<\/p>\n
Devotional Thoughts for the Sunday of Departed Clergy.
\nReading: From the Gospel according to St. Matthew 24: 42- 51
\nDear and Respected the brethren,
\nWe have observed the three days fasting (Nineveh Lent), the forerunner
\nof the great Lent. We were trying to copy down the repentance of
\nProphet Jonah, the pagan king of Nineveh and the entire population of
\nNineveh. We were trying to learn how those people had responded to the
\nintimation passed over to them from God Almighty through His prophet
\nJonah. As we know, the 18 days from the final day of the 3 days Lent
\ntill the first day of the great Lent , which are often known as the
\ngap of 18 days (in our Mother tongue\u00a0 it is called Pathinettida) These
\n18 days are often counted as the free days without Lent or fasting.
\nBut these days are meant for preparing for the great Lent. The
\nsoldiers would have a thorough check up of their weapons and
\ninstruments to be used during the war, immediately after the
\ndeclaration of the war. We the faithful are supposed to have a war
\nwith the evil forces. So our Church Fathers have instructed us to seek
\nthe intercession and support of all the departed clergy on the first
\nSunday of the 18 days gap and all the departed on the second Sunday of
\nthe 18 days gap. So this Sunday we are obliged to seek the special
\nsupport, care and companionship of all the departed clergy.
\nToday\u2019s reading starts with our Lord\u2019s exhortation to watch. In verse
\n42 we read, \u201cWatch therefore: for you know not what hour your Lord
\ndoes come.\u201d So it is very clear that we are asked to wait for the
\narrival of our Lord. In the Holy Bible we find \u2018watch\u2019 at different
\nplaces. In St. Matthew 25: 13, St. Mark 13: 35, St. Luke 21: 36, we
\nhave been exhorted to \u201cwatch therefore\u201d.<\/p>\n
In St. Matthew 26: 41, St. Mark 13:33, 14: 38 and 1 Corinthians 16:13
\nwe find the exhortation to watch and pray and to stand in faith. What
\nmust be our prayer? We are taught to pray to enable us and our beloved
\ndeparted ones on the right hand of our Lord God on his second coming
\nand also to enable us all to praise Him and glorify Him on His blessed
\nsecond coming.\u00a0 Let us think what sorts of faith are we expected to
\nmaintain? It is nothing other than the faith confessed by St. Peter
\nand St. Thomas. St. Peter confessed that Lord Jesus is the son of the
\nliving God and St. Thomas addressed resurrected Lord Jesus as his
\n\u201cLord and God\u2019. We all have accepted Lord Jesus as our savior,
\nredeemer, Lord and God through our baptism. We are supposed to recite
\nour faith audibly or inaudibly every day\/ for this reason only our
\nChurch Fathers have insisted us to recite the creed every time with
\nthe common\/canonical prayers. In addition to the creed, let us
\npractice to confess in our minds every morning and evening, \u201cLord you
\nare my Lord and God\u201d and let us watch for His blessed second coming.
\nSt. Paul in his first epistle to Thessalonians5:6 and St. Peter in his
\nfirst epistle 4:7 advises us to watch and stand in sober. In Hebrews
\nwe understand that those who watch do care their souls. (Chapter
\n13:17) In Revelation 16:15 we read, \u201cBlessed is he that watch\u201d
\nWhat is the relevance of meditating this scriptural portion on the day
\nset apart to remember and seek the intercession of all our departed
\nclergy? The Holy Church confirms that all our departed clergy of
\nyesteryears had been good enough in watching for the coming of our
\nLord. This has to enable us to follow their footsteps. And if someone
\nhad failed somewhere in their lives, we have to pray for them so that
\nGod would forgive them. Devotional Thoughts for Mayaltho.
\nReading: From the Gospel according to St. Luke 2: 22-40
\nDear and Respected Brethren,
\nThis Sunday is important for us for various reasons. First of all, it
\nis the feast of Mayaltho. (The first entry of infant Jesus to the
\nTemple of God) Secondly it is the memorial day of St. Simeon and St.
\nHanna, the two representatives of thousands who had spent their lives
\nin the expectation of the Savior of mankind, and thirdly\u00a0 it is the
\nday to submit our working class (laborers) for God\u2019s mercy and
\ncompassion.
\nThe Jews had a custom and ritual to submit their new born infants to
\nGod at His house of worship. Our Lord and Savior was also presented to
\nthe temple of God, when He was a small child. It was to make us
\nrealize the importance of such an event. In the Christian Church the
\nsame system was prevalent until recently and the new mothers used to
\nbring candles and incense as a present to God. In many parts of our
\nnation, the system is not so particular and we miss this meaningful
\nritual. All must make it sure to adopt this system meaningfully, if it
\nis not there.
\nIn St. Luke 2: 22 we read, \u201cAnd when the days of her purification
\naccording to the Law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to
\nJerusalem to present him to the Lord.\u201d\u00a0 As it is self explanatory,
\nthere is no need of an explanation. The holy Church proudly remembers
\nSt, Simeon and St. Hanna, representing the large number of faithful,
\nwho were waiting and praying in great expectation for the Savior. The
\nmemory of these two saints reminds us all to be more practical and
\nenthusiastic in the expectation for the living Holy Spirit.<\/p>\n
In St. Mark 6: 1-6, we read about the appreciation and regards of the
\nordinary people about Lord Jesus. As soon as our Lord entered his home
\ntown, He started teaching in the synagogue. All who heard Him got
\nastonished due to their surprise about the wisdom and the deep
\nknowledge He had. They all were sincerely appreciating His vast
\nknowledge and the wisdom. May God Almighty bless us all. They were in
\na positive mood regarding the mighty works done by Him. Poor people,
\nthey were not sure who He was. Where as we all know Him as Lord, God
\nand savior. Still how many of us could be grateful to Him while
\nenjoying His mercy, compassion and deep love? It is a pity if we
\ncannot realize Him and His love. We try to live as we like, ignoring
\nour\u00a0 responsibility to be obedient to Him.
\nThe\u00a0 people who\u00a0 heard Him and saw Him got surprised. They had the
\nonly intimation that Lord Jesus was the son of Joseph, the carpenter.
\nThey did not know anything more about Him. We know much about our Lord
\nand Savior. But are we trying to acknowledge our information and
\nknowledge about our Lord and Savior?
\nIf we would not take our responsibility seriously, we are going away
\nfrom our God. Let us not depart from Him and His everlasting love.
\nEvery day we are supposed to recite the creed at least twice a day.
\nAre we able to recite sincerely and meaningfully? If we complete our
\nprayers for the name sake, we would be doing a great mistake.
\nLet us read verses 4,5 and 6 repeatedly and with full concentration.
\nIf we would do so, definitely there would be sudden change in our look
\nout and manners and it would help us to have a unique spiritual
\nvision.
\nWe should not create a situation where our God could not work more.
\nFeb 2nd is the memorial day of LL H.G. Pathros Mar Osthathios
\nthrumeni, the founder President of the Servants of the Cross. Let
\nthere be hundreds and hundreds of organizations like this, to
\nre-construct our mission fields and mission works.<\/p>\n
Let us pray earnestly for us and our Holy Church
\nMay God bless us
\nJose Kurian Puliyeril
\nKottayam
\nLet us remember all our departed priests, High Priests and let us pray
\nfor their eternal lives in heaven. Let us seek their continued
\nintercession<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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