Sunday, December 23, 2012

Jesus of Nazareth-The Infancy Naratives


In his new book, Jesus of Nazareth--The Infancy Narratives, the Holy Father goes into the heart of the infancy narratives in the Gospels and brings out some aspects of those narratives which are helpful in changing and molding our attitudes to life. He has followed in this book the same method he has employed in the other two books of the same name. He goes into an exegetical explanation of the passages, examines them in the background of OT references and then applies them to contemporary life. Compared with the other two books, this book is a short introduction to the Gospel accounts of the birth of the Lord. But there are some reflections which are fresh and beautiful. He calls this book" a small antechamber to the two earlier volumes on the figure and the message of Jesus of Nazareth."
On the genealogy presented in Mathew's Gospel, the Holy Father points out  that although the genealogy traces the male line, "prior to Mary who appears at the end, four women are mentioned by name: Tamar,Rahab,Ruth and the wife of Uriah."  He mentions first the  traditional interpretation emphasizing  the mission of Jesus as the justification of sinners since these were considered sinners. The Holy Father  then points out that 'through them the world of the Gentiles enters the genealogy of Jesus---his mission to Jews and Gentiles is made manifest."
"The final sentence turns the whole genealogy around. Mary is a new beginning.Her child does not originate from any man, but is a new creation,conceived through the Holy Spirit.'
"Our true genealogy is faith in Jesus , who gives us a new origin, who brings us to birth  from God."

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Advent--the Coming of the Lord

In the last chapter of the book ,Jesus of Nazareth, the Holy Father speaks of the coming of the Lord as it  is expressed in the words"Maran Atha." He reminds us of the need to be vigilant as well as trusting. He points out that the knowledge of the protection of the Lord makes us joyful.
"The Lord is "on the mountain" of the  of the Father.  Therefore,He sees us.Therefore He can get into the boat of our life at any moment.Therefore we can always call on him; we can always be certain that he sees and hears us.
Keeping one's gaze freely fixed upon God in order to receive from him the criterion of right action and the capacity for it--that is what matters.
Vigilance means first of all openess to the good, to the truth , to God, in the midst of an often meaningless word and in the midst of the power of evil.It means that man tries with all his strength and with great sobriety to do what is right; it means that he lives, not according to his wishes, but according to te signpost of faith.
St.Bernard of Calirvaux speaks of a three fold advent of Christ, the first coming in flesh , the second in spirit and power and the last in his glory.Bernad bases his thesis on John 14: 23" If a man loves me , he will keep my word, and my father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him."
"The  middle coming(adventus medius) takes place in a great variety of ways.The Lord comes through his word; he comes in the sacraments, especially in the most Holy Eucharist;he comes into my life through words or events.
He comes also through the lives of great saintly figures--through Francis and Dominicin the 12th and 13th  centuries and through Teresa of Avila,John of the Cross,Ignatius of Loyola and Francis Xavier.
We have  to pray , Come, Lord Jesus.
His hands  remain strethched out over the world.The blessing hands   of Christ are like a roof that protects us.They are a gesture of opening up, tearing the world open so that heaven may enter in, may become 'present within it.
"In faith we know that Jesus holds his hands stretched out in blessing over us.That is the lasting motive of Christian joy."(Last words of the Book.)

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

The Inauguration of XIME

Present at the inauguration  of the XIME at Kalamassery .The Chief Minister was there.Spoke to him before the meeting.The next day,on Dec.3, celebrated mass in the morning with Abp.Thazhath.

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Picnic and a pilgrimage

A trip to Vagamon as well as to Bharanganam on Thursday,Nov.29,12. We were received very warmly at the Bishop's  House, Palai and at the Pastoral Centre, Kanjirappally. All the sisters ,maids, priests  from Mount St.Thomas and Bp.Bosco Puthur were in the group.Thus, forty of us , left early in the morning from Mount St.Thomas  and visited the tomb of St.Alphonsa .We said mass there.After the mass, we proceeded to the Monastery at Kurisumala. From there, proceeded to Kanjirappally via Kuttikanam.