"I saw the Lord in a vision..."

The Gospel According to Mary Magdalene
(The Gospel of Mary)

8) And she began to speak to them these words: I, she said, I saw the Lord in a vision and I said to Him, Lord I saw you today in a vision. He answered and said to me,
9) Blessed are you that you did not waver at the sight of Me. For where the mind is there is the treasure.
10) I said to Him, Lord, how does he who sees the vision see it, through the soul or through the spirit?
11) The Savior answered and said, He does not see through the soul nor through the spirit, but the mind that is between the two that is what sees the vision and it is [...]

I too saw the Lord in a vision yesterday. He was sleeping on a cot and surrounding Him were His sheep and some other animals. It was just for a fraction of a second that I saw this in my dream. I had forgotten about it but remembered now after reading this passage from the Gospel of Mary Magdalene.

Mary Magdalene - Patron Saint of Converts

What I didn’t know about Mary Magdalene is that she is the patron saint of converts.

As the patron saint of converts, Mary teaches us to follow Christ when He calls us.

It is believed that Mary Magdalene came to Marseille and converted the whole of Provence.

After Magdalene was converted to penitence the Lord bestowed such great grace upon her that after the Blessed Virgin no woman could be found to whom greater reverence should be shown in this world and greater glory in heaven. (Bl. Humbert of Romans)

What we all know is that Mary Magdalene was well known as a sinner when she met Jesus. She then felt great sorrow for her sinful life and she became a faithful follower of Our Lord and humbly served Him and His apostles. When He was crucified, she bravely stood at the foot of the Cross with Our Lady and St. John, and she then went to His tomb to anoint His Body with spices. Because of her great love, Jesus chose to show Himself to Mary Magdalene on the morning of the Resurrection, even before He appeared to His apostles.

Isaiah 49:1-6

THE STORY OF MY LIFE...


Listen to me, you islands;
hear this, you distant nations:
Before I was born the LORD called me;
from my mother’s womb he has spoken my name.
2 He made my mouth like a sharpened sword,
in the shadow of his hand he hid me;
he made me into a polished arrow
and concealed me in his quiver.
3 He said to me, “You are my servant,
Israel, in whom I will display my splendor.”
4 But I said, “I have labored in vain;
I have spent my strength for nothing at all.
Yet what is due me is in the LORD’s hand,
and my reward is with my God.”
5 And now the LORD says—
he who formed me in the womb to be his servant
to bring Jacob back to him
and gather Israel to himself,
for I am[a] honored in the eyes of the LORD
and my God has been my strength—
6 he says:
“It is too small a thing for you to be my servant
to restore the tribes of Jacob
and bring back those of Israel I have kept.
I will also make you a light for the Gentiles,
that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”

DEANERY ASSISTANT

Yesterday during the first catechists meeting for 2016-17, I was made the Deanery Assistant. To understand the role better, I am trying to research about it. I have found out only the definition of deanery – it means: a subdivision of a diocese, consisting of a number of parishes, over which presides a dean appointed by a bishop. The duty of the dean is to watch over the clergy of the deanery, to see that they fulfil the orders of the bishop, and observe the liturgical and canon laws. He summons the conference of the deanery and presides at it. Periodically he makes a report to the bishop on conditions in the deanery.

I didn’t understand anything else.

Role of a baptized Catholic

Yesterday again it was a well spent Sunday with the Lord.

In the morning, during the 8:15 am Eucharistic Celebration, there was commissioning and blessing of all the SCC (Small Christian Community) animators by Bishop Agnelo Gracias. This was followed by an orientation programme. This is my sixth year as an animator and I will be serving my second term as a PPC member till 2019.

Again in the evening at 5:00 pm there was an Eucharistic Adoration for all Sunday School catechists which was followed by a meeting and fellowship meal. I was given the role of a Deanery Assistant.

The one point that I brought back home from both these events is that a baptized Catholic is supposed to be doing two things – one, keep the community together and spread the Word of God. Our parish priest Fr. Melvin harped on these two points. I am glad I am doing both these. As an animator and PPC member, I am keeping St.Bonaventure community together and serving the families in our community. Secondly, I am spreading the Word of God as a catechist. So I am glad I have understood what God expects from me and able to work in His vineyard according to His wonderful plans.

I just need to be in good health to carry out all these work. I just pray that my fibroids pain doesn’t bother me much and am able to keep myself active. I ask Jesus, the greatest Healer, to heal me of my fibroids so that I don’t bogged down by the pain which I am going through from the last three days.

Joy of being a catechist

2016-17 marks the fifth year of my life as a catechist. I know people hesitate to become a catechist, but I had always been sure of becoming one. Right from day one, my kids have been regular Sunday school goers. They never threw tantrums to not attend Sunday school (SS) though they cried to wake up early on Sunday mornings too. But once up, they would be charged up. While they attended SS, we attended Mass. At the end of it all, they would always return brimming with joy. This made me wonder what they did at SS. So while I was undergoing my Bible Study course, it became the desire of my heart to be a part of SS too. And though a novice, soon I was absorbed into the team of stalwarts.

At this time of the year, I am always overflowing with enthusiasm though teaching kids about faith is a daunting prospect. But I am glad that I decided to become a catechist. By doing so, I have answered God's call, the call of my baptism. This decision has enriched my life.

When you volunteer to be a catechist you must take it seriously, it is not a job to be taken lightly. The best part of being a catechist is helping kids/teens see how relevant Jesus really is. Friends often ask me what is so great about being a catechist. I guess it’s great to share my faith with children. Being a catechist is an experience of being entrusted with the responsibility and honour of presenting the message of our Lord, Jesus Christ and His church. The call to the ministry of catechist is a vocation, an interior call, the voice of the Holy Spirit – a spirit of faith, charity, hope, courage and joy.

Pope Francis, in his address at the International Congress on Catechesis in 2013, said: “Catechesis is a vocation”. Being a catechist brings joy. Okay, so sometimes it's not ecstasy trying to teach a group of kids about morals when they would rather be sleeping on a Sunday morning. I think one of the best reasons to become a catechist is it puts a smile. The joy of the Gospel fills the hearts and it is one of the few good reasons I feel alive. There are so many blessings that come from being a catechist. I have not only grown in my knowledge of faith but joy as well.

So as the New Year begins, the most important quality that I would like to possess as a catechist is a tangible love of Christ and the joy of being able to give a witness to it rather than just teach information. I feel privileged to spread the joy and beauty of the Faith to the students entrusted to me.

I, Me, Myself...

Children...

Feels great to blog after many days...

24 Hours for the Lord

“24 Hours for the Lord” is a worldwide initiative called for by our beloved Holy Father Pope Francis to invite all people to receive the mercy of God through Eucharistic Adoration and the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It is happening all across the world since March 4th and 5th, kicked off by Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square.

Many churches across the globe have been open for a 24-hour period, beginning with Mass on Friday evening, March 4th, and concluding with Mass on Saturday evening, March 5th. Confessions are also been offered during this “24 Hours for the Lord.”

This is especially a time to invite back to the Church those who have fallen away from the practice of the sacraments and are just waiting for the door of God's mercy to be opened for them. This Lenten initiative, organized by the Pontifical Council for the New Evangelization, took place in our church on March 21-22.

This 24 Hours for the Lord is an important part of the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy and we are the recipients of a tremendous gift of mercy, and it reminds us that we must also show mercy to our neighbors.

Pope Francis wants all the world's people to enjoy this feeling, so he has called an extraordinary Jubilee for 2016, and unprecedented time of forgiveness known as The Year of Mercy.
In his Lenten message to the world, Pope Francis wrote, "By calling for an attentive listening to the word of God and encouraging the initiative '24 Hours for the Lord', I sought to stress the primacy of prayerful listening to God's word, especially his prophetic word. The mercy of God is a proclamation made to the world, a proclamation which each Christian is called to experience at first hand."

For me it was a great time as an individual as I did two things which I had never done before – I laid the foundation for the one-hour Adoration and conducted first half of this Adoration. In our parish, four communities were formed into one zone and each zone came together to conduct hourly adoration. I was asked to prepare this one-hour adoration which I couldn’t do properly but at least laid the foundation for it. Then I initiated this adoration which was then taken over by someone else in the second half. So I learnt to prepare hourly adorations and also how to conduct them. A new learning for me and I am so glad about it.

The Lord has always been very merciful to me and my family but in this Jubilee Year of Mercy I am experiencing it all the more. I have overcome one of the biggest fears of my life – speaking in public on a microphone colloquially nicknamed mic or mike.

GOD FULFILS THE DESIRES OF THE HEART

Psalm 37:4
Trust in the LORD and do good; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, and He will do it

Matthew 7:7
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

Psalm 21:2
You have granted him his heart's desire and have not withheld the request of his lips.

Psalm 81:10
I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.

Isaiah 58:14
Then you will find your joy in the LORD, and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob." The mouth of the LORD has spoken.

I am quoting so many Biblical verses just to prove the fact that God indeed listens to the desires of our heart. It has been the earnest desire of our heart to get a home close to the church but all our attempts have failed so far. We are just not able to afford any flats adjacent to the church. We have given up on this desire.

But just when we had given up this desire, the Lord is actually working on it. So what if we cannot go close to the church, the church is coming close to us. Yes, a new church is being built in our area which is quite close to our home. The Lord is fulfilling the desires of our heart.

Though we will be away from the vibrant St. Joseph church, we will be so close to the newly built Divine Mercy (I think so) church. What delight it will be to participate in the daily Eucharist and able to go walking. No need to be dependent on vehicles – I will be able to walk out the distance on my own.

Till this brilliant idea struck me in the morning, I used to be dreadful with the thought that once the new church comes up, I will be separated from my ever-loving St. Joseph church. But this brilliant idea was put into my mind by no one else but the Lord Himself soon after I reached home after attending the closing Eucharistic celebration for the worldwide “24 Hours for the Lord”. I was expressing how, because of me, everyone at home had to wake up so early in the morning today. While I was apologizing for this, I found myself saying that this problem will be solved once the new church comes up. Since then I am delighted that the Lord is fulfilling the desire of my heart by bringing the church close to me – He’s making it convenient for me. I am so very happy with this revelation.

Isaiah 49: 1-6

Listen to me, you islands;
hear this, you distant nations:
Before I was born the Lord called me;
from my mother’s womb he has spoken my name.
2 He made my mouth like a sharpened sword,
in the shadow of his hand he hid me;
he made me into a polished arrow
and concealed me in his quiver.
3 He said to me, “You are my servant,
Israel, in whom I will display my splendor.”
4 But I said, “I have labored in vain;
I have spent my strength for nothing at all.
Yet what is due me is in the Lord’s hand,
and my reward is with my God.”
5 And now the Lord says—
he who formed me in the womb to be his servant
to bring Jacob back to him
and gather Israel to himself,
for I am[a] honored in the eyes of the Lord
and my God has been my strength—
6 he says:
“It is too small a thing for you to be my servant
to restore the tribes of Jacob
and bring back those of Israel I have kept.
I will also make you a light for the Gentiles,
that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”

You are always there

Walk with me, oh my Lord,
Through the darkest night and brightest day
Be at my side, oh Lord,
Hold my hand and guide me on my way.

Sometimes the road seems long,
My energy is spent.
Then, Lord, I think of you
And I am given strength

Walk with me, oh my Lord,
Through the darkest night and brightest day
Be at my side, oh Lord,
Hold my hand and guide me on my way.

Stones often bar my path,
And there are times I fall,
But you are always there
To help me when I call.

Walk with me, oh my Lord,
Through the darkest night and brightest day
Be at my side, oh Lord,
Hold my hand and guide me on my way.

Just as you calmed the wind
And walked upon the sea
Conquer, my living Lord
The storms that threaten me.

Walk with me, oh my Lord,
Through the darkest night and brightest day
Be at my side, oh Lord,
Hold my hand and guide me on my way.

Help me to pierce the mists
That cloud my heart and mind,
So that I shall not fear
The steepest mountain-side.

As once you healed the lame
And gave sight to the blind
Help me when I'm downcast
To hold my head up high.

Walk with me, oh my Lord
Through the darkest night and brightest day
Be at my side, oh Lord
Hold my hand and guide me on my way.

Handle with care...

Happy Women's Day???

Wondering whether dedicating just one day in the entire year is sufficient for women? Isn’t every day a woman’s day? All around the world, for all the women, it’s a great struggle to be a woman in this male-dominated world. And if she’s able to live safely every day, come out winners, then it’s really a great achievement and calls for celebration.

Safety begins at home and it’s a time for celebration for a woman if she feels safe, loved and pampered in her own family. Sadly, till date, not all women can be considered safe, loved and pampered. There are still a handful who have to go through everyday tortures from dominant fathers, overbearing brothers and abusive husbands. A few who have to go through eve-teasing and much more than that in the society. So, the day we have a safe environment for all women, will actually be the true Women’s Day.

Till then, it will just be a great achievement for few individuals to live with a drunkard father all throughout the childhood and come out unscathed. It will just be a great achievement for few to struggle for her individuality among her uncooperative brothers and find an identity of her own. It will be a great achievement for a privileged few to find the right partner in life and be the apple of his eyes.

Unfortunately, I have known women who dread going back home.

The day a woman is able to smile after a hard day’s work and look forward to get back home to safety and love and a lot of pampering; will actually be a woman's day and that will be her real achievement.

Mission...

Proud privilege to be a catechist...

Blackboard...

Peace...

2016's First Post...