Second Lenten Season in Pandemic Covid-19

 We are told and recommended by the Scriptures to wear sackcloth and ashes. One might say that we are do wear for last one year in the pandemic. It has melted our hearts to repent for wrong that we have done to God and to one another. The sackcloth of difficulties and economical problems have been accepted by all in humility. The ashes of loved ones who died in this pandemic reminds us that we are dust and to dust we shall return. The penance that has been done by those who are affected by the virus, they are segregated and separated from loved ones, no human touch and contact, some of them have died all alone without the loved ones around them

The Church advocates fast during this lenten season, how many are forced to fast during this lenten season because they have lost jobs and no other source of income. Many of them have face the bitter truth of losing everything like small business and industries which are closed and no sign of re-opening....penances are already given naturally but we have to learn and find out the reason Why

This pandemic has been a time of conversion of heart, mind and soul, people have not simply regretted their sins but have decided to do something different which will please God. 

An act of contrition as a family, church, society and the whole world need to be undertaken. Already many of us have begun asking for mercy and praying for clean and pure heart to live worthy human and holy lives. 

It is time to get reconciled with God, brother and sister, the nature....we have abused them with our lifestyle 

Ashes remind us that we are mortal beings, our bodies will become dust when buried and ashes if cremated, our life span is very brief and unpredictable...

The lenten season invites us to repent if not a strong warning that we will suffer eternal misery if we do not repent of our sins, become reconciled with God, asking His pardon and forgiveness, and do penance

we are invited lovingly to realise and acknowledge our sinful condition and return to our loving and forgiving God with true repentance and a renewal of our life as prodigal son did

Relationships are meant to grow every moment!!!!!!!!

 Br. Peter, our Custos came for two days visit to Ras Al Khyaimah and it was wonderful time with him, The Parish priest Fr Thomas Sebastian welcomed him a fraternal warmth. The next day morning we went out for a walk close by to an island. It is a beautiful place and mostly Hotels for tourists and Villas for rich people. Silver sand blue waters attract even the local people to visit and spend time....

Relationships are to be treasured and remembered for the lovely experiences one has in the company of the loved one. Relationship maintained and kept afresh by re-living and often talking about them The faith and trust that we had in our relationships yesterday it should be the same today, it should not decrease but must be increasing every moment with warmth and bond with each other.  Relationships are not worth maintaining and growing into if they are developed in times of sadness and loneliness but relationships are those which gives us the feeling of belongingness and acceptance, feeling that the other one is there for me. 

In the History we have seen and experience that many great political and spiritual leaders have tried to maintain and keep up relationships, brotherhood, bonding but have not fully succeeded. So we too might not succeed but we cannot throw up our hands in the air and shirk our bounded responsibility, not saying its not my cup of tea, but we got to change ourselves first. If we are small and younger, we must learn to accept in humility our condition being small, if we are elder and big in rank, must learn to accept all and learn to forgive those make mistakes.

We may have a lots of misunderstandings, doubts and suspicions with the other, we may fight and have arguments over many issues, we must remember that at the end our journey has to end on the shoulder of brotherhood. Lost days will never return to us and the days that are going to come we are not sure they will be...so enjoy every moment in life with dear and near ones....Relationships are not big but those who preserve and maintain them are the biggest person.

In storms and tornados we do not build houses with branches and leaves, by crying, the negative and bad luck and destiny do not get built up again, be courageous to win the world, by losing once no one becomes a pauper and by winning once no one becomes the "King" of the world. 

There are persons who salute and embrace riches, some persons enslave poverty, but those who honour humanity and human relations are those persons who really understand life and appreciate life and proclaim it to others.