If we could reflect a bit, we could be a little better in our spiritual life.

Spiritual life is always at risk unless we take much care of it. It is almost same as physical health as far as the care and concern is needed for its sustenance. All of us find challenges and downfalls in our spiritual journey. But how often we recover and go forward?

Suppose we find one of our vehicles suddenly broke down on the way during the journey. Before calling a mechanic for help, we will surely check whether there is enough fuel. If we are sure that the fuel is over, then we would never call for help. Apply this to spiritual life too.

Prayer is the fuel of spiritual life. If we are sure that our spiritual life is broken down due to lack of prayer, then there is no use in getting advice from anyone regarding its recovery. If prayer life is sound and good then we may look for other options.

In physical life if we have gone through some serious illness, we need enough time for recovery. Just after being healed we would never take up hard works. It would make us sick again. After an illness what is required of us is the recovery of health. Sin makes us spiritually sick. But through the sacrament of confession, we would have been healed. Do not right away go to undertake heavy spiritual loads. First and foremost recover our health through prayer and being in the presence of the Lord.

Another challenge in our spiritual journey is the problem of bad habits. St. Augustine would say, ‘evil is the privation of goodness.’ Suppose there is a hole on the floor, we can never remove it by taking it away. If we try to do so, the hole will become even bigger. We should fill it with something else. We are trying for years and years, to take away our sinful dispositions and bad habits. It is as trying to take away a hole. Every sin and drawback is a privation; fill it with the power of the Holy Spirit.

Invite the Holy Spirit to help you and make you stronger in that area. We can’t take away darkness as such, without bringing light to the dark place to make it bright. The problem is that darkness is not an entity in itself, but a privation of light. We can become spiritually strong, by filling ourselves with the power of the Holy Spirit.

Many a time we think that God has punished us because we have sinned. We tend to think as this one of the reasons of our spiritual fall. God never punishes anyone who repents over the sins committed. He is mercy and love.

Suppose someone drinks acid; should anyone come to him and burn him? No. Why? Acid by nature is burning. By the very fact a person has drunk acid, he is allowing himself to be burned. As such sin carries with it the punishment too. No sin is good for human body or soul.

So one who sins is supposed to bear the evil consequences of sin. Therefore we must be very vigilant in our spiritual life, for keeping the holiness of our body and mind.

- – - written by Jinto Mathew

Galilee is a must for God experience in our lives.

While reading the Gospel according to St Matthew, chapter 1&2, one often wonders as to why Jesus had to be born at one place and then shift to another place and from there to yet another place and finally end up in Galilee. It is generally understood to be as to bring true what the prophets had foretold. He starts His ministry from Galilee, immediately after being filled with the power of the Spirit following His temptation by Satan in the wilderness (Luke 4:14-15, Mark 1:14, Mat. 4:12).

Galilee – The sinful city

Galilee if we see, in those days was a port city full of sailors and merchants. It had all the evils attached with a city with a port in it, which we often see even nowadays in such places. Lot of brothels, immoral women and sinful people used to reside there with humanity taking the least value place and commercialisation at its peak. Without a Saviour, these people were to be doomed. And here is where, Jesus had to start His ministry.

Further to this, one should also contemplate on the hardships faced by Mother Mary and St Joseph to bring Jesus to Nazareth in Galilee. These hardships were in the face of death! The Gospel according to St Matthew chapter 2 verses 13 to 23 and Luke 2:1-39, vividly explain this. For instance, how hard it would have been to carry a baby one day old and his mother to a distant place without any permanent establishment to live in! Then again after few days they had to shift back to Israel only to retreat to the town called Nazareth in the district of Galilee. One must not forget as to how painful the social life would have been to a righteous man like Joseph in a sinful city like Galilee.

Attitude of St Joseph

These hardships in his life were required to fit into the God’s larger plan of saving the mankind which included even a sinful city like Galilee! Then only Jesus could have started His public life there and minister His healing and preaching to the people there. Though at each place, where they shifted, St Joseph had to build up his living means through hard toil. However, instead of complaining over his plight, he followed the inspirations given during various instances by God, in absolute slave-like obedience from his heart. That is why he is remembered and mentioned in the Holy Bible through a singular expression-“Joseph was a ‘RIGHTEOUS’ man” (Matt 1:19).

St Joseph was playing his role wonderfully well through these hardships so as to fulfil God’s plan. Not even a single instance did he rebel against God as done by the Israelites in the book of Exodus, instead religiously followed the divine inspirations however troublesome it were and reached Galilee. Hence, St Joseph like Abraham, was an epitome of real, absolute faith which made him strong to play his part in the grand plan of God for world’s salvation. His strength was faith, faith and faith alone as said about the characters of Old Testament in Hebrews 11.

God’s Majesty and Mercy

Unlike in times of the Old Testament where in cities of Sodom & Gomorrah were destroyed to cinders due to the wrath of God owing to their sinful life (Gen19:14,24-25), God wanted the New Covenant period to start with His saving act up on the most sinful city. “Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people”. God wanted to manifest His mercy and make it known to the people through Jesus that His nature was the embodiment of mercy and that His Mercy is as great as His Majesty.

A Lesson for Victorious Life

God can do the same miracles today also, in our daily lives because, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” Hebrews 13:8.Hence, when troubles exceed in your life, lift them up along with your tears to our Lord at the foot of His Cross with faith and expectation. This would lead your prayers and supplications to channelize Lord Jesus’ mighty power to manifest in the biggest of your troubles.

Do not be disheartened but wait patiently for the Lord and pray incessantly to lead you in your life according to His plan. Remember the golden adage that the night is darkest just before dawn; similarly, The Lord’s saving power is greatest at the time when tribulations are great. All glory to Him whose power is greatest among the weakest of us!

Prayer:

“Abba Father! I surrender these paths to the cities of Galilee in my life which makes me hard & troublesome to live – the situation of (mention the state here). I invite you Jesus to come and reside with me in this state so that this would transform to a state of bliss. Lord! Help me to obediently follow your inspirations as St Joseph did, even if they may seem difficult for me. Lord, give me the grace to channelize your power in my life through my obedience and to see your triumph over my troubles. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen!”

- – - written by G. Sanal, Tughlakabad, New Delhi

Unless we forgive, we will not be forgiven. God’s blessings await those who are ready to forgive.

Jesus taught us how to pray. He said, ”Pray then in this way. Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one.” (Mt. 6:9-13)

Immediately after teaching this prayer, Jesus gives a stern warning in the next two verses. “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” – Mt. 6: 14-15. He emphasizes the same thing in Mark 11 verse 25. “Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.”

As Christians, we pray innumerable times. But let us examine ourselves if we are following the advice of the Lord. According to him each time before we pray, no matter it is the morning prayer, the family prayer in the evening, the bedtime prayer, the prayers in the church, we are supposed to do this self-examination and forgive if we have any grudge against anyone. This is a pre-condition for starting our prayer.

When do we feel grudge against anyone? When we think that someone has done something against us. And we are supposed to forgive them. But that is not enough. “So when you are offering gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.” (Mt. 5:23-24)

Now the situation in Mk 11, verse 25 and Mt. 5 verse 23 is different. In the former, the situation is that we have some grudge against someone because we feel that he/she has done something against us. Well, we have forgiven him/her. But the latter situation is just opposite. Here we do not have any grudge against anyone; rather someone has some grudge against us. That means he or she feels that we have done something against him/her. In such a situation neither should a priest say mass, nor should a layman participate in the mass.

“Leave your gift then before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.” But how many of us are following this instruction of Jesus? Feelings of revenge and hatred make us blind to our own mistakes. Our thoughts and words will be obsessed with the mistakes of those against whom we keep grudge.

When we try to find others’ mistakes we tend to belittle our own mistakes. We try to put a veil over our mistakes. Thus we become prejudiced. Besides, if we go on endlessly observing others’ mistakes, we too will be tempted to commit the same mistakes.

Mother Theresa says that we must forgive and forget. She emphasizes on forgetting others’ mistakes. According to her, that is the solution for all the wars, violence and tensions in this world. If we do not forgive and forget others’ mistakes, they will have a negative impact upon us. So we have to pray for them. That will give us peace. Further, we will be able to love them. Jesus showed us the way: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Lk. 23: 24)

We often believe that our life is controlled by our enemy. But we must know that our life is controlled by none other than God. He is the driver of our vehicle. He is the captain of our ship. He is steering the boat of our life. He is our shepherd. He alone is our ruler, our king. If anyone does anything against us, the result is but temporary. We should not be upset by the storm created by it. We must have firm faith in Jesus who is sleeping in the boat. “And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.” (Eph. 4: 32)

Many a time we are ready to forgive others if they apologize to us. We want our enemies to come to us and say, “I am sorry.” We may be waiting to hear these words from our enemies and we are ready to forgive. But our ego does not let us go and ask forgiveness from others. Here Jesus shows the example. As St. Paul says, when we were enemies, Jesus came to us to reconcile with us.

We do not lose anything by forgiving except our ego, our false pride. Whatever we lose by forgiving, God will give us a hundredfold. Whatever Christ lost by dying on the cross, God gave him back many folds by giving him the glory of the resurrection because he forgave. There is a promise of God behind every forgiving.

Forgiveness is not a loss; it is a gain. It is not a defeat; it is a victory. It is not an end: it is a beginning.

“But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have them do to you. (LK 6:27-31) “But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great.” (LK 6:35)

Now we need not feel sad or depressed when we do not get back what we have given. God who is faithful in His promises will reward us.

Forgiving and reconciling with those who have inflicted serious physical, mental, financial or emotional injuries upon us is one of the most difficult things to do. How can we love our enemies, how can we do ‘good’ to those who hate us, how can we bless those who curse us and how can we pray for those who abuse us? Is it not against human nature? Is it not swimming against the current? Yes, but that is what Christ wants us to do, we being his followers.

Have you ever thought why Jesus cursed the fig tree? Obviously He cursed it because there were no fruits on it. But the gospel writer clearly states that it was not the season of figs. Still Jesus cursed the fig tree and it withered. Yes, Jesus wants us to go against our human nature and he wants us to swim against the current. Exactly that is what He wants us to do when he asks us to forgive our enemies and do good to those who hate us.

“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even the sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from you whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again.” (Lk 6: 32-34)

Can you see your life partner as innocent? Lying on the cross Jesus saw all of us as innocent. “For they do not know what they do.” The lesson is: Do not pass judgment. Let us deal with others not on the basis of rule and law, but on the basis of kindness and understanding.

A person who dies in hatred and with grudge against others is sure to perish. That will be the worst kind of death.

Forgiveness is not a new idea introduced by Jesus. “The vengeful will face the Lord’s vengeance, for he keeps a strict account of their sins. Forgive your neighbor the wrong he has done, and then your sins will be pardoned when you pray. Does anyone harbor anger against another, and expect healing from the Lord? If one has no mercy towards another like himself, can he then seek pardon for his sins? (Sirach 28: 1-4)

- – - written by Georgekutty K.V.