Joy

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice" ((Phil.4:4).

It is not sinful to rejoice nor is it unchristian!
Rejoicing in itself is not a wrong thing.
Jesus rejoiced (Lk 10:21).
The disciples rejoiced (Lk 10:17).

A deep sense of happiness is not a thing to be concealed.
To move around with a grim face is no sign of grace!
God is not delighted to see us always in tears!

Jesus went around doing good so that He could augment the quantity of happiness in the heart and in the world.
Let us do everything in our capacity to increase joy and decrese sorrow.
A life that scorns deep emotions is a mean one.

GIVING

GIVING

Giving

giving is

only when nothing

is 

held back!

only when nothing

remains!!

Giving

is

the GIVER

going

WITHOUT!!

That is

giving

in the Divine Style!

Giving

is

living GOD-LIKE!! 

Love

LOVE

Ah!

Where shall I find

an oasis

in this arid desert

of existence?

In LOVE, LOVE

only in LOVE!

Ah!

Where shall I find

enough strength

to withstand

this earthward pull 

of 

gravitation?

In LOVE, LOVE

and LOVE alone! 

John Kudiyiruppil

Dreams

"Your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions" (Joel 2:28).

Joseph, the youngest son of Jacob had a "dream" for which his brothers "hated him yet more" (Gen. 37:8).
They laughed at him and called him sarcastically a "dreamer" (Gen. 37:19).
We too sneer at dreamers as impractical people.
We laugh at their bizarre ideas.
Joseph had dreamt almost impossible things.
He had big thoughts and sky-high ambitions!

In history only people with high thoughts and bold imaginations grew successful.
The case of Joseph provides the best illustration.
Joseph, however, was not merely a day-dreamer.
He woke up from his dream and toiled for its accomploshment.
The result: the very brothers who called Joseph a dreamer, now tell, "He is a governor over all the land of Egypt" (Gen. 45:26).
Yes, the once dreamer is now the Goveernor!
Dream, dream, dream ... ...

Forgiveness

24th Sunday, Ord.Time

Matt.18:21ff.

In the Gospel passage we have just heard, Jesus is dealing with a deeply important subject i.e. forgiveness of injuries or offences.
We live in a sinful and imperffect world and it is vain to expect that we can escape ill-treatment, however well we live.
And Jesus through todays Gospel teaches us that we ought to forgive others to the uttermost.
Jesus told Peter to forgive 70 times seven.

However, this teaching of Jesus about forgiveness must be interpreted with some qualification and caution.
When Jesus tells us to forgive, He doesn't mean that offences against the law of the land and peaceful living should be ignored.
When Jesus tells us to forgive, it doesn't mean that the good order of the society are to be passed over in silence.
To forgive 70 times seven, doesn't mean that we must allow people to commit theft and crimes with impunity.


Then what is the right meaning of forgiving 70 times 7?
It means as Christians we must develope a general spirit of mercy and forgiveness towards others.
It means we must bear much and suffer much rather than pick up a quarrel.
It means we should ignore many things in others rather than have any strife and dispute.
It means we should be careful to avoid anything like revenge and retaliation.
It means that the principle 'an eye for an eye' is utterly unworthy of Christians.


As Christians, we must be more willing to forgive and more desirious for peace.
It takes two always to make a quarrel.
Let us each resolve now, by God's grace, that of these two, we will never be one .
Let us return good for evil.
Let us return blessing for cursing!


Dear friends in Christ,
The beauty of our religion consists in love and fogiveness.
Many people may not understan our theology and typically Catholic doctrines, but they will easily understand a forgiving temper.
Forgive 70 times seven because forgiveness is the best publicity of our religion!

May God bless you!

John Kudiyiruppil MST

Friendship

"Greater love has no man than this that a man lay down his life for the friends" (Jn 15:13).

Our relationship must be more than any parental or spousal, neighbourly or filial obligations.
Relationship is friendship, which is more than enlightened and crafty egoism.
Friendship has sacred qualities.
Genuine friendship doesn't flee from strains.
It foresees them and prepares provisions to face them.

Friends clasp hands together not for the sake of protection nor to fortify themselves against the foe, but of self-forgetting love and devotion.
Friendship is a sacrament, it hides God's presence!