Confession : Soul Washer

Confession, as most Christians knows, it’s one of the 7 sacraments.

It is the only other sacrament which we receive through-out our life. This shows the importance of the sacrament and its need for every Christian to walk with Christ. But do we really make use of this divine healing service. How many of us go for confession just for the sake of doing it? Do we really understand the true healing presence of the Lord during confession?

Let me start with myself first. The priest says that we have to prepare ourselves for Christmas or Easter and I have known myself to rush to church at the last minute to vomit whatever comes to mind... Do you really think I felt bad about my sins? It was just another ritual for me.

Personally, I thank God for making me to understand and appreciate the grace I receive during confession. I want to write what confession does to us and how important it is. Confession it’s not just about confessing your sins, it is also a healing sacrament. During confession, your soul is washed with the power of the Holy Spirit and made whiter than snow. I am comparing it with snow because I will say it is the purest form of white. I am inspired to explain what happens during confession in lay man terms. Let’s compare our soul with a pure white shirt. I wear this nice white shirt while going out and expose it to the dust, sun and sweat. Its gets dirty, of course. But what if I am to wear the same dirty shirt the next day and the day after for long time. It will start to stink, may be the white shirt will no longer look like a white one. I will start to reek because of the filthy shirt. The shirt desperately needs a wash. I will then have it washed thoroughly making sure it gets back its former color- white. This is what happens during confession.

I have never witnessed my own baptism but I have seen baptisms were the baby is nicely dressed in a white dress, and the priest blesses the baby and wipes his head with a white cloth symbolizing that his original sin is washed away. Now, as one grows older, the soul gets exposed to all kinds of worldly things, dirtying it. Its needs a regular wash to be made whiter than snow and the washing happens during the sacrament of confession.  So let’s be regular in using this divine opportunity to wash our souls, to wash it whiter than snow and to continue seeking the Kingdom of God. Amen…

Miracle-Faith Boosters

Mark 4:26-27, 28-29 – Faith is like a seed; plant it in your heart. God gives the harvest at the appointed time.

I call myself faithful but I am not sure how strong my faith is.

I was in Trichy  two weeks ago, for my cousins wedding. I happened to pick my granny from the railway station. On the way back home, the cab driver drove us into a hospital called the ‘infant Jesus hospital’ in Trichy. I had no clue why we were there. When I asked my brother, he told that on  8^th Dec 2011 many ppl witnessed Mother Mary’s statue’s eyes flicker and thousands flooded to this place. The moment he told me this, I asked him if it was true. Whether it was reported to Rome? Did they approve it? Having so many questions cross my mind walked towards the grotto, knelt before the grotto and started praying, “I am not doubting your holiness or your son’s power but pls forgive me if my mind is not accepting the truth.” I sat for some time at the grotto and prayed rosary. I was looking into the face of mother Mary and wondered if I am worthy to witness any miracles.

On the way back home I was thinking, am I really rooted in faith? Why I couldn’t trust a miracle? Is it my intellect which is stopping me from believing? What is faith? Am I a fool to just trust Jesus without any doubts? When Jesus rose from the dead, every disciple believed it but Thomas, who wanted to touch and feel his wounds. We call him Doubting Thomas. He proved to the world that that Jesus had truly risen in flesh and blood. It was allowed by Jesus. It’s the touch of Christ.

Miracles and apparitions increase your faith. They help you feel his touch. In my life, I personally started to seek Jesus when I felt his divine touch healing me. Thomas had faith, but Jesus wanted to make it an everlasting faith by allowing him to touch his wounds, Miracles are faith builders. It builds you more deeply in faith. The Catholic Church is very cautious about each and every act in the Christian community. It doesn’t allow for any confusion in the Church. As the above scripture says, let’s allow faith to grow in our heart. Stop questioning or doubting God and trust him wholeheartedly. Science can answer many of your questions, but when it comes to God, science has no answer. It’s speechless…

I am the True Vine

I am the vine and you are the branches, a divine calling to bear fruit for Christ and to serve his kingdom, John 15:16. He says “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.” How blessed are we to be called the Chosen Ones!

Jesus calls everyone to abide in his love and bear fruit. Now the question we are asking is; are we really clinging to Jesus to bear fruit for him. If you read the whole chapter, Jesus sends a friend request to everyone (like Jesus was the one who started social networking).  He invites everyone to be his friend, to start a new relationship, a new covenant. He made a new law, a new commandment. It is a simplified version of the Ten Commandments. John 15 : 12-13, “this is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you, no one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

He calls us friends! He freed us from slavery by sacrificing himself on the cross. The only cost for us to avail his sacrifice is to remain in his love and to follow his commandments. To follow this one commandment means that you will fulfill all the other nine commandments. Simple as that! Loving others as Jesus loved me is the greatest challenge I have in my life. Do I really die to myself when someone accuses me and I retaliate? Am I really abiding in his love? Do I reflect his love to my fellow brothers and sisters? Think about it!

This term, vine is used in most part of the Old Testament. Vine represents the People of God or People of Israel. Jesus says “I am the true Vine”. He reveals that he is the new Israel. He is the Light and He is the True Vine. Ah! I should not forget about the pruning part. That’s more important here. Abba father is the Gardener and his work is to prune us to bear the best fruit. Now this pruning can be in different forms. It is physical, mental and financial. The more your pruned the more you will bear fruit. Most of time we, religious say to ourselves I go for everyday mass, I am living a good sacramental life, but when we face any difficulty in life we start to question God- why am I going through this? 

I remember putting this question to my spiritual friends. Does God test our faith? Most of them said- no, he doesn’t. I wasn’t convinced but term 'test' itself is incorrect. It is pruning. If you’re abiding in Christ love, you will be pruned to bear fruit. Sometimes pruning is painful, but it is fruitful. I remember this scripture, Matt 16:24, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me”. Therefore, “Take up your cross and follow Me” means being willing to die in order to follow Jesus. This is called “dying to self”. It’s a call to absolute surrender. Each time Jesus commanded cross bearing, he said, “for whoever wants to save his life, will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?” (Luke 9:24-25).

Although the call is tough, the reward is priceless. Let us abide his love and bear much fruit for his Glory. And don’t forget to the accept the friendship request from Jesus (your true friend (vine))

Why not a Baby Girl ??

              Hey guys! I have become uncle for the 2nd time. All Glory to the Lord Jesus for adding another baby to our family.  This is my sisters 2nd baby, and happiest part is that it is a Girl. The whole of yesterday (April 16^th 2012) I was in the hospital with my sister and  I could see many people waiting for their babies, with a lot of anxiety, expectation, not knowing if it’s going to be a girl or boy. I saw many chanting prayers, whether it may be either Christian, Muslim, or Hindu. They were waiting for a new creation, a new member to their family. What an miraculous creation of God  that women are blessed with the gift of motherhood. They are co-creators with God.

As I am writing this, I am  looking at innocent face of my 2nd niece. What a blessing to have babies at home. I wish I were a baby now. But I wonder how do people kill babies? How do they have a heart to kill them? I can’t imagine how mothers abort those souls. How many of us pray for stopping abortion? In addition, I was observing at the hospital yesterday that everyone was hoping for a boy. I am not sure about other countries, but in India there is huge discrimination of sex. I have  read in newspapers that a 1 day old baby was thrown into garbage just because it was a baby girl. How cruel they are? Heartless humans! Why is a girl child considered less. Women are achieving more than men now a days. Women  are working in every field of commerce and technology as men are. 

In my perspective, if a mom or a mother-in-law says they don’t want a baby girl, they are murderers. They are not worth having in this world. They don’t deserve to be called womens. They are equal to being a terrorist. This clearly shows they don’t accept their own sex. These days as fertility centres are increasing worldwide, they now have a choice to choose what kind of baby they want. Who is the creator here? God or human beings.

That is a question that everybody has to answer? The science which transforms God's creation will not last long.

One more thing. If a women gives birth to baby Girl and that child is not accepted or loved by her own parents, grandparents, siblings; just imagine the state of her soul. It longs for love, this leads the poor soul to seek love in numerous wrong ways. Jesus calls us to love everyone, not to recreate or reprogram what he has already destined for us. If we are saying it is scientific development, then let’s remember that the doors of Hell is always open for us.

This is my humble request; let’s pray to prevent abortion. Let less souls to be destroyed. L

New life from a broken tree

It’s a nice shot right…. Obviously shot by me… it was a while ago that I had taken this shot..................

Prodigal Son(s)

Prodigal son.

This was the reading this Saturday’s mass (march 10^th) …. About the prodigal son… the whole day I was contemplating on the reading… why is that we always think about the son who went away, enjoyed his life and came back with nothing… but I focused on the elder son who was always with his father , so obedient, just like a slave…. Why is that we forget this elder son… we must think about the elder son as close as the younger one. ….  You know the story well… younger son takes away his share of property, goes to the true world(manipulated as true), free from his father’s hands… wat a joy  to be free… when there is no one to question you… its actually fun… this son goes out looking for fun, love.. Etc.. It continues… he realizes that there is no more pig’s food (just for laughs) decides to get back to his father which is a hard decision to make, no other go, it needs of lot of humility, courage to face his father. This father knowing that his son will come back, waiting for him with lot of love… this eldest son, being same always under the fathers feet, just fulfilling his fathers will, gets angry when his dad opens up a party of his son’s returning… second even though goes worldly, knowing that his father loves him, comes back, but this elder son being always with his father, fail's to realise his father’s compassionate love… this whole parable is about the love of the father.. in this both  the son’s failed to understand the love of the father. We may be a prodigal son or daughter , or even a obedient son or daughter, but how much we have allowed the love of God to penetrate in our life… knowing that he loves us so much, how much do we reflect his love to others. Let’s think about this, do we have any un- forgiveness towards others?  Come on friends let dwell in the loving presence of our lord. Jesus loves you all.

The Lost Child

I will say this is a late reflection, Today morning as I was in chapel suddenly this incident comes out of my memory, Reflection is all about how important is to hold on to JESUS to Reach the FATHER as the scriptures says No One Comes To the Father, But Through Me: John 14:6.  I and my family went for a pilgrimage to Velankanni in Nagapattinam , one of the HOLY places of Mother Mary’s apparitions. We go every year to this holy place. After evening mass, we generally walk towards a place where mother Mary appeared to a lame boy, and we say rosary or contemplate on way of  the cross, this place is always crowded, in this midst of the crowd my dad noticed a small kid hardly 4 yrs old crying missing his parents, my dad asked me to carry this kid, I took him, I asked his what’s your name, he couldn’t speak also he was scared, he was holding me so tight, we took him to the security guy to keep the boy safe there as the place crowded  and its hard to find his parents. But that boy did not want get away from me, I told him see Jesus is there with you , MAMA Mary is with you, am not sure whether he understands me, tried to convince him but he is not ready let me go, we waited there for sometime hoping his parents will search for him. We asked the security personal to announce it in the mic, after sometime the parents came and took the kid. I felt happy that I was able to hand over him to his parents. As we walk towards our spiritual life its very important to Hold on tight to Jesus other wise we will be lost in the world as the lost child, as we know Jesus is only way to reach the Abba Father, we should hold him in every situation, we may be distracted with many things which is taking away from JESUS, just imagine, if that kid was taken away by someone who may misuse or abuse him. Its possible in this world we brought up as Christians get lost in worldly pleasures one day we realize that we have taken wrong path we are like a LOST child. Don’t forget Jesus is always there for our Rescue.  We belong to Jesus and Satan tries to manipulate many things in our lives offering APPLE’S in our life finally deceiving us. Lets Identify JESUS in our lives, How close we relate to him, How much time we spend with him, Do we really follow him?. JESUS LOVES YOU ALL. HOLD ON TO JESUS.

My Experience on Valentine's Day (14 Feb 2011)

Today at office as I was working, I started to think wat i was doing last year, last year at this same time and day i was in mettupalayam to attend one of colleague's marriage, i was job less at that time.. and this was my first journey all alone to an unknown place, i have never traveled alone or stayed alone.. having just 500 rs in my wallet i started my journey, i was given a room in  a lodge that night, early morning was the marriage, i had to get up at 4am in the morning(that was actually hard).. someone one dropped me at the temple... it was a hindu marriage... i am going for a Hindu marriage for the first time....feel was different, i was actually uncomfortable standing there not knowing wat to do... marriage ceremony got over, morning breakfast was provided, i got little time to speak with the couple, i have to write  about the couple's it was a love marriage.. they fell in love at first sight, and the guy decided to marry the gal only wen he is owns a company , now he is a CEO of a software company. That day actually i was jealous of them. they actually made a perfect pair... i left from there getting back to my home.... whole two days i dint book in any bus or train... i have to board in some bus coming in the way. as i was leaving from the place i went to a church on the way prayed for few mins and started my journey. from mettupalayam i took a bus to coimbatore, from there i could find no buses to my home( chennai), only way to go is to take a bus to salem and from salem to chennai. if i had got a bus from coimbatore to chennai i would have reached home by 7 in the evening .... since there was no bus, i had to travel 4 hrs to salem and  from salem to chennai it was 7hrs, actually i was irritated on my dad... bcoz i wanted to book a train from coimbatore to chennai but my dad dint allow me to book as it was expensive... but later i realised it was good... dint have my lunch... took bus to salem, i felt so low, i felt that i was left all alone, i was thinking about my old  bad memories, i felt am useless,unworthy to live,unloved,rejected,frustrated, i started crying in the bus..that moment as i was crying i started to speak with my JESUS. i cried to him, Jeje why i feel so low, why i dont have anyone to love me, i was weeping in the bus hopefully no one saw me crying. why am not worth to get a job.. its been 4 months not even a interview call. reached salem, got a local bus had to fight with ppl to get a seat... again a 7 hrs journey to my place... as i was travelling i am getting call from HP , u know wat guys it was a interview , thats when i realized that jesus was near hearing my cry... i took the interview in the crowded bus.. i successfully cleared the first round.after that the whole journey was not bitter experience but a joyful experience with my Jesus... That day i found out my true valentine. ITS MY JESUS, HE LOVES AS I AM. reached home at 12 am midnight, in next two days i got selected in fidelity investment with the best pay i ever thought... it was the first and best valentine day i celebrated, i am expecting every day should be valentine day with my dada JESUS. JESUS LOVES U ALL.

Are you prepared for your Death ?

Hey guys I wanted to write something which we all will face one day, I had a few reflection on it few days back, its about DEATH, 4 days ago one of  my Grandfather(my mom’s uncle) died of an asthma attack, I went back home to Chennai on Saturday for the funeral, I was sitting near the coffin box or the ice box and was praying for him something made me keep silent for sometime, I imagined myself inside the coffin box, people coming crying, screaming around me and am on my way back to my father’s house(Heaven) am sure about it he he he :-P . but my thought on my way back to heaven is … Dom have you really served the purpose that God sent you in this world, have I really fulfill his divine will, so will I be reaching Jesus as prodigal son, a loser, a failure, do I really have to reach him in that state, the whole day I was just thinking the same thing, time for funeral mass came, at church during sermon father was talking about the Same. He explained death in a simple way, we are like ball, if someone throws a ball towards a wall it will bounce back to the person, similarly God has sent us to Earth and finally we have to die and get back to him that’s the reflex, in the moment of journey in this world, that’s were are here to prove ourselves.  Are we here to build multi storey buildings or kingdom of God?

Prison ministry: A day of refelection between the bars and high walls.

Praise the lord. Once of my wish to go to Prison got fulfilled today, not as an accused but  to meet our brothers over there chained down and shattered. I have been asking Igi and Antony uncle to take me to prison as they are going for ministry there every week. Today being a lucky day Igi got caught up with some work , i think to pick up the resource  person for the school, and as they were looking for a good keyboardist ... bingo my divine face flashed in their mind's, Antony uncle called me up, would you be able to make it for the prison ministry. Wow.. I said I am ready. I was so excited. As we entered, i saw lot of police with gun's old Indian rifles not sure when they are gonna change, British left those guns still we use it.. he he he.. Coming to the serious part. We were scanned before we to entered in the main area of the prison, we had a physiotherapy center inaugurated by the bishop of Bangalore. then we had mass celebrated for the brothers. you wont believe me, there was a separate chapel  for prayer, chapel in prison i was little shocked. as we were heading the chapel i could hear ppl singing and clapping, they were praising Jesus name shouting his name and enjoying his presence.. I was really shocked. Want an energy and thirst they had for Christ! Wow... one brother asked uncle Antony why igi hasn't come today, Antony uncle told, he got some important work. That brother with an smiling face told bro if you go out it’s so hard to find an culprit, but here you find the whole crowd of culprits. if not here were do u find the best place share Christ.. wow man it was simple question but it made me to think how much he wanted to know about Christ, accepting his mistakes... this whole day i was reflecting a lot of things... looking at lot of sad faces and happy faces too... . I was actually looking all around, Huge walls, no way to go out. I was thinking do i have anything which is really huge as a wall between me and Jesus, or am I handcuffed that I cant embrace his love, do I make an effort to change my life... so that I can be free from my sins... or am I just trying to be a Christian.. But inside am chained by sins. It really made me think allot. I would really thank god for this opportunity to reflect about myself. but I will say brothers in prison are better than us, they want to know more about Christ, we know him, but we hesitate speak about his love. Holy spirit lead me and uncle in a awesome way. I played keyboard first time for kannada(regional language of bangalore) songs. Let Us help our brothers and sister not being in physical prison, but struggling mentally , chained down by gulity feelings, let us hold them with love of Christ, tell them that Jesus love them. i would love share a video with you, lyrics are so apt check it...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeuM0K2yNWU&feature=fvst