Today is the beginning
of Advent. Jogy left for the US. Said mass at the chapel as Davis came
to give me the ride. I have one more class tomorrow and will have to
send the question paper. Tomorrow evening, they have the Christmas
celebration and there will be a mass on Dec.3.
Biju was given the
salary of Rs.14,000 yesterday. Second time a reduction of Rs.1000 was
made.Three more reductions remain.
Tomorrow I will ask
them to make speeches on two topics—Violence against women and the
failure of Indian economy—Preventive measures. I have to make two
teams. Make a list of students who have to speak.Give them topics at
the beginning of the class. Three in each group.
Lord, help me to grow
in my love for you.Let these twenty five days be the time to prepare
myself to grow close to you. I will read a chapter or two from
Isaiah every day. Make a prayer out of it.
Read Isaiah 25---It is
a praise of the Lord .It offers Him full-throated praise and worship,
thanking the Lord for the protection given to mankind.
Read two chas and will
spend my days during this Advent reading the BK of Is.Dec.3,Tuesday
I said mass at XIME at
8am as today is St.Francis Day,The second day of Gregorian. I left
here at 7.15 am and reached there around 7.45am.All the faculty and
Dr.Nandagopal were there for the mass.Thank you Lord for giving me
the voice to say the mass. After that, there was a common
breakfast.Today ,I had nothing special as the classes were over.I was
free but I used the time to grade the assignments.Tomorrow, I will
finish them.I will spend more time in reading and praying.Sent a
draft of the convocation address to the Curia Bp and he can use the
whole or parts of it.Thank you Jesus for the time given to me today.
In the morning,I yawn a
lot and feel sleepy.Hence I cannot read much. It is still
unbelievable that A is not here.She has often spoken about her life
after death and meeting the Lord.Now, she is there.All those who were
in my life in one way or another are in heaven now.I have to live in
expectation of this heavenly life and live a life worthy of that.I
firmly believe on the words of Jesus that he would not abandon me.
Nov.5,Thursday
Yesterday, I emailed
the grades of their assignment to Sema.She may enter them.
I will spend some time
in reading the history of the Church.
I read this morning,Jn
cha.4, the conversation between Jesus and Samaritan woman.Jesus
offers living water to her.He offers the same to me too.I have to
draw the living water from Him.God be merciful to me.
Nov.6.Friday
I am at the Mount.Did
not do anything. Said mass.That is enough for me.Read a few pages
from the History of Catholic Church on the Crusades
MABP was elected the
President of KCBC.It is a good change.He will have something to do or
say on a wider platform.Offered my congratulations to the Cardinal.I
was in the chapel when the Cardinal was welcomed at the reception at
the Mount.I did not know that he had come.
It is now midnight and
I am in my room.I will sit here and read until sleep comes.I won't
waste my time.The Lord has been so good to me.I will cooperate with
all in the various activities at the Mount as well as at XIME.
Mathaichan mentioned
that they had cancelled the marriage proposal on account of the
non-cooperation of the family.Let it go.Pray and look for someone
else.God bless them.
Nov.7,Saturday
Went to the Mount.Just
typed out the welcome speech read a few pages from the History of the
Church dealing with Albigensian heresy. Inquisitions and deaths on
account of the heresy.12th and 13th centuries
were the years of great turmoil.The Crusades from Europe to free the
Holy Land.Thousands of people left for Europe but a lot of them lost
their lives.The Moslem rulers also killed thousands of local
Christians.What a tragedy! Thousands of people have lost their lives.
Dec.8,Sunday
Today is the Feast of
the Immaculate Conception. Parel Church Feast. Said mass at the chapel here.Thank you Lord for the time given.I will spend it for
you.
Read the link of the
book Organizational Behavior by Robbins sent by Jojo on Dec. 2.Went
through the first chapter.I will read a few more pages tomorrow.Will
carry the I pad along with me.The Lord has given me the time to read
and absorb new ideas.These will come handy in preparing myself
better for preaching the Scriptures.
Fr.Karukakalm passed
away.The viewing of his body at the priests' home on Tuesday at
4p.m.Most probably, I will go for viewing.He was good to me
while he was at Thathampally.God bless him.The only way I can show my
solidarity is by attending the funeral or viewing.Nothing else is
possible.My opportunities are very limited and I have no more any
public role.But I should not withdraw from the scene .I have to use
all my resources to proclaim the Word. God has given me so many
blessings: my education, my job as the Principal and as the VG.I
should be using all these.I cannot just slink away.Who has got a
Ph.D. in English from the US here?Very few.So I should use all these
gifts for Jesus.
I still cannot accept
the fact that A has passed away.What a gift she was.Very encouraging
and inspiring.Taking care that I have the best of everything.Always
bought the best clothes for me.With what a great hope that she went
to live with D!When they expressed the difficulty of installing hot
water pipes in her room, I suggested that she should move into a
senior residential place.After a few weeks of my arrival , I got the
sad news of her passing away.She did not get the love that she gave
to her mother.That is God's will.Nothing can be said against that.It
was time for her to leave.So also, I lost J.She used to argue and
quarrel.But she lost her health and memory.Could not speak well and
was confined to a hospital. Remember visiting her a few days before
her fall, after celebrating my birthday at St.Pat with the Indian
food brought by Chakochan. I went there because of a dinner
appointment that was promised before the surprise party. God bless
her.
Dec.9,Monday
I have to do some
reading today.Have to remain strong in nurturing my faith.This
evening is the monthly reflection and also the celebration of the
feast of the sisters.I will stay there and take medicine with me.Will
not go for the funeral as it will be very tiresome.Let me pray over
it.I will spend time before the Lord.Thank you ,Jesus.
Dec.12,Thursday
Yesterday,went to the
Mount when I got a call from the Cardinal and spent the whole day
there.The good thing was that I could correct the circular as well as
the speech for him for the Calcutta meeting.Got the computer inverter
replaced by Toshy.It is working well.That is good news.Today will go
to XIME although another big ecumenical meeting is taking place at
the Mount today.
Went to Xime and spent
the whole day.
Fr.Tomy came round
2p.m. I spent sometime with him.Then, I was invited for a meeting
with them and Prof.Philip ,Cyriac nd VO Sebastian.Later, I was
invited again for a meeting on the IAS training and for tomorrow's
meeting.This is the first time I heard them especially Sri Cyriac
telling that they are not fully using my talents.It made me happy
that they were acknowledging my presence. God has a moment for
everyone.
Went to the Mount in
the evening and could meet Abp.Perumthottam. Congratulated him on the
steps taken and urged him to move forward with confidence.I could do
that much at least.
Dec.13,Friday.
Came to Xime around
6.30 am as Biju had to go to the airport to pick Liju.Went to my room
there.Said mass.The Breakfast was brought around 7.30 am.Came back to
my room. Sudeep came to repair the printer and hence I could take a
print out of the speech. Went to room 120 for inauguration. Gave the
welcome speech—narrated two experiences—one my homily preparation
at Notre Dame Uty and then, the PG board of studies.I think I gave a
good speech—also giving credit to PCC,Prof.Philip and Dr.Alexander.
One Vigi Parakal and
his wife(Sidney,Australia) came to visit at 2pm .Before that ,
Joychan and Bobby came round noon. Sri Abraham Kurian reached around
2.30.
Will do some
corrections.It is now 4p.m.There is a meeting at 6pm on
IAS/Competitive Exam training.
Thank you ,Lord , for
your blessing and for giving me the ideas for a welcome speech. I have to
do more work and offer it to the Lord.
Dec.14,Saturday.
Today is the conclusion
of the teachers' meeting of St.Thomas college.They look like a
satisfied and contented group of teachers.Young and talented.
Had a meeting last
night for the IAS coaching centre. Christi Fernandez gave a long
intervention on the feasibility of starting an IAS coaching c.One
James Mattom of Chanakya franchise offered his suggestions. Still,
the question of starting the centre remains unsolved. They need more
time for thinking.
Abraham Kurian read out
the portions of the questions---highly loaded and pro-RSS.
Thank you Lord for your
blessings.
11am—I am here at
Xime.Met Prof.Michael Tharakan and Mar Tony Neelankavil who is here
for the morning session.Prof.Tharakan mentioned one Prof.Francis of
St.Thomas as a great historian and about the fine training they
received at UC college. Tharakan recognized me when he saw me.
Abrham Kurian was seen
off when I came down after the inaugural ceremony.
Will spend time here
and grade the papers.
Dec.15 Sunday
Will send a reply to
Pius.I got a Christmas card from Pius. That was a generous gesture on his part.I will mail a letter to
him tomorrow. God bless him.I have the answer books to grade. I will
start doing it from this evening onwards. Lord, purify my heart. Help
me to be totally attached to you.
Today in the reading
from the Bible, I came across the passage where Jesus was calling
Mathew to follow him.this is a call for me too. I will have to follow
him totally and wholeheartedly in my life. Nothing should distract me.
St.Thomas teachers left
after the sessions. I did not see them.I left around 5p.m.They seemed
to be satisfied and contented.
SB is passing through a
rough time. It is all due to bad appointments to management positions.
Dec.16th, Monday
Christmas is just
around the corner. Next week falls the most beautiful day of the
year. I will be spending the eve at Mount St.Thomas.I have to reflect deeply on the meaning of Christmas personally for me. In the morning
meditation on the Gospel passage, I find Jesus healing the leper and
giving him health and happiness even though it was a Sabbath.
My
Jesus, you never ask for any explanations or blame the person for his
lapses or sins in life. You just give whatever the person wants. Your
overwhelming generosity is transforming and changes the personality
of the person. Thank you, Lord, for your compassion and mercy. Forgive me
.Reach out to me. Place your loving hand on me and transform me.
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