Human life is as momentary as a shepherd’s tent (Is. 38:12) that is pitched erect at every dusk and removed at dawn! It is a brief breath between womb and tomb that disappears as briskly as bubbles on water-surface, snow-drops on green leaves or tears on cheeks. It perishes as quickly as a shadow vanishes. A faulty rhythm of heart-beets or a slightly prolonged halt between breaths is sufficient enough for the death-bell to resound. Shortly or later too have to listen to that final gong. Every animate being on the earth, whether it likes or not, shares this destiny to embrace mortality.

At quite unexpected moments the foot-steps of death that often arrives as an uninvited guest will resound at the entrance of my mortal tent also. I too may be destined to die and decay in the middle of my life-span. And then, in a friction of second, the tent of my life which I set tightened on the strings of my dreams, will be destroyed and be blown away like a broken kite! If so, each step I leave behind is cutting short the distance of my journey to the end. My path extends to that spot of snare where demise hides itself comfortably (Ps. 116:3). Hence, I have little to boast about and carry with me finally in the hollow of my hands.

My earthly tent is so light that it can simply be uplifted by a lazy breeze and it is with such an ease that God is going to uproot it one day. And then my likes and dislikes will totally be irrelevant because in His eyes I am only an insignificant creature. I have neither the merit to own a little space in His holy thoughts nor the worth to earn His special consideration. What glory and value do I have in order to be remembered or counted priceless by Him? My body and soul, hunger and thirst, day and night and everything I claim to possess is nothing but His favor. I have nothing left in my begging-bowl except what I have received form His bounty. The roads I tread hardly come within my control. Moreover, even my foot-steps are guided and guarded by Him for my feet are so week to support me.

I can only roll up, like a weaver, the fabric of my life on the loom of my dear dreams and hopes. It is God who cuts it away even without seeking my consent. And it is these finiteness and uncertainty of my life-tent that prompt me to conduct my short stay in it fairly and live the rest of my days in the awareness of death. Although my earthly tent, as it draws closer to its end, will one day perish perfectly, another heavenly and eternal abode will surely be mine after my final departure. And it is this strong conviction that urges and leads me on.

When my little tent of life turns to be a home of holiness my death itself shall be precious to my God. And then I will not in fact die instead death shall be a gain to me. O Merciful Shepherd-God, let your presence and providence be always upon my little tent (Job. 29:4). When you are beside me I will walk fearlessly the shady valleys of death.

- – - written by Fr. Thomas Pattathilchira, CMF

In our daily life we quite often forget to lead a life of justice. Our own evil tendencies and bad examples from others prompt us to give up growing in righteous life.

In the book of Genesis we read about the covenant which God made with Noah. When the Lord saw that the wickedness of humankind was great, He decided to cleanse the world by blotting them out from the earth. But the Lord God made a covenant with Noah before purifying the world of evil. He told Noah to build an ark and to take into it seven pairs of all clean animals and a pair each of all unclean animals. For carrying out the purification of the world God chose Noah from among all the men. “The Lord said to Noah ‘go into the ark, you and your household, for I have seen that you alone are righteous before me in this generation of the world. The Bible points out that Noah was found pleasing to God and was saved from destruction because he was righteous and blameless. “Noah was a righteous man blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God” (Gen.6:9).

It is obvious that for the fulfillment of His plans God calls such people who walk in the way of truth and justice. In the New Testament also we find a just man chosen by God for carting out His redemptive work. He was Joseph the just man. Joseph was chosen by God to share in His redemptive work. God had decided to save the world by sending His Son through the Blessed Virgin Mary. Her husband Joseph did not reject her on realizing that she was with child by the power of the Holy Spirit. The Bible tells us the reason: for he was a just man and did not wish her to be put to shame. “Her husband Joseph living as a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly” (Mt.1:19). However he changed his decision at the advice of God’s angel. Being advised by the angel Joseph accepted Mary as his wife. “When Joseph awoke from sleep he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife” (Mt.1:24).

We realize that for the fulfillment of two important plans of God, He chose two righteous men. “God loves righteousness” (Ps.37:28). Righteous people are those who walk in God’s ways. That is why He loves righteous men and selects them as instruments of His plans. The radiance of justice and righteousness is remarkably displayed in their lives. A life that is just is very valuable in the eyes of God.

That is why when God was planning to destroy Sodom Gomorrah, Abraham asked God whether He would destroy the just men together with the wicked. Then God announced “If I find at Sodom, fifty righteous in the city, I will forgive the whole place for their sake” (Gen.18:26). Even when Abraham reduced the number fifty, the Lord answered that He would spare the city for sake of the few just men.

And let us remember that we are called to lead a life of justice. “Love righteousness you rulers of the earth” (Wis.1:1). In Psalm 15 the psalmist asks: “O Lord, who may abide in your tent? Who may dwell on your holy hill?” The psalmist himself gives the reply: “Those who walk blamelessly and do what is right and speak the truth from their heart” (Ps.15:1-2).

The life of a just man is like fertile field where holiness thrives. They live in accordance with God’s commands that are in obedience to the Word of God. Hence their lives are sinless. “The law of their God is in their hearts; their steps do not slip” (Ps.37:31). Very often when we face problems, illness or frailness in our lives, we should carefully examine whether there have been some unfortunate things which have caused our steps to slip.

In our daily life we quite often forget to lead a life of justice. Our own evil tendencies and bad examples from others prompt us to give up growing in righteous life. Selfish interests are growing daily in our society. On occasions when we have to do justice to others we often fail to do justice. An unjust life will end in disaster. “Though the wicked sprout like grass and all evil doers flourish, they are doomed to destruction for ever” (Ps.92:7).

The bible speaks about many unjust people. Among them the most prominent one is Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus. We who are called to lead a life of righteousness should try to show respect and kindness to our fellow-men. “Each one of us should consider our neighbor as another self. Above all we must have care regarding our life and regarding the means by which to lead a respectable life’ (CCC).

However no true Christian can lead a life which is unjust and unfair because every Christian is called to live a righteous and upright life. We should love each other on the command of our Lord. The reward of a righteous life is becoming God’s own people. “They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God” (Ps.92:13). All of us are called to flourish in the house of the Lord. Just as Noah and Joseph were called as instruments in God’s plan, so we too should endeavour to lead righteous lives to be planted in the house of God. Noah and Joseph understood that life in this world was only for a while and that they had much to fulfill in this life according to divine plans.

- – - written by Joymon Babichen

The outfall of the rivers to the seaport is comparatively less deep. It is the same even with the case of very powerful and heavy flowing rivers. What could be the reason? The sand carried by the flowing water settles at the port. Thus the sandbank formed may even change the direction of the river in several years.

In olden times we were depending mainly on rivers for journey than road ways. As it was the case, there were incidents where port cities became unapproachable due to the formation of heavy sandbanks. Such cities even disappeared in course of time.

Remember that neither heavy landslide nor an earthquake caused this great change. It is not even big stones or rocks that changed the direction of the mighty river. But the cause of such a big change was tiny sands. Likewise even tiny little sins and seemingly small mistakes can direct us to huge troubles. They can be terrible blocks in our life.

This could be one of the reasons why many faithful ones stumble on the way and their life become futile. They do not commit the mistakes which the society considers grave. And they may evade from the serious sins.

But they are unaware that the tiny mistakes are repeated every now and then. At last these tiny sins will settle at the shore of our heart and change the direction of our life as well as block our relationship with the ocean of grace. It is one of the reasons of a troubled and callous life.

Let us pray: Lord, give me a simple heart which rejects everything unpleasing to you without rating sins as big and small. Amen.

- – - written by Benny Punnathara