All Things to All...!!!

How to Recover the Lost SIM?

2012-08-17T18:09:00.000+05:30

You certainly love your old mobile number. Many people use the same number for years and don’t want to change it. Keeping this in mind the Telephone Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has launched the facility of Mobile Number Portability (MNP) in which you can use the same number but change the operator if you are not happy with it. But what if your mobile or SIM is lost and you have been using your number for long time and you don’t want to buy another SIM because all your contacts have your old number. Here is the process to get a new SIM with same number.

First of all call the costumer care of the concerned operator and report about the lost SIM. You may have to verify your identity that you are the real subscriber of the SIM, so make sure you remember all the details such as in whose name the SIM is issued and what ID proof you gave and what is the address and so. After satisfaction of your identity they will block the services to your number temporarily till you are issued new SIM. They will also give a reference number for your complaint, preserve it carefully.

Once your SIM is blocked, get a ten rupee stamp paper and get all the details written on the paper, such as mobile number, date of losing the SIM, your name address and age etc. you will get a pre-printed FIR format from the same person who prepares your stamp paper. He will get it notified from the notary. This whole thing will cost some 50-65 rupees. You don’t have to worry; you give money, rest they will take care.

Once this paper is ready, make a photo copy of the stamp paper and FIR. Take them to the nearest police station and submit there. They will acknowledge it and give and write on the other copy of FIR which is with you. Take these documents and submit them to the operator’s retailer office. Usually they don’t ask you any other documents, but still keep ready your ID proof and Address proof, in case it is needed. On submission of the copy of FIR, usually the new SIM is given to you immediately and sometimes activated also immediately; otherwise it may take 2-3 days. You will have your old number activated on the new SIM and you will get all the balance or value added services, whatever you had in your old SIM.

Where the Wave of Freedom Has Not Reached

2012-08-14T17:29:00.003+05:30

I-Day Special

Indian is celebrating the Independence Day with lots of pomp and show. It’s the day when India freed itself from the clutches of British rule. Having the feeling of freedom, I cannot hold back myself from exercising the freedom that I have got to express myself. At the same time I feel sorry for my ancestors who did not have this freedom. I and many of my companions are very fortunate that we were born in Free India. Our generation has not seen the struggles and sufferings that our forefathers underwent in order to obtain this freedom for us and whole of India. Since my childhood I have been listening to fiery and inspiring patriotic speeches recalling and recounting the freedom struggles of past. I have not lived in that period of struggle yet I am not stranger to all that. The narration of those struggles makes me proud and responsible to use my freedom.

This is how any ordinary Indian would feel on such occasions. But I feel slightly more than such feelings. The world sees India as Free Country, but a real patriot will not sit quietly and close his/her eyes from the ongoing struggles that Mother India still undergoes. There is still the pain of bondage, a more severe pain than it had during British rule. They were foreigners, not her own children. But mother India is tortured and ill-treated by her own sons and daughters. The readers may feel confused with my views. Let me explain it in a detailed way.

I have had experiences of being in many remote villages. And anyone who has lived or lives in far away villages would agree with what I am going to say. There are many villages where the people have not seen ray of electricity. There are many villages where there are no schools and other infrastructures. There are many villages where people are cut off from rest of the world during rainy season, because there are no proper roads and ways to reach the villages. There are still people dying of hunger, there are children dying of malnutrition and lack of proper medical facilities. There are still people exploited by a handful of powerful people, their basic rights are denied.

Same is the story of many of the cities which are well-developed and advanced. If you really want to see the reality of these big cities, you must go to the slums where millions of dreams are buried under the rags and dirty colonies. There are people who have no regard for human life. There is corruption, crimes.

On the other hand people are caught with corers rupees of corruption. Lots of money is lying in the Swiss bank as ‘Black Money’. The selfishness has crossed all boundaries. Hardly there is any politician who is sincere and corrupt free. Even government beaurocrats are indulged in the game of looting the innocent public. Recently one of the ministers in Uttar Pradesh gave official advice to the government officers ‘they could steal a little.’ What does that mean? Is India really free? After all this you still think Mother India will be happy that her children are free? I am worried.

एक बिटिया की कहानी

2012-08-12T14:23:00.001+05:30

हेल्लो ! मेरा नाम अभी तक नहीं रखा गया है, इसलिए मैं अपने नाम से अपना परिचय नहीं करा सकती, लेकिन फिर भी आप मुझे अभागी अनाथ कह कर बुला सकते हैं. मेरी एक मजबूरी है, मैं मरना चाहती हूँ... क्यों?

जब मैं अपनी माँ के गर्भ में अस्तित्व में आयी, और मेरी माँ को पता चला कि उसके पेट में एक नयी जिंदगी पनप रही है, तो मेरी माँ को थोड़ी खुशी हुई.

जब मैं अपनी माँ के गर्भ में थी, तो मैं अपनी माँ के क्रिया कलापों पर बहुत ध्यान देती थी. उसकी पसंद-नापसंद मेरी अपनी थी. जो मेरी माँ को अच्छा लगता वह मुझे भी अच्छा लगता. जिससे मेरी माँ को घृणा होती उससे मुझे भी घृणा होती. मेरी माँ जब गाना गुनगुनाती तो मुझे बहुत अच्छा लगता. मैंने भी उस गाने को गर्भ में ही सुनकर सीख लिया है. जब भैया मुझे प्यार से सहलाते तो मुझे बहुत खुशी होती. लेकिन मुझे एक बात पर बड़ा अचरज होता था कि मेरे भैया से कहती कि उसके पेट में उसका छोटा भाई है. शायद माँ को या तो पता नहीं था कि मैं अपने भैया का भाई नहीं बल्कि उसकी नन्ही सी बहन हूँ, या फिर माँ ही जान बूझकर झूट बोलती थी.

मेरी माँ के साथ और भैया के साथ मेरा एक गहरा लगाव हो गया. जब भैया स्कुल चला जाता तो मैं माँ के पेट में बैचेन होकर भैया के आने का इंतज़ार करती और उस दिन की कल्पना करती जब मैं भी भैया के साथ स्कूल जाऊँगी. हम साथ-साथ खेलेंगे.

और वह दिन भी आ गया जब मुझे आरामदायक घर छोड़कर इस दुनिया में आना पड़ा. शुरू में मुझे अच्छा नहीं लगा. फिर मुझे जिज्ञासा हुई मेरी उस माँ का हँसता-खिलखिलाता चेहरा देखने जिसकी आवाज़ और मधुर गीत मैं सुन रही थी. उस प्यारे भैया का चेहरा देखने की तीव्र इच्छा हुई जिसके साथ खेलने, स्कूल जाने के सपने मैंने संजोये थे. नर्स ने मुझे साफ बिस्तर पर लिटा दिया है. माँ को पता चल गया है कि उसे बेटी हुई है. वह दुखी है. नर्स मुझे माँ के पास ले जाना चाहती है, लेकिन माँ मेरा चेहरा नहीं देखना चाहती थी, मुझे दूध पिलाना भी नहीं चाहती थी.

मैं अब पांच दिन की हूँ. आज रात को जब अचानक मेरी आँख खुलीं तो मैंने अपने आपको एक अनाथालय के दरवाजे पाया. मेरी माँ मुझे नहीं रखना चाहती थी, इसलिए उसने मुझे यहाँ छोड़ दिया. यहाँ न तो मेरा भैया है, और न मेरी प्यारी माँ की गोद. मैं फिर भी अपनी माँ को धन्यवाद देती हूँ कि उसने कम से कम नौ महीने अपने पेट में तो पलने दिया, और भले ही वो मुझे नहीं चाहती थी, और उसने मुझे इस अनाथालय मैं छोड़ दिया, कम से कम मुझे घूरे या कचरे के ढेर में तो नहीं फेंका, कम से कम मुझे जीवन तो दिया. धन्यवाद माँ ! मैं तेरा यह उपकार कभी नहीं भूलूँगी !!!

संत लोरेंस का पर्व 10 अगस्त

2012-08-10T08:25:00.002+05:30

आज काथलिक कलीसिया रोम के संत लोरेंस का पर्व मनाती है. संत लोरेंस रोम के उपयाजक थे. 258 ईस्वी के अगस्त महीने के प्रारम्भ में रोम के शासक वलेरियन ने यह आज्ञा निकाली कि “सभी धर्माध्यक्षों, पुरोहितों और उपयाजकों को तुरंत मौत के घाट उतार दिया जाये.” जिसका परिणाम यह हुआ कि उस समय के संत पापा सिक्स्तुस द्वितीय को 6 अगस्त को मार दिया गया. लोरेंस के साथी भी मारे गये. उसको बड़ा दुःख हुआ कि मरने वालों में उसका नाम नहीं था. उसने संत पापा से वादा किया बहुत जल्द ही वो भी उनके पीछे हो लेंगे. और कहते हैं कि 10 अगस्त को लोरेंस को भी आग में भूनकर मार दिया गया. रोम में चौथी सदी से संत लोरेंस का बहुत आदर किया जाता है. उनका धर्मोत्साह बहुत सराहनीय है. जब रोम के प्रीफेक्ट ने कलीसिया की सम्पति का हिसाब माँगा तो लोरेंस ने सारी संपत्ति बेचकर गरीबों और लाचारों में बाँट दी और उन्हें लेकर रोम पहुँच गये, और बोले “यही है कलीसिया की संपत्ति.” ऐसे थे संत लोरेंस. आइये हम उन सभी लोगों के लिये दुआ करें जिनका नाम लोरेंस है.

Bsnl Ramzan Offer

2012-08-08T14:13:00.000+05:30

Good News for Bsnl Prepaid users in Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh!!!
Bharat Sanchar Nagar Limited (Bsnl) has announced a special recharge offer for Ramzan.

Recharge with STV Rs. 786 and you get:
*786 Minutes of Local/STD call to Bsnl Mobiles
* 786 Minutes of Local/Std to other mobiles
* 786 SMS
* 786 MB Data
With validity of 90 Days.
This is a limited period offer for prepaid users. For offers on postpaid
and more offers and updates from Bsnl,
Please visit: www.mp.bsnl.co.in, or call 1503 (toll free) from your Bsnl mobile.

All That Matters: Love, Life and Heart...

2012-02-12T11:55:00.000+05:30

Also in the "Weekend" issue of Free Press, Indore (12.02.2012)

Have you ever reflected on the relationship between heart, love and life? What is their importance to each other if any? They are inseparable three vital realities of human life and existence. One cannot exist without the other two. If there is no heart, you have neither love nor life because both love and life spring and come from heart. If you have no love, the life and heart are meaningless and a human being is as good a walking corpse. Even if you do wonders, perform great miracles and change the whole world but if you have no love within, it is all in vain. And furthermore, if you have no life, the heart and love cannot exist. Thus these three things, Love, heart and life are three angles of same triangle. If one of them is missing, the other two also disappear or lose their purpose.

All these three have God as their ultimate source of existence, because it is God who gives life, and it is God’s love that dwells within and fills our hearts and the whole world. The most important among these three is love, because it is the binding force for the other two. You have life because your heart beats and your heart beats because it has love within. It is because of love that the world moves. It is love that changes and renews the face of the earth; that makes human life beautiful.

The very creation of the universe is the outcome and fruit of God’s love. In the Holy Bible we read when God had created everything and saw it, He liked it and said, “Everything is good.” Liking something is synonymous to loving something. So when we say God likes us that means and implies that God loves us and the whole creation. Everything is filled with God’s love; the whole creation exists in God’s love. It is because of this basic nature that creatures express their love for one another. We, human beings, are rational beings hence able to express our love in more creative ways than other creatures of lesser rational nature.

The highest expression of love of one human being towards others is even to trade it with life. Since love, heart and life are all equal hence one thing can be given for the other. There can be no greater expression of love than to go to the extent of giving one’s life for the other. This is what Jesus taught and did. He, being God himself, died for human beings that are just one dimension of His beautiful creation. Jesus is the True expression of God’s unconditional and unreserved love for human beings. It is through giving our life for others that we get life.

The dwelling place of love, the heart starts beating even before a human being takes a proper shape in the womb. And even before the heart starts beating, it is the love between a man and woman in marital context that gives existence to another new life. Sex in the marital context is the highest expression of love by the spouses towards each other. And children born out of this union are the fruits of that mutual love of the man and woman. When a new human being is born it is love that fosters his/her life in a healthy manner. Without love a human being cannot grow as a proper human being.

Today love is the most misunderstood and misused concept. Love is most often confused with many other similar feelings such as liking, lust, infatuation etc. When one likes something or somebody, s/he calls it love, and claim that ‘I love it’ or ‘I love him/her.’ When one wants to possess something or somebody and always be around them, it is not love it is lust. To understand what TRUE LOVE is, one must read Bible. It is the touching Love Story of God and the World. It says and shows what true love is. Just to give a short passage about love from Bible: it says, “Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way (it is not selfish); it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things and endures all things. Love never ends; love never fails (1Cor. 13:4-7).”

जो मेरा अनुसरण करना चाहता है...

2012-02-08T22:43:00.000+05:30

जो मेरा अनुसरण करना चाहता है...

प्रभु येसु ने उनका अनुसरण करने वालों के लिए एक शर्त रखी है कि, “जो मेरा अनुसरण करना चाहता है, वह अपना क्रूस उठाकर मेरे पीछे हो ले.” सभी ख्रीस्तीयों ने अपने बपतिस्मा द्वारा प्रभु येसु के इस आह्वान को स्वीकार किया है. हमारी इस स्वीकृति के द्वारा हम उस अनंत पुरुस्कार के सहभागी बन जाते हैं जिसका वादा प्रभु येसु ने हमसे किया है, और वह वादा है स्वर्ग में हमारे लिए अनंत जीवन. इसके सम्बन्ध में संत योहन हमें याद दिलाते हैं कि “ईश्वर ने संसार को इतना प्यार किया कि उसने उसके लिए अपने एकलौते पुत्र को अर्पित कर दिया, जिससे जो उसमें विश्वास करता है, उसका सर्वनाश न हो बल्कि अनंत जीवन प्राप्त करे, (योहन 3:16).” और हमने अपने बपतिस्मा द्वारा ईश्वर के उसी एकलौते पुत्र में अपने विश्वास की घोषणा की है. प्रभु येसु में अपने बपतिस्मा द्वारा हमें नया जीवन मिला है. संत पौलुस हमसे कहते हैं कि बपतिस्मा द्वारा हमें नवजीवन मिला है और हमारा पुराना जीवन मसीह के साथ क्रूस पर चढ़ाया जा चुका है. (देखें रोमियों के नाम पत्र 6:4-14)

इस भूमिका को याद रखते हुए यदि हमें आधुनिक युग में प्रभु येसु के सच्चे अनुयायी बनना है तो कड़ी चुनौतियों का सामना करना पडेगा. आजकल चारों ओर ऐसी परिस्थितियाँ हैं जो हमारे लिए सच्चा ख्रीस्तीय जीवन जीने के लिए अनेकों बाधाएं उत्पन्न करती हैं. यदि हम चाहे टेलिविज़न चालू करें, या फिर कोई भी समाचार पत्र या पत्रिका उठाकर पढ़ें, हर तरफ ऐसी खबरें भरी पड़ीं हैं जो मानव जीवन की नैतिकता के पतन की ओर इंगित करती हैं. इतने सारे अपराध, उपभोक्तावादी सोच, नई-नई विचारधाराएँ जो आसानी से आनन्दमय जीवन का भरोसा दिलाती हैं, सुबह से लेकर शाम तक हमें ऐसी परिस्थितियों का सामना करना पड़ता है जो जाने-अनजाने में हमारे समक्ष प्रभु येसु का अनुसरण करने में बाधाएं पैदा कर देती हैं. हममें पवित्र आत्मा निवास है और ईश्वर का वही आत्मा हमारा ईश्वरीय जीवन जीने में उचित मार्गदर्शन करता है. लेकिन यदि बार-बार हम उसकी प्रेरणा को अनसुना कर देंगे तो धीरे-धीर हमारी अंतरात्मा पवित्र आत्मा की प्रेरणा के प्रति उदासीन हो जायेगी, और हम पाप के चंगुल में फंसते जायेंगे, और हमें इस बात का तनिक भी आभास नहीं होगा कि हम ईश्वर से कितनी दूर चले गए हैं.

कहा जाता है कि यदि एक मेंढक को उबलते पानी में डालो तो वह थोडा भी तापमान अधिक होने पर मर जाता है, लेकिन यदि उसे समान्य तापमान वाले पानी में डालो और धीरे-धीरे उस पानी को गरम करो तो वह बहुत देर तक उस गरम पानी को सह सकता है. हम जब पानी के अंदर होते हैं तो हमें उसका नुकसानदायक तापमान महसूस नहीं होता लेकिन अगर कोई बाहर से उसे छुए तो बता सकता है कि हम कितने ठन्डे या गरम पानी में हैं. उसी प्रकार जब हम अपने चारों ओर पापमय वातावरण पाते हैं तो हमें अपनी आध्यात्मिक हानि का आभास नहीं होता. लेकिन यदि कोई हमसे बेहतर आध्यात्मिक जीवन जीने वाला व्यक्ति है तो वह हमारी कमजोरी हमें बता सकता है.

कई बार हम अपने अंदर तथा अपने चारों ओर व्याप्त पाप को नहीं पहचान पाते. हम बहुत सारे छोटे-छोटे पापों को नज़रंदाज़ कर देते हैं. पूर्व संत पिता धन्य योहन पौलुस द्वितीय ने एक बार कहा था कि आज की पीढ़ी का सबसे बड़ा पाप खुद पाप को पहचानने में उदासीन होना ही है. इस दुनिया में ऐसा कौन व्यक्ति है जिसने पाप नहीं किया, हम सब पापी हैं. फिर हम इस बात के प्रति क्यों उदासीन हो जाते हैं? माता कलीसिया हमें चालीसा काल के रूप में ऐसा समय प्रदान करती है कि जब हम अपने जीवन की अंधी दौड़ में कुछ पल रुककर सोचें कि क्या मैं बपतिस्मा में मिले उसी नवजीवन को जी रहा हूँ या इस संसार का जीवन जी रहा हूँ? क्या मैं बपतिस्मा द्वारा प्रभु येसु के अनुसरण करने के निमंत्रण को भूल गया हूँ और अपना क्रूस रास्ते में ही छोड़ दिया है? ख्रीस्तीय जीवन चुनौती भरा जीवन है, क्रूस ढोने का जीवन है. चालीसा काल हमें अपने दयालु पिता की ओर वापस मुड़ने का निमंत्रण देता है. ईश्वर हम सबको ऎसी कृपा दे कि हम अपने स्वर्गीय पिता के दयालु प्रेम को पहचान कर अपने पापों से विमुख होकर सारे ह्रदय से उसकी ओर लौटें.

बी. जोंसन मरिया,

Merry Christmas

2011-12-24T14:49:00.000+05:30

The True Message of Christmas

(Also in Weekend Issue [25.12.2011] of Free Press, Indore)

Christmas is the commemoration of the Birth of Christ that took place more than two thousand years ago. December 25 has been celebrated, as the birthday of Jesus Christ, and birthday, whose ever it may be, is always a matter of great joy, we start the preparations for Christmas around thirty days before the actual day. There is lot of decoration done, we clean and decorate our houses, send greeting cards to our near and dear ones, prepare a crib and off course, participate with full devotion in the liturgical celebrations. Often on Christmas day we invite our friends and relatives for a sumptuous meal to share our joy. This is what we normally perceive what the Christmas is, but is that all, the Christmas is about?

Christmas is not just an event of celebration, something celebrated outwardly. It’s a great event not only in the life every Christian but in the history of salvation of whole humanity. It’s not only the commemoration of the birth of Jesus in a manger at Bethlehem, but it’s an event that marks coming down of God Himself to meet humanity, to live among best of His creation, the human beings, so that they give up their evil ways, turn to God and be saved. It is an event when God’s love towards humanity crossed all boundaries. The “Days of Advent” are given to us not just for decorating our houses, but also to decorate our hearts and prepare ourselves internally as well as spiritually. God’s decision to dwell among humanity is an invitation for all of us to turn towards God. God loved the world so much that He gave His only son (Jesus Christ) to save all human beings, and to teach us to love one another. Now it is our turn to do our part.

Is there any religion that teaches that loving one another is sin and harmful hence should not be practiced? Has God ever asked a person to do something that is impossible for him/her? The only true message of Christmas is this: God loves us unconditionally, so much so that He sent His Son Jesus Christ, who died as an innocent victim on the cross for the sins of whole humanity. In return, God does not want from us anything extra-ordinary but only that, we should love Him and one another sincerely. Ultimately, God would want that the whole humanity, whom He has fashioned out of His Eternal love and creativity, live in peace and harmony. That’s why he came down as “Prince of Peace.”

Today, the world is facing lots of challenges. Peace seems a rare commodity; peace within individuals, peace with the nature etc. There is lot of turmoil and disturbance in the world. People, instead of loving one another, are bent on to shedding the blood of one another in the name of caste and creed, for selfish motives. The other person has become just an object to satisfy one’s desires. Will the god of any religion want that this world should be flooded with one another’s blood? Will God, whom we call by whatever name want, that human beings should not love one another? The real Christmas or any festival for that matter will be meaningful only when we realize that God loves us unconditionally and so we also should love one another. So let’s try to understand the real meaning of Christ’s coming into this world (Christmas) that is, God being born not in a manger but in the hearts of whole humanity. Let us turn to God, love Him, and love one another.

- B. Johnson Maria

50 years of NITSC

2011-11-28T19:28:00.000+05:30

The North India Theology Students’ Conference (NITSC) had originally a small beginning. In the early fifties, the three colleges namely Leonard Theological College (Jabalpur), Serampore College (Serampore) and Bishop’s college (Calcutta) joined together at annual conferences. They used to host the conferences in rotation. Five student representatives accompanied by staff guide from each college attended the conference held for three days. In a response to a suggestion from then acting principal of Bishop’s College, NITSC in 1967 invited St. Mary’s College, Kurseong (now Vidyajyoti College, Delhi) to be its member. With two students from St. Mary’s college, NITSC acquired an ecumenical flavor. Since then NITSC has been growing from strength to strength. Many theological colleges of different denominations, offering B.th of B.D. degrees or their equivalents have been enrolled as members of NITSC.

It was during the 36^th NITSC (1997) in Leonard Theological College in Jabalpur, that the conference felt the need to develop its vision further. It was at this conference that the members decided on the apt motto of “UNITE SHARE TRANSFORM” and also selected the emblem for the same. At this conference its Constitution was also drafted adding a clearer sense of purpose and administration to the NITSC.

The conference has continued through the years to be the occasion that facilitates ecumenical fellowship, worship and theologizing in order to develop deeper understanding and newer practical strategies for life and ministry of the Church today. This has been carried on through the process of presentation of seminar papers on topics and issues decided by the conference as necessitating study and reflection for the benefit of Christianity for the future. The annual conferences are organized by the President, General Secretary and staff advisor of the hosting college and it is conducted with the help of the committees drawn out from among the delegates of the various colleges represented.

God is always near...

2011-11-20T08:22:00.000+05:30

 There may be many times when you feel God is far from you... when God seems to desert you...

 Don't worry... ask others... Perhaps He is close to them... they can bring Him closer to you.

 The point is when you waver in faith... look at others faith... that will enhance your faith too...

 God never forsakes us...

 We may feel sometimes so...

 But our feelings are not always indication to right path...

God is always near!!

Assignment

2011-09-11T22:16:00.000+05:30

My Perception of Priesthood in Today’s Context

The seemingly bitter side of the reality: The other day I had a casual talk with one of the senior parishioners of the local parish. The conversation was about the celebrant of the novena mass for the day. And somehow unknowingly we started to talk about the priests. He told about a priest who quit priesthood and married, presently running a school. He is having a good family life with two small kids. This old man felt that it should not have happened, and I tried to explain to him in my own words so as to why it might have happened and why it possibly happens. I said, “its perhaps because he was not firm in his vocation, he must have not taken his spiritual life seriously.” I thought it was a good answer and that would satisfy my partner in conversation. But it was my turn now to be surprised and shocked on what he said next. He said, “It has nothing to do with vocation, the world outside is very challenging today and to live an easy and comfortable life, the boys join priesthood.” He might be wrong in his perception about priesthood today, but certainly the situation is not what it used to be before.

A link between God and people: The world is changing and so the concept and perception of priesthood today. I have always looked on a priest as someone who voluntarily gives up everything, including family, property, heritage and even his personal self, and stands as a mediator between God and the people. The need for the priests has increased to a great extent today as the people are slowly ignoring the importance of spiritual life and loosing the sense of sin, the state of being without God. What is most dangerous is that they don’t know all this, and there has to be someone who can remind them of their silliness and God’s love to them.

One who is much in demand today: In this consumerist and competitive world which follows the principle of ‘survival of the fittest’ the people are very busy in things that have no much value for the life to come. Religion has become the least priority except for those who are in the ‘evening of their life’ and preparing to meet their Creator soon. In fact people think, it is the last thing to care about spirituality and religion. The world is so fascinating that they don’t much feel the need of God in their lives. Today there is a dire need for someone exclusively appointed to lead them to God and Spirituality. That can be none other than a priest. Yes, a priest is meant to lead, to lead the people from worldliness to God, to lead people from consumerism and materialism to human values, lead people to feel the need to restore that image and likeness of God in them.

One who Lives God’s will: People follow the leader and a priest being a leader must look for his inspiration and strength in the leadership of Jesus himself. They say, “People may not follow what you preach but surely what you do.” It is easy to follow the one who does things than the one who just utters mere empty words. To lead the people to God, to make them feel the unconditional love of God, the priest himself must feeland live it first. Mere empty words do not produce any fruit. The priest has to bespiritual not just preachspirituality. Today there is increasing tendency among the priests to be busy in ‘the work of the Lord than in the Lord of the work.’ When disciples returned from evangelizing, Jesus asked them to come to a lonely place and spend some time in prayer. Even Mother Teresa, the more she worked, the more she spent time in prayer. There are numerous examples of priests who spent time in prayer and became the reason for many strayed souls to return to God. St. John Mary Vianney is one of them. To put it in a nut shell, a priest has to be a man of God so that he can lead others to become the people of God.

A Leader of the leaders: The world is much advanced today, and the people have great knowledge about things. A priest is meant to lead the engineers, advocates, managers, businessmen, peasants and people from all walks of life. Obviously he has to be all for all. That’s what Christ became. He became a friend to sinners, became a Guru to the intelligent and compassionate to the ignorant, forgiving to the offenders and became all to all, and a priest is called to be another Christ. I want to be a dynamic priest who is dearly loved by God and through whom God loves the world and world loves God.

A Teachers' Memories...

2011-09-04T22:52:00.000+05:30

… He taught me a lesson for life!!!

We human beings are strange beings! Sometimes we want to forget things but they still keep clinging to our memories and sometimes we want to remember and cherish some things but they fade away only to leave us perplexed and confused.

It was when I was in third standard in a school of my village. Those days only few schools used to be there and there used to be ‘real teaching’ there. The head master (principal) was very strict and off course he loved discipline in the school.

Once, my classmate and I planned to ‘steal’ some old news papers that were put in the store room. Actually we wanted to cover our books and that was the best option available for us. We promptly executed the plan. Somehow the headmaster came to know. He was known for his thrashing of the students who deserved the punishment. I had never had a chance to be punished; I was rather good in studies and over all a good boy. When he came to know of this act, he called the whole class together in the games period.

All were quiet and perhaps knew what was going to happen. He called the first boy and gave him thorough beating. The boy cried, begged pity but he was not spared till the master was satisfied. Those days teachers were given freedom not only to teach the subjects but also to form the character of the child. Perhaps that’s why the master was obliged to correct us.

Meanwhile I was already shivering and waiting for my chance… And finally he called me. I went to him slowly and softly, my heart beat already reaching to its height. But to everyone’s surprise he didn’t beat me… he called me close… kept his arm on my shoulder gently and said, “You are a good boy, the whole school knows it. Then what made this good boy to do such a bad thing. Stealing is bad, isn’t it?” I nodded my head in approval. He continued, “I know you will not repeat it.” I started crying, first slowly, then loudly. He said, “Now go home and get that paper back.” I ran without thinking further for another moment, and brought the paper. He taught me a great lesson that we can change the persons with love more easily then punishing. Love changes the world, love leaves memories in your heart. That was a great lesson not only for me but for the whole class. I will remember this incidence till the day I go to the grave.

The Last Death!!

2011-07-02T21:29:00.000+05:30

The disciples sat around the guru. After a short, mysterious pause, the wise guru began to instruct them-“the in taking of liquor, smoking or being addicted to intoxication destroys the family and kills the person.” And there was silence.

This was not a newly discovered truth for the disciples; they had heard it several times before, even the packets carrying intoxicants, also carried the same instruction, in fact warning. So this was nothing new told by the guru.

One of the curious disciples stood up and attempted to show off his wisdom by questioning the guru. He said’ “but guruji I come across many persons who have been addicted to such things for a long time, yet their family has no problem, and even taking different kinds of intoxicants for a long time, the person doesn’t die. I think what you say is not 100% true, though it might be true in some cases, but not always and for everyone.” And he sat victorious without even expecting a reply. Others admired him for witty explanation.

The guru paused for a while in silence and said, “My son if you could understand it so easily, you could no more remain a disciple, the world would become your disciple.” All the disciples were dismayed at this. The guru continued,-

“The person who is addicted to liquor or other kinds of intoxicants, he feels liberated for while from all his worries and tensions. But he also looses the sense of his responsibilities towards other people who are dependent on him. That creates gap between him and others related to him. The day he begins to take these things, he begins to die, though gradually. He dies intellectually…spiritually…emotionally…psychologically and physically which is often at the end and perceptible by all. It is the last death he dies and it is only of the many deaths he dies in the process.” There was a solemn silence. The disciples sat quiet and content in their intellectual curiosity for then.

-B. Johnson Maria

God Thus Loved the World…

2011-03-23T13:05:00.000+05:30

We, human beings are not like other living beings on this planet. We have rationality, probity, religiosity and many more qualities that make us poles apart from other beings, but that does not mean that there is nothing in us that is common with other beings. Each one of us has come into this world with a special purpose, with a plan already well charted out by God for us. When we do something great, something good for others, we feel contented and blissful. Whatever we do according to the will of God, it makes us happy and whatever we do that is not according to the will of God, it gives us dissatisfaction and deprives us of internal peace.

There is nobody who is born without an aim or with no purpose. What is most significant and heartening is that we are sent here with apposite knacks and capacities to accomplish that plan or do the will of God in our lives. Nevertheless we cannot deny that we have weaknesses and hurdles on our way to do God’s will. When we forget the ultimate aim of our life and do things that lead us astray from doing God’s will, that creates a chasm between God and us. But that’s not all! The bright side of this story is, when we take one step towards God with a rueful heart, He takes ten steps towards us with compassionate heart.

Very often we live our lives without even making an attempt to know God’s will for us, leave alone doing it. People are busy doing their own will; they feel unperturbed to live in ‘darkness’ or ‘Avidya’ in philosophical terms. We have the Holy books, scriptures and ‘good people’ to help us to discern God’s will for us. They act like sign posts for us. From the very beginning of creation God has been trying to bring people out of this ‘darkness of ignorance’ and give a life of light, a life of fullness. That’s why every so often He sends ‘good people’ to do this job for Him.

When world did not listen to the good people and God’s messengers, He decided to send His own Son, so that he could teach the world a New Lesson, a lesson of love, lesson of doing God’s will. He is called Jesus Christ. It is out of His unconditional love that God sent His only Son into this world so that whoever listens to him may turn away from darkness, discern and do God’s will. God’s will for us is always for our good, for no creator would want evil for his creation.

Nobody had seen God; His Son presents before us the True face of God, the True Nature of God. He told the world about the love of God, not just by words alone but by his deeds and by his very own life. He walked on foot from place to place, carrying the Good News and calling people to live life that God wanted them to. He healed those who were sick; even raised the dead back to life. He taught them the message of life, a message that could turn them back to God and restore that loving relationship with God. All through his short earthly life he did what was good and what was according to God’s will. He never did anything bad, anything against God’s will, because he knew he was sent with a specific purpose and so are we – each one of us!

But some people could not stomach his radical teachings and so for their selfish motives accused him falsely and tried to get rid of him. They gifted him a cross to die on. He could rebel; change everything in a moment, but not. If he could give life to dead, he could also take away life, if he could heal; he could even give sickness, but not so, why? Because that was not the purpose of his coming; he came to give new life and teach a new lesson. He humbly accepted to die a shameful death even without a fault of his own. He was son of God, and how could God wish evil for his children? Even when he was suffering a terrible pain on the cross he pleaded to God, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Perhaps he knew better that we would know it latter. We would understand the value of his sacrifice and immense love latter. God thus loved the world that he came down to us, becoming like any of us and taught us, gave new life by dying a humiliating death for us. He was raised after three days of death and lives with us till the end of time.

- B. Johnson Maria

A Prayer: Help me Lord!

2011-03-14T13:32:00.000+05:30

(Also in "Inspirational Quote" (April 2011 issue) - a monthly from Mumbai)

A little girl, holding her mother’s hand tightly, entered a church to pray. Imitating her mother, the girl knelt down with utmost faith and devotion, to pray. She looked at her mother, communicating with God with eyes closed. She had learnt from her mother that when someone closes eyes, and with full faith, asks anything, it will be granted.

This little girl heard her mother pray thus: “O most merciful God, you are the creator of all. You have created the world and you take care of everything, every creature that dwells in it. Please bless my son in his studies, let my husband do his job well and may he get a promotion, may I always serve my family actively for this grant me good health…” and more. When her mother finished praying, the little girl who was waiting patiently for her turn just murmured few words very softly and finished her prayer very quickly.

When they came out of the church, the curious mother inquired:

“What did you pray for, my sweet darling?”

The little girl replied:

“I didn’t pray for anything, I just said to God, ‘help me Lord!’”

The little girl believed that God had given her the ability to solve all her problems, now and latter, only things she felt was that she might need God’s help in doing so, therefore she prayed ‘help me Lord!’ How much do we rely on God and how much on our own abilities?

- B. Johnson Maria

Lent: A Season of Grace and Transformation

2011-03-08T14:32:00.000+05:30

God created the world and all that is in it. At the end He also created Man (of course it includes woman as well), and He created him in His own image. But man disobeyed God and went astray from God due to sin. Time passed and then God sent his son Jesus Christ to reconcile man to God. And to fulfill this, Christ chose to suffer for whole humanity so that we are saved from the punishment. God is not punishing God, but compassionate God, but our sins keep us away from God and what greater punishment can be for a creature than to remain without seeing His creator, to remain away from the One for whom we are created!

But the fact is that we are all weak human beings and fall astray from God, again and again. And God gives us opportunities to turn away from our sinful ways and return to God. The Season of Lent is among one of such opportunities. God says, even if your sins are red like crimson, you come to me with repentant heart and I will make you pure and white like snow. In other words, we can say that there is no boundary for God’s love and compassion. He loves us unconditionally, despite of our being weak and going away from Him again and again.

Lent gives us the opportunity to retrospect and introspect into our lives and see where we stand, in how much deep waters we stand. He has given us the norms to live our lives – the Commandments. And as we know Jesus had summed up all the commandments into two great commandments viz. Love your God with all your might, with all your heart and with all your soul, and the second commandment also is similar viz. love your neighbour as yourself. How simple! Only two commandments and we become worthy to live in His presence forever! We become suitable candidates for eternal life!

But the story is the other way round. We even cannot obey or fulfill these two ‘simple’ commandments. Today the world is filled with many things that becomes hurdles for us in becoming God’s loving children. The consumerist attitude of the world poses before us a big threat. People are used as objects, just means to achieve selfish motives. People have become so indifferent to each other, that nobody actually has a feeling of concern for anybody. The corruption is at its peak. The weaker sex is ill-treated and mistreated. Women and girls are raped, children are abused, old people are ill-treated, and people have become so selfish that nobody no more thinks anything about others then themselves. People have become so self-oriented; forget about God, they don’t even bother about their own neighbours. Just pause for a moment and think, what is going to be the outcome of all this? Will you expect a good reward from the Almighty for all this? Certainly not. Then what’s the way?

God is ever compassionate, and ever-ready to receive those who repent and decide to mend their ways. Lent is the time to examine ourselves, go within and try to see ourselves form the perspective of God. Nobody is perfect, nobody is saint, so wherever you are, start turning back to God. Lent gives us many ways in which we can examine ourselves and transform ourselves. This is an opportunity to make up the broken relationship with God. The spirit of sacrifice and charity will lead us to walk on the path that leads us towards God. The time spent in praying and fasting will become the precious moments of our experience of our closeness to our Creator. It will create an in-depth longing to be united with our God, our ultimate destiny. And mind you, God is always waiting for us to come back to Him, but during Lent He gives us special grace and strength to transform ourselves and change our lives. Just try to love others and love God whom you ought to. We owe our very existence to Him, so can we live without Him? He loves, waits and forgives... though we may turn away from Him and go against Him but He cannot because that’s His nature!!!

- B. Johnson Maria

Book Review

2011-03-03T21:41:00.000+05:30

“The World’s First Love” by Fulton J. Sheen.

(Presented in Khrist Premalaya Theologate)

Introduction

A book lover would like to read any book given to him, but when s/he is asked to choose one particular book and read it, it’s a hard task indeed. The book I selected for my book review is titled as ‘The World’s First Love.’ It may sound a very romantic title, unless one is familiar with its author namely, Bishop Fulton J. Sheen. This is a romantic book indeed. Before proceeding to tell about the book itself, I would like to say a little bit about the author.

The Author: Fulton John Sheen (May 8, 1895 – Dec 9, 1979) was an American Archbishop of Roman Catholic Church known for his preaching and especially for his work on television and radio. His cause for canonization for sainthood was officially opened in 2002, and so he is now referred as a “Servant of God.” He was ordained a priest for the diocese of Peoria in 1979, and then he soon became a renowned theologian and in 1923 earned the Cardinal Mercier Prize for International Philosophy. He went on to teach theology and philosophy as well as acting as a parish priest before being appointed Auxiliary Bishop pf the Archdiocese of New York in 1951. He held this position until 1966 when he was made the bishop of Rochester. After three years he resigned from this position and was made the Archbishop of the Titular See, of Newport, Wales. He hosted the night time radio program ‘The Catholic Hour’ for twenty years. He then moved to television, presenting “Life is worth Living” (1951-1957). He won an Emmy Award for most outstanding Television Personality. Because of his contribution to televised preaching he is often referred to as one of the first televangelists.

The Book: Of all the books written about Our Lady, Fulton Sheen's The World's First Love is one of the most beautiful ever written. So popular was it when first released in 1952, it was soon republished by various other world known publishers. Its author, Archbishop Fulton Sheen, one of the greatest apologists of the English-speaking Catholic world, a pioneer and leader in Catholic broadcasting, first on radio and later TV, wrote this work at the height of his career. This book is divided into two parts spread over 238 pages, each part consisting of 11 chapters. The first part is titled as “The woman the world loves” in which he explains about the role of Mary in the salvation history from the very beginning till its fulfillment that is till her assumption. In the second part, that is “The World the woman loves” in this part of the book he describes the love Mary has for the world even after her assumption into heaven. Though she has completed the task assigned to her that is to bring forth the Saviour of the world yet she is with the world, she doesn’t abandon the world, she is with the world and this she makes known through various apparitions and unexplained miracles.

The author begins by stating that, when we love somebody or something, it is because we first had its idea and desire and when that is presented before us, we fall in love with it. For example, in a big group of strangers we choose only those people as our friends, who match our expectation and dream of a friend. Our likes and dislikes are also decided based on this same principle. So to say in a nutshell, when we love somebody or something, we already have a prior blueprint of that person or thing. When that blueprint is presented before us in reality, we start loving it. No painter does make a picture without having a blueprint of it in mind.

Even God, before creating this world, had a blueprint of everything and when everything is ‘good’ and according to the blueprint, He loves it. For every created thing, He has one blueprint and they are created accordingly. But this is not the case with human beings, for human beings, God has two blueprints – one as somebody is created and the other as that person should become. The more we move from what we are to what we should be, the more God loves us. But this is not the case with Virgin Mary. She is the only one person in all humility of whom god has one picture, and in whom there is a perfect conformity between what He wanted her to be and what she is, and that is, she is His own mother!

Critical Appraisal: Now some reflections on the work: The work is structured largely chronologically; thus, the author moves from the fall in the Garden of Eden, to the annunciation and visitation and ends with an analysis of Mary's role as intercessor in a world living with the then threat of a nuclear holocaust. The author brings out his extensive knowledge of theology, Scripture and philosophy throughout his reflection, in such a way as to make complex ideas that theologians and thinkers have struggled with for centuries accessible to the average reader. While some of his writing reflects the concerns and assumptions of the 1950s, the vast bulk of the book's content remains relevant for contemporary readers. Indeed, it could be argued that many of his reflections have more relevance for today than the 1950s. For example, in his discussion of Mary as the model of authentic freedom, he distinguishes between false freedom, that is the ability to do whatever one wants to do without any responsibility, and authentic freedom, that is the ability to make the responsible choice that enables us to grow as persons in our relationship with God, the annunciation being the archetypical example of authentic freedom. This book also looks at apologetics type questions, most notably the question as to when belief in the Virgin Birth emerged. The author demonstrates, contrary to liberal theological positions that argue that belief in the Virgin Birth emerged only centuries later, that the evangelists firmly believed in this doctrine. This work's chief strength is that it contains something for everyone on Our Lady: apologetics on the Virgin Birth, analysis of philosophical and theological concepts, devotional chapters dealing with the rosary and the seven sorrows, and discussions of apparitions, particularly Fatima. After reading this book one would discover that this book is written not only for Catholics to deepen their faith, but for non-Catholics wanting to gain more of an insight into what the Catholic Church actually believes and teaches about Mary and her role.

- B. Johnson Maria

2011-02-10T21:51:00.000+05:30

“Who do you say that I am?”

( Khrist Premalaya Chapel)

First of all I would like to take you to the catechism classes that we had when we were small kids. About the purpose of our coming into this world as we were told, is to know God, to love God and to serve God. So knowing God is one of the purposes of our life here on earth. Today’s Gospel invites us to reflect who Jesus is for each one of us. In other words, what Jesus means to us? Or what is the place of Jesus in our life, or how much we have done to know God?

It is a general principle in Indian thought that if I want to search God; I must first know who I am. Or in Biblical understanding if I want to love God I must first love my neighbour. I need to first relate to others and that will relate me to God by itself. For this first I must decide my disposition then only I can say how I am related to the other person. If I say to a woman ‘you are my mother’ that means I am aware and know that I am her son, this applies to any kind of relationship. Similarly to relate myself with God I or others, I must first recognize myself. There is a triangle of relationship that we all know. God – me- and others. All are interrelated. So when I want to relate to God, I must first know what I am… for example if I am a sinner than God is merciful and compassionate father for me, if I am a devotee then God is the one to whom I am devoted to.

In today’s gospel Jesus poses before us this same question ‘who do you say that I am?’ or in other words how do you relate yourself to me? Who Jesus is actually? In his magna carta in the Gospel according to St. Luke, chapter 4:18, 19, we read, Jesus says God has sent me to proclaim the good news to the poor, healing to the sick, sight to the blind… and so on.

In other words Jesus came to be what one needs most. To a sick person, he is a healer; to a dead person he is life giver; to sinners he is forgiving Lord; to ignorant he is teacher; to the hungry he is bread of life… and to a seminarian like me and you… what is he… that’s what he wants to know today. This is very personal question indeed and requires a personal answer. It is not that Jesus doesn’t know who he is for you and me… he knows everything. Then why should he ask us today, who he is or us? This is probably a reminder for us, and invitation to reflect so as to how do we relate to Jesus? Or in other words how much experience of Jesus do we have in our lives.

It is clear fact that there is nobody here who has not have the experience of God in one or the other way. Of course we may not have realized that experience as god experience, that’s totally different case. We are preparing ourselves to give people the same God-experience. And mind you, if we ourselves don’t have that experience how are we going to share it with others. We are called to be the instruments of love and experience. We all have experience of God, but now the question is, how do we grow deeper in that experience?

This is personal affair; I mean we will have to give our personal time to be with God. At 12:45 we have a bell and many of may not know that it is the time for examination of conscience and I am sure the examination of conscience is done in silence and in a quiet place, but how many of us really bother about this sacred opportunity. Forget about sitting in the chapel, many of us don’t even bother to keep silence during angelus bell. Where is our hunger to experience God? Where is our hunger for experiencing God? If we are not thirsty to experience God, what are we here for? If we have not experienced Jesus personally, we can never answer this question which Jesus asks us today, who so you say that I am?

- B. Johnson Maria

Victory will Kiss...!!!

2011-01-21T14:06:00.000+05:30

My limit is not that cloudy blue sky,

But beyond, beyond it, I’ve got to fly,

My aim’s high, dreams tall, firm will,

Leaving to resign, but learning to win,

I’ll go on and on, till I reach the destination,

Though failures may come, with any iteration.

Victory will kiss, while failure will slumber,

‘Cause I’m sure, I will be finally the conqueror.

Since I trust in God and His abiding grace,

The firm will can you, not note on my face?

With His grace we achieve, the great aims,

The lazy won’t do it, though play any games.

Kick the laze, hard work you embrace,

Believing in self and trust in His grace.

And set to fly, high beyond that vast sky,

He’ll be delighted to see you, soar so high.

Aim high and fly high, you’re made for that,

You’ve been given, the power to achieve that

-B. Johnson Maria

2010-11-16T21:48:00.000+05:30

The Faceless Servant

Once I found myself, at the Heaven’s gate, sitting;

Observing the Apostle, receiving guests incoming.

Some came in surprised, and some seemed scared;

Though some trembling, and came as never dared.

No one saw Heaven before, all just imagined of it.
It was a great mystery, and nothing to explain with.

When they entered in it, they examined their guess;
Whether it was same or their thinking was a mess.

Then I saw a faceless man, clad in the white so pure,
Accompanied by the Lord, who loved him for sure.

His steps were firm and confident, gait undisturbed,

He walked victorious and Contended, not perturbed.

Heaven seemed his home, and now he’s come back,

From an expedition, yet safe from the devil’s attack.

Who was that holy man, thinking I must know at least,

So Apostle told me of the faceless servant – the priest.

- B. Johnson Maria

2010-09-15T15:14:00.000+05:30

FAITH AND PRAYER: SOLUTION TO ALL PROBLEMS

Also in "First Edition" Oct. 01-15 isuue

Buddha said “Sarvam dukkham.” i.e. Everything is pain and suffering. People grow old; suffer with and in their old age. They die and go. Thus, the whole life of human beings is filled with pain and sufferings. This is worsening with the advancement in the modern and consumeristic world. New problems and sufferings are born, and hope to get rid of them, becomes all the more vague.

We all have problems of one or the other kind. We have tension, sickness, breaking relationships, mental problems, physical problems and struggle of getting along with the competing world. In fact, problems remind us of our difference with those who lie in the graveyard, without any problem. Only because they are dead! Since we are living beings, so we also have problems, our own sufferings and grievances. There is also a universal fact that no problem is ever born without a solution. But sometimes we are unable to find that solution and these problems become too much, they weigh too heavy. We feel sometimes too weak to withstand so many problems. We feel totally crushed when problems go on increasing and multiplying one after another without any solution..

In such a situation one is compelled to ask oneself, “Is there a way out? Is there any solution to all these problems?” How nice it would be, if there were someone who could solve all our problems, or how nice it would be if we ourselves had the key to solve all our problems. Reflections on some of the very common problems generally faced by the people and my own reflections attracted me to delve into the problem of ‘all problems.’

God solves all our problems and at the same time as John McManus would say “to some He grants restored health of mind and body; to others he grants inner healing and new freedom in the Spirit, while to others he grants the interior grace to unite their suffering with the suffering of Christ.”

The Beginning of Journey towards God

Human beings are on a journey in the world. We come from God and one day we have to return to Him. “The Lord created human beings out of earth, and makes them to return to it again” (Sir 17, 1). We have no permanent dwelling here. However, sometimes we forget this fact and keep ourselves in illusion that we are going to live here eternally and we prepare accordingly. When we forget, from where we come and where we are going to, we lose our way and wander in the dark. To keep ourselves always on the right track, we must always keep in mind our source and destination. We must keep our eyes on ultimate goal and be assured of not going astray. Because He says, “Whoever follows me will have the light of life and will never walk in darkness” (Jn 18,12b).

Our journey begins when we are born into this world. When we forget God, we lose the path. We have restlessness because God’s presence is not there in our hearts; we are not at peace with other human beings, because we do not realize His presence in them. We face problems because we do not trust Him. According to St. Augustine, our hearts will be restless until they rest in God. Therefore, to complete this journey successfully, we must be in constant touch with our source and destination. In other words, we need to communicate to Him in prayer and surrender ourselves in faith.

Faith – The First Step

God is the source of all; trusting him in everything is the first step of getting answer to all our problems. We must have faith and all things will be done for us. Jesus says, “If you are able! – all things can be done for the one who believes” (Mk 9,23). The only thing we need is have faith in God and we will get solutions to all our problems. We just have to ask God to help us because he is ultimate source of us all and we belong to him. Often we don’t find answers to all our problems because we do not take them to the Lord and ask for his help. When we face trials, unexpected situations, failures and defeats, we must have faith in God, just put first step towards God and behold he stands ready to embrace us and rid us of all our problems. It is because of faith, that we get courage to face the challenges and change the things and accept the situations that are not in our hands. George Cheruvil says, “Faith, like life-giving water, refreshes us when the tensions and tragedies of life drain away our strength and energy. It helps us to conquer obstacles and limitations… It heals our wounds and renews us. It brings us back when we have wandered from the right path and are lost.” We are children of God, we need to realize this and act accordingly.

Prayer – A Communication with God

Not only in our problems and difficulties, we need to talk to our heavenly father, but also we must share our joyful moments with him. Talking to him is called ‘prayer’ though it may be defined in different ways. Some would say prayer is actually asking God to provide us what we need, whereas some would say, prayer is actually thanking God for what we have received. I would emphasize on ‘prayer being a constant communication with our eternal source i.e. our God.’ “Prayer is really just talking to God – sharing our hopes, our dreams, our fears, and our heartaches with the only one who understands us completely.” In the world, there is nobody who can solve all our problems except God. Therefore, it is most apt that we share our problems with him. According to Catholic Encyclopedia, “Prayer is often described in terms of intercourse and spiritual communion with God… By it the petitioner’s will and activities are identified with God, effecting an ultimate personal contact and relationship with him.” Thus it is not only sharing our problems with God but prayer is actually the means to be in constant union with God, whether we are happy or sad.

Advantages of Prayer and Faith

When we are one with our creator, what else is there that we should desire? We can get solution to all our problems through faith in God and prayerful communication with him. Our faith and prayer bring us healing. Our faith gives us eternal life (Cf. Mt 9:22; Jn 11:25). It gives us healing, from not only our sicknesses but healing in our soul, healing in our relationships, healing in our thoughts and actions. Our whole self is guided by Divine Providence. Faith and unconditional surrender help us to receive divine grace. Whether it is meditation, prayer, introspection or self-enquiry, the route used would depend on person’s temperament and inclination.

We are rational and spiritual beings, and many of our problems are also because of being away from God. William Johnston in his book Silent Music: the Science of Meditation says- “Assuredly it is acknowledgment that up to eighty percent of modern sickness is psychosomatic in origin, or has a psychosomatic dimension.” When we have no peace within, we are overcome by sickness. To get rid of all problems, we must surrender ourselves to God and pray to Him to help us.

To summarize in brief it can be said that God created man, and takes care of him in all his adversaries. He has created us out of his own free will, and we will return to him one day. We should not wander away from him; he gave grace, faith, and a method of always remaining in communication with him. The method is prayer. Sometimes worldly may not allow us to communicate with God, so these distractions are to be handled carefully. Actually, most of our problems are only because we forget our real source and real destiny. Many of our problems and sicknesses, difficulties and failures are because of losing touch with our Divine source. To get solution to all our problems, we must try to introspect so as to where we have gone astray from God, and consequently mend our ways. Without faith and prayer, it is impossible to have a permanent solution to all our problems.

- B. Johnson Maria

Gazal

2010-09-10T15:17:00.000+05:30

बेक़सी में बेगैरत

मुहब्बत ने जिसे मारा हो, उसे क्या कहोगे आप?

नावाकिफ हैं मुहब्बत से, फिर दर्द का दर्द कैसे सहोगे आप?

जब से बेवफाई ने मारा है, दुश्मन ज़मान हो गया है,
हमसफ़र हुई तनहाइयाँ, आलमे बहार बेगाना हो गया है.

मिलने लगा अँधेरे में सुकून, दर्द बढ़ता है रौशनी में,
ना बाँटो गम हमारा कभी, ना धूप में ना चांदनी में.

यूं तो आसन है मुहब्बत करना, पर मुश्किल तो है निभाना
बेवकूफी है तमन्ना करना उसकी, जिसे नामुमकिन हो पाना.

बेकसी में बेगैरत हैं हम, वरना ये दर्दो गम कौन सहता?
हम थाम लेते दामन बेवफाई का, मुहब्बत को मुहब्बत कौन कहता?

- बी0 जोंसन मारिया

2010-08-22T22:16:00.000+05:30

Proof of God's Love!!!

God's Love is Eternal!!

I was savoring the pleasing snooze of early morning,

When I heard the Father’s voice; the alarm buzzing,

I knew it was time to wake up, yet liked to sleep,

“Wake up, boy!” I heard His voice in the deep,

I’ve got a gift for ye, won’t you my dear, accept?

If you don’t get up, I would suppose, you reject.”

I opened my eyes, thinking what gift was there?

He gave me a new day, so charming and so fair.

Beholding beautiful morning,

I popped out, and began to shout

“Hurrah! A new day, by jove!

Yet another proof of God’s love.”

2010-07-18T22:16:00.000+05:30

Why Not an Extra Step....???

Also in "Free Press," Indore, Sunday 01/08/2010

Human being is the magnum opus of God’s creation. There is no other creature or created thing that can equate with human beings. There are many qualities that make human beings very special and different from other created things. Philosophers say that it is rationality that makes human beings different from other beings, at the same time psychologists say, it is emotional side of human beings that makes them different, whereas religions say that human beings have soul, and God dwells within them and they are created in the image and likeness of God. Whatever may be the case, one thing is lucid enough: Human beings are different and very special creation of the Creator.

Being so different and so special, we hardly ever realize our own real self and potentiality. Each one of us is extraordinary and unique. Boundaries to many of our capabilities remain yet undiscovered. Many of our potentials lie unrealized and unexploited. It’s only because we never try to do more than the required minimum. We never risk taking an extra step. It is not that all are alike and remain in their boundaries, but there are people who took and extra step, whatever may be the field.

In the Holy Bible Jesus teaches not to do only what is required but more than that. He says, people love those who love them, but you should love even those who do not love you (i.e. an extra step in relationships). If anybody strikes on one cheek, show him another also (an extra step in patience). If anybody wants your shirt, give him also your coat (an extra step in charity). And those who take an extra step in any field, they prove themselves different and special – the real identity of human beings. Because of such daring act of theirs, they leave and indelible mark in the society for all to look up to.

On May 22, 2010, Boeing 737 of Air India overshot the runway and hurtled down the cliff, taking 158 lives. It all happened just in seconds. Interestingly some 8 people escaped this fatal blow, to tell the tale of their daring encounter with death and victory over it. We heard it and read in the newspapers, as how they managed to escape. They did not just sat vulnerable and waited for their death but they took a further step… a step to choose life. No one knows when one will encounter with his/her ultimate enemy called death, but we have a choice to choose the kind of death we want. The fortunate survivors escaped because of their daring decision and act. Or this is one way of looking at it. Even miracles are possible, but miracles also take place in those person’s lives who prepare themselves for miracles.

Many people come in the world, live an unknown life and die. Nobody knows anything about them after sometime. At the time of Mahatma Gandhi, there were millions of people, but do we know all of them? Only few people dared to take an extra step and left the world indebted to them

One should reflect whether the work done by that person, is done to the full capacity one could employ. Can I not do little extra, can I not take and extra step and contribute a little more to make the world a better place? There are always opportunities around us, that will make our ‘extra step’ fruitful. So what are you waiting for?

- B. Johnson Maria

The Parable of the Teacher

2010-07-11T14:59:00.000+05:30

(Also in 'The Voice of St. Jude" May-June 2011 issue)

One day a computer teacher in a certain school, set out to reward his students for their hard work and best performance. To decide the right recipient of the reward, he gave them a task, a project to be completed in a certain time.

All sat on their own respective computers; they were allowed to use internet for any required help.

Now, some them their computer, but their operating system was corrupt, they couldn’t proceed and lost all hope of getting the reward. Others switched on their computer but they had no appropriate antivirus so when they had access to the internet, there were virus attacks; they got entangled in it and could not complete the project. While some others had antivirus and also used internet carefully but never gave a little time to scan their hard disk and it got corrupted and stopped responding. Whereas some facing all of the above problems, persevered till the end and even formatted their hard disk to start anew. They were given a new operating system, totally secure antivirus, safe access to the internet and a strong desire to scan their hard disk regularly after each task. Those who completed their project were given the reward of their choice.

Do you understand the parable? Now listen to its explanation.

The teacher is God and the students are the followers of Christ. The given project is the individual vocation which everyone has got. The computer is the whole personality of the person and the operating system is the soul of the person. Grace is the antivirus and internet access is the world in which we live. Virus attacks are the temptations to which a person is exposed and the virus affectedness is the sinful state of a person. Scanning the hard disk is the examination of conscience. Reformatting the hard disk is the repentance. Those who complete their project are the ones who live their vocation successfully and faithfully and deserve the eternal happiness in the presence of God as their reward.

Now, read the above parable once again, keeping all these meanings in mind.

- B. Johnson Maria