Marriage Sermon

 Dear Jyotsana and Aditya, my priestly brethren, brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ. Today is a memorable day for both Jyotsana and Aditya. I am sure that they will cherish these memorable moments lifelong.  As they begin a new journey in life, receiving the sacrament of marriage at the sanctuary of the Lord, in tpresence of family members, relatives, friends, and well-wishers- they are overwhelmed with happiness. We too share in your happiness and offer our prayers and blessings on this auspicious day.

Through this sacrament of marriage Aditya and Jyotsana are entering into a covenantal relationship which is more than a contract. You know a covenant is irrevocable.  You are giving your personal consent to live together as partners for whole life with openness to life and commitment to faithful love. This relationship of love is an unconditional offering you make to one another.

As you are getting ready to make the sacred vow to be united as husband and wife for the rest of your lives I would like to share the advice given by St Paul. According to him, the spouses should accept the vocation to be a prophetic, visible sign of the unbreakable covenant between Jesus and His Church. We are aware of the covenantal relationship between Jesus and Church. Church submitting herself to Jesus and Jesus loving his Church even at the cost of His life.  The model of Christian marriage as per St. Paul is the way Jesus loved the Church and the church submitted herself to Jesus: He advises wives to submit to their husbands……He is highlighting the example of church… Just as the church submits to Christ, wives should submit to their husbands. St. Paul is giving advice to husbands also… Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church… even at the cost of sacrificing His own life. Yes, he demands a total mutual self-giving.

My dear young couple, the intimate union of marriage, as a mutual giving of two persons demand total fidelity and an unbreakable union from your part. You are called to grow continually in your communion through day to day fidelity to your marriage promise of total mutual self-giving. The sacrament of matrimony gives you the grace to love each other with the love with which Christ loved His church. The grace of the sacrament perfects your human love and strengthens your indissoluble unity.

I too have something to share with you…Aditya…Jyotsana… you might have been interacting for quite some time… you might have shared your dreams …. But still Aditya, you are a mystery to Jyotsana… and Jyotsana you are still a mystery to Aditya. However, this mystery will be revealed day by day…..The bright and dark shades of your personalities will be revealed…. And after years of marriage you may feel that your partner has changed a lot. Success of marriage depends on how patiently you have accepted this change. You might have heard married couples criticizing their spouses telling ….. John…I am fed up …. You have changed a lot…. you were not like this at the time of marriage…John may rebuke and shout back…..Hey…Maria, you too have changed… As years pass by partners may become cold in their relationships losing all warmth and affection. This can happen in your life also…..The basic thing you must keep in mind is… 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 to each other. As years pass by it becomes difficult for many to adjust with their life partner. Life becomes miserable such that one will see only the negative side of his or her partner. Lack of patience among the couples makes situations further worse. Simple solution is to have the courage and patience to accept the mystery of the personality of the partner being revealed day by day….Your prayer to Lord who has united in the sacrament of marriage is to give patience and courage to love and accept my life partner as he or she is…

 Recently I have read a blog of a renowned American author Richard Paul Evans titled 'How I saved my marriage’. He 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 that enlightens him that he cannot change his partner but he can change only himself. This brings a tremendous change in his attitude towards his life partner. Everyday morning he began to ask his wife: “How can I make your day better?" Though initially, his wife did not respond positively later she was moved by her husband's ingenuity and openness. Then onwards there occurs a marked change in their life.

Before concluding I would like to appreciate parents of both Aditya and Jyotsana. They have undertaken a lot of sacrifices from their part in upbringing their children. Now they have a feeling of satisfaction in fulfilling their responsibility. Of course, they are the happiest people in the lot…. Moreover, I would like to remind Aditya and Jyotsana to ensure the loving providence of God in your life and strengthen your faith in Jesus to experience the blessings of the sacrament of marriage throughout your life. May the intercession of Mary, Mother of God who was at the wedding of Cana, be always with you always….

Once again on behalf of the entire community I wish you a happy married life. May… God Almighty shower his blessings to have a fruitful married life.

Meditations on Palm Sunday

 

On Palm Sunday, we meditate on the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. This marks the beginning of the Passion Week. Jesus the prince of peace was on his journey to fulfil his mission entrusted by God the Father. Jesus begins his journey from Galilee (Lk. 9/51) and slowly proceeds  to Jerusalem. On his way, He taught his disciples and exhorted those who came to him and followed him. Jesus preached the word of God and healed many. Gospel of Luke reports the progress of his journey to Jerusalem through Jericho (Lk. 13/22) and finally to the outskirts of Jerusalem near the Mount of Olives (Lk. 19/28-29).

In the Old Testament (1Mac 13/51) the entry of Jews under the leadership of Simon with Palm leaves and music is depicted. They entered the fort in triumph defeating their enemies. Usually, when the King and his army march toward the capital city after winning the war people will gather around to pay homage and greet their leader.

Jesus entry into the city of Jerusalem is marked with pomp and glory. People have heard of Jesus, His teachings and acts of healing, He has performed in and around Galilee and on His way to Jerusalem. They were eager to welcome a Messiah who will politically deliver from the clutches of Roman rule. But Jesus was not as they expected. Jesus was there to remove them  from the clutches of sin. He was the prince of peace who came riding on a donkey fulfilling the prophecy of Zechariah. Zechariah 9:9: (reads) "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey." People hoping for a redeemer welcomed Him with palm leaves and throwing cloaks in the path as an act of homage and submission. They cried out singing Psalms 118/25-26, seeking his redemption.

Of course, Jesus was on his mission to redeem the entire humanity. He travelled from Galilee to Jerusalem to offer himself as paschal lamb in the holy city of Jerusalem for the sins of the humanity to deliver them completely from the clutches of darkness and sin.

Dear brethren as we meditate the triumphal entry of Jesus to Jerusalem to offer himself as the paschal lamb- complete offering to God, think about the triumph entries we have made in our lives and mode of  the offering.  The Sacrament of marriage, the sacrament of holy orders, religious vows, commitment to the offices we are entrusted…responsibilities… It is time to make a journey into our lives….Let this Holy week during which we revisit the passion and sufferings of Jesus be a time to ponder about the triumphed entries we have made in our lives and our commitment towards them.

Christmas: Revelation of God's Mercy

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It is Christmas time..... Hope all of you are creeping slowly to the Christmas mood. This year His Holiness Pope Francis has specially mentioned the importance of "MERCY" by declaring a Jubilee Year. Christmas is the time we revisit revelation of  God's Mercy...... of course revisit the face of God's Love.....in the incarnation of Jesus His only Son....For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son (Jn 3/16 a)......Yes God is so merciful to show his love to the entire humanity....that the the Good News proclaimed by the Angels on the silent Christmas night..."I bring you news of great joy, a joy to be shared by the whole people.¹¹ Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord". (Lk. 2/10-11).. Yes the Good News is that "God has put his tent among the people". He has become Emmanuel.  Remembering the love and Mercy of God our father we too have to be Merciful. Mercy is a  virtue influencing one's will to have compassion for, and, if possible, to alleviate another's misfortune. Lord does not look the merit of the person...He sees him/her  in his or her own state and shower his grace with out considering his or her past, present or future..for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.(Lk  6/35). In the parable of Good Samaritan (Lk 10/25.....) Jesus projects the Samaritan who has shown compassion to alleviate the misfortune of  the badly wounded man lying on the roadside as truly merciful and he is the neighbor. In the act of incarnation the merciful God gives his only Son in flesh to be with his Creation in space and time to be a true neighbor to alleviate their misfortunes.

 Christmas is the time to revisit our own lives to understand how God has showered his love and peace over us all through out the years. This Understanding will help us to celebrate Christmas with a renewed heart.... strengthening our relationship with God and our brethren...and showing a face of Mercy to all in and around....This is the spirit of Christmas......I would like to remember  the plot of the novel Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens where he portrays the character of  of Ebenezer Scrooge a miser........which I have studied in my school days...... Now I am able to feel the spirit of the story in my heart ...I want you too to share my feeling by sharing a brief summary of the novel..

Ebenezer Scrooge, a miserly, cold-hearted creditor, continues his stingy, greedy ways on Christmas Eve. He rejects a Christmas dinner invitation, and all the good tidings of the holiday, from his jolly nephew, Fred; he yells at charity workers; and he overworks his employee, Bob Cratchit. At night, Scrooge's former partner Jacob Marley, dead for seven years, visits him in the form of a ghost. Marley's spirit has been wandering since he died as punishment for being consumed with business and not with people while alive. He has come to warn Scrooge and perhaps save him from the same fate. He tells him Three Spirits will come to him over the next three nights.

Scrooge falls asleep and wakes up to find the Ghost of Christmas Past, a small, elderly figure. The Ghost shows Scrooge scenes from the past that trace Scrooge's development from a young boy, lonely but with the potential for happiness, to a young man with the first traces of greed that would deny love in his life. Scrooge shows newfound emotion when revisiting these scenes, often crying from identification with his former neglected self.

Scrooge goes to sleep and is awakened by the Ghost of Christmas Present, a giant with a life span of one day. He shows Scrooge several current scenes of Christmas joy and charity, then shows him the Cratchit household. The Ghost informs Scrooge that unless the future is changed, the Cratchit's crippled and good-hearted young son, Tiny Tim, will die. He also shows Scrooge the party at Fred's house. Finally, a ragged boy and girl crawl out from the Ghost's robes. The Ghost calls them Ignorance and Want and warns Scrooge to beware of Ignorance.

The silent, black-clad Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come replaces the other ghost. He shows Scrooge several scenes of people discussing someone's death; no one seems pained by the death, and most are happy about it. Scrooge does not know, however, who the man is. He learns that Tiny Tim has died, but the Cratchits maintain their unity and love. Scrooge finally discovers that he is the one who has died and whose death has only pleased people. He expresses the hope that these scenes of the future can be changed, and vows to incorporate the lessons of the past, present, and future into his adoption of the Christmas spirit.

Scrooge wakes up in his bedroom and learns that the whole adventure took only one night, not threeit is Christmas Day. In addition to smiling and being friendly to everyone he sees, he sends a large turkey to the Cratchits, gives a sizable donation to the charity worker he previously insulted, and has a wonderful time at Fred's party. The next day he gives Cratchit a raise. Scrooge continues his kindly ways after Christmas, befriending everyone and becoming a second father to Tiny Tim, who does not die. He never sees the ghosts again, but he keeps the spirit of Christmas alive in his heart as well as anyone.

 (courtesy: http://www.gradesaver.com/a-christmas-carol/study-guide/summary)

Ebenezer Scrooge changes his attitude and lives the rest of his life with generosity, good cheer, and compassion toward the worse off. Truly, he's become all about the spirit of Christmas.

Let us reform ourselves in the light of Christmas celebration and become renewed persons doing works of Mercy

• To feed the hungry;
• To give drink to the thirsty;
• To clothe the naked;
• To harbour the harbourless;
• To visit the sick;
• To ransom the captive;
• To bury the dead.

The spiritual works of mercy are:

• To instruct the ignorant;
• To counsel the doubtful;
• To admonish sinners;
• To bear wrongs patiently;
• To forgive offences willingly;
• To comfort the afflicted;
• To pray for the living and the dead.

Wish you all a Merciful Christmas and the greeting of Jubilee year of Mercy. Let the babe of Bethlehem, be among your midst....... 

“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.