Thanks-7

Thanks-7,Aug.15.

Today is the Feast of Assumption and the Independence Day of India.

Lord, help me to spend more time in prayer on this day. After the flag hoisting ceremony and the celebrations, I will be going to the Mount and spend more time in prayer. The Lord is my everything. I will place all my weaknesses and failures before him and ask him to transform them. My joy is in my prayers. The time that is given to me has to be spent in prayers. When I think of  Fr.Thuruthmaly.. and Kazhukachalil.. who were all in constant contact with me in the past months and are no more with me, I realize the transitory nature of time more sharply. In the Gospel that I read for meditation from Mt 16, Jesus asks us to be watchful so that we should not ignore our eternal salvation.There is nothing to be gained if our salvation is in danger. Lord, have mercy on me.

I am at Mt.St.Thomas.Had lunch with the priests .Said mass in the morning here in the chapel.

In the morning , I was at Xime for the Independence Day celebrations. They honoured me well by giving me a special seat. After the ceremony, I  left the place for the Mount.

Here they are doing all kinds of preparations for the beginning of the Synod.The MABP said mass in the morning.

Abp. Sheen on “Sanctiying the Moment”:

P.208 .

All unhappiness comes from excessive concentration on the past or from

extreme preoccupation with the future.

A conscience, burdened with the guilt of past sins, is fearful of divine judgment. But God in his mercy has given us two remedies for such unhappiness: one is the sacrament of penance. Nothing in human experience is as efficacious in curing the memory and imagination as a confession.

Confession also heals the imagination, eliminating its anxiety for the future. The second remedy is the sanctification of the moment....we are to leave the past to divine mercy and trust the future to his loving Providence.

Aug.16, Friday

Thank you, Lord, for these fine reflections of Bp.Sheen.He gives the answer to my searching for peace and forgiveness. Handing over the past to the mercy of God and living every moment trusting in the providence of God. We have to live in love and faith. We don't have to be afraid of anything. Lord, have mercy on me. Let me feel confident in my heart.

Today, God gives me another day to spend in prayer and adoration. I will spend my time in prayer at the Mount. I don't have to be worried about my day being used for acquiring any knowledge except for deepening my relationship with the Lord.

I have to prepare myself for my trip to the US. Only ten days more. The Synod begins on the 19^th.

"Every moment brings us more treasures than we can gather.

This moment is my school, my textbook, my lesson.

The university of the moment---the one who accepts God's will in all things escapes such frustration by piercing the disguise of outward events to penetrate to their real character as messengers of the God he loves.

Merton—Thoughts in Solitude

"The psalms are the true garden of the solitary and the Scriptures are his Paradise.

I have found and have known, by your great mercy, that the love of a man's heart that is abandoned and broken and poor is most pleasing to you.

My Father, I know You have called me to live alone with you and to learn that If I were not a mere man, a mere human being capable of all mistakes and all evil, also capable of a frail and errant human affection for you, I would not be capable of being your son.

Let my trust be in your mercy, not in myself. Let my hope be in you..."

Aug 17, Saturday

In Mathew 19, Jesus speaks against divorce and for the need to obey the commandments to attain eternal salvation. Lord, I have failed in so many ways. Forgive me and keep me in your company. Nobody can fathom the depths to which one can go. In spite of great training and education, we are susceptible to all kinds of moral failures. Lord, protect me and have mercy on me.

Today, I will be going to Chy for the wedding of Tom Perumpayil's nephew.

From today onwards, I shall not be looking for occasions of glory or fame.No to such thoughts. Be happy with what God has given me. That is all. Praise  God and bear no grudges.

Aug.18, Sunday

Now is the time to prepare for the journey. I have to put everything that I wrote daily in a flash drive. Today I have to go to the Basilica and Muvattupuzha for the betrothals.

This morning,I was Reading Mt.19 where Jesus speaks about the need to forgive without any conditions.He also speaks about the indissolubility of marriage by affirming that the husband and wife become one body and nobody should separate them from that union.It is a perfect way for unity and love and creates on earth an imitation of God's unconditional love for each one of us.It is into that environment of love that the children are born and brought up. All ways of forgiveness and compromises should be practiced in order to preserve that love.
Stephen Covey, a well-known author on management and leadership says that the best leadership in the world is that of a parent. Values, leadership, faith, love, humility, willingness to help, compromise and forgiving are all practiced here.(I have to quote from here in more detail).

When I speak about marriage, I can use the words of the Holy Father: Marriage is a pilgrimage in faith; three things for marriage: please, forget and forgive.

Jesus ' words—A grain of wheat has to fall and decay in order to give new life. The more you go down, the more you go up. It is in giving that we gain. Love involves sacrifices. Humility- not a weakness but a sign of strength. You are not going to be judged on the dollars you have made but  on the number of people you have helped(Harvard Talk---- on humility-- by Christensten)

Aug.19.Monday

I thank you, Lord for this day. Yesterday, I went for the betrothal at the Basilica and later at Muvattupuzha for Asha's sister. I gave the homily at the BASILICA FOR DR.FRANCY'S DAUGHTER. I suppose it went OK. At Muvattupuzha , I was the main celebrant. By the grace of God, everything went OK. On Saturday,went to Chy for Tom's nephew's wedding – with Abp.Perumthottam and Abp.Coorillos.

Today is the beginning of the Synod. The News Channel gives a lot of importance because of the selection of a bishop for Ekm. There was shown on TV a lot of people going over to the Mount to give their memorandum.

Today in the Gospel of Mt.20, Jesus speaks about the laborers in the vineyard and how God is paying the workers according to his generosity. The last and the first are paid the same wages. God's generosity has no limits. We have to depend on God totally. There is no need to be worried. The only thing is that we have to respond to God positively and be willing to follow His will. Lord, thank you for this message.

I may go to the Mount this evening. Just to make my presence felt. Will say the mass there.

Lord, I will never allow myself to be worried. I will just focus on you.

I had a class in the morning and it went Ok.I made them correct some of the mistakes and asked them to give short speeches.

Went to the Mount in the afternoon. I met the MABP very briefly. Someone gave me a brief account of the people who came to the Mount with their protests and rough behavior, yesterday. These are the people who lost all their sense of values and were totally unChristian.It is a great tragedy that some of the priests were behind them to get what they want at any cost.

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Lord, have mercy on me. Help me to love you deeply and be close to you. You are the joy of my life. My love for you should overcome the power of my weaknesses. I cannot combat the power of these forces alone, with my own resources. I need You to be present actively in my life. I know you will never abandon me.

Aug.20,Tuesday

In the Gospel of Mathew,  Ch.21.Jesus is making his triumphal entry into Jerusalem and people shout hosanna and greet him warmly and publicly. He then began to teach in the Temple. The leaders come asking for his authority to do so. He responds to them by putting a question to them about the authority of John the Baptist. Through the parables of the vineyard, he tells them about the need to accept Him as their Savior. If not, the opportunity of salvation will be offered to others. This is the moment for me to commit myself to Jesus and accept Him as the Lord of my life. There is nothing else important in my life except the faith in Jesus. Jesus and my faith in Jesus are very important. There is no need for feeling unhappy and depressed. I have to feel joyful and confident and use the last minute of my life by reading and writing for Jesus. I am given opportunities again through the various assignments I still have. I have to use them.

Every day I will meditate on the words of Jesus and find joy in the presence of Jesus. Today too, I  will go to the Mount and say mass there.

Went to the Mount.I was a bit late and reached there only aftr 2.30 p.m.and hence missed seeing the Abp.Met Bp.Joy Alappat and had a cordial talk with him.

All kinds of rumors are flying around with regard to a new appointment for Ekm. Mr.VO Sebastian came to have a discussion on the Leadership Programme and he says that he would see to it that more people would come from Trichur side. 

Aug.21, Wednesday

I was supposed to teach a class but it was canceled as the students had other programmes. So today will be the last day here and tomorrow, being the birthday, I will be at home for lunch. I will do the packing today. I will be going to the Mount at 2p.m and will try to see the MABP, if possible. Will say mass there.

Aug.22

My birthday.I said mass at 11a.m. And after the mass some of the fathers came to my room to offer their greetings.It was a touching show of affection and sensitivity. I was very much delighted at their manifestation of love.

Left for home by 12.The family came for lunch. Even though we were very few in number, still the coming together cemented the family unity.

Bought a stole from Mar Louis.

Aug.23, Friday.Went to the Mount and said the mass. Two meetings were going on there—the meeting of the Major Superiors and of the Forane Vicars. The Synod is trying to find a way out of the crisis. More delay means more time for them to get organized to show their protests. Earlier, people were not with the rebel group. Now they are getting more people to support them.

I have to spend my life in prayer and thanksgiving.How soon all who are loved by me have departed from the world--colleagues, priests, and friends. All those who were in good and loving relationship with me have left for the eternal abode. God, grant them eternal rest and give me your love and forgiveness.

Aug 24,Saturday

Went to the Mount.Said the mass. I had lunch there. Left immediately after lunch. Did all the packing.Will say more prayers and spend time thanking the Lord. Will never show any anxiety or worry.Will totally depend on God. Lord, thank you for your mercy.

I have to feel happy and confident because of my Lord.

Aug.25, Sunday

Thank you, Lord, for this day. Help me to spend this day in prayer. I have to prepare myself spiritually--trying to be united with God. Today,in the Gospel, Jesus reminds me to be watchful and be prepared. That is what I have to do today. Lord, have mercy on me.