A RETREAT TO SPIRIT FILLED CHRISTMAS

PART I

How perfect are the deeds of God, how dependable His words! He is like a shield for all those who seek His protection. The Lord alone is God; God alone is our defence. He is the God who makes me strong, who makes my path safe. He makes me sure-footed as a deer; He keeps me safe on the mountains. He trains me for battle, so that I can use the strongest bow. O Lord, You protect me and save me; your care has made me great, and your power has kept me safe.   (Psalms 18)

May the God of KLWC, grant the readers an atmosphere filled with love, joy and mutual trust, throughout this Christmas season.

A family is the basic foundation of a community and most ancient human movement. Though officially we have many public holidays round the year, a day granted by our Creator, exclusively to tighten the knots of a Christian family is the birth-day of the King of Peace.

But this truth and realization gets covered by the dust of the hustle and bustle of the daily toil of our life. 

When a child is born to a couple, the foundation of their race gets firmly established. The day is dedicated and celebrated by parents and everyone in the family to welcome the arrival of the little one.

This Christmas season take some time out of your hectic schedule to meditate about the infant and his life situations.

It was only after his engagement to Mary, did Joseph realize that she was pregnant by the power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph, being a just and noble man, decided to break off the engagement secretly. However, while he was thinking about this an angel of the Lord appeared and said, “Joseph, a descendant of David, do not hesitate to accept Mary as your wife.” …..And Joseph without any doubt accepted Mary as his wife. (Matthew 1:18)

When Joseph received the news that Virgin Mary was pregnant by the Holy Spirit, he was totally amazed, but when he was comforted by the Heavenly power, Joseph obeyed the Sovereign God’s message to be with Mary and safeguard her always.

Here let us analyze the situation of the Holy Family contrast to that of ours. Even the poorest of the poor have a tiny dwelling to call their home and give birth to their child in it. As far as we are concerned, we are surrounded by the best medical assistance, doctors, specialists appointed readily. Nowadays, how much ever comfort God provides us, we parents and our children can never quit our whimper and grumbling.

However the birth place of the first child of the first Holy Family, who is peace of every family, the Infant Jesus was born in an ordinary manger. Dry hay which is the fodder for the cattle was the bed for the Prince of Heaven to lay. The little Jesus who is the cornerstone of the family had a more discomfort life.

The first visitors to the new born child were some poor shepherds, who got the heavenly message while watching their flocks that freezing night. When they arrived at the Holy Nativity, they saw the child sleeping peacefully, wrapped in swaddling clothes, devoid of any warm garment. They also visualized his mother sitting gracefully engrossed in God’s love amidst the poverty and Joseph in great patience, courageously safeguarding the mother and child.

The arrival of the three wise men and their adoration to the Holy King, created  splendid atmosphere of lordship and grandeur to the King of Kings. 

Dear devotees, this is the Christmas that we ought to celebrate.

But how do our Christmas celebrations begin and end?

The star, tree, decorations, sweets even the crib that could be handmade by the members of the family, are being included in the shopping lists.

All this purchases are being a replacement for the blessed togetherness of the family, the sacrifices and the valuable inputs and discussions for the arrival of the Holy King.

The competition for the best crib and the Christmas tree awarded by the community also snatches away the reverence of Christmas.

Wearing the latest trend, shopping the most up-to-date gadget, renovating the house etc. without spiritual preparations, shrinks the richness of the real Holy Nativity.

Some like to immerse themselves in the Spirit of Christmas by throwing a banquet of the finest meat and drinks for those who are ready to dance to their tune; eat and drink till each one is out of their senses!

Another fraction of people who indulge in indecent acts and visit clubs are also not very few.

Are we not misusing the holy word ‘Christmas’?

                                                                                                            (to be continued…)

With Love Filled Blessings

Your Sister in Christ 

A  FAMILY THAT SACRIFICES IN THE

 LIGHT OF GOSPEL

The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He frustrates the plans of the people. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the thoughts of His heart to all generations.  (Psalms 33:10-11)

PART III

Click here for Part I

Click here for Part II

A family attains discipline and punctuality when the Spirit of God fills in our home.  In order to obtain a happy family, each member of the family must accept that they have their own portion of responsibility and duties. 

Nowadays, the virtue and purity of marital life is perishing, its results are reflected even in its fruits. Look! How quickly the links of marital life get separated and broken.  Even minute misunderstandings destroy countless families.  Let us explore into this matter.

After giving birth to children, it is the marital relationship that is the center point and God reveals the new face of His plan to the husband and wife.

Are there any parents who do not complain about their children? Right from the moment a baby is formed in the womb, the thoughts and emotions of the parents are mixed in the blood of the baby.  All these habits and personalities keep growing in their little minds as they grow up.  For no reason at all, the children  become slave of anger, fear, anxiety, sadness and hot temper. 

Children show great love and trust towards their parents and their closeness towards them incomparable.  It is quite natural for a child to jump into its mother’s arms wherever he sees his mother.

Children who are conceived unexpectedly may not receive enough love from their parents. Though they may not express it but deep within it is a cause of their restlessness and  the new born baby can experience and understand it. Such children expect a lot of safety and protection from their parents often and  become prone to untoward incidents.  Thoughts such as ‘My parents don’t need me’ often arises within them. As the children grow the good and evil thoughts in their mind keep growing. 

It is an important duty of parents to lay a good foundation in their children’s lives and the best ideas are found and explained in the Holy Scriptures.

In trust and unity and in the holy knowledge of God’s son and according to measure of Christ’s perfection, all should reach and become a mature person.

If parents are unable to help or don’t take interest in their children to  develop a true and steadfast love , they will not be safeguarded against iniquities and mistakes.  If parents are to be pleased in their children’s future, then they will definitely teach them the rules and regulations.

You, who are believers in Christ Jesus, when  pressed down with problems or put down by failures, would be best and appropriate to seek solutions for your problems in the Word of God.  All these things have to be taught to the children their childhood itself.  As time goes by in moments of doubts and confusion, these little verses will become the light for their feet.

Psychiatrists advise, “Do not punish children.”  But the Holy Bible says, “One who does not use the stick to discipline his child, does not love him.”  Discipline is essential to develop obedience and good habits. 

Those who love their children will not hesitate to correct them.  The Word of God says, “You will reap what you sow.” When you keep satisfying the liking and needs of your children, you reap a big harvest of bad habits and indiscipline.

Children are obliged to happily obey their parents and it is one of the commandments, so that they obtain goodness and attain long life on this earth.

When you renew the relationship between parents and children in the right manner, the home becomes heaven.  The Lord grants children with a peaceful future and at that moment exceedingly beautiful heavenly paradise comes into existence.  Children should realize that there are limitations in everyone’s life.  When the children realize that if they reject the just limitations in any manner they receive punishment, then thereafter they will themselves find the limitations.

Parents realize that it is quite natural for a child to play and enjoy his life but it is equally important that the child should be handed over small responsibilities. It is essential to have a control in watching T.V., etc. and it should not become an instrument of babysitting. 

Dear ones, you desire to give good nutritious food to your children.  Similarly, it is necessary to give good food for the growth of mind.  Jesus said, “Your food doesn’t go into your heart.  But what goes into our mind touches our heart.”  The time a child spends before the T.V. affects his life to a great extent. 

‘Time is life, do not misuse it.”  In this manner when parents take charge and become exemplary, they can remove numerous discomforts from the family.  However mischievous your child may be, if we handle them in a right manner, they will become the light of the family and the community. 

If you nurture the child on the basis of Word of God, in the future they will establish a good home, making their parents happy. 

In the Holy family there were struggles, poverty and problems, but the birth of Lord Jesus transformed that family.  By respecting, obeying His parents and always helping them, Jesus produced comfort and joys in that little family. 

Thus if you discipline your children according to the Word of God from childhood, you can build many families like the Holy Family.  Your house will be transformed into a home of hard work, discipline, the spirit of prayer and comfort.

‘But my children are grown up… what should I do?’  Don’t Worry!

You still can show interest to send them to the spiritual classes that are prepared by the Holy Spirit and for spiritual retreats.  Bring home good pocket books based on the Bible and good CD's of spiritual songs. 

Dear parents, if you pay attention to this, the Lord will become your refuge and your children will themselves be inspired. 

Like shining lights as per your dreams they will become gift of God by spreading good deeds in home and society.  The crab who walks only in one direction can’t teach his children to walk in the right way.  Children very quickly learn to imitate their parents.  You might have heard this old saying. ‘I want to become like my mother or my father’. 

So become parents who give good examples to their children.  If parents develop their children in the right way, then God will surely bless the parents. 

May Lord Jesus who spread the light in the Holy Family bless you!

A  FAMILY THAT SACRIFICES IN THE

 LIGHT OF GOSPEL

The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He frustrates the plans of the people. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the thoughts of His heart to all generations.  (Psalms 33:10-11)

PART I

Once upon a time, FAMILY was considered to be the origin of hard work, education, service and prayer. However, today it has literally become a shed just for eating, drinking and quarreling. To liberate us from these pitiable conditions, to those who believe in His Son Jesus, through the Holy Bible, Our Loving Father has put before us numerous solutions

In this article, I shall describe some of the duties of a Christian husband towards his family.

The Holy Bible refers the husband as the master of the family. 

Not few are the number of husbands who reign over their wife and children using their authority as the Master of the Family.

Dear brothers, let us try to understand the truth. “Wives just as to the Lord submit to your husbands.”

This verse from the Holy Scripture does not mean or hand you the rights to treat your wife harshly.  Instead read further that says, “Just as Christ loved the Church you too must love your wives.”  (Eph 5:25)

St. Paul emphasizes on the focal point of your position --- master of the family- is to love--- that too—supreme love. For husbands, St. Paul describes various aspects of Jesus Love for the Church. Lord Jesus came into this world not to fulfill his desires but to sacrifice Himself for those whom He loved. In order to purify the Church, Jesus offered Himself as a sacrifice.

A Christian husband must be ready to sacrifice his dreams and desires to safeguard his wife. Just as Lord Jesus offered Himself for the sake of His ‘Love’, a husband too must be willing to surrender himself for the sake of ‘pure love.’  The love filled exemplary life of a husband must be like that of  Lord Jesus i.e. he must surrender his wife for the glory of God and protect her by making her happy and courageous.

This may appear uninteresting in this modern carefree life. But in a Christian marital life more preference is given to unity than to a carefree life.   In their personal life, the husbands must find ways to lead a life of submission.  By surrendering himself to Lord Jesus, he can begin the first lesson of ‘submissiveness’.  Grow and nurture in your personal prayer and Bible reading.  Arise early in the morning to recite your prayers and if possible go for a Holy Mass along with your family members. If you are a person going for a job, before stepping in the office ask for the help of Mother Mary and St. Joseph.  Similarly, if you enter your office after praying one minute for your higher authorities and co-workers and all those whom you are going to meet, then you will be able to behave with everyone in patience and do your duties punctually.

If you are a husband doing the Lord’s service, then before going to the Holy Mass, gather your family members before the family altar and through the intercession of Mother Mary and St. Joseph recite reverently the Act of Consecration of Family and Prayer of Precious Blood of Jesus.  

By showing your willingness to do God’s Will you have to pray in the Lord’s presence to receive wisdom and knowledge.  Without losing patience, by fulfilling the duties towards the family, the concern and love towards the wife and children must be clearly expressed.

“…the greatest one among you must be like the youngest, and the leader must be like the servant.  Who is greater, the one who sits down to eat or the one who serves him? The one who sits down, of course.  But I am among you as One who serves.”   (Luke 22:26-27) 

This scripture verse speaks out that every Christian husband who is greatest is called to serve.

There are many husbands who think that taking care of the family comprises of providing them with money and my duty is over!. “Don’t expect anything more than this from me,” Some think that just by fulfilling the needs of the wife is sufficient to show the love for her.is a very common statement that arises from our stubbornness. The complaints that comprise about a nagging wife are also not less. A change is very essential in our attitude and mentality.

Let us turn our thoughts and take appropriate charge of her complains as our lack of sincerity. When a wife faces problems in her duties, the husband ought to help her eagerly. When a husband who has to do the major responsibility in a family falters, the wife ends up taking the burden.  

My dear brothers, when you show concern and interest towards your family in these small things God will transform your family atmosphere into a heavenly one.  The most appropriate service a husband can do with eagerness is to share in the daily chores of his wife. If a wife is to accept her husband’s status as ‘the master of the family’ he must show eagerness in the daily responsibilities of the family.  Lord Jesus exhorts that by taking up God’s service the husbands must be capable of giving spiritual directions.

So is the case of the children’s upbringing. The husband has the special duty of introducing Christian living to his children by way of fun and play.  Be sure to take some time out to come forward and help your children in their studies rather than pushing the responsibility over to your wife.

Let love rule us in everything.  God who is seated in the highest heaven cares for us.  He does everything for our good. 

The example of Joshua who totally surrendered his family in front of the whole of Israel is truly heart touching (Joshua 24:15). 

However lack of interest, a husband may show in rendering spiritual guidance, every husband has the obligation to encourage, help and direct his wife in spiritual matters.  The Lord knows about our imperfections.  However, if men come out of these bondages and begin to perform his family duties, God will provide them with the necessary blessings.

If your relationship with Jesus diminishes then a husband won’t be able to help his wife in her spiritual growth.  You must daily find some time to pray and read the Holy Bible as this helps in giving shape to a man’s emotions and thoughts.  When a husband disciplines his life it helps the spiritual upliftment of his wife and children.  Above all this it is the husband’s duty to faithfully accept the messages that the Lord gives regarding his family.

Successful Christian marriage life doesn't mean a life without any ups and downs.  Marriage and family life reaches its completion only at the wedding feast of the Lamb. 

Dear husbands, just as Lord Jesus loved His church and surrendered Himself to purify her, if you will not love your wife it will be a cruel act on your part.  The husband must be eager to show love and compassion towards his wife,  considering her to be a daughter of God you must show her respect.

“The same way you husbands must live with your wives with proper understanding that they are the weaker sex.  Treat them with respect because they also will receive together with you God’s gift of life.  Do this so that nothing will interfere with your prayers.”  (1 Peter 3 :7)

If we consider all the above things the duties of a Christian husband is beyond the grasp of an ordinary man.   You may also think that if it is so, how then we can live?

Dear ones, it is by taking up responsibilities according to your capabilities many people are among us who have learnt and grown up through failures and are living in high status.  A good husband does not rely too much on his own talents.  He obtains strength through his personal spiritual relationship with God when confronted with burdens it stands forth as a tower of refuge. 

So dear brothers, let us begin to live accepting the fact that God has given you the grace to become a good husband and believe in Him to turn everything  out to be beautiful!

It is in love of a selfless husband that ‘master of the family’ remains secure.  It is a very serious responsibility.  Just as Lord Jesus was given the authority to lift up the disciples by guiding, teaching and safeguarding them, similarly, according to God’s will a husband has been given the authority to guide the life of his wife in discipline.  The husband’s authority is the responsibility towards his wife.

The Lord wants to mould all the families on this earth like the Holy Family. 

May the help of St. Joseph surely help all the readers of ‘Living Word’.

Morning Prayer

Lord Jesus this dawn with gratitude I surrender myself, my life partner, my children, my relatives and well-wishers who are far and near.  I surrender each of my organs to be under your control.  O God! Purify me, bless me and grant me the knowledge and capability to perform my duties towards You and my family.  Purify all the talents that You have given me by Your Precious Blood.  O Jesus! Pour out your grace in all my weakness.  Amen.

(Recite this prayer two times each day and praise the Lord for 10 minutes)