Maranatha : We Care to Share

“Be merciful, as your Heavenly Father is merciful”. Death is inevitable. In fact the only certain thing about life is death. Under normal circumstances, nobody wants to die; however, when a person has a terminal illness, the Death With Dignity Act allows Euthanasia, defined by John Keown as the right to shorten one’s own life with the help of a doctor through lethal injection or deliberate omission (such as removing a patients feeding tube) resulting in an easy death to end pain and suffering. In fact, web site Flow Psychology says the term “euthanasia” is of Greek origin and literally means “good death”. Euthanasia can be applied to anyone at any age who has been diagnosed by a physician as a terminally ill patient with 6 months or less to live. At first glance, euthanasia may sound harmless. Nevertheless, after careful consideration, one may realize the catastrophic results of this act. Giving legal authority to taking one’s own life with the assistance of a doctor to avoid pa...

Meditation Daily Jesus raises the widow’s son at Nain (Lk 7:11-17) “Young men, I say to you, rise!” Respected Fr. Rector, Rev. Fathers and my dear brothers, Today we meditate on Jesus miraculous intervention in the life of widow’s only son. For this poor widow, her only support and hope was her son. She worked day and night to make him great. But all of a sudden, he died. Who can help her from the pit of sorrow and agony? Actually, she also died with him; a death of darkness. All the windows of light got closed. Then Jesus intervened. He brought her son back to life. Jesus, the shining star, shattered all the darkness in her life. We may see the image of the widow of Nain in our own personal life. We may stand in the place of the widow near to the coffin of her son when we are at the adverse situations of our life. There may be situations, when we feel that God is not seeing our pain. On those moments of tribulations we should seek the grace of our Lord with a heart...

Meditation Daily John 17, 20-26 In today’s gospel passage, we can see Jesus glorifying God the father for the blessings that God had showered upon him. Jesus prayed not only for his disciples but also for his future followers, including us. It is the high-time for us today to return to Jesus’ prayer, for it describes his hope, his vision, and his picture of what we, his followers, are to be and how we are to live our life together. Jesus prays that “they may all be one, as you are in me and I in you,that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you sent me”.This is the way that people will come to recognize the true identity of Jesus. To be a follower of Jesus is not simply to believe in him and lead a good life. Therefore the church remains as a place which gives me  the ‘graces’ I need to become a good person, to follow the commandments and to achieve the prime goal that is the salvation of my soul. Jesus prayer reminds us that our unity or onen...

Meditation Daily Fruits of gospel values through our religious life The Gospel of today presents part of the reflection of Jesus around the parable of the vine. To understand the significance of this parable, it is important to carefully study the words used by Jesus. It is also important to closely observe a vine, or any other plant, to see how it grows: how the trunk and branches become united, and how the fruit springs from each. Jesus presents the analogy of the vine. In the Old Testament the image of the vine indicated the people of Israel The people were like a vine that God planted with great tenderness on the hills of Palestine But the vine does not correspond to what God expected. Instead of producing good grapes, it produces sour fruit which is good for nothing. Jesus is the new vine, the true vine. In one phrase alone He gives us the comparison. He says, “I am the true vine and My Father is the vine dresser. Every branch    that bears no fruit He cuts ...

  Meditation Daily                                     GOSPEL PASSAGE: JOHN 2:13                         JESUS CLEANSING  THE TEMPLE                        In today’s gospel passage, we can see that the first public work in which we find Christ directly engaged was, driving out from the temple the traders who made god’s house a house of merchandise. Jesus practices his piety by going to the Jerusalem temple for Passover, and that was a Passover day. In the temple he finds what any pilgrim could expect to find during a festival: a place bustling with religious and economic activity. Jesus focuses, not on the cattle, sheep, and doves that were used for sacrifices, but on the activity of selling. St. Paul advises us whether you eat or drink, or whatever you ...

Meditation Daily സ്നേഹംനിറഞ്ഞ കൂടപ്പിറപ്പുകളെ... At the very outset, wishing you the greetings of the feast of our beloved founder, St. Kuriakose Elias Chavara. In connection with the feast, the holy church wants us to reflect on the beatitudes which are very familiar to us. The 8 beatitudes could be understood as 8 spiritual tests. Those who win the tests will be awarded. I would like to present St. Chavara as a champion who had won these 8 victories. Let us see some of them. Those who are poor in spirit will achieve the medal of the kingdom of god. Poverty here means not just material poverty. Someone who longs for the lord is the one who is poor in spirit. Only a simple hearted person can keep this longing for the lord always. St. Chavara had a childlike heart to call Jesus – Appa, St. Therese of Avila – Amma, and all the saints as his family members. Let us think how much we are complicated within our heart. Those who mourn will be awarded the reward of consolatio...

Meditation Daily LK 13:22-30 The Gospel today speaks in terms of Predestination. Of those who will ultimately be saved Jesus is steadily making his way to Jerusalem Passing through many Towns and Villages. He is approached by a man who asked will only a few be saved he expected a positive answer and that he regards himself as being among the chosen ones . Here Jesus does not answer the question directly but he implies that those who are saved are not necessarily those who regard themselves as god’s chosen ones but rather those who walk a certain path in Life. It is through a narrow door. He says, through which many will not be able to enter. The narrow gate is an interesting image only the essentials would get in and out. In the times a camel with all its load would not fit. Jesus is reminding us of how little we really need. Being with him, we can live in simplicity. St. Ignatius lists three things that block us from god and from real life. Obsessions’ with wealth, ho...