Classics of Spirituality

This is the work that was published on August 5th at the meeting of my Jubilee at Thathampally.Cardinal Mar George Alencherry released the book by giving a copy to Abp.Francis Kallarakal

Fr.Mathew Mepreth

I am very sad to note that one of my dear friends passed away on Nov.3 at 4.35am and his funeral was held on Nov.4th. His demise is a great loss for me. He had always been a great supporter of mine, very encouraging and affectionate. He  would visit me at the college office and encourage me in my various activities. What a  loss! I don't have any priest-friend as loyal and supportive as he was. He always wanted everything to happen nicely for me. He wanted to be present at my jubilee.Since he was not well, I told him not to exert himself to come for the mass. But he did. He was present there until the end. I praised him in my speech and people clapped to show their appreciation for his presence. How can I tell him that I am missing him so much!O Lord, grant him eternal rest.
Let me remember him always in my life.

How can I forget his endearing smile and loving words
Gentle, tender-hearted and uplifting he  was

Always was there to inspire and encourage me
At every phase of my life, his encouragement was my support

I feel his absence very strongly
It is as if a tall and shady tree was blown by a tempestuous storm
Leaving nothing on the ground;the trunk,branches and the leaves all were taken away.

His affection for the Church was unwavering
So was his interest in the growth of the parish community

He would ask me to say mass  at the parish church
Wanted me to be in touch with the people of the parish

People loved him ; his innocence and inspiring words were a s

ource of support
O Lord, grant him eternal rest and joy.

Jesus through the Centuries--Pelikan-2

Jesus as the Monk
The Contribution of the monasteries in the middle Ages  
For scholarship as well as for missionary activities
One of the lasting monastic conquests for Christ was the work of medieval missions.The Christinization of the barbarian Germanic,Slavic, and Eurasian  tribes who came into Europe
 was the completely achievement of monks.
the abolition of the monastic orders must certainly be reckoned as a major reason for the total loss of the missionary  imperative  inmost of the Protestantism for more than two centuries.(120)
Dante on Assisi: " a sunrise broke again upon the world'

the small church in assisi known as the Potiuncula-the church of St.mary of the Angels-the first churhc he rstored(134)

Alone , Not Alone Movie

I watched the movie "Alone Not Alone" on You Tube .It is  a very interesting movie.It describes the conflict between  the settlers and the natives where a family was attacked and killed by the Indian tribal leaders and the children were taken into captivity.In the ned the children who were separated were reunited with their mother
 I'm alone, yet not alone
God's the light that will guide me home
With His love and tenderness
Leading through the wilderness
And wherever I may roam
I'm alone, yet not alone

I will not be bent in fear
He's the refuge I know is near
In His strength I find my own
By His faithful mercies shown
That so mighty is His shield
All His love is now revealed

When my steps are lost
And desperate for a guide
I can feel his touch
A soothing presence by my side

Alone, yet not alone
Not forsaken when on my own
I can lean upon His arm
And be lifted up from harm
If I stumble, or if I'm thrown
I'm alone, yet not alone

When my steps are lost
And desperate for a guide
I can feel his touch
A soothing presence by my side

By my side!

He has bound me with His love
Watchful angels look from above
Every evil can be braved
For I know I will be saved
Never frightened on my own
I'm alone, yet not alone

I'm alone, yet not alone

 

 

D

Jesus through the Centuries,Jaroslav Pelikan

Jaroslav Pelikan is a former Professor of History at Yale University. His books dealing with the history of  the Eastern Church and the development of Christian dogmas   help one to understand the nature and growth of the Church through the centuries.
Jesus through the Centuries traces the meaning and history of the different titles attributed to Christ.
He starts the book with the statement that 'regardless of what anyone may personally think or believe about him, Jesus of Nazareth has been the dominant figure in the history of Western culture for almost twenty centuries."
With regards to Tradition and Scripture, he says; "Everyone must acknowledge that Christian tradition had precedence , chronologically and even logically , over Christian scripture; for there was a tradition of the Chruch  before ever there was a New Testament."
"By the time the materials of the oral tradition found their way into the written form, they had passed through the life and experience of the church."(p.10)
Jesus as a Rabbi:
One of the most familiar forms of teaching is that of question and answer(130

The most typical form of the teachings of Jesus was the parable(13)
Cross:
Augustine : "That very cross on which he was derided, he has now imprinted on the brows of kings"
Constantine's dream of the cross as sign of his victory in the battle of the Milvian Bridge of Oct.28,312.Cross on the shields of every soldier.((51)
The dedication of rebuilt city of Byzantium as Constantinople , often called the New Rome on May 11,330--the result of his desire to establish a truly Christian capital to replace the pagan capital of Old Rome(55)
Christ Crucified(95)
What was said of the thane of Cawdor in macbeth was true preeminently of jesus: "Nothing in his life /Became like the leaving of it."
Tertullian declares that  at every forward step and movement , at every going in out, we mark upon our forehead the sign 9of the cross)....
the cross was beleived to possess all of this victorious power because it had been the instrument for the greatest victory of them all, the cosmic victory of the power  of God...
the very shape of the cross symbolized its comprehnsion of all the ways of God, the vertical and the horizontal bars representing the height and breadth of the universe...(105)
the cross was at the same time the surpreme proff  that the will and way of god would eventually prevail..As joseph said to his brothers in Egypt,"you meant evil  against me..but God meant it for good..(105)
the fundamental meaning of the wisdom of the cross was contianed in the words of jesus in the Gospel of John, :"Greater love has no man than this..."15:13)
True love was self-sacrificing love, and god had demonstrated it uniquely by giving up his own Son to the death of te cross.

Option B ,Sheryl Sandberg

Sheryl has written this book to let the world know how she has survived her intense grief after the passing away of her husband David Sandburg.
According to the advice given by her counselor, her Option A of getting her husband back  is impossible.She has to look for option B , for a new life.
She speaks of the platinum rule in times of suffering : "Treat others as they wanted to be treated."
When we look for joy, we often focus on the big moments of life as graduation, getting married , getting a job etc.But she points out that "happiness is the frequency of positive experiences, not the intensity of an expereince in our life . 'Rather than waiting until we are happy to enjoy the small things, we should go and do the small things that make us happy."
"Paying attention to moments of joy takes effort because we are wired to focus on the negatives more than the positives.Bad events tend to have a stronger effect on us than good events.

Pope's new Motu Proprio: Magnum Principium

Pope Francis issued a new Motu Proprio on Sept.10,17, revising the rules for liturgical translations.The earlier guide after the Vatican Council was "Comme Le Prevoit(1969) which put emphasis on "dynamic equivalence" and not on literal translation.
The instruction issued in 2010"Liturgiam Authenticam" emphasized literal translation of the Latin texts.
In the new Motu Proprio, Pope changed Canon 838 by giving the Episcopal conferences to make adaptations with the approval of the Congregation for Worship." It is for the Apostolic See to order the the sacred liturgy of the Universal Church, publish liturgical books , recognize adaptations approved by conferences of Bishops..."

How Will You measure Your Life? Real Test of Humility

The author of this article is Clayton M.Christensen  who is a Professor at Harvard Business School.This is a very thought -provoking essay where he reminds the students that their success in life is not to be measured by their wealth or power but by the opportunity they have provided  others to grow and develop.
"What provides happiness in our careers is not money; it is the opportunity to learn , grow in responsibilities, contribute to others, and be recognized for achievements."
"More and more MBA students come to school thinking that a career in business means buying,selling, and investing in companies.That is unfortunate.Doing deals does not yield the deep rewards that come from building up people."
Many felt unhappy in their lives after years of work in their companies.That is because,"they did not keep the purpose of their lives front and center as they decided how to spend their time, talents and energy."
"My purpose grew out of my religious faith."Intimate and loving relationships with their families are the most powerful and enduring source of happiness."
Creating a culture---
Power tools are coercion, threats, punishment etc.
Instead of that, we have to create a culture...
"Families have cultures, just as companies do.Those cultures can be built consciously or evolve inadvertently."
The need to stick to one's principles and values in life:
"You have got to define for yourself what you stand for and draw the line in a safe place."
Teaching a class on humility at Harvard college;
According to the students, humble people"had a high level of self-esteem.They knew who they were, and they felt good about who they were.We also decided that humility was defined not by self-deprecating behavior or attitudes but by the esteem with which you regard others. Good behavior flows naturally from that kind of humility."
When we see people acting in an abusive, arrogant or demeaning manner toward others, their behavior is a symptom of their lack of self-esteem."
I have concluded that the metric by which God will assess my life is not dollars but the individual people whose lives I have touched."
Don't worry about the level of individual prominence you have achieved:worry about the individuals you have helped become better people...think about the metric by which your life will be judged, and make a resolution to live every day so that in the end,your life will be judged a success."

Birthday Celebrations,Fr.M.C.Joseph

(The picture below was taken ten years ago when on one of my vacations I went to see Fr.M.C.Joseph, my former teacher at Leo XIII High School who was staying at the Old Age Home at Kidnagara.)

The family had a get-together for lunch yesterday.It was a small gathering but it went OK.After the lunch, I came back to Mount St.Thomas.It was tea-time here and the Cardinal introduced me to the bishops and they all sang together " Happy Birthday."

Fr.M.C.Joseph is an unforgettable teacher who was always interested in encouraging the talents and educational aspirations of his students.He was my English teacher at H.S. He conducted spiritual exercises for the students at the School.I remember him coming for my ordination  with his broken arm in sling.I cannot forget my meeting with him after my ordination. I realized the great love he held for me. He used to come to the college office when I was the Principal. How happy I was  in seeing him coming  to the office and spending time with me!He might have felt really proud in seeing his student as the principal of the college.Meeting him at the Old Age home at Kidangara was a great joy for me. At that time, I had already retired from the college and was working in the U.S.

God bless him.

Golden Jubilee Celebration Inauguration by the Cardinal

Roots and Wings

Release of the book,"Classics of Spirituality"

My new book "Classics of Spirituality" was released by the Cardinal by giving a copy of the book to Archbishop Francis Kallarakal.
The book is a collection of the talks that I give on Thomas Merton,Herni Nouwen, St.Augustine etc.In the introduction,I offered my reflections on spirituality as well as my reminiscences about some priests

who have touched me deeply.

Golden Jubilee of Ordination

The Golden jubilee of my ordination was held at St.Michael's Church , Thathampally,Alleppey on Aug.5,17.It was well attended. Although it was a rainy day, the functions were not disturbed.
The mass  was celebrated in the company of the priests from Mt.St.Thomas.Also assisting at the mass were Msgr.Philips Vadekekalam and Fr.Joseph Thommpunkal.
Fr.Kaithaprampil , the Vicar and Fr.Libin , the Asst.Vicar did make all the arrangements and  took care of all the details. All the invited guests were present for the meeting.The Cardinal gave a very beautiful talk which was appreciated by all.Abp.Francis Kallarakal, the former Abp of Verapoly gave reminiscences of his life at the seminary with me. He mentioned that I was their Prefect and guided them.Abp.Perumthottam mentioned my contributions to S.B.College.Bp.Tharayil spoke of his student days at the college when I was the Vice-principal. He mentioned the way I walked to the office from my residence and my talks etc with great appreciation.Dr.Jancy James and Dr.Cyriac Thomas also mentioned the details of their friendship with me.The meeting came to an end around 1.30p.m. and people dispersed for lunch.The priests and sisters were given lunch at my house across the church.
I am full of gratitude to the Lord for having given me the opportunity to celebrate this mass of thanksgiving.but the attention paid to the guests and to the  details connected with the mass took away the joy of silence and a calm praying mode from my mind.

Visit to the US,May,17

Visit to the U.S., May,2017

Prof.P.C.James

On July 3rd at 4.30p.m.,Prof.P.C.James breathed his last.What a loss! We lost a very good friend and a dear colleague. The emptiness left by him is unfathomable. He was suffering for the last two years but he never showed that he had any problems at all.All of his friends miss him very dearly.

" Your love,your humour,your jokes remain with us;

Wherever we go, whomever we meet, your presence will always be palpable.

Years passed; months rolled by but we never thought this day day would come.

We thought we could always hear your voice on the other end of the phone line.

Your laughter and your humorous remarks could be heard at any time.

We thought we would see you again walking the streets of Kochi, buying or enjoying just the walks.

But now ,your voice is stilled.

Your eyes will never be open.

Your memory lingers on.

But the physical impossibility of shaking your hands or greeting you is frightening.

Goodbye, you are with the Lord.

We have a long way to go.

Our sins and our frailties are a big drag on us.

Lord, have mercy on your loving servant, Jameskutty.

Thanks for giving us the opportunity of knowing and loving  him.

A Teacher Affects Eternity:Prof.K.T.Sebastian.

On July 13, the 90th birthday of Prof.K.T.Sebastian is being celebrated at the Cathedral Auditorium at Changancherry.No words would describe his role as a teacher  perfectly except the following statement of Henry Adams:"A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops." Prof.Sebastian  is a teacher par excellence: a teacher who inspires while enlightening. His character,  life-style, his dealings with his students and the great and excellent way in which he conveys his thoughts and reflections will always be guiding generations of students who have had him as their teacher.
I have found a short commentary on teaching and I am posting it here:
"A good teacher is like a candle - it consumes itself to light the way for others."“And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.” (2 Timothy 2:2)The purpose of this writing is to provide a set of basic Biblical principles that define the professional responsibilities of school/college/church teachers in their role as teacher. Biblical and ethical principles are conceptualized here as general guidelines, ideals or expectations that need to be taken into account, along with other relevant conditions and circumstances, in the design and analysis of teaching. The intent of this essay is not to provide comprehensive rules, or a systematic code of conduct, but rather to describe ways in which academic freedom can be exercised in a responsible manner.A Subject on education cannot be complete without asking some questions about the qualities that make for excellence in learning. What are the qualities that make an educational institution or a teacher stand out among others? How do students learn to appreciate education, not just in order to pass exams but to develop their knowledge, skill, attitude and aptitude to the full potential? No one has yet fully realized the wealth of capacity hidden in the soul of a child. Therefore the effort of every true education should be to unlock that treasure.The human soul is like a seed, which has all the potential to become a fruitful tree. No farmer needs to give any information to a seed about how to become a tree. The only thing a farmer can do is to create the right environment and provide right enhancement, so that the seed can safely grow and become a fully mature and fruitful tree.Similarly, the role of a teacher is to create right environment and give right encouragement, confidence, inspiration and appreciation to their students, so that they are able to discover their true potential and become themselves. Each and every person is born with particular purpose and gifts from God and those specific qualities need to be identified, nurtured and refine ; whereas, our society and  education system, almost ignores the purpose of each individual and cancel their specific gifts and qualities. Therefore the greatest tragedy in life is not death, but it is life without a purpose. Without purpose life is meaningless and without purpose time has no value.  You were born with a purpose to fulfill God’s assignment for the earth… You were born to do something significant in the earth. Therefore refine your gifts and talents to make your life a blessing to the world. What education is determined to achieve is to fill the minds of children with right information. Thus, teaching becomes much more challenging and important than learning.  A strong, moral, refine and discipline educational institution/teacher is the safeguard to a nation's life and future.In India every year, 6, 50,000 engineering graduates and approximately two million graduates pass out of colleges. Nearly two-thirds of the 6, 50,000 engineering graduates need to be re-skilled, so that they can get jobs in the industry. Meanwhile, the developed world requires knowledge workers and skilled professionals. By 2020, the developed world will have a shortage of 40 million working people, says a report. A recent study by global HR consultancy Manpower Inc says that 41 per cent of employers worldwide are having difficulty filling positions due to lack of suitable talent in their markets.  Manpower shortages can cripple economic growth. It can escalate wage rates, thereby reducing the competitiveness of these countries. According to a survey, 72 per cent of our population is under the age of 35 and it is estimated that 300 million people between the ages of 18 and 50 seek employment of some form. While 57 per cent are unemployable, 46 million are registered with employment exchanges with little hope of finding a suitable job.  But there is a mismatch between the skilled manpower required and skilled manpower available and there is huge shortage of skilled talent. A majority of the youth passing out from our universities and colleges do not have the specific skill and right attitude required by various sectors in the market.The first and foremost task before the Nation is to improve the quality of Education. In a nation whose demography is young­-both in age and spirit, teachers have the responsibility of providing education which is rich in values, specialized in skill and modern in content. Swami Vivekananda said "Education is the process by which character is formed, strength of mind is increased, and intellect is sharpened, as a result of which one can stand on one's own feet. And that a teacher's sacred duty is to invoke the spirit of inquiry in his pupils." With the Right to Education in position, India has set itself the goal of Education for All by 2015.Hence the education needs a great break through. Teachers are one of the greatest people whom we can count as reformers and movers of life and they play a vital role in shaping our personalities. They are not only the selfless givers but also the Transformers of life. Teachers are the nation-builders. They build the future citizens of the country and the need of the hour is well qualified professional and committed teachers who are willing to devote their entire life in the enlightenment of the students.Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan, was a great philosopher, good teacher and a wonderful educationist who acknowledged the vital role of a teacher. When he became the President of India in 1962, he was approached by some of his students and friends and requested him to allow them to celebrate 5th September, his "Birthday". In reply, Dr.Radhakrishnan said, "Instead of celebrating my birthday separately, it would be my proud privilege if September 5^th is observed as Teachers' Day". The request showed Dr.Radhakrishnan's insight and love for the teaching profession. From then onwards, the day has been observed as Teachers' Day in India. Teachers' own value system, their character and their behavior directly influence the students beyond human comprehension.“A good teacher can inspire hope, ignite the imagination, and instill a love of learning.”To teach someone, its mandatory not only has the highest quality of educational supplies, but teachers with spirit of leadership, good character, moral value, commitment and experience. Dr Myles Munroe righty said “Leadership is the capacity to influence others through inspiration motivated by passion, generated by vision, produced by a conviction, ignited by a purpose.” Education is the mother of leadership. A teacher is just like the light of a watchtower that guides us through to the right path. Children are greatest treasure of a family, a society or a Nation and their “learning” is in the hands of parents and teachers. Whether you are a parent, teacher, mentor, coach, instructor, priest or a leader, to teach is to touch a life forever. It must be remembered that the average teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The great teacher demonstrates and the wise teacher inspires with their life and character. The purpose of true education is not to fill the minds of students with facts and information but to empower students to discover the truth and their true potential. A teacher affects eternity; he can never comprehend where his influence can stop.  Hence the Good teachers are those who know how little they know and update their knowledge, skill and pursue wisdom on a regular basis. Bad teachers are those who think they know more than they don't know and stop learning.Teachers are a significant part of everyone's life. They show us the right path and groom us to become a better citizen and a better person. They teach us to face the most difficult Challenges of life and get through them, easily. "A teacher scolds you on your mistakes but he also supports you to do your best so he can be defines as a potter who beats the pot on the outer side to give good shape and design while supporting the pot by putting a hand inside it."  Edward Bulwer-Lytton said “The best teacher is the one who suggests rather than dogmatizes, and inspires his listener with the wish to teach himself.” Teacher’s sacred duty is to enable pupils to construct knowledge, to discover their own talents, and to develop their physical and interpersonal skills, cognitive abilities and subject-matter expertise. Education must enrich their minds, broaden their horizons and give them ever lasting hunger for exploring new ideas and vistas of opportunity.Teachers mold the lives that they influence because the lessons learned from teachers remain with their students throughout life. Teachers or Gurus, whatever we say are the pathfinders and mentors of our lives. They dedicate their whole lives in teaching and educating students to become the perfect human beings. They nurture students from tiny saplings to a big tree. They teach from the Alphabet to the toughest sums of Mathematics, and make students to think about everything that’s happening around them and find the logic behind it; they make students capable to stand on their feet. A true teacher is not someone who just teaches academic lessons to students. Rather, he/she is like a guide, who helps the students in each and every sphere of life, by giving the right advice. They are future makers. None of the achievers in this world has attained a feat without the guidance of a teacher. “A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.”Teachers have always been the vital contributor of learning in the society. They serve as the foundation of the cultural and sustainable development of the nation as a whole. The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out by way of occupation or profession at school, college, church, institution or other place of formal education. A teacher’s role may vary between cultures. In the Bible a Master Teacher or a Rabbi is one who is regarded as having great knowledge, wisdom and authority in a certain area, and who uses it to guide others. As a principle for the development of consciousness it leads the creation from unreality to reality, from the darkness of ignorance to the light of knowledge. In its purest form this principle manifests on earth as a divine incarnation, a person with supreme knowledge about God and all creation.Therefore Studying the Master Teacher, Jesus, provides us with the finest instruction in all the world on how to teach others. Jesus taught with perfect accuracy and effectiveness. Of all the disciplines taught in the New Testament for the spiritual growth of Disciples, none are more important than the discipline of learning. Even in the secular world, every employer wants workers that are “teachable”. We are blessed to have the greatest teacher of all history as our own savoir and Master Teacher—Jesus Christ. His methods, educational philosophy, content, and procedures consist of the finest models of teaching ever developed. So what exactly was this inspiring, challenging, magnificent, and apparently revolutionary teaching of Jesus?In the first description of Jesus’ ministry in the Gospel of Mark: “ Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news’” (Mark 1:14-15).Here is Mark’s summary of the core of Jesus’ message. It is, in a nutshell: The kingdom of God has come near. The phrase “kingdom of God” appears 53 times in the New Testament Gospels, almost always on the lips of Jesus. The synonymous phrase, “kingdom of heaven,” appears 32 times in the Gospel of Matthew. Throughout the accounts of Jesus’ ministry, he is always talking about the kingdom of God. Many of his parables explain something about this kingdom: it is like mustard seed, a treasure, a merchant looking for pearls, and a king who gave a banquet (Matt 13:44-47; 22:2). Jesus even defines his purpose in light of the kingdom: “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other cities also; for I was sent for this purpose” (Luke 4:43).Throughout his ministry, Jesus emphasized the importance of learning the kingdom of God. “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17) was the theme of Jesus’ teachings.  “The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. (Matthew 13:10-11)Now the question is what is the kingdom of God? This kingdom was not a place where God reigns, but rather the reign of God itself – God’s presence, rule, authority, and power. The Kingdom of God is not a castle in the sky; it is a true form of government based upon the legal terms of justice, Righteousness, peace, love and joy in the Holy Spirit. “God’s reign is at hand. God’s power is being unleashed. Turn your life around and put your trust in this good news.” Kingdom of God is God’s reign, rule, authority, or sovereignty. The kingdom of God is the governing influences of God over His people who yielded his/her life to Lord Jesus, enabling that person to do God’s perfect will and bring into being a Godly lifestyle that reflects the Nature and Character of God. Jesus emphasized and taught people to change the mind, renew the heart, and seek the kingdom of God and its righteousness. If teaching and learning were so important to Jesus, they ought to be as important to us, as well.The ultimate role modelThe Lord Jesus provides the ultimate role model for any teacher of the gospel; Jesus was more of a conversationalist than an orator. He walked with people and talked with them. He sat and spoke of soul matters. He was interested in individuals, recognizing the value of each soul. Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, conceded that Jesus

Post-Truth

The word Post-truth is now appearing in many news reports that deal with the impact of the social media on the presentation of truths about various events and situations.The Osservatore Romano in its January 2017  edition carries an article by Carlo Maria Polvani dealing with the origin and meaning of this term.
This word was chosen as the Oxford Dictionaries' Word of the year in 2016.
The origin of the word is attributed to a blogger David Roberts who used the term in a column on Grist.
This term refers to a "political culture in which debate is framed by appeals to emotion disconnected from the details of policy and by repeated assertion of talking points." 
Post- truth politics according to Polvani "refers to a political culture in which discussions are distinguished by emotions to the detriment of facts and ideas, and in which the central points of the debate are established and spread by the din of rhetorical elements in the new means of communication."
It does not refute one truth with another  and places ideas and facts in second place with respect to an emotional focal point whose causal nexus with reality  is not necessarily demonstrated.
Polvani further notes that "it is possible that the dispute over post-truth politics will lead to a deeper examination of the role of social media in helping citizens choose among emotionally comfortable messages and rationally comfortable truths."

Cathedral,Melbourne,Australia,2015