earth from the hands of sinful forces.
God occupied the earth
God occupied this earth because God loved the whole creation
God occupied the local space by presenting God self in a manger
God occupied the Public square/sphere by taking birth in a crowded street
God occupied the whole universe by selecting the small village Bethlehem as the birth place of our Saviour
God occupied the earth through by sending God’s own son to this earth

But why God didn’t consider Herod’s Palace as Jesus’ birth place even it is safe, hygienic and luxurious

Deliberately God rejected the emperors and empires and decided to be with the space, people and place which are ready to share its resources with God and others

Deliberately God chose the public square for God’s incarnation as Herod and Powerful denied their space for God by going after the Power, money, fame and materialism, the Un-Gods. Poor Joseph and Mary are from the lower strata of the society and they never thought to go to palace as it was a closed space for them. It was not accessible to them. Palace a symbol of colonialism, power, domination, and it was controlled by the sinful forces.

Deliberately God chose the public square for God’s incarnation as hierarchy, exploitation, hypocrisy, and self righteousness took control of the local and public space. The Temple of God was full of corruption, pride and it was driven by theories of business and commerce and later Jesus initiated the process of cleansing.

All thought that God’s incarnation will be through palace or through Jerusalem or in a way at Herod’s palace or through the Jerusalem’s spirituality. But it was not happened as they were controlled and ruled by the sin. But God chose poor Bethlehem and chose Mary and Joseph as they were found their joy in God....God only...

God's occupation in this earth is the story of the transforming engagement of our Redeeming God.............

God Occupied the earth to affirm life...................
God occupied the earth to redeem the whole earth from the hands of the Emperors of the the religion and politics......

Heart Of A Mouse

2011-12-08T18:48:00.001Z

Heart Of A Mouse
From Heart of the Enlightened By Anthony De Mello

A mouse was in constant distress because of its fear of the cat. A magician took pity on it and turned it into a cat. But then it became afraid of the dog.

So the magician turned it into a dog. Then it began to fear the panther, so the magician turned it into a panther. Whereupon it was full of fear for the hunter.

At this point, the magician gave up. He turned it into a mouse again saying, "Nothing I do for you is going to be of any help because you have the heart of a mouse."

Luke 1: 39-45

2011-12-08T09:43:00.007Z

Mary Visits Elizabeth

Readings Luke 1:39-45, Genesis 33, 1 Thess 3

Purpose of our Visits/Journeys is very important
Kuchelan's visit to Krishna is a paradigm to the nature of the visit. This journey affirms the true relationship and it explores the true love

Vasco- da- Gama's visit to India and British colonial journey to India and other countries were intended to colonisation, profit and domination

Purpose of Mary's visit to Elizabeth was a true model of relationship. It is a paradigm for any kind of relationship(inter personal, Inter- community and international relationships)

Jacob's visit to Easau has to be read in this context
Paul's desire to visit Thesselonian Church and vice-versa also to be read seriously

Let me explore three concepts

1. Reach out others. You have a space in my journey of life. It is contrary to today's concept other is not important including family members, friends, and others who are not known to us. Reaching out others is the very basic nature of divine engagements. God always reach out human's lives. When we reach out we will initiate the movement of reconciliation and empowerment

2. Affirm the divine nature of Other Elizabeth cried out with joy and said "You are the mother of Lord". Elizabeth makes a significant christological statement. Elizabeth accept the child who is in the womb of Mary as Lord. Elizabeth accept Lord Jesus and the bearer of Jesus as divine and affirm God's intervention through lowly. We are called to affirm the divine nature of other who are carrying Christ in their imaginations, actions and perceptions(in their womb)

3. Create a blessed Space Their meeting create a blessed sphere or space. Both of them bless each other. Presence of Holy Spirit transforms the space and time. When we meet each other it should create a blessed atmosphere, not violence, enmity, hate, and discrimination. When individuals, faiths, communities, nations meet together it should create a blessed and just space.

John the Baptist's birth is announced

2011-12-02T16:00:00.000Z

In US thousand are joined with the movement occupying the wall street and here in UK many are joined with the anti-capitalist movements. These are the protests against an economic system. Many of the Biblical narrations describe that God always initiates protest against Falsehood and sin. God anoint many to lead such movements in the history. Every gathering in the name of Truine God is a protest protest against the satanic forces. When we gather here to worship it is a protest against the Satanic forces or systems which bring death in the God given universe.

The passage read today describes God’s intervention in the world through the coming of John the Baptist. A spirit filled man with spirit filled way of life. This text can be read in many perspectives. John the Baptist’s birth was announced during the time when there was no prophets. We could find a big gap in the OT prophets and the prophets described in NT. Let me explore three points from this text

Premise of John the Baptist’s Birth

1. Hope of the world was announced through John the Baptist in the context of a worship and prayer. People were praying at the Sanctuary and Zechariah was at the altar. Angel appeared to Zechariah and announced the birth of John the Baptist as Zechariah’s son. Angel said your prayer has been heard.

2. John is placed in a God Fearing Family in a priestly family. Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous before God. They were living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord.

Purpose of the Birth of John the Baptist

1. To bring joy to his family and many. Bringing joy means he will be a channel to hear the word of the Lord. Joy is related with the proclamation of God’s will and bringing deliverance to the world. ...but he bought pain to his parents and followers

2. To create a God - Centred premise. To bring many towards God. To bring the disobedient towards God’s obedience and righteousness. To initiate a movement - a reconciled community. A community reconciled with God and fellow beings.

3. To prepare the way for the Lord. Preparing a way is not an easy task. It is not maintaining the status quo. But it is opening a new beginning. It will definitely disturb the advocates of the status-quo …..luke 3:3-9
inter-testament problem...claims...

God’s Preference

1. He will be great in the sight of the Lord. Means he may not be great in the sight of the present world. Greatness of a person is understood very late by the world. But God will consider him/her as great today. That assurance is the only motive to any person who engage in the preparing the way.

2. Materialism and its pleasures will never influence him. He will not drink wine or strong drink. He will not be influenced by the ‘spirits of this world’.

3. He will be filled with Holy Spirit. A person who is controlled, empowered and guided by Holy Spirit. This holy spirit help him to face all the challenges ahead. Alienation, abandonment, and death.

John the Baptist was in this earth for a short span of time. But he will be able to shake the foundations of the Sin through his preaching of repentance

He spoke the truth, stood for truth and faced the consequence of the truth. He was beheaded by the Emperor.

But he was not recognised by the powerful people but he was accepted by the God fearing people. He was accepted and acknowledged by Lord Jesus Christ. “I tell you the truth, among those born of women, no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist” Mathew 11:11

Who defines me as Good or Rebel?

2011-11-02T13:05:00.000Z

Who defines me as Good or Rebel?

How do we define a person as good or rebel? This is a complicated question. There are two issues underlined in our whole discourses of a good person

a. In our perspective a person agrees or accept our view points is a good person (even it is unjust or inhuman). He/She should be obedient to us(even there is oppression) and should affirm that we are the ‘best person’ he/she ever met.

b. The outward expressions. A good person should be polite, pleasing facial expressions and language, soft words, sugar coated approach etc

Do we consider a person without these qualities as a rebel?

Some people are very good in outward expressions but some others are not. If the outward expressions including sugar coated language is intentional and with a hidden agenda, then there is a problem. There is an image building is going on and ego satisfaction is taking place.

If a person who is ‘rough(it was said and publicised by the agents of rich)’ in outward expressions is branded as ‘rebel’ even his/her intention and actions are just and genuine.

If a sermon, conversation, etc is to please somebody then it is a performance and which is against our conscience.

A wealthy and secured person can ‘behave’ diplomatically. But a person who is a victim of unjust structures can not behave diplomatically.

A person who availed all opportunities or more he/she got can be a ‘polite or humble’ person. How a person can be ‘polite and humble’ who negated all opportunities by the surroundings?

God driven person cannot be ‘humble’ in the midst of oppression
Christ centred person cannot be ‘pleasing’ person in the midst of ‘unjust social and economic’ settings
Spirit filled person cannot be a ‘matured(a person with a matured silence)’ person where there is targeting discrimination and alienation........

A person who consider others as his/her brothers and sisters and see them in suffering could not be a ‘good’ person against the society which is responsible for that.

I cannot smile when my identity is demoralised by the capitalists
I cannot be polite when my views and perceptions are silenced by the rich and powerful
I cannot be diplomatic when oppressors are shouting against me

Yes...I am a ‘rebel’ in the eyes of the unjust and oppressive structures....but I could experience the presence of Christ who love the justice, peace and liberation....I may be a ’rebel’ due to my interventions which is against to the rulers and emperors of today but I believe and affirm that it will pave the way for a better world............

I don’t care the words of the capitalists.....But I will listen my God
They branded me as rebel.......Yes I am a ‘rebel’ against all inhuman and oppressive systems.....
Yes Christ was a ‘rebel’ in the eyes of the political and religious leaders............................

MALAYALAM KAVITHA (POEM) SEMONTE SANKEERTHANAM ANIL PANACHOORAN SAJI PA...

2011-10-31T21:47:00.000Z

Be a Candle for Christ

2011-10-31T10:14:00.003Z

Come To Jesus and Be a Candle for Jesus

A Sermon for Children

Once upon a time there was boy and his name was Tom. There was a small church near to his home. Before going to school he will stand in front of the Church and pray to the Lord “Lord here is your son Tom”. Everyday he used to do this. One day he became sick and could not go to the school and he was lying in his bed. He was alone and he was tired and could not walk. But he experienced the presence of somebody and heard a gentle voice “Tom, here is your friend Jesus Christ”.

Dear Children....walk with Jesus....Jesus will walk with you.....
Walk with Christ is a way of life.....

1. Come to Jesus

Jesus Said, “ Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them...”(Mathew 19: 14)
Listen to Jesus
Respond to God’s call......Samuel.....
Find the purpose of life...the boy who shared his food with others......
Share God’s love with others....when you share it will enrich the life of others.....some where somebody benefited out of it...
Be a committed follower of Christ
Be with God and bring every child to Jesus - Towards a transformed community

Listen to a Person who responded to God’s Calling and brought others to Christ...
Robert Raikes, Gloucester, UK
The movement (1780) started with a school for boys in the slums. Raikes had been involved with those incarcerated at the county poor law (part of the jail at that time) and saw that vice would be better prevented than cured. He saw schooling as the best intervention. The best available time was Sunday as the boys were often working in the factories the other six days. The best available teachers were lay people. The textbook was the Bible, and the originally intended curriculum started with learning to read and then progressed to the catechism

The original schedule for the schools, as written by Raikes was "The children were to come after ten in the morning, and stay till twelve; they were then to go home and return at one; and after reading a lesson, they were to be conducted to Church. After Church, they were to be employed in repeating the catechism till after five, and then dismissed, with an injunction to go home without making a noise

By 1831, Sunday schools in Great Britain were teaching weekly 1,250,000 children, approximately 25 percent of the population. As these schools preceded the first state funding of schools for the general public, they are seen as the forerunners of the current English School System....

2. Be a Candle for Christ

Jesus said, “ I am the Light of the World. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life”(John 8:12)

Jesus said, “ You are the Light of the World.....No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lamp stand, and it gives light to all in the house”(Mathew 5: 14,15)

As moon shine from the light it received from Sun we should receive light from our Saviour and should give light to others

Jesus said, “ ...let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven”(Mathew 5: 16)

Lighted to Lighten

We cannot be a candle if we have darkness within ourselves............

Selfish
Arrogant
Dominant
Violent
Jealous
Self-Righteous

Find the dark areas of this world...........

Poverty
Violence
Inequality
Illiteracy
Addiction
Consumerism
Discriminations

A girl asked to the Candle.....
Candle ..candle....I am so sad....you are melting and in a few minutes you may die......

But Candle said to the sweet girl........

I am here to give myself.....but I could help many in my short span of life by giving light to them

I helped them to read...
I helped them to show their destination.....
I helped them to dispel darkness from their homes.....

By using that light they read Bible and Many Books
By using my light many could walk.......

Be a Candle for one day
Be a Candle for one week
Be a Candle for one month
Be a Candle for one year
Be a Candle for through out your life...

Can we be a candle for sometime....at least one person will walk in the light

Listen to a Person lighted to lighten...

William Carrey,
"Shoemaker by trade, but scholar, linguist and missionary by God's training,"

"EXPECT GREAT THINGS FROM GOD. ATTEMPT GREAT THINGS FOR GOD."
Born in England in 1761

It was in 1793 that Carey went to India. At first his wife was reluctant to go — so Carey set off to go nevertheless, but after two returns from the docks to persuade her again, Dorothy and his children accompanied him. They arrived with a Dr. Thomas at the mouth of the Hooghly in India in November, 1793.

There were years of discouragement (no Indian convert for seven years), debt, disease, deterioration of his wife's mind, death, but by the grace of God — and by the power of the Word — Carey continued and conquered for Christ!

When he died at 73 (1834), he had seen the Scriptures translated and printed into forty languages, he had been a college professor, and had founded a college at Serampore.

He had seen India open its doors to missionaries, he had seen the edict passed prohibiting sati (burning widows on the funeral pyres of their dead husbands), and he had seen converts for Christ.

On his deathbed Carey called out to a missionary friend, "Dr. Duff! You have been speaking about Dr. Carey; when I am gone, say nothing about Dr. Carey — speak about Dr. Carey's God." That charge was symbolic of Carey, considered by many to be a "unique figure, towering above both contemporaries and successors" in the ministry of missions.

A Plot Against Truth.............Mark 6: 14-27

2011-10-29T06:20:00.004+01:00

Mark 6:14-27

"....John had been telling Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife..."

Truth is a beautiful concept but powers of falsehood always tried to kill the truth. History will say the Truth...!

Falsehood may be able to KILL the bearer of the TRUTH....but....Falsehood cannot kill the TRUTH....History will say the Truth...!

John the Baptist was Killed because he told the Truth.....

1. Bearer of Truth was killed because he questioned the unethical relationship

2. Bearer of Truth was killed because he never compromised with the falsehood

3. Bearer of Truth was killed he hated the diplomatic silence

"Keep Quiet...otherwise I will kill you" ....Advocates of falsehood said to the bearer of the Truth....

"I will speak....You can Kill my physical body...but you can not kill my imagination and conscience"..Bearer of the Truth replied...

Herod liked John the Baptist..but he became a mere cowardice....
Life of a Prophet .....or.....A Birthday Promise.....Which is important....?

Truth bearer may be prisoned....
Truth bearer may be Killed.....
Truth cannot be concealed under any iron regime......

Because Truth Comes from God.....

Advocates of the Falsehood may give you Thrones....
Advocates of the Falsehood may give you "Fame"...
Advocates of the Falsehood may give you "Protection"....

"Silence".....Ruler of the Falsehood Said to the Bearer of the Truth...
"I will speak"...Prophet replied....
"Kill him"........and they killed the bearer of the truth.....

But Truth will be disclosed.....Yes..one day it will be proclaimed...

Truth originates from God....
Body of Christ(Church) called to bear Truth in the midst of Falsehood...

LIKE doesn't mean you will bear the Truth.....

A Prayer for Harvest

2011-09-16T16:13:00.000+01:00

A PRAYER FOR HARVEST

John Marshall

Let us not gloat on profits

Let us not gloat on profits,
When children are hungry.
Let us not be concerned with fashion,
When sisters need clothing.
Let us not sit comfortably,
When brothers have no shelter.
Let us not waste food,
When mothers go without.
Let us not take choice for granted,
When fathers search through bins.
Let us not be complacent,
When families live in poverty.
Let us not ignore our neighbours,
When we know they need help.

Let us not forget the one,
Whose blood was shed for us.

Lord, enable us to appreciate that which you have freely given,
for the benefit of all your people.
Amen

http://www.readers.cofe.anglican.org/resource_details.php?75

Worship Order - Theme - Reformation

2011-09-02T18:54:00.001+01:00

Special Order of Worship for Reformation Sunday

Greeting
Leader: Blessed is our God always, now and unto the ages of ages.
All: Amen.
Leader: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God”
All: Amen

Invocation
Leader: Our God, the True Reformer
All : We gather in your name.
Leader: Jesus the Son, the Light of the World
All: We gather in your name.
Leader: Holy Ghost , the Spirit of Truth
All: We gather in your name.

Prayer in Unison

Lord Jesus Christ, thank you - for calling us together in faith and love - to be the reformers of this time. Lord we acknowledge that - reformation is not static- but it is dynamic and a continuous movement. We affirm that you are our God who renews and reforms our lives each moment. Lord we as a faith community - believe that reformation is not traditionalism - but finding the true meaning - of the traditions and practices. Lord we realise that - reformation is not blindly following or rejecting the traditions - but it is creating new traditions and practices which are life affirming. Lord Jesus enable us to create a space for questioning our own spiritual orientations and our faith expressions in the light of your word and deeds. Lord help us to create such spaces today in our families, parishes and the Church. Lord we accept and and affirm that Christ, Bible and liturgy are not to be monopolised by a few but to make available to all without any kind of discrimination. It created a sphere where all can read, study and speak your word. Lord breathe again the new life of your Holy Spirit among us which you showered upon our pioneers of reformation. That we may hear your holy word, Pray in your name, Seek reformation in the Body of Christ . And live more fully the faith we profess.All glory and honour be yours. With the Father, and the Holy Spirit, for ever and ever. Amen.

A Litany

Women: God called us from the darkness towards God’s wonderful light

Men: God help us to be the reformers of today by walking in God’s wonderful light

Women: God, You led us and liberated us. Your way leads us from darkness to light. Through reformation you called us to be the agents of light. You enlightened and filled us with your spirit. You have been with us and will be with us. Strengthen us on our common way of freedom through dynamic reformation

Men: Christ says whoever follows me, will not walk in darkness but have the light of life.

Women: God, you re-formed our imaginations and our walks of life through reforming engagements of our fore-parents

Men: Jesus says, you are the light of the world. Let your light shine before others.

All: Lord help us to re-read your Word. Help us to re-imagine your Word. Help us to re-interpret your Word. Christ, the incarnated Word of life, live in our lives and in our Church. Amen.

Congregational Prayer

Children: Jesus the reformer and true missionary, help us to regain the missionary zeal which made our church to be the first indigenous missionary movement in India.

All: O God , you have broken the silence through the revelation of your Word, Jesus Christ. Help us to be the evangelists of gospel of redemption which affirms justice and peace. Open our eyes that we may see Jesus, the star who dispels our shadows; Open our ears that we might hear the voices of millions. Open our hearts that we may know how to respond to the pain of those who suffer among us. We the the reformed church assembled here together, to shatter the silence and dispel darkness by being the agents of genuine reformation which affirms the royal priesthood of all. Amen

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Children: We thank you for our fore-parents who sowed the seeds of reformation by engaging themselves in reading the Bible, trusting in God in the midst of struggles, and found real power and strength in prayer. Lord, we praise you for giving them enlightenment, wisdom, boldness, vision and new imagination with you.

All: We thank you for our sisters, mothers, brothers and fathers who have shown a new paradigm of sharing by set apart ‘a handful of rice’ for the mission activities of the Church.We thank you for their unconditional and sacrificial sharing, tearful and genuine prayers, initiatives and selfless living for the Church and society that made us to grow in the midst of poverty and nothingness. Lord we thank you for the vision you have given to our pioneers of reformation. They had a vision of a Church which is God centred and reflects and carries the love of God. Lord help us to uphold the values, ethos, traditions and practices of our fore-parents. Help us to carry the movement and dynamism of reformation in your church and society today. Amen

Prayer of Confession

Children: Reformation is an act of Justice, it unveiled falsehood, it is a journey to affirm life.
Leader: “And when He comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgement”. Lord we lost of the consciousness of sin. Lord we forgot to call for justice, we speak lies not truth, we conceive mischief and give birth to iniquity ( John 16;8, Isaiah 59:4).
All: Lord Have Mercy

Children: Reformation destroyed the empires of evil and its images from the life of the Church.
Leader: “the Kingdom of God is among you”. Lord, we accept the fact that we created our own empires and created new golden calves and we worship these ungods. We sidelined you
( Luke17:21, Ex:32)
All: Lord Have Mercy

Children: Reformation redefined the power structures and affirmed that we are one and equal in Christ.
Leader: “And the Word became flesh and lived among us,and we have seen his glory, the glory as a father’s only son, full of grace and truth”. You came down from heaven. It was an act of reformation. But we look for the powers and pleasures of this world. We created divisions in the name of caste, gender, class, wealth (John 1: 17)
All: Lord, we know that reformation is a journey towards a community where Christ lives, rules. But today we rule our empire and the justice is of this world , not yours. Reformation is a journey towards the discourses of life. It opened the Bible and liturgy and thereby democratised the very communication of God. Today we lost the Bible which our fore-parents opened and given to us. We failed in our pursuit to know the depth of our liturgy. But we have power, wealth and the the masters of this world. Lord Have Mercy, Lord Have Mercy, Lord Have Mercy

Leader: Let us hear Christ’s promise of pardon:
"Peace I leave with you: my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid."

All: Thanks, praise and glory be to God.

Leader: Let us hear Christ’s promise of pardon:
"Peace I leave with you: my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid." Today salvation has come among us through God’s forgiveness. “For the son of Man came to seek out and to save the Lost”

All: Thanks, praise and glory be to God.

Prayer of Commitment

Leader: Let us look to Jesus, the perfector of our faith.

Leader: Jesus Christ, we look upon your cross.
We come to you and stand before your cross.
Your cross speaks to us cost of commitment
Your cross reveals the cost of faith and engaging ourselves in the movement of reformation
Your cross points the way from death to life, because you defeated death for ever.
Your cross reveals that there is pain, rejection and alienation in the movement of reformation
Your resurrection calls us to rejoice in a joy that no one can take from us.
Lord Jesus Christ, you are the resurrection and the life. We worship you, dedicate ourselves for the dynamic reformation which we would like to initiate in our all walks of life

Prayer of Intercession

Leader: Let us pray to the God, through the Son and in the Holy Spirit, for the needs of our
church, our world and ourselves. We pray without ceasing for the inevitability of the movement of reformation today
All: Lord, have mercy on us and hear us

Leader: We pray without ceasing for the Laity, Evangelists , Clergy , Bishops,Saffragan Metropolitan, Metropolitan, Valiya Metropolitan, organisations, decision making bodies, Diocese, particularly North America and Europe Diocese and all the people who serve the church, that they may persevere in the task of reformation
All: Christ, have mercy on us and hear us

Leader: That all faithful members of our Church might witness to the gospel and to the ethos of reformation, turning away from all that is destructive, to embrace justice, peace and solidarity.
All: Lord, have mercy on us and hear us

Leader: For the poor, the oppressed, victims of war and of violence. For the broken hearted and for those who are hated and maltreated. We pray for the people in Africa who are in utter starvation.
All: Christ, have mercy on us and hear us

Leader: We pray that the Lord may hear and respond to our constant prayers, through Christ
our Lord.
All: Amen

Final Blessing

Leader 1: May God bless you with a restless discomfort about easy answers, half-truths and superficial relationships, so that you may seek truth boldly and love deep within your heart and engage yourself for reformation.

Leader2: May God bless you with holy anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that you may tirelessly work for reformation, justice, freedom, and peace among all people.

Leader 3: May God bless you with the gift of tears to shed with those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, or the loss of all that they cherish, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and transform their pain into joy.

All: May God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you really can make a difference in this world, so that you are able, with God's grace, to do what others claim cannot be done.Amen.

(Notes: Preferably there should be three leaders for this worship. One Sunday School Student, one male and one female.)

Prepared by
Rev.Sajeev Thomas(Vicar, St.James MTC, London)

The Fourfold Franciscan Blessing

2011-07-25T19:29:00.000+01:00

I Got it through facebook...thought to share with you all.....

May God bless you with a restless discomfort about easy answers, half-truths and superficial relationships, so that you may seek truth boldly and love deep within your heart.

May God bless you with holy anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that you may tirelessly work for justice, freedom, and peace among all people.

May God bless you with the gift of tears to shed with those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, or the loss of all that they cherish, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and transform their pain into joy.

May God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you really can make a difference in this world, so that you are able, with God's grace, to do what others claim cannot be done.

Created God.....

2011-06-27T18:07:00.004+01:00

CREATED GOD

Reflection on Exodus 32

This happens during their journey towards Canaan, the promised land. Israelites liberated from the bondage of slavery and exploitation.

1. God is Misunderstood

a. They were trying to create a God
b. They were looking for a ‘simple’ God.One who act or walk with them - God of convenience
c. They have a parochial understanding of God
d. They were not ready to wait for God’s intervention through Moses.

2. Aaron and His Theology and Actions(v.2-6)

a. He acts according to the demands of the people. He was a person one who appointed by God to act according to the will of God. A spoke person of God. Aaron was called by God to guide the people of God according to God’s will.But here he guides the people according to their demand....

b.Aaron - A compromising leader. Uncompromising stand for God’s will - how do we respond? A compromising Church

c.Aaron - Theologically weak person. When I say Theologically weak person, he was suppose to teach the people in a matured understanding. A Theologically weak person or community cannot counter the issues faced by the society and would not be able give proper theological guidence.Only a matured faith person/ community can guide the community.

3. Majority may not be right - Majority say ‘make God for us. Voice of majority is under question - Majority may be wrong. True doctrines, spirituality, decisions ..etc have to be assessed not by majority but by God’s will and justice

4. False worship is exposed (v.4-6) What is true worship? Almighty God is sidelined and the golden calf is worshipped. Worship has to be seen according its nature, emphasis, space for God’s justice and righteousness. A God for namesake. Just for namesake.......

5. Failure of the people(v.17-18). People may think that our voice is is the voice of the victory...but it is not...

6. Moses
a. A true mediator - Pleading for the people (v.29,30, 11-13)
b. Uncompromising Leader. Seems to be rude (v.19, 21). Uncompromising stand against the falsehood and sin.
c. A leader one who demands for the blessing of the nation. Angry God changed God’s mind and decided to exclude the Israelites from blessing and decided to make Moses as a great nation. But Moses politely pleading to God to change God’s mind. Moses had a vision of a blessed community instead of becoming a blessed individual. He realised that blessing to the nation brings blessing to him too.

7. God and God’s nature
a. Repenting God (v.14)
b. A God one who intervenes in the midst of falsehood and sin(v.7)
c. God of Judgement(v.35)

Do we still create new Gods....?
Are we move according the demands of the majority...?
Our voices seems to be the voice of the victory...But....?
Courage enough to oppose sin and falsehood..?

‘I(God) will change my(God’s) mind

2011-06-13T18:24:00.003+01:00

I(God) will change my(God's mind)
Reflection on Jeremiah 18:1-11

This text describes the very nature of God

1. God Moulds us according to God’s will(v.5,6)
2. God will rework the spoiled life and makes a new life l(1-3)
3. God never compromise with evil(11)
4. God initiates repentance(v.11)

God is portrayed as the potter and Israel is described as clay. When we read this text today in the place of Israel Church is placed as clay.

Does God will change God’s mind? This text says YES

What will be the reasons?

1.Repentance (Turning away from evil) - God will change God’s mind if a community/nation turns away from evil. God decided to punish a nation but they turned away from evil and this movement resulted in the change of mind of God. Curse of God can be avoided through repentance. The nation was ruled and controlled by evil but later the whole hearted repentance of the nation led them towards a new direction. It was a journey form death to life. True repentance always guides us towards God’s Reign.

2. Doing Evil (Turning away from God) - The nation can be a blessing to many if the nation lives with God and life. Butt nation may move towards death if they disobey God and do the evil. Choosing evil is choosing death and God will change God’s mind if the nation do evil.

There are two options;
a. Leave the satanic forces and embrace God’s Kingdom(Choose Life)
b. Evil is more attractive in many ways...! Leave God’s blessings and choose death(Choose Death)

Option number one is very challenging and sacrificial. But option number two seems to be attractive and easy but it is the ultimate death.
We cannot cheat God. God is an observing and watchful God. God accepts true repentance and rejects the falsehood.

YES.....GOD WILL CHANGE GOD’S MIND........

Wisdom

2011-06-02T22:46:00.003+01:00

How we can measure wisdom.....?

By Certificates....?
By Degrees....?
By Dress...?
By Language...?
By Sophisticated life...?
By Polished words...?
By wealth.....?
By Jobs.....?
By Social Status......?
By Neutral strategies...?
By Diplomacy...?
By material goods.......?
By Power...?

Please tell me...how we can measure wisdom...?

The Most Important Body Part

2011-06-01T16:18:00.002+01:00

The Most Important Body Part

My mother used to ask me what is the most important part of the body? Through the years I would take a guess at what I thought was the correct answer.

When I was younger, I thought sound was very important to us as humans, so I said, "My ears, Mommy."

She said, "No. Many people are deaf. But you keep thinking about it and I will ask you again soon."

Several years passed before she asked me again. Since making my first attempt, I had contemplated the correct answer.

So this time I told her, "Mommy, sight is very important to everybody, so it must be our eyes."

She looked at me and told me, "You are learning fast, but the answer is not correct because there are many people who are blind."

Stumped again, I continued my quest for knowledge and over the years, Mother asked me a couple more times and always her answer was, "No. But you are getting smarter every year, my child."

Then last year, my grandpa died. Everybody was hurt. Everybody was crying. Even my father cried. I remember that especially because it was only the second time I saw him cry. My Mom looked at me when it was our turn to say our final good-bye to Grandpa.

She asked me, "Do you know the most important body part yet, my dear?"

I was shocked when she asked me this now. I always thought this was a game between her and me.

She saw the confusion on my face and told me, "This question is very important. It shows that you have really lived in your life. For every body part you gave me in the past, I have told you were wrong and I have given you an example why. But today is the day you need to learn this important lesson."

She looked down at me as only a mother can. I saw her eyes well up with tears.

She said, "My dear, the most important body part is your shoulder."

I asked, "Is it because it holds up my head?"

She replied, "No, it is because it can hold the head of a friend or a loved one when they cry. Everybody needs a shoulder to cry on sometime in life. I only hope that you have enough love and friends that you will always have a shoulder to cry on when you need it."

Then and there I knew the most important body part is not a selfish one.

It is sympathetic to the pain of others.

Spiritual Story by Unknown

I am only a medium...........A Story....

2011-05-30T22:23:00.002+01:00

There lived in Nepal a person named Prashanta. Prashanta was very skilled in computers and made a lot of useful software that he used to give to his co-workers for free. His co-workers recognized his skill and used to praise him very highly, but Prashanta never seemed to be affected by their praise and would continue his simple ways.

One day there was a crisis in the IT department. They desperately needed a software for extracting images from their old database and inserting into the new one. All of them suggested Prashanta to make it and he calmly agreed and set about making it. The finished product was very professional looking and worked wonderfully.

Everyone was pleased with the software and highly praised Prashanta, but he remained unaffected by their praise and would calmly thank them. Seeing his nonchalance a friend asked him how he could be so calm and unaffected when even the CEO himself was very pleased and excited about the software. "Don't you feel proud to have created such a fine piece of software?", asked his friend.

To his query Prashanta replied, "I am not the doer, I am simply the medium."

The girl who silenced the world for 5 minutes

2011-05-29T22:05:00.000+01:00

Rend Our Hearts

2011-05-25T12:42:00.005+01:00

Open Our Hearts

Joel 2:12-17

v. 12) Yet even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
(v. 13) rend your hearts and not your clothing. Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and relents from punishing.
(v. 14) Who knows whether he will not turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind him, a grain-offering and a drink-offering for the Lord, your God?
(v. 15) Blow the trumpet in Zion; sanctify a fast; call a solemn assembly;
(v. 16) gather the people. Sanctify the congregation; assemble the aged; gather the children, even infants at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her canopy.
(v. 17) Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep.
Let them say, “Spare your people, O Lord, and do not make your heritage a mockery, a byword among the nations. Why should it be said among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?”

The whole nation is facing a threat and God makes a call of repentance. These verses shows the depth of the nation’s sinfulness. God’s people have to come back to God by putting the values of the market(world) back and should come towards the merciful and just God.

These verses have to be read in the context of climate change, poverty, wealth accumulation, nuclear threats, military invasions, innocent killings, alienating the communities and individuals in the name of caste, colour, religion and gender so on. Church is loosing its credibility and witness and could not resist the penetration of evil in its basic realms. The so-called agents of God’s reign are armless to resist the evil and death which penetrates in to the life of the world. Church and its followers conformed to the world and leading a very selfish, passive and neutral life. There are new theologies and spiritual movements which support and encourage this passive and other worldly life which is coming up. Life is under threat and world is facing challenges of falsehood. In this context we should read this text.

Return to God

Threat to life is near and return to God is essential to protect and nurture life. Death is near and God asks us return to the Godhead, one who affirm life. Return to God means giving up the values of this world. This text says that we should return to God with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.
with fasting - focusing to God
with weeping - accepting the failures
with mourning - the magnitude of of our grief and state of being
While returning to God we express our willingness to give up the values of death and our faithfulness towards to affirm and enhance the life. It is a journey from hypocratic life to a transparent life. God says that we should rend our hearts. Open our hearts in front of our God the one who is merciful and gracious to accept our short comings and limitations.

Sanctify the Congregation

God asks to call an assembly and to sanctify the congregation. Repentance and the process of sanctification is not an individualistic and emotional experience but it is a community experience. God wants the whole congregation has to sanctify through a process of repentance. Nobody is exempted from this process of sanctification. Aged, youngsters, infants, brides, bridegrooms, priests, all should undergo this process of sanctification. Here lies the role of the agents of God’s reign. We are supposed to make some noises so that people should realise that the forces of death is near to destroy the life. Today we should open our ears to the voices of the environmentalists, sociologists, theologians, economists, politicians, who advocates the life and to resist the forces of death. There are so many trumpets that warns the ruin of the whole universe. It is a call to join in the process of sanctification.

Be the Agents of Reconciliation

Priests should weep in front of God for reconciliation and forgiveness. Truth, justice and fear of the Lord are alien to the nation and the priests of the nation should come to the presence of God and should weep for the nation. Today the priesthood is defined and interpreted in a wider way. Pray for the nation and the people so that they may experience God’s mercy. The dangerous thing is that the priests of today are weeping for power, money and fame. The agents of reconciliation are taken the side of death and annihilation. We lost tears from our eyes because we consciously chose to be with the falsehood and lost the signs and values of life from our hearts, minds and spirituality. Millions are struggling to sustain their life but the so-called leaders of the nations and churches are busy with discussions to destroy and annihilate others in different means for their personal agenda and aspirations. Do we have the eagerness to be the agents of reconciliation by weeping for others?

Prayer

Lord help us to fast so that we should deny the ungods of today
Lord sanctify our minds, perceptions, leaders, church and our families
Lord helps us to regain the values and signs of life
Lord helps us to turn to you by rendering our hearts...Amen

Temptation

2011-05-24T21:31:00.001+01:00

A group of devils were trying to enter the soul of a holy man who lived near Cairo; they had already tempted him with Nubian women, Egyptian food, Libyan treasure, but nothing had worked.

One day, Satan passed and saw his servants’ efforts.

- You’re hopeless – said Satan. – You haven’t used the only technique no one can resist; I’ll teach you.

He went over to the holy man and whispered in his ear:

- Remember the priest who studied under you? He’s just been made Bishop of Alexandria.

Immediately, the holy man was filled with rage, and blasphemed against God’s injustice.

- The next time, use this temptation – said Satan to his subjects.

“Men can resist almost everything, but they are always jealous of the victory of a fellow man.”

Acknowledgement:http://paulocoelhoblog.com/

Justice+Truth = Forgiveness

2011-05-24T14:11:00.006+01:00

Jeremiah 5:1

“Run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, look around and take note! Search its squares and see if you can find one person who acts justly and seeks truth- so that I may pardon Jerusalem”.

Justice and truth and its relation with God’s forgiveness and redemption are the important themes of this verse. God is lamenting about a community which lost truth and justice. This verse speaks about the utter corruption of the God’s people. Prophet is asked to search for the people who upholds truth and justice so that nation would experience forgiveness and liberation from God

God is searching for the people who acts justly. Justice is more than a value and it is a way of life. One who acts justly could not discriminate anybody(on the basis of colour, caste, class, gender, wealth, religion). The people and community acts justly always fight against injustice and falsehood. They search for equality and they engage themselves for the needs of the others. When we act justly we are with our God. Justice could not differentiate between our needs and the needs of others. One who acts justly cannot be a ruler but he/she will be a cotraveller to others. Justice never dominates but it empowers the weak and marginalised. Justice is find in living relationship not in lethargic/ formal/ market relationship. Justice cannot be imposed through military invasions. But it can be possible through the power of love. Justice is a vision. Justice is dream. Justice is a way of life. Justice is a culture. Justice lives in the communities that fear the Lord and serve the Lord.

God is searching for the people who seeks truth. Truth is a journey and it is a process of realisation. Truth is revealed in relationship. Truth cannot be silent in the midst of falsehood and injustice. When truth is denied or suppressed or silenced God is denied/suppressed/silenced. But truth cannot be suppressed or silenced for long time. It will be revealed or the ultimate victory is with the truth. Seeking truth is seeking Godhead. Seeking truth is denying the falsehood. There will be struggle in the search of truth. Journey of truth never ends. It is a movement and it keeps on moving. Truth is found only to those who seek and look forward for the redemption of others. Truth is not an abstract value but it is a living and realising experience. Truth cannot be found in any colonial and dominating premises.

God’s forgiveness is received by embracing justice and truth. Liberation and redemption is a reality when we accept justice and truth as part and parcel of our life . God’s forgiveness is not an individualistic experience but it is a spontaneous gift from God when we act justly and seek truth

Prayer Lord make us as a community that act justly and seeks truth in the world where injustice and falsehood dominate so that we may experience God’s forgiveness. Helps us to support the justice and truth in our daily living

Christ - An Empowering (alien) co traveller

2011-05-19T17:17:00.004+01:00

Luke:24:18-35

Christ - An Empowering (alien) co traveller

This is a post resurrection narrative and it explains how the Church is united in Christ. Two things are very important;

1. Almost all post resurrection narratives describe the intervention of Christ in empowering and bringing back the dejected and scattered disciples to make the Church as a united and empowered community

2. Scattered disciples were united around the divine meals.

This text also portrays Christ’s intervention in bringing back the withdrawn disciples towards the ministry and fellowship of Christ. Sequence of this narration is very much interesting. Disciples were moving back, a process of empowerment(teaching, new discourses, a divine meal), community experience has brought back and the disciples started a new journey/back to the previous premise.

Some reflections on this passages are given below

1. A Backward Journey “Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus..”(v.13) Two disciples who were with Christ once came from Emmaus to join with the community of Christ. But now they were going away from the community of Christ by moving from Jerusalem to Emmaus. A change in the premise of their vocation and identity. Once they came out of this premise and found themselves with Christ and the Community of Christ. But the crucifixion and death of Christ forced them to start a backward journey. They were not ready to believe and accept the truth of the resurrection that made them a dejected community which travels away from Jesus’ community. A community which deny the resurrection experience will not be able to make a dynamic and forward journey towards God’s justice, love and fellowship.

2. Unrevealed/ Unrecognised Christ “...but their eyes were kept from recognising him”(v.16). Christ is not revealed himself to the disciples. In most of the post resurrection narratives we could find an unrevealed/unrecognised Christ. Appearance to Mary, Peter were the other examples. The two disciples were very much dejected and their words and body language shows that they were lost the fellowship and faith in their Master as they realised that Christ was died and they were scattered. But Christ was moving with them and started a discourse which helped them to realise Christ in its fullness. God revealed in Christ never leave us alone in our set backs and failures but move with the dejected and discouraged communities. Any community or individuals who experience the set backs/persecution/discouragement/discrimination should realise that Christ is moving in the journey which we may not recognise and reveal in our journeys.

3. Christ - A (nearest and dearest) Cotraveller “While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them...”(v.15) Christ was so close with the two disciples in their discussions. This co-traveller had a few qualities;

a. listening co-traveller

b. One who initiate discourse with the fellow travellers

c. A co-traveller one who teaches the fellow travellers

d. An empowering and encouraging fellow traveller

Christ is a fellow traveller one who knows the pain and agonies of the individuals and communities who are/were dejected, discriminated and scattered. The co-traveller keep on in the discourse to empower the disciples. The discourses was enriching and empowering.

4.Christ - An Alien Co traveller “ As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, Stay with us....”(v.28,29) These disciples were not recognised their co-traveller as Christ. But they welcomed the co-traveller.In a way they welcomed an alien and given him the fellowship and timely rest. Welcoming the co-travellers even though they are alien and unknown is equivalent to welcoming Christ. Welcoming other irrespective of caste, colour, religion, gender, is a challenge to all of us as welcoming others to our fellowship is equivalent to welcome Christ. Christ is hidden in ‘other’. Extending our fellowship to others and sharing our food with others is a Kingdom experience even today.

5. Opened Eyes and Christ Recognised “When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognised him, and he vanished from their sight”(v.30,31). Eyes of the disciples were opened and they realised that the person who travelled with them was their Lord. This realisation happened after a long journey and a fellowship meal.The discourses, mutual relationship, and a sharing meal, all helped towards this process of realisation. The dinner they ate together was a sacramental meal. The words” he took the bread”,”blessed”, “broke it”, and “gave”, are shows that it was a Lord’s table. Christ was revealed through the Lord’s table. Their perception changed, their faith in Christ got a new dimension and they realised the real presence of Christ in the meal with alien Christ.

6. A New Journey towards the Jesus’ Community “That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together”(v. 33). When the disciples realised and recognised the risen Christ, both of them started their new journey at the same hour. Their body language, words and emotions was interesting. A dejected community transformed in to a dynamic and living community. Resurrection experience always transform the community into a living community. Church should experience this transformation in its everyday life. Ressurrection experience helps us to start a new journey, journey towards the community of Jesus. This was a journey with new vision, mission and discourses. This journey will be a journey towards a new premise which is life affirming

Ressurrection is a living truth. It is an energising truth. It is a truth that helps us to grow in the fellowship with Christ. Backward journey can be a mission and dynamic journey when we would be able to realise the risen Christ in our daily living. We are called to be an empowered and energised community.

Life is like a Homemake Cake

2011-05-12T18:27:00.000+01:00

Spiritual Story by Unknown

A little boy is telling his Grandma how "everything" is going wrong: school, family problems, and severe health problems in the family. Meanwhile, Grandma is baking a cake. She asks her grandson if he would like a snack, which of course he does.

"Here, have some cooking oil," she says. "Yuck" says the boy.

"Then how about a couple raw eggs?"

"Gross, Grandma!" he replies.

"Would you prefer some flour then? Or maybe some baking soda?" she asks.

"Grandma, those are all yucky!" he replied.

To which Grandma replies: "Yes, all those things seem to taste bad all by themselves. But when they are mixed together in the right amounts and the right manner, they make a delicious cake!"

She continued, "God works the same way. Many times we wonder why he would let us go through such bad and difficult times. But God knows that when He puts these things all in His order, they always work for good! We just have to trust Him and, eventually, they will all make something wonderful!"

John 21:1-19

2011-05-11T16:20:00.009+01:00

Risen Christ's encounter with withdrawn disciples

John 20:1-19 is an interesting text in many respects.

1. This is a post-resurrection narration in John. But in Luke(Luke 5:1-11) it is described as an event which happened in the early part of Jesus' ministry.

2. This text describes many topics like,

Withdrawal of the disciples

Disciples' fishing after a long time

Failure of the disciple

Jesus' appearance and his words

A good fishing at the end

Peter's reaction

A divine breakfast fellowship at the sea shore.

3. There were only seven disciples. It describes that disciples were scattered after the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

4. This text portrays the fact that Christ is ready to accept a community which was a failure. Disciples were not courage enough to face the cross of Christ so they were ran away from Christ. They were ended up in their previous vocation. Even in that vocation too they were a failure. They could not catch any fish.

Reflections are given below

1. Dynamism of ResurrectionWe could find the real encounter between a dejected community and risen Christ

a). A Dejected Community. Seven disciples gathered at the shore of Tiberias symbolises a community which is dejected, aimless and they were controlled by fear. They were afraid of the powers of death and they were wanted to avoid the challenges of the crucified Christ. They were withdrawn and their body language, words and the aimless journey shows that they were really dejected and in despair.

b).Risen Christ. Christ symbolises a person who was overruled the thorns of the death and defeated agents of death.

This encounter transfers the real dynamism of resurrection to the dejected and withdrawn community.

2. Vision and Words of the Leader. “Simon Peter said to them, I am going fishing. They said to him, We will go with you”(V.3). Words and decision of Peter had a great influence on other disciples. The leaders of every community had a great role in forming the vision and mission of the community which he/she represent. Their words and vision have a vital role in moulding the vision and mission of others.

3. Realisation of the “nakedness”. “When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea”(V.7). Peter realised that he is naked and is not ready to face is Lord. Encounter with Christ is the occasion to realise the nakedness of our life. Each and every worship teaches that God is Holy and we are not.

4. The net full of Fish. A dejected community need an empowering experience to retain their confidence and self respect. Moses, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Paul and many other had this experience. A dejected community had a good achievement and that made them together and more powerful. They were come out of their fear, parochialism and works together for a common cause, bring the fish to sea shore.

5. Invitation of Jesus. “Come and have breakfast”(v.12). Jesus prepared breakfast for them and extended invitation to the disciples. Jesus’ invitation was not only to take part in the breakfast but it was a call towards the fellowship of his Kingdom. It was an invitation to reinstate the fellowship and togetherness. This invitation helped the disciples to come out of their fear of death.

6. A Divine Breakfast. Jesus transformed an ordinary breakfast into a Divine breakfast. Jesus prepared the food, he prepared the table and he served the food(v.13). This divine breakfast still continues through the Holy Communion. In every meal Christ reveal himself to the Church.

But the questions are:

1. Do we have the dynamism of resurrection today?

2. Are we a dejected and withdrawn community?

3. Do we empower others trough our words and actions?

4. Are we have the negativism in our words and actions?

5. Do we have the courage to accept our ‘nakedness’?

6. Do we see the signs of empowerment in the history today?

7. Even today Jesus extends his invitation to take part in the meal with him...where are we?

8. Do we have the eagerness to take part in the divine meal prepared by our Lord?

Keep Driving

2011-05-04T11:17:00.000+01:00

Keep Driving

One day a young lady was driving along with her father. They came upon a storm, and the young lady asked her father, What should I
do?"
He said "keep driving". Cars began to pull over to the side, the storm was
Getting worse.

"What should I do." The young lady asked?

"Keep driving," her father replied.

On up a few feet, she noticed that eighteen wheelers were also pulling over. She told her dad, "I must pull over, I can barely see ahead. It is Terrible, and everyone is pulling over!"

Her father told her, "Don't give up, just keep driving!"

Now the storm was terrible, but she never stopped driving, and soon she
Could see a little more clearly. After a couple of miles she was again on
dry land, and the sun came out.

Her father said, "Now you can pull over and get out."

She said "But why now?"

He said "When you get out, look back at all the people that gave up and are
Still in the storm, because you never gave up your storm is now over."

Spiritual Story by Malladi Venkata Krishna Murthy

A six-year-old girl writes a letter to God. And the Archbishop of Canterbury answers

2011-04-29T22:26:00.006+01:00

There’s a charming article in today’s(22-4-2011) Times by Alex Renton, a non-believer who sends his six-year-old daughter Lulu to a Scottish church primary school. Her teachers asked her to write the following letter: “To God, How did you get invented?” The Rentons were taken aback: “We had no idea that a state primary affiliated with a church would do quite so much God,” says her father. He could have told Lulu that, in his opinion, there was no God; or he could have pretended that he was a believer. He chose to do neither, instead emailing her letter to the Scottish Episcopal Church (no reply), the Presbyterians (ditto) and the Scottish Catholics (a nice but theologically complex answer). For good measure, he also sent it to “the head of theology of the Anglican Communion, based at Lambeth Palace” – and this was the response:

Dear Lulu,

Your dad has sent on your letter and asked if I have any answers. It’s a difficult one! But I think God might reply a bit like this –

‘Dear Lulu – Nobody invented me – but lots of people discovered me and were quite surprised. They discovered me when they looked round at the world and thought it was really beautiful or really mysterious and wondered where it came from. They discovered me when they were very very quiet on their own and felt a sort of peace and love they hadn’t expected.

Then they invented ideas about me – some of them sensible and some of them not very sensible. From time to time I sent them some hints – specially in the life of Jesus – to help them get closer to what I’m really like.

But there was nothing and nobody around before me to invent me. Rather like somebody who writes a story in a book, I started making up the story of the world and eventually invented human beings like you who could ask me awkward questions!’

And then he’d send you lots of love and sign off.

I know he doesn’t usually write letters, so I have to do the best I can on his behalf. Lors of love from me too.

+Archbishop Rowan

“Well done, Rowan!” was the reaction of Alex Renton’s mother.

Courtesy: http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/damianthompson/

(This artcle belongs to Damian Thompson : please visit this blog for details)

Boasting..............

2011-04-28T10:47:00.006+01:00

"Thus says the Lord: Do not let the wise boast in their wisdom, do not let the mighty boast in their might, do not let the wealthy boast in their wealth: but let those who boast in this, that they understand and know me, that I am the Lord; I act with steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth, for in these things I delight, says the Lord"(Jeremiah 9: 23-24)

Prophet Jeremiah talks on behalf of God and teaches that we should boast ourselves in knowing a LOVING, JUST and RIGHTEOUS God.

Read the text in our Context...............where power, wisdom, and wealth play a vital role in our life.

We are proud in our might and power.................
We are proud in our wisdom..................
We are proud in our wealth.............................

We claim that we are the best.....
We relate our identity with power, wisdom and wealth...............

BUT GOD SAYS....

Let the mighty and powerful protect the powerless and weak......
Don't dominate....
Don't exploit others with our power and might.....

Let the wise make use of their wisdom for the empowerment of others...........
Don't be arrogant in our wisdom....

Let the rich share their wealth with the poor and needy...........
Don't carry capitalistic and exploitative values..............

AGAIN GOD SAYS......................

Don't boast in power, wisdom and wealth..............
But let us be proud to be the Children of God............
But let us find our happiness in KNOWING GOD.............
Let us boast ourselves in UNDERSTANDING GOD.........

If God is a Loving God.....
We should be boast in Love.....as we are not to perpetuate violence but love....

If God is a Just God.....
We should be boast in Justice......as we are called to be just.................

If God is a Righteous God.......
We should be boast in righteousness....as without righteousness there is no Kingdom of God....

AGAIN AND AGAIN GOD SAYS.......................

God always delight in Love, Justice and Righteousness.....

Knowing God is a faith journey.....it is a process....it is in relationship
Dialogue, sharing, reconciliation, mutual respect, non-hierarchical relationship are the virtues of this relationship.........................

Understanding God is a faith expression.... it is living....action...it is in life....
Our witness reveals our understanding in God.......

Let us boast in Knowing God
Let us boast in Understanding God
Relate our identity with God......
Relate our identity with Love, Justice and Righteousness

Plot against the Risen Lazarus

2011-04-27T08:16:00.004+01:00

The Plot to Kill Lazarus

" When the great crowd of the Jews learned that he(Jesus) was there, they came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death as well, since it was on account of him that many of the Jews were deserting and were believing in Jesus"(John 12:9-11)

This is an interesting passage. A group of people searching for the risen Lazarus. The simple reason was his witness brought many towards the premise of God's Kingdom(Christ). The religious leaders were engaged themselves in the mission of annihilation. They were looking for destroying all evidence or marks of Love of God through Christ. In a way they were in fear due to the life and ministry of Jesus. Life and ministry of Jesus enlightened the minds and hearts and thereby many abandoned the oppressive, ritualistic and lifeless religiosity. People started to choose life and they were empowered to deny the evil. Jesus created a premise which was just, life giving, and edifying in the midst of evil. So the forces of the evil wanted to destroy Christ and the symbols of Christ's life giving mission.

1. Christ and Forces of Evil(Death) Christ was a threat to the forces of death as he inaugurated a new world which was different from the the existing one. Naturally the advocates of the present system will be in danger and they will definitely plan to kill the advocates of the New World.

2. Risen Lazarus(symbol of life) and Forces of Death. Risen Lazarus was a threat to them because he was the witness to the life giving and life affirming mission of God. The forces of evil started a conspiracy not only to kill Jesus but also to kill the bearers of the God's righteous and life giving Kingdom

3. Powers of Death and their agenda. Powers of death were more concerned about their private agenda including power, profit than life, justice, love and God's reign. Their discourses and gatherings were centred around these agenda.................

Even today this plot is continuing....................
Evil forces are busy in the plot against the world of love, justice, equality, and life....
Evil forces wants to secure their power even by killing the advocates of life.......
If Church bear the witness of Risen Christ....Church is also under threat
They (evil) were in search of Christ and Risen Lazarus(Risen Church)

Where we place ourselves...............
With evil forces .....?
With Christ and Risen Lazarus......
What is the content of our discourses.............discourses of life or death..?
What is the intention of our gatherings.......is it a plot against others..?

Learn from Anna.....

2011-04-26T16:01:00.010+01:00

Anna the Prophet.........

Luke:2:36ff "There was a also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, then as widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshipped there with fasting and prayer night and day. At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem"

Anna the prophet is a true model to a God-Centred Life

1. She never left the temple (God) A very strong imagery of a God centred life. Temple has to be seen as a symbol of a place which is ruled by God. Today I would like to read it a She never left God

2.She worshipped God Worshipping God means acknowledging God's holiness. Worship is search of our identity. Worship is a process which we initiate a discourse with God.Anna had a good and healthy relationship with God.

3. She Worshipped God with fasting Fasting is nothing but a counter expression of faith in the midst of a consumeristic way of living.We discipline ourselves in a world of abundance and luxury. A counter living

4. She worshipped God with fasting and Prayer She prayed to God. That means she denied the ungods of the day. She was ready to proclaim the God in the midst of the forces of death.

5. She worshipped God with fasting and prayer night and day Her relationship with God was continuous and long lasting. It was not a use and throw approach.

6. She was looking for the redemption of Jerusalem She had a dream. She had dream of a liberated world, redeemed world. She had vision...imagination...engagement......

She could see the liberator at the Temple of God....Because she was moving with God.....

Self Auditing

2011-04-26T15:18:00.004+01:00

A Thought on Lent

Lent is an experience....
Lent is a new way of living....
Lent is a counter culture.....
Lent is a confrontation...........

Fifty days lent is a season of auditing.....

What to audit...?
Our Life......What we received from God are the income.......What we have done for God are the Expenditure. Time, money, responsibilities, talents and other gifts are included in the income. Our attitude towards others, sharing, sacrifice, and readiness to bear cross for Christ will come under the expenditure

Who is the auditor?
We ourselves.......all family members.....

Where to sit........?
Come to the premise of Crucified Christ.....
Look at the Cross.....
Have a look at the mutilated body of Christ.......
Sit under the cross.....

Where to present the audited accounts...?
Call the General Body Meeting.......Family Prayer....
Present the accounts....
Present the Balance Sheet......
Let the General Body Members speak..........

What is the nature of your account...?

Just say to God.........

Christ is Risen....He is Risen Indeed

2011-04-26T11:34:00.006+01:00

Resurrection of Jesus Christ has to be understood as the resurrection of a faith community. Church was born out of the resurrection of Christ. Worship is the affirmation of the faith in the RISEN CHRIST....

Early Christians used to wish each other that ......Christ is Risen....Christ is Risen Indeed............

Read Mathew 28:1-15, Mark;16:1-8, Luke:24 1-12, John 20:1-18

Resurrection of Jesus was the victory of the defeat..............
Resurrection of Jesus teaches that there is life after death................
Resurrection reveals that the victory of the powers of death is not ultimate and final......

1. Revealed or entombed Truth. Resurrection of Jesus reveals the fact that truth cannot be concealed for a long time.

2. Resurrection experience was a sending forth. Resurrection experience is described as a sending forth as it is a truth which has to be proclaimed. Truth has to be proclaimed and shared. Women, disciples and all who experienced the resurrection were witnessed their experience with others.

3. Resurrection was an experience to those who search for the Body of Christ or listened the truth or one who engaged in the discourses about Christ.
Christ will be a reality to those who travel with him or with those who carries the memories of him.

4. Defeat of the fear. Resurrection made the Disciples as a courageous community. Church became a fearless community, a community that does not fear the injustice, crucifixion and death.

Church is called to defeat the powers of death through resurrection
Church is called to proclaim truth in the midst of injustice, darkness and untruth
Church is called to carry the memories of the crucified and risen Christ......
Church is called to be a courageous community................

Prayer Risen Lord live in our midst. Living Lord rule over us. Lord help us to come out of our fear. Lord help us to be the bearers of truth.Amen

Journey of a Powerless King....

2011-04-23T10:35:00.001+01:00

Mark 11:1-11 - Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem

Jesus' entry to Jerusalem is portrayed as the entry of a NEW KING.This has to be read in the context of Jesus' attitude towards the fruitless fig tree and Jerusalem Temple.

Fruitless Fig Tree symbolises the fruitless and hypocratic religiosity
Jerusalem Temple symbolises the corrupt, market driven and exploitative spirituality.

Jesus' Jerusalem entry is a direct confrontation with the fruitless and corrupt spirituality of the people. This journey is considered as one of the reasons for Jesus' arrest.Mark clearly says he entered into Jerusalem three times and never slept in Jerusalem(Mk 11:11, 11:15, 11:27). They never welcomed Jesus and they don't want to be disturbed by Jesus. The evil structures don't want to be disturbed by God. But by his Jerusalem Journey Jesus deliberately countering the evil and sinful structures. It was a journey of a NEW KING. It was a journey to establish a NEW KINGDOM. New Kingdom cannot be a reality by defeating the sinfulness.

Jesus' Jerusalem journey, cursing the fig tree, cleansing the temple were the enacted parables of Jesus. He communicated a strong message through these parables that God is not silent against the un-repented, unjust and God denying attitudes.

1.Kingship is de-constructed and re-imagined

Usually a King conduct processions for two reasons. Firstly, Before their coronation. Secondly, after a military victory.Here Jesus was on his journey towards coronation. Later narratives shows that Jesus was crowned with a crown made out of thorns. It was not a crown of power but it was the crown of suffering. Like that he foretells his victory over the powers of death.
A King with a borrowed donkey.........it is very interesting...a King without a donkey. Generally Kings own chariots, horses, palaces etc(symbolises their power and strength. But here is a king travels on a borrowed donkey.....
A King one who confronts the powerful structures with a powerless animal.....
A King without chariots ans soldiers....only some children and common people welcome this King....
A King one who led the war against the evil.....and the result was the assassination of the King....
It was journey to establish real peace, justice and love in the midst of false peace(Pax Romana)....peace imposed through military power....a silenced people.....
This journey should understood that Jesus was on his way towards the cross......
This was journey towards a just and God driven community.......
This was journey to defeat a cruel and oppressive powers.....
It has given a new hope to hopeless, discriminated and alienated people......

2. A Powerless King was recognised and welcomed.

Can you imagine a King travels on a donkey...?
If a King travels in a donkey nobody will recognise that King. But here small children and poor people recognises this unrecognised and powerless King....
They shout for this King. They shout for His Kingdom.....

Two questions.....

1. Are we with this Powerless King...?
2. Do we recognise a the real redeemer in Christ.

Today this text has to be read in the context of the weak and powerless. God is always with the marginalised and God always make use of the symbols and images of the weak and powerless to establish God's Kingdom.

Death of Miser

2011-04-23T10:23:00.001+01:00

A Miser's Death
From Heart of the Enlightened By Anthony de Mello

A miser had accumulated five hundred thousand dinars and looked forward to a year of pleasant living before he made up his mind how best to invest his money, when suddenly the Angel of Death appeared before him to take his life away.

The man begged and pleaded and used a thousand arguments to be allowed to live a little longer, but the angel was obdurate. "Give me three days of life and I shall give you half my fortune," the man pleaded. The angel wouldn't hear of it and began to tug at him.

"Give me just one day, I beg of you, and you can have everything I accumlated through so much sweat and toil."

The angel was adamant still.

He was able to wring just one little concession from the angel-a few moments in which to write down this note:
"Oh you, whoever you are that happen to find this note, if you have enough to live on, don't waste your life accumulating fortunes. Live!

My five hundred thousand dinars could not buy me a single hour of life!"

"You give them something to eat. You meet their need."

2010-08-09T06:42:00.000+01:00

Read....Mark 6:30-44 In Mark, the feeding of the 5000 comes right after Jesus had sent the disciples to preach and heal in his name. When they returned, they must have had a lot of stories they wanted to share with each other. So Jesus asked them to come away with him to a lonely place,but the crowds found them and Jesus had compassion on them.

As the day went on, the disciples probably became upset, and they asked Jesus to send the people away so they could get food.Jesus responded to the disciples by saying: "You give them something to eat. You meet their need." The disciples were amazed – even if they could go and buy 200 denarrii worth of bread,the people still wouldn't have enough to eat.

Jesus told them to look at what was possible: "How many loaves have you? Go and see." Jesus blessed and broke what they found, and there were 12 baskets left over. The feeding of the 5,000 was a miracle not because Jesus performed a magic trick, but because the disciples looked for the possibilities they had among the people
gathered there, and they offered those resources to Jesus for his blessing.

Feeding 5000 people seemed overwhelming to the disciples, but it doesn’t compare with the needs of millions of refugees and the millions of starving people in the world today.

We too need to look for what is possible; if we offer what little we have to God, and ask God’s blessing on it, we too will see it multiplied beyond our expectations.

..the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him.....

2010-08-07T07:07:00.000+01:00

Psalm 147: 10-11 "His delight is not in the strength of the horse,nor his pleasure in the speed of a runner; but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love"

Psalm 147 is a song of praise. Psalmist praises for God's care for Jerusalem, and the people who trusts him. It is a liturgical hymn and a kind of hallelujah hymn which adore and praise God for God's abundant mercy..................

How we can please God...? This is the one of the questions asked by many people. These verses clearly portrays that God delights in the people who fear him.Usually people may think that God will find God's delight and pleasure in the strength of this world....Psalmist is clear on that.....he compares with the strength of this world....and...the people who trust in God...

Strength of this world compared with the horse and a runner....today the strength can be different...wealth,knowledge, influence, power, and so on.....but God never pleases in these things.............But Lord takes pleasure and delight in those who fear him....and hope and trust in God's steadfast love.

God fearing Means................

1. God fearing people will keep the commandments of God. They will take God's words very seriously than the words of this world.

2. God fearing people acknowledge God's blessings and be thankful to God....how do we express our thanks?.....not only through mere words...but through the actions came out of our strong convictions and the visions which we received from God through our daily engagement with our God......

3. God fearing people will be strong enough to fight with evil. God fearing people never afraid in the powers of the evil....but they delight in the power of God. Fighting against the evil is not a simple task.....but God fearing people will have enough courage to face the consequences which they may face in their fight against the evil powers....

4. God fearing people live for God......living for God is a big task....they have to find time...they have to sacrifice...they have to experience the cross.....but they will not turn back....................

We should find our strength in God's strength.............
We should find our hope in God's steadfast love.....unending love...
May God Bless Us All.................

Live with God today

2010-08-06T06:07:00.000+01:00

Psalms 145:17-19 " The Lord is just in all his ways, and kind in all his doings. The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desire of all who fear him;he also hears their cry, and saves them."

Psalm 145 describes the greatness and goodness of God and it clearly portrays the very nature of God. The Lord is.."gracious", "slow in anger", "merciful","good to all","faithful", "just", "kind", "near", "hears their cry", "saves"...it continues.

How do we realise God's nature? God's nature can be understood only through by living in God and lives with God. Closeness to God helps us to realise the very nature of God. God reveals God's nature through God's actions. All the above mentioned characteristics of God are revealed to the Psalmist through God's actions towards him and other people.

Let me highlights some of the characteristics of God from the above mentioned verses

1. Lord is Just. Justice is the very nature of God and this justice is expressed in God's daily interventions in the history. Justice is revealed in relationships and God affirms justice in God's relationship with the human beings and nature

2. Lord is Kind. God's actions never comes out of prejudices or preoccupied attitudes. But God shows God's kindness in every actions...one of the greatest examples of God's kindness is WE LIVE TODAY......we live today because our God is kind enough to forgive our shortcomings and looking towards our return.

3. Lord hears the cry of the people.....God listens the unknown and unheard cries of the thousands....people are crying because nobody is there to help them except God.

4. Lord is Near.....Lord is near to all who call God in TRUTH......God always hate hypocrisy......but hears the cries of the people from their innocence and genuineness....

5.God Saves....God hears the cry of the truthful people and God saves them.....If we are in utter confusion God shows the way.....if we are discouraged God save us by giving Great hope....God holds us when we are weak....more than that God SAVES OUR LIFE.....

As a faith community we should experience God's nature through our journey with our God...

Our God is Just..God is just towards us...... and we are called to be just..
Our God is Kind...God is kind towards us.....and we are called to be kind
Our God hears the cry . God heard our cries......and we are called to open up our ears to listen the unheard cries...............
Our God is near....God was with us when we were lost.....and we too are called to near to the afflicted and the needy....
Our God saves ....God saved us from the sinfulness....and we are called to engage with our God in the salvific actions of our God.....

Silence in the midst of violence,,,,,?

2010-08-05T05:36:00.000+01:00

Silence in the midst of violence.....?
Niemöller's poem tells the story of Europe's refusal to stand up to the Nazis while they still had time:

When the Nazis came for the communists,
I remained silent;
I was not a communist.

When they locked up the social democrats,
I remained silent;
I was not a social democrat.

When they came for the trade unionists,
I did not speak out;
I was not a trade unionist.

When they came for the Jews,
I did not speak out;
I was not a Jew.

When they came for me, there was no one left to speak out.

(Martin Niemoller, a Lutheran pastor from Nazi Germany)

Cross.................

2010-08-04T06:59:00.000+01:00

Cross.....................

The cross is the way of the lost

The cross is the staff of the lame

The cross is the guide of the blind.

The cross is the strength of the weak.

The cross is the hope of the hopeless.

The cross is the freedom of the slaves.

The cross is the water of the seeds.

The cross is the consolation of the bonded labourers.

The cross is the source of those who seek water.

The cross is the cloth of the naked.

The cross is the healing of the broken.

The cross is the peace of the church.

The cross is the way of salvation to whole creation

Creative Minority with an Inherent Strength

2010-08-03T06:20:00.000+01:00

Mathew 13:33 "He told then another parable:"The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened"

Jesus was an extra ordinary teacher.He presented his mission and vision through beautiful parables. Parables he used are not alien but familiar to the people of that time. All are simple but carries beautiful, unimaginable and realistic truths.

Kingdom of God is revealed and explained through incarnation, great and incomparable event the history ever seen......God took the form of human being........

How Kingdom of God functions or transforms........this parable teaches a few lessons..

1. Kingdom of heaven functions through creative minority.....Even though the quantity of yeast is less but the power inherent in it could transform a large quantity of flour. May not be big crowd......but a small group which has the inherent power received from our God could transform the world......

2. Kingdom of heaven is a dynamic process....it is not a static situation but a vibrant movement.....powers of this world will be defeated in this process.....it moves forward even though many fights against it......

3. Kingdom of God transforms....it transforms tasteless flour(Community) by inculcating taste by its inherent nature. It creates streams in the deserted minds.......it empowers the weak and discouraged....it creates hope in the midst of hopelessness.....it heals the sick.....it strengthens discriminated...

My simple question is .....where are we in this movement?....do we able to join hands with the creative minority to strive for God's Kingdom....Kingdom of heaven moves forward....it will not wait for anybody........no power could prevent this process....it will go on......it will be reality one day.....

You Received without payment ; give without payment............

2010-08-02T06:48:00.000+01:00

Jesus said to his disciples....."You received without payment;give without payment"
(Mathew 10;8)

God has given us everything without any payment........
How much we paid back? ....a fraction of what we received..........

Read the following story ( told by Paulo Coehlo)and reflect on it.....

Two men were crossing the desert when they saw a Bedouin’s(predominantly desert-dwelling Arab ethnic group)tent and asked him for shelter. Even though he did not know them, he welcomed them in the way that the conduct of nomads dictates: a camel was killed and its meat served in a sumptuous dinner.

The next day, the two strangers woke early and decided to continue on their journey. As the Bedouin was not at home, they gave his wife a hundred dinars, apologizing for not being able to wait, because if they spent any more time there, the sun would become too strong for them to travel.

They had traveled for four hours when they heard a voice calling out to them. They looked back and saw the Bedouin following them. As soon as he caught up with them, he threw the money to the ground.
“I gave you such a warm welcome! Aren’t you ashamed of yourselves?”
In surprise, the strangers said that the camel were surely worth far more than that, but that they did not have much money.

“I am not talking about the amount,” was the answer. “The desert welcomes Bedouins wherever they go, and never asks anything in return. If we had to pay, how could we live? Welcoming you to my tent is like paying back a fraction of what life has given us.

May God bless us all...................

Oh God ! Why Don't You Do Something !!!

2010-07-31T07:14:00.000+01:00

A man distraught by all the pain and suffering he saw all around him broke down and banged his fists into the dirt.

His head turns upward and he yells at his God.

"Look at this mess. Look at all this pain and suffering. Look at all this killing and hate. God. Oh God! WHY DON'T YOU DO SOMETHING!!"

And God spoke to him and said

"I did. I sent you."

( Unknown Author)

New Investment Plan.........................

2010-07-30T06:52:00.000+01:00

Mathew 6: 19-21 " Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also...."

Treasures of this world.......and............Treasures in heaven
Jesus talks about the investment on earth and heaven.........
Investment on this earth is perishable.....but our investment in heaven is eternal...

Jesus raises a pertinent question...what kind of investment plan we have?

Let me put this in a simple story....

A man died and he reached at heaven and Peter was there infront of the heaven's gate. After the record verification Peter took him to the heaven to show his residence....
While he entered he really surprised....he could see big mansions there.....
He thought he will get one of those big mansions....at the end Peter showed him a small hut and said, this is your house ....He got angry and asked....why a small hut to me...even I could not enter into it...! Many others have big mansions.......
But Peter said...relax....we built your residence from whatever you have given to God.......some people invested more at heaven but some invested more on earth....
You invested more on the temporary living..but fogot to invest more on eternal living...........

How much time we are investing to God............Do we really make use of our resources for the extension of Kingdom of heaven?....our wealth....our children.....our wisdom..........

Invest more on God's Kingdom.....then our perception, values, vision, fututre......all will be moulded by God.....

Search for our hearts today...if we struggle for God's Kingdom...then it is owned and controlled by God....

Otherwise...?

....be at peace with one another

2010-07-29T06:41:00.000+01:00

Mark 9:50 " ...Salt is good; but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another."

Jesus is using an imagery to describe the nature of Christian life. What do you mean by Christian life? Christian life simply means life in Christ.....Jesus talks about the very nature of human life...have salt in yourselves.....have some quality in our life.....

God created human beings in God's own image....
God's own image talks about the very nature of God....
Nature of God is expressed through incarnation......
God incarnated as human being and lived with this world..................
God is revealed Godself by living....by being...
God is a God because God lives.....

If we are created by God's own image....we have to reveal ourselves by our way of living.....
Jesus talks about a qualitative life.....
If we loose our saltiness...the very nature of human life is lost....the very purpose of life is lost.

Jesus talks about two things

1. Have Salt in Yourselves.......salt is salt because of its saltiness.....if saltiness is lost, it is not salt anymore....our christian life is a struggle to regain our saltiness so that our life will be a meaningful life.
How we can regain our lost saltiness...
a) Prayer - Start a discourse with God
b) Word of God - Evolve a way of life based on God's words
c) Relationship - Be just in our relationship with GOD... with fellowbeings..
and with the nature
d)No compromise with the evil- uncompromising struggle against powers of darkness..
....................................................................

2.Be at peace with one another......Peace is not silence......Peace is not an abstract idea...but it is found in relationship. Peace is not a reality where there is Domination.....Peace can be a myth where there is Discrimintation....Peace and Justice go together....Peace does not exist where poverty exists......
Peace with one another means..........
Do not dominate but serve each other...
Do not discriminate but find value in all and consider all equally...
Do not accumulate but share each other.....
Don't think you are 'great'.....but consider others as 'great'.........................

This is a challenge.....our life will end soon....but think about our saltiness.....
Do we experiance the real peace in our life......if not....there is something wrong in our relationship with God, fellowbeings and nature...............

He Answered, 'I will not'...but he changed his mind.......

2010-07-28T06:27:00.000+01:00

Mathew 21:28-32 "What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work in the vineyard today.' He answered, 'I will not'; but later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said to the same; and he answered, 'I go,sir'; but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said,"The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitues believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him

This is one of the interesting parables of Jesus and it talks about the relationship between repentance and Kingdom of God. Here the first son represents gentile community. They rejected God's commandments earlier but later repented and did God's will. Second son represents so called 'religious community' of that time.What are the lessons we are learning from this parable today.....

1. Our God always carries out God's mission through human beings. God comes near to us and asking..."can you do this".....The responsiblities entrusted to us is a gift from God ......God is a God of mission....thrust of God's mission is fullness of life to all irrespective of colour, wealth, caste, religion, gender......

2. Engage with God's commandments is a way of life. The first son of the parable initially said 'no'...but his father's words were there in his mind.....it really haunted him....later he did what his father said. Don't leave God's doscourses with us somewhere but carry it wherever we go....the second son said 'yes' but he took his father's words very lightly....engage with God's words seriously and carry it always...that will help us to do God's will.

3.Repentance is a process. It is not an emotional reaction but a reaction out of conviction, commitment and realisation. The first son reacted negatively but acted positively because his decision came out of his realisation. But the second son's words came out of his shallow understanding....he didn't realise the importance of his father's words.....God always love the people who are ready to correct themselves....

4. Second son said 'yes' to his father's words..but he obeyed HIS OWN words......first son said 'no'.......but he obeyed his FATHER's words.....sometimes we could hear the words of evil ........why I should do....why you I give....why should I suffer....

Let we controlled by God's words....not the words of this world....

A Thanksgiving Prayer...............

2010-07-27T06:49:00.000+01:00

A Thankgiving Prayer

Oh,God when I have food,
Help me to remember the Hungry;

When I have work,help me
To remember the jobless;

When I have a warm home,
Help me to remember the homeless;

When I am without pain,
Help me to remember those who suffer;

And remembering,help me
To destroy my complacency
And bestir my compassion.

Make me concerned enough
To help by word and deed,
Those who cry out
For what we take for granted

Samuel F. Fugh

Meet God today................

2010-07-23T06:40:00.000+01:00

An Afternoon In the Park
Spiritual Story by Unknown

There once was a little boy who wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with Twinkies and a six-pack of fruit juice and he started his journey.

When he had gone about three blocks, he met an old woman. She was sitting in the park just staring at some pigeons. The boy sat down next to her and opened his suitcase. He was about to take a drink from his juice when he noticed that the old lady looked hungry, so he offered her a Twinkie. She gratefully accepted it and smiled at him. Her smile was so pretty that the boy wanted to see it again, so he offered her a juice. Once again she smiled at him. The boy was delighted!

They sat there all afternoon eating and smiling, but they never said a word.

As it grew dark, the boy realized how tired he was and he got up to leave, but before he had gone more than a few steps, he turned around, ran back to the old woman and gave her a hug. She gave him her biggest smile ever.

When the boy opened the door to his own house a short time later, his mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face.

She asked him, "What did you do today that made you so happy?"

He replied, "I had lunch with God." But before his mother could respond, he added, "You know what? She's got the most beautiful smile I've ever seen!"

Meanwhile, the old woman, also radiant with joy, returned to her home.

Her son was stunned by the look of peace on her face and he asked, "Mother, what did you do today that made you so happy?"

She replied, "I ate Twinkies in the park with God." But before her son responded, she added, "You know, he's much younger than I expected."

Meet God today........
God is a God of relationship.......

Mathew 25:40 "Truly I tell you, just as you did it one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.."

God's Kingdom and the Church......

2010-07-22T06:34:00.000+01:00

Mathew 10:40-42 "Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet's reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous; and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple- truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward."

Jesus Christ talks about a reciprocal relationship between God,Son and disciples...
Disciples of Jesus are the agents of God's Kingdom and they are taking part in the Kingdom movement which started through Christ.Here Jesus defines the role of the people in the Kingdom movement......

This text encourages us to take part in the Kingdom movement in different ways....

1. Support the people who are directly engaging themselves in the Kingdom movement by welcoming them. Kingdom of God is a reality today and many people directly or indirectly take part in this movement. As a church we are called to be a Kingdom movement and at the same time we are called to encourage the people who are in this movement. Show our solidarity with the people of the Kingdom movement by supporting them.

2. God considers our small initiates like giving 'a cup of cold water'.Whatever we do for the extension of God's Kingdom will be counted. God counts even our small and minute contributions.

3.Identify the people in the Kingdom movement....declare our solidarity with them and help the Kingdom movement by supporting the prophets, righteous and the little ones.

God's Kingdom is alive in the struggles of the people like right to live, right to have food, drinking water, right to education, .......

God's Kingdom is alive in the missionary movements where they are striving for empowerment of the weak, powerless, poor, discriminated and marginalised.......

God is active in this history through prophets, righteous people and little ones......but beware of true and false prophets, true and false disciples of Christ.....

How many of us taking part in the Kingdom of God directly or indirectly........
How many of us declares our solidarity with the people who are in the Kingdom movement......

There are missionary movements, social movements....but do we know them? Do we receive them? Do we welcomes them? Remember our God counts even the minute initiative of us towards the Kingdom movement.......

Find the Value of Kingdom of God.....

2010-07-21T06:39:00.000+01:00

Mathew 13:44 "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field...."

This parable teaches many lessons.....

1. Without loosing "precious things of today" God's Kingdom will not be a reality.....The person who found the treasure went and sold everything he has and bought a small piece of land.

2. One who search for Kingdom will get it.....treasure is hidden ...who will get it? Only a pilgrim community could attain the Kingdom of God. We are called to be dynamic in our serach with God...........

3. God's Kingdom brings real joy...the joy of this world will last for a few seconds...but the joy of the Kingdom of heaven is eternal.....

4. One who knows the value of Kingdom of God could strive for it.....who knows the value of the treasure? Only who knows about the value of the treasure could buy that treasure..many people might have seen that treasure but they could not find value in it......

Remember there are many great things are still hidden.........
Do we interested in search of it?
Sometimes people will laugh at us because we bought a small piece of "useless land" by selling everything.......let them laugh.......but we know the value hidden in it.....

Morning prayer for peace

2010-07-20T07:05:00.000+01:00

Morning prayer for peace

God of life,
in the early light of this new day
I want to treasure the opportunity you give me
to wake up enveloped in your peace.
I know that today I will face many different situations.
The world, unfortunately, has not changed much
since last night, which you prepared for me to rest.
But knowing that your peace accompanies life encourages me.

Son of Peace,
today, make of me an announcer of your peace,
which breaks down hatred, egotism, abuse, lies, intolerance,
which ends the conflicts between peoples,
families and persons,
which reconciles all human beings with God,
with themselves, and with all who surround them,
making them new women and men.

Spirit of Unity,
gather in this humble prayer
the prayers from all your people in the world,
that your peace, your justice and your mercy enfold us
and enable us to live as one,
the new humanity of peace.

Source: WCC Prayer Cycle

A Bible For Graduation

2010-07-19T06:23:00.000+01:00

A Bible For Graduation

Spiritual Story by Unknown

A young man was getting ready to graduate from college. For many months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer's showroom, and knowing his father could well afford it, he told him that was all he wanted.

As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited signs that his father had purchased the car. Finally, on the morning of his graduation, his father called him into his private study.

His father told him how proud he was to have such a fine son, and told him how much he loved him. He handed his son a beautiful wrapped gift box.

Curious, but somewhat disappointed, the young man opened the box and found a lovely, leather-bound Bible, with the young man's name embossed in gold.

Angrily, he raised his voice to his father and said, "With all your money you give me a Bible?" And stormed out of the house, leaving the Bible.

Many years passed and the young man was very successful in business. He had a beautiful home and wonderful family, but realized his father was very old, and thought perhaps he should go visit him.

He had not seen him since that graduation day. Before he could make arrangements, he received a telegram telling him his father had passed away, and willed all of his possessions to his son.

When he arrived at his father's house, sudden Sorry, sadness and regret filled his heart. He began to search through his father's important papers and saw the still new Bible, just as he had left it years ago. With tears, he opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. His father had carefully underlined a verse,

As he read those words, a car key dropped from the back of the Bible.

It had a tag with the dealer's name, the same dealer who had the sports car he had desired. On the tag was the date of his graduation......

Prior to our Worship..........

2010-07-17T06:31:00.000+01:00

Mathew 5:21- 24 " You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times,'You shall not murder'; and 'whoever murders shall be liable to judgement.' But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say 'You fool,' you will be liable to the hell of fire. So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift..".

This text is a part of Jesus' sermon on the mount. I wonder how many of us took these verses seriously as like many other verses in the Bible. Sometimes I felt that we take the verses comfortable to us and discard the verses that challenges us...I may wrong....

These verses discusses two pertinent issues

1. Our brotherhood or sisterhood
2. Reconciliation

Jesus says if we are ANGRY we are liable to judgement and if we say YOU FOOL we will be liable to the hell of fire.....Jesus' usage of brotherhood and sisterhood should be understood in wider sense not in terms of blood relationship. In Jesus' teaching the concepts like 'neighbour', 'brotherhood or sisterhood' are re-interpreted and re-imagined. What are the lessons we are learning from these verses....

1. Don't underestimate anybody on the basis of color,caste, religion, sex, wealth, social status etc.....

2. The usage 'you fool' comes from a dominant mind framework....that is....I AM OK...YOU ARE NOT OK....we could see a superior - inferior attitude in this framework....a kind of dominance and arrogance in the attitude towards others....

3. Life is a gift from God...all are created in the image of God.....any kind of discrimination perverts the God given life and it destroys the image of God.....

4. Prior to our worship/offering reconcile with our brothers and sisters....experience forgiveness through reconciliation...Jesus says "So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart"(Mathew18:35)

Before come into the presence of God....Altar....
Reconcile with our brothers and sisters.....
God only accepts the offering of a reconciled person....
Only a reconciled person could experience the presence of God......

Our God. ....Directly or indirectly we considered others as inferior to us....forgive us....

Our God...lead us towards a world of reconciliation....help us to reconcile with YOU...OUR BROTHERS and SISTERS and with this NATURE.....AMEN

"JUSTICE, MERCY and FAITH...........

2010-07-16T06:11:00.000+01:00

Mathew 23:23 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith..."

This verse is a part of Jesus' radical criticism against the spirituality of the scribes and Pharisees of Jesus' time. They were pretended that they were following the law but Jesus' words reveals their hypocrisy in their attitude towards law.

1. Scribes and Pharisees given much importance to small things but neglected the primary and important things

2. Scribes and Pharisees given much weight to ritualistic way of living but failed to follow the life affirming spiritual practices like justice, mercy and faith....

3. They followed a spirituality in which they separated religious practices from their daily living......there was no relationship between spirituality and practical life.

We live in a different context and follows different faith practices.......
But the words of Christ still lives today.....it is echoing in and around us....

We have given much importance to many small things.....but knowingly or unknowingly neglected the primary and basic elements of Jesus' teachings....

Discuss the space of 'JUSTICE' in our spirituality.....how many of us are bothered about landless,homeless and the people who eat mud and leaves of the plants to sustain their lives...?

Do we think we should show 'MERCY' towards others..?..if we say YES....then why we still harden our hearts....? .....there is no mercy in the rules and regulations made by the POWERFUL......But we could see and hear Mercy in Jesus' words and actions.....find out the relationship between mercy and spirituality.......

What is the relationship between FAITH and LIFE....? Do we think FAITH in CHRIST has any impact in our daily living......

Sit with Christ and find out the important elements of our spirituality....
If we are following Christ...please........ give ear to Jesus' words...don't listen to the words of this world...............

World of "I".......................

2010-07-15T06:13:00.000+01:00

Luke 14:11 "For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted"

I did...because of my ability....
these are some of the phrases we used use and hear from others......

"I" stands first....
"I" excludes others....
"I" is the master and others are slaves.....
"I" can..and others could not....superior inferior perception.....

GOD IS OUT in the world of "I".......
"I" am the King in the world of "I"........
"I" decides..."I" execute.......
"I" don't care....

"I" creates a world where "I" alone is perfect.......
"I" never listens others...
"I" fears "OTHERS".......
"I" could not see the possibilities and talents of others....

"I" comes from our insecurity.....
"I" comes from pride...
"I" oppress others...their opinions and identity.....
"I" never allows others to grow.......
"I" comes from a closed mind, it comes from a corrupted and colonial framework.......
"I" dominates......

Christ taught us to pray...."Our Father..."
He never exalted himself....
Even people tried to make him as a King ..he went away.....

Don't think "I" am the KING
Let GOD BE THE RULER OF OUR PERCEPTION, LANGUAGE, WORLDVIEW......
Exalting ourselves is the starting point of our destruction and alienation.....
Accept that we could not do anything without the help of others.....
We are interconnected.....World Wide Web of Relationships...
Ultimately......we are nothing in front of our God...
Because of God's grace and mercy....we live today....
Humble ourselves.......
Let GOD rules us not "I"......
Amen

"Greatness".....

2010-07-14T06:04:00.000+01:00

Mark:10;43-44 "...but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slaves of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many."

How do we define "greatness"?

Earlier it was defined on the basis of conquest and its success......
Success of a person defined on the basis of military invasion....

Later it was defined on the basis of wealth.....
Success of a person relies on the wealth......if you make more profit you are great...

Now greatness is decided by three things, money, power, media....
If you have these three things or if you could control these three things greatness will be added.....................

But Jesus portrays a different concept.......Jesus don't believe in power, money, fame, profit as the basis of greatness.

He doesn't believe in the "greatness" of this world....
He says, your greatness is not on the basis of 'conquest' of nations or wealth.....
But our greatness is decided by our attitude towards others. If we see ourselves as SUPERIOR than others on the basis of power, money, knowledge then WE ARE NOT GREAT IN GOD'S REIGN.

He denies the concept of MASTER HOOD and he advocates for SERVANT HOOD......
Don't control others by power, money.....but by as servants....but as servants of God...

Let me put three concepts for today's meditation

1.Greatness of this world and the Greatness in front of God are different....
2.Social position(rank)will be decided by many factors...but position in God's Kingdom is decided by our willingness to undertake the servant hood of Christ...
3.'CONQUER' others by our love, service,bold theological vision and our commitment towards of our CREATOR.......

Prayer: God we thank you for your Son Jesus Christ. Help us to learn from him not as masters but as servants. Teach us to walk in the paths of Jesus...Amen.

A God who knows us............

2010-07-13T06:28:00.000+01:00

Jeremiah 1:4 Now the word of the Lord came to me saying, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations"

This verse speaks about Jeremiah's call and commission as a prophet.
There are different arguments and theological stands exist regarding the issue of age of a person for God's blessings.....
Jeremiah was known by God before he formed in the womb of his mother...
Jeremiah was consecrated even before his birth.....
He was anointed and appointed as a prophet prior to his birth...

1 Don't underestimate God.......God makes a relationship with us prior to our 'history' in this world. We are known by God, we are created by God.....The depth of our relationship with God could not be measured because God made a relationship with us prior to our place in this history....

2.A Just God.....we are consecrated as children of God not because we are 'qualified' for that. God never discriminates people as we discriminates people on the basis of their colour, wealth, caste, religion, sex.......We all are consecrated by God to live in this world as the agents or communicators of God's message...message of love, peace, justice and so on but now we became the perpetrators of violence, hatred, injustice implicitly or explicitly. Remember we all are consecrated by our God.

3. Be Responsible to God and the people around.....God created us as responsible people.....responsible towards God and the people around us. Responsible living is a quality of a child of God......Remember our appointment order is signed by our God.......

Prayer: Lord you are my creator....Lord I acknowledge that you known me prior to my birth but I could not make a relationship with you after many years of my life in this world. Help me to lead a responsible life in this world...Amen

Angry Christ

2010-07-09T18:45:00.001+01:00

Mathew 23:33 "You snakes, you brood of vipers!How can you escape being sentenced to hell?

Very harsh words....isn't it?
But our God is harsh towards sinful structures....
Our God is harsh towards false spirituality....a spirituality with two faces.....
Our spirituality should be expressed in our words..actions...thoughts...our attitude towards life, others.....

Mathew 5:21-23 says.."On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name? Then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers"

An uncompromising Christ.........
He points his hand towards injustice....
Fire in his eyes is a warning to demonic powers......
Our God is a loving God...but our God never keep quiet when life is denied....when justice is denied...when we again...again....again....lead a hypocrite life..
God is angry because ...God challenges the powers of this world.........
God is angry because a few dominates other....our God loves the "others"

We bear Christ's name...but do we witness the love of Christ...towards the people in the margins...underprevilaged....illiterate....homeless.....

See.... our Christ is with them......he consoles them...empower them....embrace them....Our christ is restoring their humiliated identity..

Yes...he is angry towards the structures...silent observers of this sin...
Yes..he is angry towards the compromising attitude of the spirituality of that time....
Christ is angry....BECAUSE CHRIST LOVES ALL....
HIS ANGER COMES OUT OF HIS LOVE....

Laughing Christ

2010-07-09T18:19:00.000+01:00

have you ever seen this Christ in your life?

Acknowledgement....

2010-07-09T05:59:00.000+01:00

Acknowledgement
Spiritual Story by Unknown

A newly arrived soul in Heaven was met by St. Peter. The saint toured the soul around Heaven. Both of them walked side by side inside a large workroom filled with angels.

St. Peter stopped in front of the first section and said, "This is the Receiving Section. Here, all the petitions to God said in prayer are received." The soul looked at the section, and it was terribly busy with so many angels sorting out petitions written on voluminous paper sheets from all the people of the world.

They walked again until they reached the 2nd section, and St. Peter told the soul, "This is the Packaging and Delivery Section. Here, the graces and blessings the people asked for are packed and delivered to the persons who asked for them down on earth."

The soul saw how busy it was. There were so many angels working in that room, since so many blessing were being packed and delivered to Earth.

Finally at the farthest corner of the room, the soul stopped at the last section. To the surprise of the soul, only one angel stayed there idly, doing nothing. "This is the Acknowledging Section," St. Peter told the soul. "How is it that, there is no work here?" "That's the sad thing," St. Peter answered. "After the people received the blessings they asked for, very few send their acknowledgments." "How does one acknowledge God's blessing?" "Simple," St. Peter answered. "Just say, "'Thank you, Lord'."

Read Luke 17:11-19 ".....As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us" When he saw them, he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests". And as they went, they were made clean. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He postrated himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus asked, "Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" Then he said to him, "Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well."

Do we acknowledge God's blessings.....?...how often....daily...weekly....monthly...yearly.......

We are very "busy"......don't forget to acknowledge God's blessings every second.....
If we do that.....we will have time to worship our God with our body, heart and mind....

Who Am I?

2010-07-08T21:56:00.000+01:00

Who Am I?

by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Dietrich Bonhöffer, a young theologian of great promise, was martyred by the Nazis for his participation in a plot against the life of Adolf Hitler. His writings have greatly influenced recent theological thought. This article appeared in the Journal Christianity and Crisis, March 4, 1946. Used by permission. This article was prepared for Religion Online by Ted & Winnie Brock.

Who am I? They often tell me

I stepped from my cell’s confinement

Calmly, cheerfully, firmly,

Like a squire from his country-house.

Who am I? They often tell me

I used to speak to my warders

Freely and friendly and clearly,

As though it were mine to command.

Who am I? They also tell me

I bore the days of misfortune

Equally, smilingly, proudly,

Like one accustomed to win.

Am I then really all that which other men tell of?

Or am I only what I myself know of myself?

Restless and longing and sick, like a bird in a cage,

Struggling for breath, as though hands were

compressing my throat,

Yearning for colors, for flowers, for the voices of birds,

Thirsting for words of kindness, for neighborliness,

Tossing in expectation of great events,

Powerlessly trembling for friends at an infinite distance,

Weary and empty at praying, at thinking, at making,

Faint, and ready to say farewell to it all?

Who am I? This or the other?

Am I one person today and tomorrow another?

Am I both at once? A hypocrite before others,

And before myself a contemptibly woebegone weakling?

Or is something within me still like a beaten army,

Fleeing in disorder from victory already achieved?

Who am I? They mock me, these lonely questions of mine.

Whoever I am, Thou knowest, 0 God, I am Thine!

Source:religion -online

'This teaching is difficult; who can accept it' ?

2010-07-02T06:36:00.000+01:00

Read John6:60,66 "When many of his disciples heard it, they said,"This teaching is difficult; who can accept it"?.....Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him."

Hundreds of people followed Jesus....but many of them went back....why?
They started their journey with full of expectations.....self interests...

Follow Jesus......without any self interests....hidden agenda.......
Follow Jesus......with commitment....and conviction....

Follow Jesus...without any human calculations.....
Follow Jesus...with great passion...

Follow Jesus....without any compromise towards evil.....
Follow Jesus....with courage and boldness...we may face Goliaths.....

When we follow Jesus......
leave behind the most precious things.......
Get ready to face challenges....
Get ready to hear harsh words...

Be dynamic.....don't be static in our thoughts, words and praxis(action)
Think about the people around us....people who are in poverty, homeless....
Engage with discriminated.....powerless.....embrace them...empower them.....

Forces of death seems to be victorious.....
But real victory is the right of the genuine and committed followers of Christ.....

While we follow Jesus......see how Jesus walks...
He travelled the less travelled roads..
His teachings was different....
He was a pilgrim with less luggage....
He was homeless....he was away from luxury....

But his words were like...a fire....we could hear his commitment in his words....

Question is...are we ready to follow him.....HIS TEACHING IS DIFFICULT....

Conversion......means....

2010-06-30T06:26:00.000+01:00

Turning to God in conversion is not the first but the second act. Conversion is possible because God has first turned to this world in love and has become present in Jesus Christ for all humanity.....

Conversion, the human response to God's turning, is an expression of trust in God's faithfulness. At the same time, it means turning away from the evil and destructive powers. Conversion aims at a transformation not only of the mind, but of the entire being....

Conversion, while intensely personal, never remains an exclusively individual experience. It finds its expression by the incorporation of the person into new community. Turning to God becomes visible in doing God's will. The Biblical witness does not separate the individual from the social dimensions of conversion, repentance and sanctification.

Conversion implies a new understanding of reality in the perspective of the kingdom of God. The personal aspect of being "born from above" and the affirmation of a new creation are corresponding features of the same reality. Each conversion, therefore, is a manifestation of God's reign in this earth and the world to come......

Turn to God...because God turned towards us....do we really experienced the CONVERSION....?

Five lessons from pencil...........

2010-06-29T06:27:00.000+01:00

The story of the pencil

A boy was watching his grandmother write a letter. At one point he asked:

‘Are you writing a story about what we’ve done? Is it a story about me?’

His grandmother stopped writing her letter and said to her grandson:

‘I am writing about you, actually, but more important than the words is the pencil I’m using. I hope you will be like this pencil when you grow up.’

Intrigued, the boy looked at the pencil. It didn’t seem very special.

‘But it’s just like any other pencil I’ve ever seen!’

‘That depends on how you look at things. It has five qualities which, if you manage to hang on them, will make you a person who is always at peace with the world.’

‘First quality: you are capable of great things, but you must never forget that there is a hand guiding your steps. We call that hand God, and He always guides us according to His will.’

‘Second quality: now and then, I have to stop writing and use a sharpner. That makes the pencil suffer a little, but afterwards, he’s much sharper. So you, too, must learn to bear certain pains and sorrows, because they will make you a better person.

‘Third quality: the pencil always allows us to use an eraser to rub out any mistakes. This means that correcting something we did is not necessarily a bad thing; it helps to keep us on the road to justice.’

‘Fourth quality: what really matters in a pencil is not its wooden exterior, but the graphite inside. So always pay attention to what is happening inside you.’

‘Finally, the pencil’s fifth quality: it always leaves a mark. in just the same way, you should know that everything you do in life will leave a mark, so try to be conscious of that in your every action’

You are the salt of the earth....

2010-06-28T06:37:00.000+01:00

St.Mathew 5:13 " You are like salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but it is thrown out and trampled under foot."

This text indicates the nature and purpose of the church in this earth.....

Salt is salt due to its saltiness...if saltines is lost...then it is not salt...only WASTE.......

Retaining saltiness is an important task........by retaining saltiness....we are developing a counter identity...identity which resist the evil...resisting decay...
resisting tastelessness......

Be active...dynamic like salt.....
Salt creates a new community....entirely different from other...a community of counter identity.....

Saltness...an inclusive quality..
Saltness...quality of the salt defines its identity....nothing else....
Saltness....it resist...the tastelessness....decay....
Saltness...an inherent and embedded quality....
Saltness....not an ornamental quality...but....

As a church...community of disciples...we are called to be like salt....

Be a counter community...a community which resist powers of death..and uphold the values of life.....
Our identity is defined by its inherent qualtiy.....not by outer expressions...
Our identity is not ornamental but it is inherent....
We are called to be a transforming community.....we are called to be a transformed community.....we are called to be a living community

How this saltness can be attained......from God....
Be with God...move with God....make discourses with our God....
Let our God rule in our perceptions...hearts and minds...
Then...this saltiness will be wihin us...

Salt is salt due to its saltiness...
Church is Church...due its quality...counter idenity..mission...

Blessed are the peacemakers....

2010-06-25T06:33:00.000+01:00

Read Mathew 5:9 "Blessed are the peacemakers,for they will be called children of God"

A woman dreamt she walked into a brand new shop in the marketplace and, to her surprise, found God behind the counter.....

"What do you sell here?" she asked

"Everything your heart desires," said God.

Hardly daring to believe that she was hearing, the woman decided to ask for the best things a human being could wish for. "I want peace of mind and love and happiness and wisdom and freedom from fear,"she said.....
Then as an after thought, she added, "Not just for me. For everyone on earth."

God smiled, "I think you have got me wrong, my dear,".......God said.....

"We don't sell fruits here. Only seeds....."
.........
..........
We are called to creat a premise where this seed grows....we are called to nurture it.....we are called to put our effforts to make this seed..grow....and give fruits.....Blessed are the peacemakers.....

Are we the members of Jesus' Family........

2010-06-24T06:28:00.000+01:00

Read Luke8:19-21 "Then his mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd. And he was told, "your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you". But he said to them, "My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it."

There are two conditions to be a part of Jesus' family......
1.hear the word of God...listen what God says...how it can be possible? God's words can be heard in different ways....through Bible...through Prayer...through worship....liturgy......how God's words can be identified from the words of evil?

God's words contain love...mercy...justice....reconciliation...forgiveness...sharing...liberation..restoration...peace...life...

Evil's words contain
hatred..ego..accumulation..greed...individualism..fame...power...exuses...violence...fundamentalism...

2. Do God's words...it is really challenging..not only preaching...not only hearing or listening...but be bold enough to stand for God's words..obeying or doing God's words is is not an easy job. When you start to do God's words...then real struggle starts...cross..rejection...abandonement......
But.....rejoice...you are in the family of Christ....you will be considered as sisters...brothers..fathers...mothers...in the larger family of Christ...

God calls us to be in this BIG family.....in the family of Christ....but...?

Let Christ enter in to our private and public spaces......

2010-06-23T06:18:00.000+01:00

Read: Luke 5:1-11 "....He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore......"

This text describes the theme 'Jesus Calls the First Disciples'.
How he called disciples?......he found out his first disciples from their work places.

Here Jesus asks to Simon to spare his boat for a while....Simon obeyed....see the change.....his boat became a PULPIT....a place where God's words were shared....

Amazing transition...A FISHING BOAT changes into A PULPIT...!

What next...? Jesus interfere into Simon's vocation...fishing.....
Unbelievable....abundant catch of fish..."..their nets were beginning to break..."

What next....? it led towards his self-realisation...."Lord....I am sinful..."
Ultimately they followed Jesus....entered in to the discipleship of Christ...

There is no PRIVATE, OFFICIAL, PUBLIC spaces in front of our God.......
Be transparent in front of God.....Don't hide anything from God...our vocation, 'private' and 'confidential' matters....when God asks.....don't hide our wealth..purse.....

Give to God whatever God asks...even though it may be valuable to you....then...

God will make use of you in abundant catch of fish....
It will lead us towards self-realisation....
Ultimately God will call towards God's discipleship....the real inheritors of Kingdom of God......

Live today.....

2010-06-21T06:12:00.000+01:00

One student asked his teacher, "What is the human being's funniest characteristic?'

Teacher said: 'Our contradictoriness. We are in such a hurry to grow up, and then we long for our lost childhood....................

We make ourselves ill earning money,and then spend all our money on getting well again. We think so much about the future that we neglect the present, and thus experiance neither the present nor the future......

We live as if we were never going to die, and die as if we had never lived.........

God is ready to gather us.......but...

2010-06-19T07:31:00.000+01:00

Read Mathew 23:37-39 "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See your house is left to you, desolate..."

Merciful God and.....arrogant people............
Who is responsible for our own desolate life situations...?

A society which denies the Kingdom of God will end up in....utter barrenness...
Why Jerusalem killed prophets and..others who came from God....
They spoke against their perceptions, values, religiosity, where God has no space...
.. they don't want God's interventions...God's directions...God's rule.....

When we deny God's free interventions in our lives....we are moving towards wrong direction.....towards death...

A waiting God....God is still waiting by God's loving and Spacious wings where everybody has the space....like a hen.....but we denies it, isn't it......?
We are busy with our false securities and wrong wrong perceptions that ..these will protect us........NO...

A patient God....God is patient enough to gather us....come.....
But....if we denies we invites desolate life situations...where there is no peace, justice, love.....no life...no meaning...

Don't forget our God is a God of Judgement too.....

Listen from God.....don't teach our God..that is what we do always....
Obey God.....means we should say NO to many words...around us.....

Jerusalem the symbol of Power, Religion, Spirituality...but they could not hear God's words because they were arrogant....self-righteous...not ready to change.......

Still our God is loving...even today...come to the presence of God...give up the arrogance.....

Submit Proud Man/Woman.....

2010-06-18T06:50:00.000+01:00

...Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him.........(Luke:15:28).

Self-righteousness, pride.......makes us parochial....more closed and rigid...
Never allows us to love...
Elder son of this story lives in his own world....hesitate to accept his brother...
He is worried about the share.....not life...

Submit Proud Man/Woman....

Give up your ego, pride....
Torn out your false loyalties and hypocrisy..
Get ready to discipline yourself with our Loving God.....
Come on...receive your brother who is back with repentance..

Submit Proud Man/Woman....

Open up...your mind, heart,eyes, ears.....let us hear the cry of our brother/sister..
See the beauty of the nature...give up the rigid framework of our perception...
Open the doors...let the fresh air comes in....
Open up..give up all kind judgemental attitudes.....I am holy...he/she is sinful...
Give up the prejudices and embrace your brother/sister...rejoice together...
Be transparent...

Submit Proud Man/Woman....

Make an indwelling relationship with our God...human.....rest of the creation.....
A just and genuine relationship...is not like a relationship in the market....
Not the management skills..but love is the basis...
Not the profit.....but sacrifice...sacrificing for your brother/sister.....
Build up a reciprocal relationship with our God....fellow beings.....

God is calling....submit your ego....pride..self-righteousnes...judgemental attitudes...

Expect an answer from God.....

2010-06-17T06:58:00.000+01:00

Expect An Answer

As a drought continued for what seemed an eternity, a small community of farmers was in a quandary as to what to do. Rain was important to keep their crops healthy and sustain the way of life of the townspeople.

As the problem became more acute, a local pastor called a prayer meeting to ask for rain.

Many people arrived. The pastor greeted most of them as they filed in. As he walked to the front of the church to officially begin the meeting he noticed most people were chatting across the aisles and socializing with friends. When he reached the front his thoughts were on quieting the attendees and starting the meeting.

His eyes scanned the crowd as he asked for quiet. He noticed an eleven year-old girl sitting quietly in the front row. Her face was beaming with excitement. Next to her, poised and ready for use, was a bright red umbrella. The little girl's beauty and innocence made the pastor smile as he realized how much faith she possessed. No one else in the congregation had brought an umbrella.

All came to pray for rain, but the little girl had come expecting God to answer…

Reflection Questions

* When have you asked for something but at the time you did not truly believe it was possible for you?

* Looking back now, could it have been possible?

* When have you asked for something and believed with all of your being it would become true?

* Looking back now, did it happen?

Crisis(need) +Human Participation + God's Blessing = Miracle....

2010-06-16T06:40:00.000+01:00

Mark:6:30-43

".....You give them something to eat......and he said to them ,"How many loaves have you? Go and See.....taking the five loaves and two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves......"

Bible talks about how God intervene in the midst of human struggles,need, crisis.....
Shiprah and Puah were used by God in the midst of violence......God uses midwives to counter the agenda of a violent ruler.........really that helped to the rise of a new leader in the history of Isreal....Moses....our bold interventions with God will open up new doors of freedom,hope....to many...

God is not an abstract reality..but God lives in Community(Trinity) and God moves with the rest of creation and God always look forward for the human participation.......

Feeding the thousands......God asks....how many loaves have you?.....a small boy...real hero of the story...shares his food....

I used to imagine that there were many with food...but none of them hesitated to open the food...they thought..if I will open...then I have to share my food with others........nobody responded but the boy said....I have five....God blessed it..see the miracle.....

Hunger is a reality....there..even now....we used to hoard...hesitate to share....

Jesus always ask to the people whom they demand healing or his intervention from him..........what you are expecting from me?...go and wash your eyes..take your coat and walk.....

In First Testament(Old Testament)we could see many stories....God uses many.....

Jesus said to them...fill the jar with water..servants obeyed.....

Today..look around...there are needs, crises, struggles,....in our society, parish....family.....

Where are we?....are we ready to participate with our God....or looking and watching with folded hands ..hesitate to open our minds, hearts, resources......then we may not be with God in the miraculous interventions of our God....

Jesus asks..you should feed them....how many loaves you have.....
Are we ready to participate with our God like the boy who shared his food...midwives...servents.....widow....many..?

Don't forget God will continue the miraculous interventions in the history.......
If we are not with God....then..we are out of the Kingdom of God...God has many options to continue God's mission...

...the midwives feared God

2010-06-15T06:23:00.000+01:00

Exodus 1:15-21 "The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiprah and other Puah, "when you act as midwives to the Hebrew women, and see them on the birthstool, if it is a boy, kill him....But the midwives feared God;they didnot do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but they let the boys live.."

How God acts in the history...?
Through Godfearing people.....
Through the people who have the boldness to say no to the orders of the evil.....
Midwives disobeys the Kingly command and act according to God's will.....and God blessed them with families(v.21)

Resisting the evil is the reponsibility of a Godfearing person....
Protect life, affirm faith in God and do God's will......

Midwives counter the violence....in so doing, they bear witness to mothering power of God, whose will for life overrides the killing, and whose power for life is undeterred by the death dispensed by the powerful.....

Midwives...insignificant women took part in the will of God......
Do we have the courage to say NO to EVIL....and YES to God....

If we continue the silence.....or if we obey the orders of Evil....we are also taking part in the violence.........

As children of God....let our hands do the will of God...let our toungue speak truth and justice....let our legs walk in the paths which our God shows...let our eyes see God......let our decisions and actions for the extension of the Kingdom of God....

If we do not act with our God today........or if we silent today in the midst of evil.........

Jesus said."..I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out"
(Luke 19:40)

The Solitary Piece of Coal...

2010-06-14T08:17:00.000+01:00

Read this story carefully......and ask why I didn,t come to the church yesterday.... or....why I have to worship God....

Juan always used to attend the Sunday service at his church, but he began to feel that the priest was always saying the same thing, and stopped going.....

Two months later, one cold winter night, the priest came to visit him....
'He is probably come to try and persuade me to go back,'Juan thought to himself. He felt that he couldn't give the real reason for his absence-the priest's repetitive sermons.....he needed to find an exuse and, while he was thinking, he placed two chairs beside the fire and started talking about the weather....

The priest said nothing. After trying in vain for some time to start a conversation, Juan gave up. The two men sat on in silence for nearly half an hour, staring into the fire.

At that point, the priest got up and, with one of the logs that had not yet burned, he pushed one piece of coal away from the flames.

Since there was not enough heat for the coal to continue burning, it began to cool. Juan quickly drew it back into the centre of the fire.....

'Good night,' said the priest, getting up to leave.

'Good night, and thank you very much,' replied Juan.

'However brightly a piece of coal may be burning, it will soon burn out if you remove it from the flame. However intelligent a person may be, he/she will soon lose his warmth and his/her flame if he/she disances from God and his/her fellow man/woman.....I will see you at church next Sunday.' ......said priest.......

What about us?.............................

We are called to be a Worshipping Community..............

2010-06-12T06:14:00.000+01:00

Psalm 116:17,18,19..."I will offer you a thanksgiving sacrifice and call on the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people,in the courts of the house of the Lord, in your midst....".

What is the purpose of human life?
There are many purposes....among them.. .the major one is be with God and be the co-workers of God...

In a way we are the spoke persons, ambassodors of our Triune God....
We are called to witness God's mission in this creation....

1. We are called to be a responsible community...
A community that works with God faithfully and responsibly....
A community that gives much importance to God's words than any other words.....

As a responsible community we should know the daily interventions of God in our lives and the lives of others...

2. We are called to be a witnessing community....
We are called to be with God and we are the co-workers of God...and we know how just our God is....how generous our God is....how merciful our God is....
Our God is a life giving and life affirming God....

then what..?..we know all these....
Psalmist says.....give thanks to the Lord...

3.We are called to be a thanking community...
Give thanks to the Lord for everything.....our life...our wisdom...possibilities...
Thanksgiving is one of the important responses as human being we are supposed to do...bu giving thanks we are saying without you....I am nothing...I don't have anything to be proud of....we are accepting God's providence...our limitations....

4. We are called to be a worshipping community...
A community that calls the name of the Lord....
A community that offer sacrifice to God...in the presence of all people......
Sacrifice...?...your life as a sacrifice..........

Let me ask these questions to ourselves....
How much we are responsible...?..a kind of numbness....lethargic...

How often we witness our God.. ?..we have to share our witness with our children...family....

We pray for everything.....but how sincere we are in expressing our gratitude..thanks to our creator..sustainer.....

Do we have the courage to call the name of our Lord in the presence of all....?
How eager we are in worshipping our God.....

Do we have the commitment to face the risks...pains....struggles which may come in our lives while we worship our Lord.....

How we can lethargic....when others worship our Lord...?
How we can lazy when others praise and thank God in the courts of our Lord...

Come to the courts of our Lord and join in the act of witnessing, thanksgiving,and worshipping .......in the temple of our Lord......

An Earth Sunday Prayer.......

2010-06-11T18:17:00.000+01:00

Let us pray......
We thank you, merciful God,
for the beauty of the earth and the sea,
for mountains, plains and rivers,
for the singing of the birds and the grace of flowers.
We thank you for all good gifts,
and pray that they may be preserved for those who come after us.
Let our thankfulness for your rich creation grow, joyfully.
Let us taste the meal you have prepared in the world to come.
We pray that we all may inherit the treasures of the holy,
and that we may live in your heavenly city,
in the name of Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord,
who lives and governs with you in the oneness of the Holy Spirit,
for ever one God, in a world without end.
Amen

Christ on the Road side............

2010-06-11T06:48:00.000+01:00

This is a story I heard many years back.....this story talks about three kinds of responses........

Jesus was waiting on the road side.......

After sometime.....one of the followers of Christ came...in a car.....
This person has seen Christ is standing at the side of the road...
But...that person was busy.....he(she)thought...why I should waste my time by talking to Jesus.....he went.....pretending that he/she didn't see Jesus....
But Christ realised that......he is one of his followers......

Jesus was on the road side.....

After sometime one more person.....
Christ looked eagerly at him........whether he will stop or not..?
Surprisingly....he stopped..and asked to Jesus.....Hello Jesus..where you want to go?
....Jesus said.....I want to go to a Dalit's house....that family is really wants my presence...as they are discriminated by the upper caste people....
When he heard...he thought for a while......and said....sorry Jesus....
I am not going that way....I am going towards other direction.....and he went....

Jesus was on the road side.....

One more person came.....
She immediately realised the person who is standing on the road side.....Yes...it is Christ...she stopped her car and get out of the car...and wished and received him....
She did not asked him....where you want to go...instead said....Lord...get in to the driver's seat...and drive this car according to your will.....

Jesus was waiting for such a response......
He said to her...thank you daughter....Jesus led her life(journey) according to Jesus' will....

Are we too busy to avoid Jesus...don't have time to spare to Jesus...?

Some time we would like to drive the car according to our will and wish....by sidelining Christ....We always like to drive our car by ourselves...we want Jesus..but we are not ready to give the driving seat to him....

Let us give the driving seat to Jesus...let him drive...let him control our life......not our will but God's will...some times we may travel the places we do not know...we may meet the people we discriminated... people in tears....struggles......journey with our Christ will be an eye opening journey.....

Are we ready for that....?

.....Story.............What we learn from this...?

2010-06-10T23:09:00.000+01:00

A Rishi was practicing his tapas in the Jungle . To his ashram came a bewildered rat in a hurry . It looked restless and scared . What makes you so scared ? asked the rishi . The rat replied .... A cat is chasing me , am afraid it would eat me out .

the Rishi thought for a while ... " Okay Let me make u a cat " POOF !!! The rat was blessed and the rat became a CAT . . . The (erstwhile rat) CAT was happy . It bid him thanks and walked out with courage and strength ....

Days Later ... The CAT (erstwhile rat) rushed into the rishis ashram with same scare and bewilderment .... What happened again ? asked the Rishi with same care and consern . The CAT replied now a dog is chasing me and am scared it might kill n eat me ...

The rishi replied "Okay let you become a DOG".. enthused and empowered felt the CAT . It thanked the Rishi and walked with much Power and strength...

Weeks rolled on ... The DOG ran in to the rishi's ashram again seeking refuge ..
"And now my dear DOGGIE ... What made you so sared ? You do u seek refuge here in my ashram ?" asked the Rishi ... The DOG said .. "Oh Learned Saint .... i am being chased by a Cheetah.... The cheetah is so scary it will hunt me down hence Convert me into a cheetah so that i ll be the mightiest in the jungle ... " . the rishi found this to be a good solution for the problem and blessed it and the DOG Became a CHEETAH.

The Fully Empowered cheetah walked majestically out of the Rishi's Ashram !
On the way .... The CHEETAH thought for a while .... "This Rishi is converted me into a CAT then a DOG and now a CHEETAH .... " " All is well now !! " ...."er... What if he makes another MOST POWERFUL CHEETAH than me ... the Mightier cheetah mught kill me .... Wats the way out.. thought the CHEETAH . then it decided . The only way out is to kill the RISHI ... No more mightier problems for me ... I d be Happy ! " The CHEETAH approached the Rishi to kill him....
Poof !!! The Cheetah became a rat ... The rishi , the creator of this CHEETAH knew the CHEETAH's mind ... so The Rishi re-converted the CHEETAH to its original form the RAT.

I got this story from internet .............do you find any meaning in this.......?

Mar Thoma Church - My extended home

2010-06-10T10:14:00.000+01:00

Let me talk about the church I belong......

A few years ago in a first communicants' class I asked a few questions to the students...the questions I asked are....

1. Name of our church? Noboby given the full name.....do you know....!!!!!?

Ans:Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church

2. Can you explain..or..could you elaborate name of our church...? One of the students said....when somebody asked Thoma to move ..then we got the name mar thoma (thomayodu mari nilkkan paranjappol- Mar Thoma aayi).....!what an answer......can you elaborate our church's name.....

Ans: Malankara - Malakalude Kara(land of hills)=Keralam....
Mar = Saint
Thoma = Saint Thomas
Syrian = Early Christians of India later nurtured by the eastern churches
especially from the syrian church.....the tradition we belong....

3.How old our church.......many answers...100...200....!!!!!!!!

Ans: AD 52, St.Thomas Came to India in AD 52 and a community of believers accepted christ as their saviour....This church is rich in its history,teachings, liturgy,symbolic expressions of faith...........Even this church was there even before the first book/letter of the present New Testament......

4. Can you identify some of the features of this Church...

a) It is an Eastern Reformed Church
b) It is a Missionary Church....
c) Our church is an Ecumenical church......

We will continue this discusion...in 'my scribbling pad'..........

Challenges in the life.........like Goliath.......

2010-06-10T06:20:00.000+01:00

Read- 1Samuel 17

1Sam17:45 says, "David said to the Philistine(Goliath),"you come to me with sword and spear and javelin;but I come to you in the name of the Lord...."

Challenges like Goliath....

How David(a small shepherd boy)could overcome the Goliath?
Because he believed in a God who protects the weak....

When he looked at Goliath(the biggest challenge ahead of him)he has seen God standing behind of Goliath.....David didn't bother about the challenge ahead of him....but he had a trust in the Lord that God will with him to overcome the biggest challenge....

Goliath(challenges, struggles,..some times we may think that this is the end of the life...)is reality...

But as children of God we should see and trust in the Lord....
Don't be afraid of Goliaths....in our journey.....
Look to God....trust in God.... because our God is our refuge and fort...
Our God is with us....by faith we could see God....bigger and mightier than any enemies or challenges ahead...

There is no life without challenges...
Accept the challenges and struggles as it is....but move with God...

Don't simplify or exaggerate the challenges...
Face it like David.....

Even our Christ undergone through challenges......
Whenever he faced challenges....he spent time with his Father....
At Gethsemane he really cried.......broken.....
But he faced the great challenge...CROSS...
Christ defeated the powers of death........

Face challenges...courageously....because our God is with us...

Pray to God....God give me enough strength to face challenges in my life....
God I could see you in my struggles....I am not alone.....
God help me to see you bigger and stronger than any challenges in my life...

Don't see God as small...and challenges ahead are big......

"He (Jesus) is out of his mind".........................(Mark:3:20-21)

2010-06-09T11:18:00.000+01:00

Mark 3:20-22

New International Version(NIV) says, " When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, "He is out of his mind"... the teachers of the law who came down form Jerusalem said, "He is possessed by Beelzebub!....."

New Revised Standard Version says, "When his family heard it, they went out to restrain him, for people were saying, " He has gone out of his mind"....

Listen...Jesus said, "Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man."(Luke:6:22).

Madness of Jesus and disciples...a construct of the dominant, sinful, unjust forces...

Why they ( People, family, religious leaders) made such a defaming allegation against Jesus?

In Jesus' time there were many rules and regulations made by the dominant sections
(religious leaders,rich,elite, powerful...)which excluded many(women, gentiles, sick,crippled,children, Samaritan....) from the main strata and used this laws to safeguard their interests(power,wealth,status..)and to oppress many......

But.........

Jesus visited the houses of the excluded...
Jesus dined with them....
Jesus healed them....
Jesus embraced them.....
Jesus accepted the dignity of each person irrespective of the dominant constructs....
Jesus made them as the inheritors of the Kingdom of God.....
Jesus accepted sinners who repented......
Jesus spoke with them.............

Jesus challenged the constructs of the dominant....
Jesus challenged the discrimination...
Jesus challenged the patriarchy....
Jesus challenged caste ism.........
Jesus challenged the hypocrisy.....
Jesus challenged the powerful,rich.........

Jesus taught to love your enemies...
Jesus taught to reconcile...
Jesus taught to be the agents of justice and peace.....
Jesus taught to share yourself......your wealth........

Jesus moved against the establishments of the sinful....
Jesus turned his face from the unjust with anger.......

Jesus denied the power, wealth, fame.....they offered to him....

they said....he is out of his mind.....

Are we ready to move with our Lord, Saviour and Liberator.......?
Are we ready to hear....he is out of his mind.....fools..don't know how to accumulate wealth.....

Jesus spoke differently, walked differently, taught to be different........
then they said....he is out of his mind......

No Patchwork.....please..........

2010-06-08T21:37:00.000+01:00

Read Mark:2:21,22
"No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old cloak; otherwise, the patch pulls away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost, and so are the skins;but one puts new wine into fresh wineskins."

Christian life is not a patchwork.....
It is not making some alterations in the life...

But it is a new beginning....a beginning which starts from a new space.....
New beginning(new wine= kingdom of God) could not be possible in an old setting or space(old wineskin)

We cannot experience Kingdom of God in a colonial setting and power relations..
The space where we exists is very important...........

New wine is available through Christ.....
But where does it exists....in our old perceptions, values, and theories....

No.....we should change our perceptions, values and theories ...and they must go hand in hand with the Kingdom values....

A new beginning(unshrunk cloth) is impossible in an old framework(old cloak)...
We should change our old framework then only Kingdom of God will be a reality in our midst....

Are we ready to move with a new beginning by giving up all our old clothes( perceptions which discriminates, values, ego, pride,self,greed,accumulation....)?

We are called to deconstruct the evil practices...

Are we ready to deconstruct the sinful constructs or we are comfortable with the exixsting constructs........

No patchwork please...
But a new beginning with our Lord....

We are called to create new premises (where freedom, love, justice, peace, mutual respect and acceptance....exists) instead of holding on the old premises ( colonial, oppressive, dominating, discriminative, injustice, violence ...exists).....

God is active in this history...God is with us in this great engagement....

No patchwork....please....................

Spirituality......

2010-06-08T08:39:00.000+01:00

Spirituality does not mean acting as a "superman", but it is hanging on the cross.

The spirituality of Jesus is martyrdom,a lonely death, and the cry of Eli, Eli, Lama Sabachthani...

Spirituality of Jesus revealed in everyday life, social space, and in this history...

Jesus spirituality is to cast out the demons, the demons that destructs life and oppress the poor...

The cross of Jesus is the climax of his spiritual struggle....

Jesus was not stoned to death as a religious criminal, but put on the cross as a political criminal - a religio-political criminal.....

The temptations of the devil.....avoid taking up the costly discipleship...look for the 'safe life'.....bow your heads in front of satan.....

The new 'spiritual icons' asks us to gain individual and private comfort....
They never asks us to risk our life for others....for the causes of justice and peace......but our God asks us to risk our life for others.....

But Jesus said, "Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple"(Luke: 14:26,27).

WHO CAN SEE GOD?

2010-06-07T21:57:00.000+01:00

Why I can't see God?

the question haunted me from... from.....many years

God Said to me,"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God"(St.Mathew 5:8)

Pure in heart means.....
a heart with justice, mercy, love, peace....subaltern......

Why Pharoah could not see God ?
a hardened heart....a barren heart.....an unjust heart...
a conquering heart....colonial and oppressive heart..

Why religious leaders of Jesus' time could not see God?
a self-righeous heart
I am OK you are not OK....judgemental...hypocratic...
an exclusive.....you are outsider....

God, fill my heart with justice, love, mercy, peace...so that I may see you.....
God, turn your eyes towards me....
Lord accept my tears..............