Thank you -8

 Fr. Parampath passed away. He was  a gentle and compassionate priest. He helped my talk at the Smithsonian by sending me a few sung lines in Syriac which I could  reproduce during the power point presentation. He was present at my Kachiramattom award ceremony.He was the Father Prefect while I was the Brother Prefect for second year Philosophy students. God bless him. A very loving and kind person, having no ill-will toward anyone. Always smiling.

Thank you, Lord, for your blessing.Will never allow myself to become diffident and unsteady.Will find my strength in your words.
Will say mass and feel strengthened by the presence of Jesus in my life.

 I am on my way to the airport to leave for the US.Reached the airport by 4.30p.m.. A little bit confused when I did not find the gate open. Later, found the gate and a person guided me to the first gate when I told him that I was looking for the business class. I asked  for wheelchair assistance and the guy guided me smoothly through immigration gates etc and brought me to the lounge. I have taken some snacks and am sitting here. My flight is at 8.40 p.m.and hence I have plenty of time. It is only 6.15p.m. here. Thank you, Lord, for the time given to me. I may take the medicine for the night as I am full.

It was good that I took the laptop with me as it gives me a chance to do some writing and reading. I feel sleepy.

It is 1.30 pm according to the Indian time. I am typing this in the plane.Air India has a full flight even in the Business class but the facilities are not according to the mark.The movie screen in my seat is not working properly.But others are watching.I have tried to say the rosary but always fall asleep.So, I stood up and began reciting.I could finish one whole rosary. I will do that again.I get exercise too. I was telling myself internally that I have no more to be worried.What is important is keeping alive my attachment to the Lord, giving everyone peace and joy through my actions and getting rooted in my love for Jesus which  is the most important thing that I can do in my life. 
 Lord, thank you for your mercy and kindness. I do feel the aftereffects of my cold—the congestion in breathing.I had a puff from the inhaler at Bombay airport. The flight from Kochi to Bombay was OK but then at Bombay, we have to get down from the plane and board a bus to reach the International Gate. There again security check etc. I gave up the wheelchair assistance, thinking that there was not enough time. It is a few more hours for the flight to begin. I took my morning medicine and  insulin injection. I gave the extra insulin package to the air hostess to be put in the fridge.

I read the Gospel on my I pad. It is about being prepared always. For me, it is always trusting in Jesus and going through confessions.Since I have so many sins and failures in my life, my resource for peace is  confession.

What I am thinking now is to spend one week in retreat –at Albany with Josh and Joby. That is something I can do every year—with my nephews.

More acts of charity are needed.

Aug.28, Wednesday

Went to mass early in the morning. Today is the feast of St.Augustine.The priest gave a nice homily on St.Aug.My chest congestion is lessening. Last night I took a puff from the inhaler.

Today I will be ordering a book from the Amazon. Lord, thank you for your blessings. Ordered three books from the Amazon and joined Prime for one week.It costs $1.99.I have to cancel it before Tuesday.It is a one week prime.

The books will be delivered tomorrow.

Aug.29,Thursday

Neil will be coming in the evening.

Lord, help me to become closely attached to you. Thank you for giving me the time to thank you and offer my prayers to you. I am losing more of my friends and relatives. I have to use my time in deepening my love of the Lord. I should use all my time in praising the Lord.

.You gave me whatever I needed in my life.As a priest, you gave me health and blessings to work uninterruptedly in my life.External honors and glory mean nothing.See how they end in smoke in the lives of so many people.The honor and glory that people give disappear with the same speed with which they came.What is important is living rightly before you.There is happiness and joy in your presence.I have to find my joy and peace in spending my time before you,Lord.

I got a message from the  Tata health Group that they have sent the reimbursement into my account.I did not believe it.I just checked my account on the spur of the moment.Lo and behold, I find a deposit of Rs.60,000.I still did not believe that they paid the amount.

Thank you,Lord for your blessings.

Aug.31,Saturday.

Came with Jogy and the children to Santosh's house.Did the baptism.The members who were present were the immediate family. Jogy left in the evening.

Sept.1-Rojmon and the family left on Monday early morning.In the afternoon,Vakachan came to Clarksville to take me to Ittyrachan's house.Went to Joseph's house for his 94^th birth day celebration.Back at the house after it.

Sept.2 Tuesday

Went for the 8am mass at the Mother Seton church. Went for shopping—bought undershirts .Ittyrachan paid for them –including Zyrtec.

We had lunch on the patio.Was interesting and lovely.Bread and fish.

I spent some time in reading.I feel OK by the grace of God.This is the time for me to deepen my prayer life though prayer and adoration.I have to spend my time in reading and preparing notes.I should not be showing any slackening in my effort in understanding the church and defending my faith in the Lord.The Lord is my everything .I have to find joy in Him. I  have to pray hard and ignore all other things.

Lord , help me to deepen my prayer life.

Sept.4,Wednesday

I read in the Gospel of John on  the miracle of Jesus walking on the water and multiplying the bread to feed the multitude of seven thousand.The compassion of the Lord and his words of comfort, don't be afraid , remain with us as we reflect on this passage.My Lord, you are my everything. Thank you for giving me the courage to travel and be with my family and friends.I know I have to use this occasion to pray for them and ask for forgiveness. Yesterday, we went to Costco and bought undershirts and allergy tablets.

Lord, help me to be faithful to you and be close to you.Increase my faith in you.I want nothing except your love and forgiveness.

Vakachan brought me to Livingston by his Tesla car on Friday after 2.30.p.m.

It was a nice ride.The car was a source of surprise as it did many things and moved without the help of the driver.

Saturday-Sept 7^th...Did not do anything.Had barbecue in the evening.

Decided to go to Montreal, to the Shrine of St.Joseph.

Sunday,Sept.8---Went to Albany with Josh as a companion.The mass at the Shrine at Montreal was very impressive.The Cantor was superb.He sang alleluia before the Gospel eight times twice.That was loud, clear and beautiful.The view from the top was also beautiful.Talked to Jiju.

Came back by night after stopping at Albany again.

Tuesday,Sept 10.

Most probably, will be leaving for NY to attend the funeral of Pappachan's son- in- law who passed away in his sleep suddenly.God grant him eternal rest.

I sent yesterday the translation of the circular to the Curia.I have to pray hard.This is the time God has given me for study and prayers.I have to use it well.

Tuesday,New York

Noble came to NJ to give me the  ride to Ny and  I arrived at George and Gracy's house.Staying here for the night.Attended the wake.  Fr.John was there .He was not as hospitable as he used to do.There was a sense of distance and he  did not acknowledge me.Maybe because, I did not keep in touch with him .He might have thought that I was ignoring him. Whatever may be, I don't have any negative feelings towards him.

Tomorrow is the funeral of Jaimy, Binsy's husband. Will proceed to NJ after the funeral.Lord, bless her and give her strength to accept the death of her husband.

Thanks-9

Thanks-9

Sept.11, Wednesday

Yesterday went to NY for the funeral of Jaimy, the husband of Binzi. Noble came here to give me a ride to NY. Stayed at George and Gracy's house near the Church. The whole Cheripuram family was there. Amy,Jose's daughter came to meet me.Today, as I walked into the sacristy,  Fr.John asked whether I could give a short homily. I did not want to refuse the invitation and hence I said I would give, although I did not know anything about Jaimy. I was not getting new ideas. The Lord gave me confidence as the time neared for the mass.I could speak well. A man told me as I walked to the cemetery that it was a great homily and it would be rare in life to listen to such a homily. Lord, thank you for your blessings and I offer you my humble homage. Thank you again for giving me the grace to give a homily that inspired others. I was so unsure and off the track to give a homily but the grace of God worked wonders.

My key ideas:

Prayers and condolences. Words have no power to give comfort but only the words of Jesus—I am the Resurrection and the life...Jesus is our strength. All who are here will pass away. All of us will pass away within the next moment, a year, ten years or twenty, thirty years. Nothing is permanent

Reference to the book, why bad things happen to good people by the Boston Rabbi ,Harold Kushner—His cry to God, why. He was helping all and trying to do good: Why his son was taken from him.

He found an answer in Job's questioning of God—why to me—I don't understand

God's response—Were you there when I laid the foundation of the world?

Jaime’s life---full of life and vigor.

Support for Binzy for her work in  in the world and the church.Conciliatory, Active, the energetic, full involvement with children.

Memories crowd into our minds

the pain for the children, when they graduate, succeed, getting achievements, in times of failures

But Jamy['s father, our Father Jesus , will be there. He will carry them in his hands.No thorns will touch them. He will give confidence and strength.

The shortness or longevity is not ours. But we can use the time we get well. We can transform our lives and the lives of others within the time given to us. Jamie did it.

Thank God for giving us the experience of knowing him , knowing his love and his interactions.

God bless you

Saturday, Sept.14. Feast of the Triumph of the Cross

Went to St.Joan of Arc church at Niles, run by the Benedictine monks.The priest spoke about the crosses in our lives. We have to experience losses in order to appreciate the victory of the cross-- he preached. Had a heavy breakfast at a Cafe.

Will do some reading.Today is the blessing of the house.

September 15, Sunday

This morning I went to the Cathedral to say the 9.30 am mass.

When I came to the altar,I found the passage in the Bible different. But I was able to give a sermon. Mentioned the Missionary of the Wall Street.

People came and said that the sermon was good. Thank you, Lord for blessing me to give a good homily. George Maliekal and Vince Marin were present for the mass.

Monday--

Last night stayed with Fr.Antony at his house.Did get some time for sharing.Said mass there in their private chapel and had breakfast at IHOPE.He lives in Glenview. Dropped me at Sajan's house. In the evening, Bobby came to take me to his apartment in Naperville for dinner—Seena, Irene and Ria. He dropped me here around 9.30p.m.

Sept 17, Tuesday:

Went to St.James for the 8am morning mass. Georgekutty Vacha will be coming here to pick me up for lunch.

I was reading the book.The glory of the Crusades by Steve Weidenkopf, a professor of history at Christendom College. It is a very readable book and gives the background information on the politics of the day and it exposes the negative image of the Crusades that was spread by the Protestant historians whose Anti-Catholic prejudices colored their historical perspectives. It is their prejudiced view that became the lens through which the modern world views the crusades, ignoring the political climate of the times that came out of Moslem invasions of the Holy Land and other Christian nations.

Lord, increase my love of Thee. Make me an ardent defender of your message. I should not allow myself to be overwhelmed by my failures. I should  use all the opportunities available to spread the message of the Lord.
Georgekutty, Joy and Jaya were at lunch at the Angelo's.In the evening, Dr.Enas took me out for dinner at Papadoux.Dr.Cherian and Paul Kidangan joined us there. Tuesday was a busy day.
Today, Sept.18th Wednesday is relaxing as I have no engagements.