It is just five days to the New Year -2012! These past few weeks, I have been spending time nights in prayer remembering all the blessed moments when I felt Jesus so close to me this year. It must be the season but I always start really looking deep into my life as New Year approaches and the choices I had made - and what did it all mean?
Every New Year, we get a chance to renew or to make a firm commitment to joyfully live for Christ. I have been most thankful to all of you, Friends of Divine, who have shared my journey in Divine all these years. It makes me realize that I cannot journey to heaven in isolation - it is when together, as a family in Christ, we choose to make God's Kingdom of Heaven here on earth until eternity - that we truly live our Christian mission. Divine Charitable Trust's efforts to care for 3000 of the "least of our brethren" on a long-term basis and to proclaim God 's Word to the world could not happen without each of you as well as many loving benefactors' prayers and financial support. Divine's charitable and evangelization works are totally dependent on God's Providence through caring individuals like our Friends of Divine! Should any of you ever feel inspired to lend a helping hand at any time in the future, you will find the Divine's 2012 Funding Needs section on this blog helpful.
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| Rev. Fr. Mathew Naickomparambil V.C. Spearhead of Divine-Potta Ministry |
No one I know will say living our Christiam mission with full zeal, faith and joy is an easy journey. But God will give us His GRACE to do so! In fact, I have found that it is much easier to just do what the world seems to think is right. If we were to listen to what the world says, I am sure there will be no priests, religious or lay missiomaries in the world. What's more for everyone who so generously serve in church ministries and in supporting mission works will also just get on with their own lives! It is hard to imagine Divine-Potta ministry surviving these past 21 years and bearing so much fruit!
Why is that not so? For me, I know it is because in the midst of all the human voices giving me logical and rational reasons of how I should view my future and my life, there is a much more persistent and piercing voice deep in my heart - the Voice of God. Choosing to serve God in any capacity is never easy - there are so many reasons to choose the path that gives us material security, comforts and most of all success. Serving God often seems a thankless vocation - it is hard to explain even to loved ones.
Well, all of us need to live meaningful and not superficial lives. What's more - each of us HAVE to make our own choice. The only peace we can achieve in life is training our hearts to listen to Jesus. It is not that He remains silent but rather if we are listening with our heart rather than with our mind. The only guarantee we will get is God's Promise - "Do not be afraid - I am with you!" (Isaiah 43:5)
In the midst of doubts and anxiety that comes when I think logically of what I should do, I always rediscover a beautiful aspect of my relationship with Jesus. it is when Jesus speaks to my heart and it is affirmed through the Word of God. It is very difficult to describe but when He speaks, it is a deep spiritual peace and faith that Jesus gives. His gentle, piercing crystal clear Voice from deep within my heart will drown out ALL the chattering voices of the world that clutter my mind.
As we look forward to a Blessed New Year in 2012, my prayer is for all of us to embrace wholeheartedly God's Call to each of us. Let us draw others to Christ not through fear but through His Love, Peace and Joy! "For God's Kingdom is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of the righteousness, peace and joy which the Holy Spirit gives. And when someone serves Christ in this way, he pleases God and is approved by others." (Romans 14:17-18) This can only happen when our own lives are put right with God. This point reverberates in my heart whenever I hear it during the weekly retreat's homily. The Kingdom of Heaven begins here - I do not have to die to experience it! In fact, I witness it so often seeing/hearing the spiritual, emotional, mental and physical healings that take place in the weekly retreats here in Divine Retreat Centre. Nearly everyone leaves this centre with joy shining on their faces - the miracle of Jesus' Healing Love!
At the end, only one thing truly matters - "Is my heart at peace in answering Jesus' Call? " No one can answer this question for me or for you. It is ultimately only between Jesus and each of us re our response to His Call. It is not just a matter of what we can do but what are we WILLING to do?
The Youtube music video above is VOICE OF TRUTH by Casting Crowns.
May God bless you and all your loved ones this NEW YEAR 2012
with the Fullness of His Grace and Love!
