Persevere in faith and prayer; God has His own ways to intervene and change.

Our God is a God of everlasting love and omnipresent in all situations, every moment of our life. Through the thick and thin of our life He is always with us waiting for us to call on Him and rely on Him.

Often during the rosy days of our life, when we feel secure we tend to forget the Lord’s presence in our lives. Our Sunday Masses, Novenas, personal and family prayers may go on but Christ ceases to be the centre or focus any more. Everything may seem to be perfect externally but internally there is a void, a deep spiritual void building up.

We may or may not be aware of this void but “Christ” is certainly aware of it. At this juncture it may deem fit to Him, ‘Our Universal Master ‘ to intervene in our lives through an event or some kind of suffering so that we might get back to him and fix our gaze on Him.

We are too precious for Him to be lost in the whims and fancies of the world. He paid a price for us, yes, every drop of His blood. So we belong to Him. The suffering that comes on our way may seem to be very painful and bitter, yet it keeps us glued to Him. As He is the only one who can heal us and redeem us. Jesus is the answer to every problem, question or crisis. It is only through Him that we will be able to sail through this suffering victoriously.

I would like to share my personal experience which has renewed and changed the outlook of my life.

Prior to my wedding, I was a very prayerful girl. However after my wedding in Jan 1998, my focus had shifted. My Husband was every thing to me, even before I realized this fact I had already given Jesus a back seat in my life. I seldom felt His presence with me, though He was always with me.

Things began to take a turn with my pregnancy, delivery and motherhood. My husband’s transfer and other pregnancy related health problems created a lot of stress in my life. On 26 August 2000 I delivered a baby boy (three weeks premature). We named him JOY, which expands to be Jesus Owns You. From the time of his birth he gave me sleepless nights.

When he was three months old he developed small eruptions on his face, which we thought were mosquito bites. As the problem persisted we consulted a doctor and it was diagnosed as Infantile Eczema or Atopic Dermatitis (dry skin problem). In his case it was extreme and severe as explained by a well known doctor.

The sleepless nights were coupled with terrible itching, inflammation of the skin, infections, inconsolable wailing and untold suffering. We went from Pillar to Post trying Allopathy, Homeopathy, Ayurveda. Bought expensive creams from abroad and used steroids but all these provided no solution, it only gave temporary relief.

Years passed by with sleepless nights and the heavy burden of stress and helplessness. Jesus seemed to be far away and I began to question His love and mercy for me. We attended retreats and everyone assured that he would be healed but nobody knew when.

By the time he was 7 years old the problem had become so severe that he had to stop school. Day and night he was itching and screaming, most of his finger nails were infected and fell off due to itching and inflammation. None of the Medicines worked on him or gave any relief. Even a dose of two or more tranquilizers would not put him to sleep.

Doctors were of the opinion that the problem would persist for few more years, that is when we turned completely to JESUS our Divine Healer. We knew that when everything else fails prayer prevails. We took it as a challenge; we fasted and continuously prayed Rosary and Divine Mercy Rosary. Many people and different prayer groups prayed for him, as a result there was a respite in his finger nails and it healed but the itching persisted.

Consequently we happen to attend a retreat at Sehion (Attapady). On the first day of the Retreat, I threw all the tranquilizers into the bin surrendering him completely to the Lord. After a span of six months that was the first day that he slept continuously for 8 hours. This was the first miracle!

A Priest had anointed his whole body with holy oil but on the last day he developed very high temperature and his legs were swollen very badly, oozing out pus (God had his own unique ways). His situation seems to be worse than before, people who witnessed it were horrified with the suffering, they prayed with tears in their eyes. They urged us not to loose hope. As he was unable to walk, I had to carry him on my back.

We reached home (Hyderabad) with a heavy heart after tedious Train journey. We were firm in our faith and continued with our prayers. After the retreat the second miracle that followed was that he began to sleep during the nights but would strangely wake up every night at 3 am. That was the time of my Divine Mercy Rosary after which he would get back to sleep.

The following Thursday was Maundy Thursday. During the Holy Mass he was itching continuously, I was irritated, sad and also angry that I couldn’t peacefully participate in the Mass. After receiving Holy Communion, I angrily walked out of the Church thinking that I will never again attend Mass until HE heals my son. As the following day was Good Friday, we ritualistically went to Church. Although I forgot my own angry words, He did seem to remember it and consequently I was not able to attend Mass due to heavy down pour, a crowded Church and his continuous itching. ‘I missed the Holy Mass on Good Friday!’ I realized the folly of my words and begged for pardon from the Lord.

I even pleaded Him to give me a chance to attend the Easter Vigil. I was particular in attending the Easter Vigil because of my conviction of the power of the Risen Lord. As I had read in one of the books that when St. Augustine celebrated Easter Mass, visible miracles took place in front of the altar. The blind received sight, crippled walked and the dumb spoke, Hence I was also expecting a miracle.

The next day in spite of the rains, we were able to attend Easter Mass. Although during the Mass he was agitated and restless, I continued with my fervent prayers. It so happened that after the offertory the priest came down the altar with the chalice and paten in his hands, stretching out his hands towards the people he asked us to accept the peace of Christ. As peace has evaded me for past 7 years, I prayed with all my heart and said “Jesus I accept your peace”.

After a while my son came running to me from my husband and I noticed that his face was ‘glowing and radiant’. I realized a miracle had happened. His wrinkled face was refreshed and glowing. On reaching home everyone commented about the change on his face, which also included my non Christian neighbor. Who expressed “Hey! I had never seen JOY like this from the time I have known him”.

All of them testified the Miracle and thereafter we witnessed a change in his sleeping pattern. He peacefully slept everyday until we woke him, this never happened for last 7 Years. “Praise the Lord!”

Events did not stop with that, a few weeks later we once again witnessed the loving protection and mercy of Jesus through another miracle. While he was playing he happened to fall into 12 feet manhole (drainage pit) under repair, which had lots of big boulders and with water flowing beneath. He was rushed to the Hospital with profuse bleeding from his forehead. The incident which could have been fatal was reduced to a minute rupture of blood vessel on the forehead. Forget fractures he never even had a scar on his body. This event was witnessed by many and was testified as “Gods Incredible Protection “.

Psalm 91, which I recite every morning says in verses 11,12 ‘ For He will command His angles concerning you to guard you in all your ways , on there hands they will bear you up so that you will not dash your foot against a stone’. Indeed it was true in our lives that day. I realized that every prayer we say, every word of God and every tear we shed would never go in vain.

The events did not stop there, three weeks later we again found boils on his body; he was afflicted with chicken pox. Within 5 days it had become so severe that his whole body was covered with thousands of boils, without even a minute part of his skin being visible over his body including head. He looked frightening and scary; people who visited us scooted away in fear and horror on seeing him.

The pain and agony he experienced was so severe that he would scream and yell “I want to die; I cannot bear it any more”. During this period God had given us tremendous strength. With continuous prayers day and night and strong medication after about a month his boils began to dry up and heal. On giving him bathe, we realized that his skin which was dry and flaky had become smooth and soft. This was a cleansing process. Indeed God has his own unique way in reaching out to people and healing them of their infirmities and sickness.

The words in Psalms 103: 3, 4 which says, “who forgives all your iniquity; who heals all you diseases; who redeems your life from the pit; who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy” , had literally come true in our lives. We continue to receive God’s love, mercy and protection in our lives thus giving us the strength to endure various trials and tribulations that come on our way.

I pray that God may grant all of us the grace to live our lives according to His will until we see Him face to face in His kingdom. To our Lord and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

- – - written by Preethi P. Sebastian, Hyderabad

Way of the Cross leads us not to the tomb, but to the glory of life.

We observe 14 Stations of the Cross as a repentance prayer, in the lent period that precedes Easter in order to meditate on the passion of Jesus who was condemned to death and crucified at Calvary by Jews and Roman soldiers who opposed the teachings and doings of the Son of God.

Go and see Way of the Cross Pictures

These stations of the passion of Christ are prayed as follows:

1. Jesus was condemned to death by Pontius Pilate – Although Pilate knew beyond doubt that Jesus did nothing wrong, wanting to satisfy the demanding crowd He released Barabas, a notorious criminal to them. Then Pilate had Jesus flogged and handed over him to be crucified. Jesus was to be crucified for the serious sins committed by each one of us. It is said “the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23) but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord.” Thus, instead of sinners like us dying for our sins, Jesus paid by his death for us to be saved.

2. Jesus bears the Cross – The Cross, said to have been made for Barabas, was to be carried by Jesus and the criminal who was to be crucified was spared. It was a very heavy cross. Jesus carried such a cross because our sins are so huge. In a way we are Barabasses of various types of mortal sins. The cross was unbearable, yet Jesus took upon himself the cross for us to be rescued and made us ready for heaven.

3. Jesus falls the first time – We committed sins to such a critical level, that load of the Cross was so heavy, Jesus fell to the ground with the cross. Our sins will fail us miserably and we will fall dangerously unless we repent and remain in the ways of God.

4. Jesus meets His Mother – Jesus and His mother Mary met each other during the journey to Calvary. This is the saddest meeting any mother and son could ever experience. And suffering is the worst in silence. We shall sincerely pray to Jesus through the intercession of Mother Mary to receive spiritual strength to bear sorrows, sufferings and separations.

5. Pedestrian Simon helps Jesus in distress – Simon was from Cyrene. He was passing by on his way home. Soldiers seized him and forced him to carry the cross behind Jesus. Simon is fortunate; he could lend a helping hand to Jesus. Sinners like us would never accept any cross. Instead we would try to place them on others because there is pleasure in doing sin. And in carrying cross there is pain. If we have a mustard seed size faith in Jesus, we are bound by his love to carry the cross given to us and we should accept due punishment for our sins.

6. Veronica wipes the face of Jesus – According to legend, Jesus was offered a handkerchief by Saint Veronica, on the road to Calvary and the image of Jesus was impressed upon it by divine will. She was the only person who took courage to defy the orders of the soldiers and so closely met Jesus and did this never-forgettable act. O Jesus, my Lord, yours was the most handsome face of a man the earth ever saw. Though through our sins we have disfigured ourselves and became unworthy to show our face to you, your face remains the holiest.

7. Jesus falls the second time – The ongoing increase in human sins was unbearable even to God, Jesus fell the second time. We must prayerfully remember that our sins can fall us fatally and without the grace of God we cannot rise. Jesus, lift us out from the dark pit we are in.

8. Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem – ‘Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, weep for yourselves and for your children.’ These words of Jesus remain true even today. We are weeping not about ourselves and not about our children. This is because we are all sinners. When sin is in, Jesus finds no place in the inn of our mind. We remain in the domain of the devil. Jesus, shower your grace and save us from the grip of the evil.

9. Jesus falls the third time – This is a warning signal to all of us that our sins will keep failing us and we will fall never to rise. We should avoid sin and avoid eternal fall. Jesus strengthens us in our faith.

10. Jesus is stripped of his garments – When one’s worn clothes are forcefully removed, it is a shame in public. Here, Jesus was the victim at the hands of the soldiers. Clothes of us are the symbols of sins and Jesus is happy when we are stripped of our sins. Jesus, keep us away from sins.

11. Jesus is nailed to the cross – Crucifixion is the worst form of killing a person. Jesus chose the worst form of death for our deadly sins. We made the nails of sins for Jesus to nail Him to the cross. Our sins gave deathly pain to Jesus. Sins are capable of such atrocities. Jesus, give us the wisdom to abstain from sins.

12. Jesus dies on the cross – Jesus accepted a miserable death on the cross to give us eternal salvation and the kingdom of heaven. The wage of sin being death, He accepted it on the Cross to save us. Our souls would eternally die, if He had not died for us. There is repentance and absolution for our sins, since Jesus paid the price for them.

13. Jesus is brought down from the cross to be buried – Death brings everyone down to the earth but Jesus was brought down to the earth by our sins. The age in which we live is short with Simons and Samaritans but long with Barabasses and Judasses. Hence, God’s grace is essential for physical and spiritual survival. Jesus, give us your protection at all times.

14. Jesus is placed in the burial vault – Joseph who came from Arimathea got permission from Pilate to take the body of Jesus from Cross. He took the body of Jesus down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. Jesus, when we die allow us to join you in heaven.

Read about why we should pray the stations of the Cross.

The way of the Cross leads us not to emptiness but to triumph and glory.

Our ways of the cross too are the same. They too lead us to glory and victory.

- – - written by Dr. C.T George

How often do you go to church? Just on Sunday, the visiting day?

Story : Sunday The Visiting Day

He was looking forward to this moment all day long, after 6 days of labor and it finally arrived – Visiting Day!

The man with the keys arrived to swing open the large, heavy doors. The cold gray hall springs to life in the warm glow of light. He could hardly control His emotions.

The families began to arrive. He peers from the corner of the room longing for the 1st glimpse of His loved one. He lives for the weekends. He lives for these visits.

As the cars arrive, He watches intently. Then, finally, they arrive, for whom He would do anything. They embrace, eat a light lunch and reminisce how things used to be.

At one point, they break into singing, with interruptions of laughter and applause. But all too soon it is over. A tear comes to His eyes as they depart.

Then the man with the keys closes the heavy doors. He hears the key turn in the lock marking the end of a special day. There He stands, alone again.

He knows that most of His visitors will not contact Him again till next week. As the last car pulls away from the parking lot, Jesus retreats into loneliness as He waits until next Sunday – Visiting Day.

Reflection:

Is the time that we spend with Jesus an everyday thing, or do we just visit Him on Sunday?