Monday, April 4, 2016

Rabboni!


Dedication:
To both our Popes, Pope Francis & Pope Benedict
To the Cardinals, Bishops, Arch-Bishops and Priests.



My People,
Good Morning! Love always makes us look more closely at the object of our love, doesn’t it?

When we begin to pray we sign ourselves "In the name, of The Father, and of The Son, and of The Holy Spirit," thus in essence we knowingly express the three distinct Persons in God (The Holy Trinity).
 

For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again; this charge I have received from my Father." John 10:17-18

There is love, obedience, power, sacrifice and humility. When we believe in Jesus, we will never fear anybody. We will never dominate anybody. We will be like our master(meaning-Rabboni).
People often think that to be a part of witnessing a miracle or feeling the presence of Jesus or Mary, one needs to go visit the Holy places. If you can afford, good for you. But where Jesus is, Mary will be there. We often forget that the biggest miracle that takes place is at every celebration of the mass.

 

I love this hymn, I love the lines that say, here I am to bow down, here I am to say that.........

Light of the world, You step down into darkness.
Opened my eyes let me see.
Beauty that made this heart adore you hope of a life spent with you.
 
And here I am to worship,
Here I am to bow down,
Here I am to say that you're my God,
You're altogether lovely,
Altogether worthy,
Altogether wonderful to me.
 
King of all days,
Oh so highly exalted Glorious in heaven above.
Humbly you came to the earth you created.
All for love's sake became poor.
 
 

 


Prayer is a power that we seldom understand. It is the strongest force of communication. We have been given this grace amidst other graces. It is the power in us to move mountains.

The Sun has stood a billion years on and the light that reaches us is still as powerful as the day the Sun came along.
The Stars never fade away, they twinkle – we look at them and hope.
The Moon continues to make us wave new dreams.
The winds they blow soft and sometimes they roar.

Prayer is like the Sun that lights up the entire universe and is more powerful than the Sun. Prayer beautifies our lives and makes us as beautiful as the Stars in the sky, simply because we associate ourselves with God. And He makes us twinkle. When we pray the dream we dream becomes a reality, like the Moon. Prayer can be a soft believing whisper like a breeze or when it is perseverant it has the power to be a typhoon or tornado and move anything that comes its way.

Prayer is a strong force; it is a conviction of the heart to move the Heart of God. Amen.



I have had problems with people and no matter how bad it got, I never ever quit being around them. This is God’s grace on me.

Pretenders with I’ll stand by you, I think was a rage back then. Whatever it is at the core of it, it is what we all wish but very few will find this kind of love and why it is so? Come over, Jesus loves you unconditionally.


Oh, why you look so sad?
Tears are in your eyes
Come on and come to me now
Don't be ashamed to cry
Let me see you through
'cause I've seen the dark side too
When the night falls on you
You don't know what to do
Nothing you confess
Could make me love you less

I'll stand by you
I'll stand by you
Won't let nobody hurt you
I'll stand by you

So if you're mad, get mad
Don't hold it all inside
Come on and talk to me now
Hey, what you got to hide?
I get angry too
Well I'm a lot like you
When you're standing at the crossroads
And don't know which path to choose
Let me come along
'cause even if you're wrong

I'll stand by you
Take me in, into your darkest hour
And I'll never desert you
I'll stand by you
I'll stand by you
Won't let nobody hurt you
I'll stand by you
Won't let nobody hurt you
I'll stand by you


 


I have a very good memory and this too is God’s grace on me. When something happens I am able with the help of God to interrelate the incidents to know that they are in perfect sync with each other. When we begin to pray, faith is essential. Without faith, it is difficult to understand God's ways.
We should pray with perseverance. Every time that God delivers us and for every time that God comes to our rescue-we are forever indebted. When we recall the good moments the bad does not stop us from going on. With remembrance it comes to mind that ‘This too shall pass’. God is faithful. Remembrance brings in gratitude. Remembering fuels our faith and gives us reason to approach the throne of grace with confidence knowing that we can find help in our time of need.
MARK 11:22-25  And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
Psalm 37:4 says, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
Faith = Ability to move mountains.
Faith + Prayer = God’s will.
We should pray:
·       with a conviction of our own helplessness and our  dependence upon God;
·        with a great desire for the graces we beg of Him;
·        with loving trust in His goodness;


 
 
 
And all things whatever you ask for in prayer, believing, you shall receive. Matthew 21:22
Desire is the strongest motivator in prayer. Faith is the most essential aspect of prayer. Believe and you shall have them.
Be simple when you pray to God. When I pray I pour out my heart before God, and ask Him for this great thing after which my soul yearns.
When we ask the Lord, we must have such a desire for the thing we need, that we will not rise until we have it. But all this in total submission to God’s will.
Prayer is a belief that God hears and answers. God places a desire in our heart. The angel that God sends brings the needed blessing. But before we call on Him, before we pray, we have to be convinced — that it is with the Will of God. And when done, it is ours and there is no force on this Earth that can take it away. Amen. Daniel 10
Archangel Raphael – by my side always.
Tobit Page 444 on my Bible.
My Signs : 444 and name Raphael


 
 
The Holy Spirit inspires us to pray. Remember, how when we want something, we ask our parents. The same way we must ask 'Abba Father’. He is our Father, He is both our parents. He is a bigger parent than our earthly parents.
Speak with God and speak your heart out.


 
 
Day 21st February, 2016 – Fr. Byron.
It was a very long wait to be a part of the Celebration of mass where I heard Fr. Byron. Each and every word was so crystal clear. I loved the entire celebration. The hymn, ‘I love You, Jesus’ was wonderful.
Fr. Byron celebrates the mass with such tenderness, that I find it hard to explain. I learnt saying, ‘Abba Father’ from him.
I loved the homily – The mountain top.
 
Day 22nd – 25th February, 2016 – Fr. Avon on Mercy
Fr. Avon gave us this narration of one of the acts on mercy. The nuns brought in a person, who was dirty and stinking and looked after him for a month and during that time he had no relatives whatsoever. The nuns took him in since the neighbours complained of him smelling and the man had no one who would care for him. A month later he died happily. The nuns gave him a proper burial. Days later a person appears knocking at the convents door with a document claiming to be the son (from the US) of the elderly man who had recently died. The son wanted to know where his father was buried, and the location of the grave so that he could have the body exhumed to prove his kinship to the deceased (his father).
·        This was for the want of property.
      ·        The mercy was shown by the nuns.

 
Fr. Avon narrated to us another act of mercy. Husband and wife both worked. During pregnancy in one of the fights the mother-in-law hit/kicked her Daughter-In-law in the stomach and the D-I-L started bleeding and was taken to hospital. The baby born was disabled due to the trauma. On a visit to Goa, one of the ladies requested the parents of the priest that when Fr. Avon comes visiting home - to have him visit and pray over the family and bless the home.
On his visit the woman said that she had 2 daughters she first showed Fr. Avon her own daughter (25 years of age) who was on bed and also her mother in law whom she introduced as the other daughter. This lady looked after both of them as is she had two daughters.


 
23rd Feb 2016 – Fr. Avon stated that the difference between marriage and a wedding is that a marriage is a sacrament.
·        Children are a gift of God.
      ·        We must encourage and give our time to children.

Celebrations should be non inclusive of alcohol, since most of us celebrate every occasion with that and when kids are around we mess their lives with the usage of alcohol hampering their happiness causing them to grieve. Sometimes we rob children of their innocence.
 
 




Day 20th March, 2016 – Palm Sunday.
Fr. Leslie Malya spoke in Marathi (Passo Service)
Fr. Leslie has a power of conviction in his voice. It’s wonderful to listen to him sing, when he does. These are his strengths of what I know. To me he is a powerhouse.



Day 25th March, 2016 – Good Friday.
Fr. Lenny – played the guitar. Most shy and simple.
Fr. Reuben Tellis – 3 hr Agony Service (Fr spoke on the Last 7 words)
I was battling with the thought of being a nothing. It is painful to be nobody and that is what I am. Fr spoke on being successful and the other of having God. I got my answer. I am privileged to be nobody but somebody that God loves.




Day 4th March, 2015 – I was in Mt. Carmel’s by 10:40-10:45 pm for the Eucharistic Adoration. For the day it was meant to be 24 hours. I had come with the intention to stay till 05:45 am.
There is this person who has a lovely way of singing. Let me tell you my experience and maybe you would understand what I felt. From the moment I entered I heard singing. He spoke fine to a certain point. Then he spoke of how we should love and become better people, and then we would have better places, schools and better whatnots and better Church. And for a moment I thought it was a slip of tongue and he would come back and correct it. But see he continued talking which means that he thought the Church needs to be improvised or maybe he himself did not understand what he was saying. The Church is the Mystical Body of Christ. Tell me how do we make Christ better?  Yeah, we as people can become better.
Person before the percentage - That is what this speaker said. He went on to say that when his children left for their exams he always told them, ‘person before the percentage’. Then he went on to announce that his daughter secured 93.70 something in the exams. And he said, ‘Praise God!
We all need to be reassured or comforted, and if one does that for anybody that’s a wonderful thing to do.  But when you speak about the importance about the person the percentage would never come in the topic, of course unless someone asked for it. Considering that no one asked – tell me what must I think? He stood on the altar – with the Eucharist there, can we talk like this in the presence of Jesus?
And then he invited the people to come before the Altar. People came and completely fell prostrate.  It kind of astonished me. Maybe I am wrong. Maybe I need to learn these things. But I thought only the Priest could give such an invitation knowing that this is in the Church itself. Fr. Lenny is at the confessional. Fr. Ashlyn now has entered and is seated and in prayers.  This gentleman crosses the Eucharist and goes towards Fr. Ashlyn to convey something. Then he crosses over and comes back. And he completely falls prostrate (face down) on the Altar itself. Isn’t it amazing?
This was all a little too much for me. I did not tell Jesus what I felt. I was just shocked.
Jesus told me when people are in love they meet each other? Jesus understood my heart. Jesus told me go home. Jesus said whenever I call you, you will come to me. I said yes. Jesus told me go home. It was 02:00 am. I remember because I asked a lady outside the Church for the time.

These are the only 2 times in a year that I know of when a Priest falls prostrate in the Church. If you know something, do correct me.
NOTE: A priest prostrates himself at the beginning of the Liturgy of the Passion and Death of Our Lord on Good Friday.
During the Ordination – The Ordained - It symbolizes his unworthiness for the office to be assumed and his dependence upon God and the prayers of the Christian community.
 


 
Sometimes, I feel there must be guidelines to people of how we must show our utmost reverence to God in the Church. So many instances I can tell you where we fail.
·       When as people we fail to follow the celebration of the mass and what the Priest is saying and have to continually look into our cells for what I understand is a replication in text of the mass.
·       When one of the choir members brought in her baby and was feeding the baby farex during the celebration of the mass. It was Fr. Williams 10:00 a.m. mass. This happened on the 13th of March (if I am not mistaken) a Sunday.
·        When people visit the Eucharist and have their cells on instead of keeping it on silent.
·       When we fail to treat the Altar as sacred – rather People go inside and out of the Church through the Altar without a second thought.
 
21st March, 2016 – Fr. Ashlyn’s 7 yrs as Priest. Heavens Se7en.
There was also the 3 hours of Eucharistic Adoration. It was the most beautiful 3 hours I have been to. I had a full 3 hours with Jesus and I could hear Jesus loud and clear. No interruptions. I thanked Fr. after the 3 hours, I don’t think he understood how grateful I really was.

 
27th March, 2016 – Easter Vigil.
Fr. William, Fr. Alvaro, Fr. Lenny & Fr. Ashlyn.

 
Fr. William announced he will be leaving Mt. Carmel’s. When I came home, I started talking about Fr. William and my cousin asked me don’t you like Fr. William? I told him, I’m finding it difficult to let go.
Will  – refers to God’s will.
I AM – refers to God, telling Moses, to tell the Israelites that I AM has sent you. Jesus says ‘I am the bread of life.’
What a beautiful name – WILL I AM
This is my prayer for you:

May the sun shine, all day long,
everything go right, and nothing wrong.

May you always walk in sunshine?
May you never want for more?
May angels rest their wings right beside your door?


May love and laughter light your days?
With joy that long endures.
And in this life when your toughest day is done-
May you always remember

When the shadows fall—You will never walk alone.

 



 
25th March, 2016 – Good Friday.
Fr. Ashlyn spoke on “It is Finished.” I loved the topic and the way Fr. rendered it.

I had completed writing this topic on Good Friday, but was asked to wait.
 
 
24th March, 2016 – Maundy Thursday.
Fr. Alvaro, its plain amazing to see his zest when he delivers the homily. He is unstoppable.
 
 
Days: 26th, 27th & 28th February, 2016.
I missed on being for the missions on the 26th. I was late.
27th: I reached by 05:30 and got myself seated outside. I watched through the screen. During communion I saw people stand in line waiting for the Potta priest to give them communion. Fr. William kept inviting people ‘come, come’ and people including a nun went on the other side even though they were to be standing to receive from Fr. William. It was clearly visible on the huge screen. I felt tears in my eyes. I think people should see the things they do and how it looks.
28th: I was with my cousin, He was so full of joy to be all the 3 days participating that I thought okay let me be here and see what it is. I attended the 09:15 am mass and then waited.
I sat right at the back. All I know was I was very sick. Anyway, I love when any of the Priests talk. I like hearing the Praise & worship hymns. When people begin to talk – all I heard was this person say of how he chose his wife to be or not to be – he referred to Hosea 2:2
Then I heard his wife talk about Purgatory and what it does.
I think there was this converted lady, who was extremely excited that her family had come to hear her-you could tell by her voice.
Anyway she made more sense to me than all the others. She spoke on Mary. This is what she said, this is what is going to remain with me, this is so important, and it is of the utmost urgency to our soul:
STEP 1: HUMILITY
STEP 2: HUMILITY
STEP 3: HUMILITY






 
There are times, when heading home from work, I would have to climb the staircase at the station and by the time I reached the top, I would be completely breathless. There were days when it was too painful and tiring to catch my own breath.
On one particular day, there were no thoughts in my head; I just walked to the top. I felt good. There was nothing of me, in me. I was breathing-but did not experience anything of myself. Jesus taught me to empty myself out and let God in. I am still learning. The Spirit of God always teaches me with the least of ways and then leading to the bigger areas of life.
Philippians 2:5-8 "Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross."

 
We need to empty out ourselves of all that is and makes us vain. All that I am, all the earthly things that I would call or look at as possessions are nothing.
Jesus humbled Himself, and God lifted Him up. Christ-like humility is the way we should live. Place God first. To be meek is to empty oneself of all selfishness and ambition.
I am the most wretched sinner and I am in need of Jesus infinite mercy.
Fr. Ashlyn in one of our Bible study classes spoke of Pride and how it goes unnoticed amidst all our characteristic traits. Upto that specific moment I never thought much of it. Yes I have a certain kind of pride, but yes it was masked. Now I know and I pray for God’s grace to help me make it through.
When I made my confession (23rd March) I told Fr. Alvaro that I am sorry and I am confessing for a lifetime of pride since I never ever confessed this sin before. What it is basically and I never realized – that other things somehow seem to act as a cover-up to pride.  We can live our whole life through; I know I have with thinking that I am not proud. But it is not the first lie is it? This is the other sin I confessed to since I always thought it was anger. But sometimes it was pride. Which is not the truth is then a lie.
If I say, I do love God then I must empty myself of all pride and self-love to make room for God.
Some people just love to have it all. They want everyone to know how important they are. They will have themselves placed on the highest pedestal. You will hear them speak to no end about themselves. One will always hear them say change is a good thing. And I agree. But it is always the lower strata people that are shown that they need to implement it. And really if a thing called change is implemented shouldn’t it begin with the top order?
Being on top does not mean one can be selfish. When we make rules for others to follow and think it does not implicate us, then yes we have put ourselves in the top slot. Isn’t it wrong? Now if and when the top order accepts and implements change with them to begin with then this would only mean that they realize that everyone around them is important. And that means there is a heart that wants to reach out to others. If you are thinking what am I saying, then look at Philippians 2:5-8 just the above paragraph.(in blue)
To empty ourselves of our pride is not easy.
Did you know that once we get rid of pride we can actually begin to feel the emptiness in our hearts? Ask for the grace of God. Remember where pride is God can’t be. Practice humility. We need to empty ourselves and allow the love of Christ to completely fill us.

 
The Seven Last Words of Christ
The First Word:
"Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34
On the Cross He hung like a criminal, rejected by the world and abandoned by His beloved Father. In the mercy of God, we receive His forgiveness even when we do what we know to be wrong. 
Jesus prayed forgiveness for all from the beginning of time to the present moment. We ought to follow the way of the master and do likewise. Forgive.



The Second Word:
“Amen I say to thee this day thou shalt be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:43
 
Of the two thieves who were crucified with Jesus, one continued to be scornful, while the other crucified criminal sensed that Jesus was being treated unjustly. After speaking up for Jesus, he cried out, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom”. Jesus then promised him Paradise on that very day.
We hurt God with our actions every now and then. We talk of love and mercy, but we fail to show it to one another. We fail to make the time to be good listeners. Let’s imitate our Master-Who showed unfailing love and mercy on the cross and said the above words. When we begin with our families, it will always extend to the outside world. If not yesterday then let the journey to love begin today.




The Third Word:
“Woman, behold thy son ... Behold thy mother.” John 19:26
 
As Jesus was dying, His mother was standing by the Cross with John by her side.
Mary watched her son’s death with unbearable agony. The extreme torture of crucifixion, the pain which the Holy Virgin endured in the Passion of her Son exceeded all the pains which a human heart can endure.  The reason why Jesus refers to Mary as woman, is to only make us understand that she was the great woman foretold in the Book of Genesis, who would crush the serpent's head: I will put enmities between thee and the woman, and thy seed and her seed: she shall crush thy head, and thou shalt lie in wait for her heel. Genesis 3:15 The Blessed Virgin Mary, who, by means of her Son, would crush the head of Satan.
St. John was the disciple beloved by the Lord, that we might understand that Mary is the mother of every Christian who is beloved by Jesus Christ.” Jesus said to Mary, Behold thy son."
As explained of what I understood with the Grace of God by Fr. Ashlyn during Bible study class.




The Fourth Word:
“Eli, Eli, lamma sabacthani? that is, My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?”
Matthew 27:46
 
Jesus uttered these words with a loud voice. As Jesus was dying on the cross, he quoted Psalm 22:1-2 (As explained by Fr. Reuben Tellis 25/03/2016 with reference to Psalm)(3hour agony)
 
My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
Why are you so far away when I groan for help?
Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer.
Every night you hear my voice, but I find no relief.  
 
What we do know is that sin separates us from the love of God. The Father abandoned Jesus because He took upon Himself the punishment for our sins. Jesus felt fear and He felt completely rejected by the Father. What it must have felt in His heart-words would never be enough to describe.
There will be moments in life, when the cross we carry will become heavy to bear. Remember our master leads by example. Jesus paved the way for us to follow. Take that step in faith. And trust that He will walk with you and me. And we will remember that we need to take the first step. As faithful as He is - our God will take the other 9. That’s how wonderful He is at His promise.


Whenever it feels like you are all alone, just remember His promises. The Bible is a promise itself. It is OPEN all you need to do is READ.




The Fifth Word:
“I thirst.” John 19:28
 
St. John writes, Jesus then, knowing that all things were accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said: I thirst. David in Psalm 68:22 states” - They gave Me gall to eat, and in My thirst they gave Me vinegar to drink. Psalm 68:22
Severe was this bodily thirst, which Jesus Christ endured on the Cross through His loss of Blood, at His scourging and crowning with thorns; and, lastly, upon the Cross. But far more terrible was His spiritual thirst, that is His ardent desire to save all mankind."





The Sixth Word:
“It is finished!” John 19:30
 
To redeem us - Jesus had to be the spotless victim to suffer and die for our sins. Jesus crucified is the word of victory.
Jesus had to go through temptations too. The test was to get Jesus off the path of obedience.
 
The devil tempts Jesus:-
  •  Make bread out of stones.
  •  Jump from a pinnacle and rely on angels to bear you up. ...
  •  Worship the devil in return for all the kingdoms of the world.
·       Peter had said, You're not going to go to die. Christ saw behind that temptation the devil himself.
 
·       In the garden of Gethsemane Jesus felt a struggle and prayed: Abba, Father, not My will but Thy will be done. Being in agony, He prayed and His sweat became as it were great drops of blood fallen down to the ground.


At this moment Jesus, before breathing His last, placed before His eyes all the prophecies, all the injuries and insults which He would suffer; and, seeing that all was accomplished, He said. It is finished.
When Jesus said “It is finished,” what Jesus meant was that He had accomplished His mission. He was obedient through the temptations to Death on a CROSS.

 
 
 
The Seventh Word:
“Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit!” Luke 23:46
 
Jesus uttered these words with a loud voice. This was in conformation with what Jesus had said during His life, that He voluntarily sacrificed His life for His sheep as in the beginning of the topic I have mentioned John 10:17-18
Jesus, I commend my soul to Thee; Into Thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit;

 


 

Jesus told me on the 27th March, that I sang the most beautiful song that has ever been sung which no composer has ever written. I asked Jesus which one is it? Jesus told me ‘the one your heart sings to mine.’
If I could recall all the sentences on love, it would be so amazing to give you an account of the words Jesus speaks with, they are full of tenderness and your heart never will remain yours. Even now I can feel my heart beat. You want to tell Him, I want to say, “Jesus my heart is yours forever.”

 
Love is such an important aspect of life. If we lose our humanity – we have nothing much to ponder on. Love is the only thread that keeps our link with God alive. No matter how far or how wretched a life we have lived, it is not what He looks at, but what He waits for is  the love in the heart that will bring me and you to Him. When we have love we have God. Amen.


 

With all my Love,
For Love Prevails!
AnitA.

 
 


PRAYER: Abba, Father, keep me obedient and always faithful. Remember, this your servant.
Mama Mary keep me humble, I pray. Amen.