25th February, 2013…

…has been yet another golden day of my life. On this day something so very spiritual happened to me that I feel my just-begun spiritual walk with Jesus Christ is already reaching its right destination. Yesterday I became one of the founding members of our church’s Inner Healing (IH) team. This means I will be one of the original members of this IH team. I was away at Signature Mumbai 2013 (Goregaon) but the founder of the IH team called me especially so that I could be present there when the commitment pledge was been taken by the other founding members. I felt really nice and privileged because this shows that I am known for my commitment and the founder can rely on me. I feel oh-so-happy that Jesus is showing me the right spiritual way and guiding me in the right direction.

Though there are some really stringent rules to be the founder member; I am ready to undergo them because I know it will benefit me only. There are certain things which I already have been doing on a daily basis but other things I will surely be able to do by the grace of my Lord Jesus.

When I was asked on what particular ministry I sense a calling, I said writing. So I might start my own, very much cherished, proclamation of “written word” of God. Just keeping my fingers crossed!!!

Yesterday was indeed a spiritual day because besides being one of the founding members, I as an animator of my community, accompanied the Redemptorist Priest to all the families of my cluster. The details of redemptorist priests are given here: http://www.cssr.com/english/works/whatwedo.shtml

These redemptorist priests have come to our church for Lenten mission. They are men of faith whose driving force is the Gospel.

PS: I am also one of the core members of the Easter Ball organizing committee.

Habakkuk 2:3

From yesterday I have started my prayer journey. I was invited to join the others when they went about praying in a particular home and while praying, this was revealed to the main pray-er who has decided a lot of spiritual activities for the entire parish. While he was praying, this was revealed to him:

3 For the revelation awaits an appointed time;
it speaks of the end
and will not prove false.
Though it linger, wait for it;
it[a] will certainly come
and will not delay.

We were all very happy because we were discussing to organize regular spiritual counseling for everyone, praying every day, regular training for the team, retreats twice a year for Confirmands and things like discipleship training, etc. This in a way is true for me as well who always wanted to join this group.

Sacrament of Confirmation

The Sacrament of Confirmation is the second of the three Sacraments of Initiation – the first one being Baptism and the third one Holy Eucharist. Baptism, the Eucharist, and the Sacrament of Confirmation together constitute the “Sacraments of Christian Initiation” – Confirmation perfects our Baptism and brings us the graces of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Anointment, or the Sacrament of Confirmation, is a holy Sacrament, with which we receive the seal of the Holy Spirit. In the Sacrament of Confirmation – the Holy Ghost comes down upon the recipients to make them strong and perfect Christians and soldiers of Jesus Christ. As we all know, I am one of the Confirmation catechists. In our St. Joseph parish (Mira Road), the Rite of Confirmation is on February 17, 2013.

Confirmation has all the requisites of a Sacrament as it was instituted by Christ, and the Fathers and Doctors of the Church recognize the institution of the sacrament of Confirmation in the sending of the Holy Spirit at the Pentecost. As we are aware, the Holy Spirit is God, and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity. Confirmation is a Sacrament in which, through the imposition of the Bishop’s hands, unction and prayer, all my baptized students will receive the Holy Ghost. “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses to the ends of the earth”. Acts 1:8

The Bishop of Bombay, Bosco Penha, will be laying on his hands, anointing with chrism, and prayer, all the baptized candidates and they will be strengthened by the Holy Spirit. While it is Baptism that first gave them the Holy Spirit, Confirmation will increase His power within them. In a way, this Sacrament will strengthen the new life in all of us.

Lent

Lent is the season of penance and prayer before Easter which starts every year on Ash Wednesday. The word Lent has come to mean springtime or new life and many congregations invite their people into a season of spiritual spring cleaning.

In Orthodox churches, this season is called the Great Lent. It begins on Clean Monday. Lent in 2013 started yesterday i.e. Wednesday, the 13th of February and will continue for 46 days until Saturday, the 30th of March. In Western Christianity, Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and concludes on Holy Saturday. The six Sundays in Lent are not counted among the forty days of Lent because each Sunday represents a “mini-Easter”, a celebration of Jesus Christ’s victory over sin and death.

The holy season of Lent gives us yet another opportunity to reflect more deeply on our lives and how we relate to others, both near and far and not so dear. It’s that time of the year to grow deeper in our intimacy with our Savior Jesus Christ. In fact, Lent is a season of grief that necessarily ends with a great celebration of Easter.

The official liturgical color for the season of Lent is violet and it’s the most important season of the year. Since traditionally the Lenten season is a time of penance throughout the Catholic Church, what am I giving up for Lent 2013?

I guess, I will stick to the age old tradition of fasting, special prayers and almsgiving. Hopefully I have started saying the daily OCDS prayers. Since Lent is also a season of conversion and renewal, I will this time, try my level best to renew myself through abstinence.

Song of my life...

O what a wonderful, wonderful day, day I will never forget;
After I'd wandered in darkness away, Jesus my Savior I met.
O what a tender, compassionate friend, He met the need of my heart;
Shadows dispelling, with joy I am telling, He made all the darkness depart.


Heaven came down and glory filled my soul,
When at the cross the Savior made me whole;
My sins were washed away and my night was turned to day,
Heaven came down and glory filled my soul!


Born of the Spirit with life from above into God's family divine,
Justified fully thru Calvary's love, O what a standing is mine!
And the transaction so quickly was made, when as a sinner I came,
Took of the offer, of grace He did proffer, He saved me, O praise His dear name!


Heaven came down and glory filled my soul,
When at the cross the Savior made me whole;
My sins were washed away and my night was turned to day,
Heaven came down and glory filled my soul!
Now I've a hope that will surely endure after the passing of time;


I have a future in heaven for sure there in those mansions sublime.
And it's because of that wonderful day, when at the cross I believed;
Riches eternal and blessings supernal, from His precious hand I received.


Heaven came down and glory filled my soul,
When at the cross the Savior made me whole;
My sins were washed away and my night was turned to day,
Heaven came down and glory filled my soul!

He makes all things beautiful...

In His time, In His Time
He makes all things beautiful in His time.
Lord please show me every day
As you are teaching me Your way
That You do just what You say
In Your time.

In Your time, In Your Time
You make all things beautiful in Your time.
Lord my life to You I bring
May each song I have to sing
Be to you a lovely thing
In Your time.

My Lent prayer...

God of mercy and compassion,
Look with pity upon me,
Father, let me call Thee Father,
'Tis Thy child returns to Thee.

Refrain:
Jesus, Lord, I ask for mercy;
Let me not implore in vain;
All my sins, I now detest them,
Never will I sin again.

2. By my sins I have deserved
Death and endless misery,
Hell with all its pains and torments,
And for all eternity.
(Refrain)

3. By my sins I have abandoned
Right and claim to heav'n above.
Where the saints rejoice forever
In a boundless sea of love.
(Refrain)

4. See our Savior, bleeding, dying,
On the cross of Calvary;
To that cross my sins have nail'd Him,
Yet He bleeds and dies for me.