Advent Snippets !!!!!!!!!

 

When we meet each other normally we enquire about the health about the other. We show our care and concern towards that person who might be suffering or having some issues and problems in the family. By asking the one who is suffering one, the pain and misery is not lessened or taken away but he feels that in this crowded and heartless society there are people who care and love. They feel that there are people who belong to them and have feelings towards their well-being. They keep their head up and look around to to see and experience the pain of the others. The mercy and compassion of God has to be made present through our actions, words and deed. It is said that whether the house big or small, if there is no sweetness and bond in that house, not only human beings but even birds and animals will not enter to live in. 

One of my old friends who is atheist for a long time, likes to attack people who believe in God. He has all kinds of answers to prove that God does not exist. He sometimes takes some truths of the religions like God is present in all human beings. One day he asked me this same question and confronted me saying why do you go to Church when God is present in your brothers and sisters. It is a waste of time and energy to go and pray in the Church where he does not exist. I remembered what one of our school teachers had told us that wind blows in the summer heat, but the we can enjoy it only under the shadow of a tree, so God is present every where and every one but we can experience the happiness of his presence in the Church, temple and mosque.

Some times we human being boasts of our relatives, families, friends etc as our won and take pride of having them in our lives. we sometimes count on them for many things and rely for their support and care, concern and love, but experience has shown that these very our own have deserted us in moments of pain and problems. They have shown us that they were never part of our lives and existence, their negative approach makes us sad and depressed. But we fail to remember that in this world no one is ours really, only TIME and moment is ours. If time and moment is good then everyone is ours, if not those who are close to us are not really close to us. This is the Fact and Truth of Life. 

 

Lessons learnt from the Elders!!!!!!

The age old wisdom of our elders who lived and believed in that We come with nothing, we go with nothing; but one great thing we can achieve in our beautiful life is a little remembrance in someone's mind and a small place in someone's heart. It is so true in our human journey on earth. To remember someone for the good that a person has done in our lives and then enjoy his goodness all through our lives is really a God's gift. Today we easily forget the good done or given, ingratitude is on the increase, parents feel the most of it as the children just forget the sacrifices they have made for the growth and upbringing of their children. Let us live in the memory of our beloved ones through our words, deeds and actions. 

There is only one way to happiness, and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power of our will..this was often repeated by my beloved father especially during the annual examinations in the school. He would say that you have to do your hard work and rest leave to God to take care of the rest. Not to worry what grades and marks you will get, because by worrying you let go the precious moments of the present which you can apply for your studies, to apply your mind and focus on the goal that you would like to achieve.

When schooling we had some friends in the school who were notorious and would bully and beat the other students for no reason. They would do this outside the school compound or on the streets while returning home. These boys were good but had lost their way due to bad companions from other school. One of my cousin would get beaten up by these bad boys and he would run away. one day my uncle told him that Running away from any problem will only increase the distance from the solution. FACE IT and FINISH IT. My cousin got the message and lesson of his life. The next day itself while returning from school the bad boys surrounded him and began to punch, my cousin became so strong and powerful at that moment that he thrashed all four boys and beat them black and blue. He was the hero in the school. 

One our assistant parish priests who was in charge of the youth in our parish at Nirmal Vasai was very popular with us with his acting and singing skills. More than this he was able to wear our shoes and understand us and help us accordingly. We would enjoy his sermons as they were full of stories and experiences connected with the Gospel. He would make the Mass more interesting and as a result there was 100% participation in the Eucharist. One day during the youth gathering he said something like this that We are all visitors to this time, this place, we are just passing through. Our purpose is to observe to learn, to grow, to love and then we return to our sweet HOME

Advent season in the midst of slowing Pandemic

The coming Sunday will be the first Sunday of the advent which will lead us up to the celebration of Christmas. During these four weeks of advent, we will be preparing our hearts and minds in anticipation of the coming of the Lord in our hearts, lives, families and nations in this great crisis of Covid – 19. Today there is an intense longing for the Lord’s coming into the world to overcome this crisis which has paralyzed all of us in every field. We are all waiting with hope in this weary world which for last two years has really suffered too much. Everything seems to be affected including spiritual lives of the people. All of us are waiting for a new and glorious morning to break into this covid affected lives of ours. The expectations of each one of us are very high as we are battling with the virus and finding ways to beat it with vaccines.

We all know that this pandemic has taught us many lessons especially spiritual ones and these two years have been years of learning and realizing that we cannot be gods and take the place of God. The spiritual lessons have been to see the Lord Jesus in other suffering human being, providing care and concern, food and shelter, looking after the needs of the orphans who lost their beloved ones in this pandemic. Churches and individuals have opened many social centers where they care for the affected ones and provide relief to all men and wone.

As Christians prepare anew to celebrate the Incarnation, when “the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us,” revisiting early Church history offers a reminder of the devotion to the common good that Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection can inspire. There have been many plagues and pandemics in the world and the church and Christians have given fitting reply inspired by the life of Jesus our savior.

The global pandemic and new limits on daily activities present a special time for renewal of faith and the opportunity to deepen appreciation for Jesus in daily life. During the pandemic many separated from each other due to travel restrictions, so advent would be a wonderful opportunity to recognize how the birth of the savior changed the world and each one of us. So the responsibility and mission of each one of us is to be messenger of peace and joy in the this troubled times and crisis. Advent is a time to reflect, at time of quieting, a time of stillness, to make room for Christ in our daily lives. It is a time to light the advent candles and wreath and gathering to reflect in front of a Nativity scene to nurture our faith as we look forward the great feast of the incarnation, the son of God becoming one of us. Advent is a time to experience the loving presence of God in a fresh and profound way even amidst the pandemic. During advent let us prepare our hearts and families to receive the beloved son of God again.