Not today but tomorrow!

Our world is packed with different kinds of people, among them some are successful and some unsuccessful. The only difference is that the successful persons do the ordinary things with a different pattern. They do even the smallest thing with utmost attention. There are some traits which make people successful such as attitude, determination, observation, faith, confidence, hard work and the art of utilizing opportunities with perfect timing. It does not mean that the unsuccessful persons do not have these qualities, they do have them. But because they are indifferent, they fail to make use of them, and as a result, they taste failures in their life.

All the people of good will want the world of the 21st century to be transformed into a world, where the kingdom of God is established. But what have we done to realize our dream? All of us want to be successful people in the world. Often we forget to do things in their perfect timing. We put off things to the next moment. We may have heard the story of the devil who succeeded to prevent people from doing things in its proper time. He always tells: “not now, do it later”. He never tells us not to do things, but to do them later. Often he succeeds in his attempt. That is why there is always a tendency in us to do things in the next moment. The one who puts off things for the next moment, never does the desired act at the proper time. Yes friends, many of us are like this. Let us change our motto- not tomorrow but now. Then of course, the world will surely be transformed into a world where the kingdom of God is established.

Bro. George Chakkumgal, Diocese of Ujjain

A WEEK SPENT AT JYOTI NIVAS, INDORE

We brothers—Libu Choorapuzhayil, Manu Kochumalayil and Siju Kolthambrayil—were privileged to spend a week (24th – 31st January 2010) at Jyoti Nivas, Indore, which is at a walking distance from the Bishop’s House, Indore.

Jyoti Nivas, a Sisu Bhavan and a home for the destitute and dying people, is run by M.C. Sisters. We had our stay arranged at Bishop’s House and the ministry at Jyoti Nivas. We daily reached Jyoti Nivas by 8.30 in the morning and returned to the Bishop’s House at around 7 O’ clock in the evening. We had our Holy Mass, breakfast and supper in the Bishop’s House and lunch in Jyoti Nivas.

The days spent there were really inspiring and we gained a lot from this one week-long ministry. There were 57 patients and 13 children in this Home. To our great pleasure we had a golden opportunity to be with the patients and small kids and to serve them.

These patients come from different strata of the society. Some of them are mentally challenged, some are abandoned by their own family members for being old or sickly, and others are orphans who are thrown away to the outskirts of cities. We could help them by cleaning, washing the clothes, giving food and medicines, cutting their hair etc.
• We could listen to them, and console them in our own way. One thing that we noticed is that these poor patients did never share the pain of their wounds and diseases but the great pain they feel in being rejected by their dear and near ones.• We could see these rejected ones feeling at home in Jyoti Nivas owing to the very love and concern of the sisters who run this institution. And we feel that our presence really doubled this feeling.• Though abandoned and sick, some of them are able to sing songs, do cleaning works and help others in some other ways. They help one another and make the home a heaven.• But we saw a number of people who provide food and clothing to them on the occasion of various feasts and celebrations in their home.• Sisu Bhavan consists of small kids who were abandoned and thrown into the dustbins, left on the road sides, in the hospitals, etc. We spent some time in taking care of these kids. We tried our level best to make them happy and pleasant and sometime to make them sleep by singing songs etc.

• The ministry in Jyoti Nivas was really inspiring and enriching. The sisters in Jyoti Nivas were very friendly, cordial and co-operative.
• The service done by the MC Sisters is highly appreciable because they follow the foot steps of their founder Bl. Mother Theresa. They really practice the words and deeds of Jesus in their life and activities.
• Our presence was well accepted and appreciated both in JyotiNivas and Bishop’s House. This ministry is a real boost to us to go ahead with an attitude of being with the the poor and helping them.

If your eyes are sound...

Jesus once told: “Eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are sound your whole body will be full of light” (Matthew 6:22).

He demonstrated the truth of this saying at another occasion, when people brought to him a woman caught in adultery. He looked at her with his illumined eyes.

• His eyes read her heart while all the people around were searching for stones.
• His eyes conveyed compassion to her, inviting her to conversion while the eyes of others searched the letters of the law.
• His eyes searched for a new life in her while others condemned her to death. He loved her soul while many among the onlookers loved her body.
• His eyes respected her body while the eyes of others evaluated it.
• His eyes penetrated to her heart while those of others remained still.
• While all the eyes looked at her furiously, he looked down. His eyes could have been searching for compassion

They left: all of them except the caught. Why? Jesus opened their eyes to look at their own sins. Once they looked down to their sinfulness.

• They were unable to look at the eyes of Jesus who knew everything but was still looking down.
• They were unable to look at the eyes of the accused from where the spring of repentance flowed.

Hence, their eyes slowly turned to ground… the stones fell one by one. Soon, all left.

While she was about to go Jesus asked her—looking at her eyes—not to sin any more. Her eyes also got illumined in the very look of Jesus who asked: “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She could feel the light in his eyes, when he added: “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.”

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“I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away…” (Matthew 5:28-29)

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She cried and left. But her heart was throbbing with joy, the joy of repentance…
She looked back. He sits alone and is still writing something. But writing what? Her sins, or the sin of the people or…?

She saw people coming with the blind to get them healed. They wanted to see. They had not lost the inner sight, but only physical sight. It can be cured by faith in Him. But what about

• The Levites and priests who did not care for the brother who was attacked by thieves?
• People who find ways to kill the just?
• Herod who killed hundreds of bloody children?
• And many other hypocrites?

When he cured the blind he could wish that they would see again with a new eye, a new perspective, with a new vision.

The shepherds, fishermen, magi, tax collectors, sinners, prostitutes, widows, daily workers, Samaritans, lepers, beggars…had light in their eyes to see the salvation. But the learned, philosophers, theologians, priests, Pharisees, law givers etc. could accept him. In their eyes he had

No discernment
No race difference
No proper devotion to law
No proper training
No worthy disciples
No conformity with teachings of the elders
No Concern for tradition

I think, he liked more the cry of the poor blind man beside the road—“Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me”—than the victorious proclamation of Peter, recognizing Jesus as “Son of God, the Messiah”. Even if he was blind he could understand,

• that “Jesus is the light, the light that came to remove darkness
• that he was in darkness
• that only Jesus’ mercy could remove the darkness in him and fill him with light

He was “the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and darkness did not overcome it.” “He was the true light which enlightens every one, came in to the world.”

Only those who have light in eyes can see this enormous light. But even when the enormous light shines before you, if you don’t have light in your eyes…

Bro. Dominic Puthenpurackal MST

Message to viewers!

This blog is being developed. Soon it will be filled with the postings of our students.

- Dr. Joseph G. Aryankalayil (Dean, RCT Ujjain)