“How can I make your day better?”

“How can I make your day better?”

We hear a lot  about divorces, separation and broken relationships among married people these days. Reports about lack of faithfulness in marital relationships among the spouses are on the increase. Further modern concepts about personal freedom and financial independence have tempted life partners to make decisions based on selfish motives. This has affected the traditional value system associated with the marriage relationship where personal sufferings for the benefit of family is also important. Family being the cornerstone of Christian society care has to be taken to nurture the family bond.

Life partners are not perfect couples in all respects. There may be shortcomings in their personalities. In the early state of married life one will see only the positive shades of the partner's personality. However day by day partners are revealed. As years pass by it becomes difficult for many to adjust with their life partner. Life become miserable such that one will see only the negative side of his or her partner.Lack of patience among the couples make situations further worse. At times life partners may remark "I am fed up". Partners become cold in their relationships loosing all warmth and affection.

Renowned author of Christmas Box and the Michael Vey series (USA), Richard Paul Evans  in his blog 'How I saved my marriage' shares about the troubled days of his married life and how he has struggled to save his married life through self understanding and mutual respect. In one of his troubled days he experiences the loving provenience of God which enlightens him that  he cannot change his partner  but he can change himself. This brings a tremendous change in his attitude towards his partner. Everyday morning he began to ask his partner :"How can I make your day better?"Though initially his wife did not respond positively later she was moved by her partner's ingenuity and openness. Then onwards there occurs a marked change in their life...Read :   How I Saved My Marriage By: Richard Paul Evans

An anxious concern for the comfort and well-being of one's companion is very much important in one's married life. One cannot change his or her partner but he or she can change his or her attitude. This is can work miracles in ones relationship with his or her partner. A gentle remark "How can I help you to make your day better" with a genuine heart can solve all indifferences and hatred. It tends to accept one's partner with all the short comings and heals all the wounds with the touch of genuine love and care.

Spirituality of St. Kuriakose Elias Chavara

 Spirituality of St. Kuriakose Elias Chavara

 

 Milestones

1805, February 10 - Chavara was born at

1805, February 18 - Baptized Chennankary Church

1829, Nov 29 - Ordained priest by Arch Maurelius Stabilini

1831, May 11 -of the first Indigenous Congregation for Men (CMI).

1855, December 8 - profession of the 11 , including  Chavara

1861, June 8 - as the Vicar General the Syro-Malabar Church

1866, Feb 13 - Foundation the first Indigenous Congregation Women (C.M.C.)

1871, January 3 - death of Chavara Koonammavu 

2014, November 23-  Sainthood by Pope Francis St. Peter's Square Vatican  

Spirituality 
 

Saint Chavara had a spirituality founded on the mystery of the magnanimous, caring, love of God, learning and directing him in the minutest details of his life. This leading directive love of God, the Eastern Fathers used to call, the mystery of the dispensation of God's love. It was on this reality divine and human that the spirituality of Blessed Chavara was anchored. He was an heir of the Eastern spiritual traditions, transmitted to him down through the centuries through the liturgical traditions and spiritual practices of the Malabar Church.

We can identify four specific dimensions in this spirituality of St. Chavara.

 1.   Remembrance and Burning in love (Smarikalum Jvalikalum)
 

   He remembers the numerous blessings given by God and as a grateful response to it he     burns in the  love of God

    

 2. Remembering and Repenting (Smarikalum Thapikalum)

      

 He remembers his sins and shortcomings and repents that he wounded the loving heart of God 

3.Remembrance and Ever burning in love (Smarikalum Ujjvalikalum)
 

 He remembers that though he was unfaithful God granted him several special gifts instead of curses and as a response to it he ever burns in love of God. 

4. Daring venture and Leaping surrender (Thuniyalum Erangalum)
 

As a response to the numerous blessings and special gifts received from God he ventures into the practice of heroic virtues and surrenders himself for the service of the people of God and the people around him.

Chavarul  

Sayings o fSt.  Chavara to the Children

Bl. Kuriakose Elias Chavara the pioneer of education, tried    to do away with the caste distinction in Kerala and make it possible for all the children irrespective of caste creed to sit together and study. He first used the Pallikkoodam in Malayalam Language.

 

1.  .	Children, you are God's investment in the hands of your parents.
2.	The Children who have love of God and fear of God will love and respect their parents.
3.	Trust your mother, God will hear the mother's request like the baby's request.
4.	Wisdom and purity should be spiritual food like food for natural growth.
5.	Go to school regularly and recall to mind what is taught during the week.
6.	Laziness fosters evil habits.
7.	Let your friends be those who love God.
8.	Good friends will make you good.
9.	Keeping of bad books is like hiding fire in straw.
10.	Regular reading of good books and meditating on it, will illumine the mind.
11.	Attain punctuality by means of a regular time-table.
12.	You angels will be turned to devils, if you fall into evil situation.
13.	You aught to reach home before evening and take part in the evening prayers.
14.	Your attire and sanctity ought to be according to your age.
15.	Immoderate attire will only lead you to evil.
16.	Let your ability be in piety regulating your life and controlling your senses.
17.	You ought to love truth and justice.
18.	What you earn by deceit and theft will melt like snow.
19.	Your profession must be according to your knowledge and age.
20.	Let there be no day in your life in which you did no good to others.
21.	Let not the insult and quarrels of others be a cause of hatred and enmity.
22.	Do not insult or trouble the poor.
23.	God decides your vocation and you choose it.
24.	When you choose your partner in life, choose one who has a good character and good manners.
25.	Even if you are grown in age and maturity you have to accept your parents and submit to them.
26.	Do not hate your own brethren.
27.	It is the duty of children to look after their parents.
28.	Do not be the cause of your parents shedding tears on account of you.
29.	The humble man is the greatest among men.
30.	Since you belong to God, you should be given back to God.

 Reference: http://blessedchavara.org/aboutus.asp (copied)

FEAST OF EASTER

FEAST OF  EASTER

"If Jesus has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain."  (1 Cor 15/14)

 

Feast of Easter is the oldest and most important feast in the Christin tradition. The celebration of the Feast of Easter started before the celebration of Christmas.  It is the feast of the feasts.  Easter celebrates the triumphant  of Jesus over death and sin through His resurrection.The New Testament teaches that the resurrection of Jesus, which Easter celebrates, is a foundation of the Christian faith. St. Paul in his first letter to Corinthians (1 Cor15/12-22) establishes  the fact that if Jesus has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. The resurrection of Jesus is the crowning truth of our faith in Christ.The resurrection of Jesus is the faith believed and lived as a central truth by the first Christian community.This faith has been established by the documents of the New Testament and preached as an essential part of the Paschal mystery along with the cross and handed on as fundamental tradition. The mystery of Christ resurrection is a real event with manifestations that were historically verified as the New Testament bear witness. In first letter to Corinthians (1Cor 15) St Paul speaks of the living tradition of the resurrection he had learned after his conversion. The empty tomb and the interaction of Jesus with disciples in different occasions after resurrection strengthened the faith of resurrection among the first Christian community. 

The risen Jesus establishes direct contact with disciples to make them aware that he appeared to them in the same body that has been tortured and crucified yet at the same time this authentic real body possesses the properties of a glorious body not limited by space and time. In his risen body he passes from the state of death to another life beyond time and space. At Jesus resurrection his body is filled with the power of the holy spirit and shares a divine life in his glorious state. Although resurrection was an historical event that could be verified by the sign of the empty tomb and by the reality of the apostles' encounters with risen Christ, still it remains at the very heart of the mystery of faith  as something that transcends and surpasses the history.

Resurrection is a definite proof for his divine authority and the fulfillment of the promises both of Old Testament and of Jesus himself in during his earthly life.(Mt 28/6, Mk 16/7, Lk 24/6-7, 26-27,44-48, 1 Cor 15/3-4).The resurrection established Jesus as the powerful Son of God (Rom 1/4) and is cited as proof that God will judge the world in righteousness (Acts 17/31).

Paschal mystery has two aspects by death Christ liberates us from sin by resurrection he opens for us the way to a new life. This new life is the justification that reinstates us in God's grace. (Rom 6/4) Justification consists in both victory over the death caused by sin and an a new participation in grace. It brings about filial adoption so that men become Christ 's brethren.We become brethren by the gift of grace. Real share in the life of only son which was fully revealed in resurrection.

Christ's resurrection and risen Christ himself is the principle and source of our future resurrection (1 Cor 15/20-22). Christ the first born from the dead (col 1/18) is the principle of our own resurrection even now by the justification of our own souls and one day by the new life he will impart to our bodies (Rom 8/11).

Thus through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, God has given us "a new birth into a living hope  from the dead".^]We   through faith in the working of God are spiritually resurrected with Jesus so that they may walk in a new way of life.Our  lives  are swept by Christ into the heart of divine life so that we  may live no longer for ourselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

*Article is based on the Catechism of the Catholic Church

CHRISTMAS: FEAST OF RELATIONSHIPS

                                        CHRISTMAS: FEAST  OF RELATIONSHIPS

The feast of Christmas  is the feast of relationships. This feast is the remembrance of reuniting the broken relationship between God and Man. It is the feast of the benevolence and compassion  of God the Father  towards the humanity. As we celebrate Christmas we should see that our relations are in tact. A Christmas celebration becomes meaningful only in this context. In the biblical context we see God extends his benevolence towards humanity by giving His only son to redeem the relationship between God and man. God is descending towards  humanity. As we read... "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us..." (Jn.1/14). God is setting up His tent in the midst of His people. He becomes Emmanuel. God by becoming man has put him in a dignified position among His Creatures.

       In a way we can say God humbled him self to become man to reunite the relationship between God and Man. Hence it is our responsibility to see that our relationships are in tact. Only in this context we can experience the spirit of Christmas- ie Peace. When our relations are in tact. We experience peace and joy in our heart. When we speak of relationships we have to think of three levels of relationships. Our relationship with God (trans personal) , our relationship with fellow beings (inter personal  and our relationship with ourselves (personal). When all your relationships personal , inter personal and trans personal relations are fine, God's favor will rest in us and we will be able to experience peace in its fullness.

Let us examine our relationships and see they are all in tact. If not make an attempt to strengthen your relationships. Pray to Lord to give strength to forgive my brother / sister  who has broken away from me or  who has wounded me. Let us sing along with Holy Angels and rejoice in the Lord  "Glory to God in the highest heaven,  and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” (Lk 2/14)

 Prayer

Lord Jesus as we celebrate the feast of your nativity, we understand the love and benevolence of our heavenly father towards humanity. We learn that you humbled yourselves to become Man to reunite us with God the father. Lord may the celebration of this feast help us to renew our relationship with God and fellow beings. There are people whom I hate, and whom I cannot forgive. There are people whom I avoid and who avoids me. O lord grand me strength to understand your love and also forgive those who have avoided and wounded me. Lord help me to be open to my brothers and sisters who have estranged from me. Let me experience the joy and peace  your birth has brought to the humanity.

Amen