A BLESSED NEW YEAR 2016 - CELEBRATING DIVINE's 25TH SILVER JUBILEE ANNIVERSARY!

HOLD US TOGETHER - Sung by MATT MAHER

God surprises His people on earth with blessings that seem so unlikely and unexpected...and one of God's great blessings for many of us whose lives has been transformed is Divine Retreat Centre, Muringoor, Kerala, India. It is truly amazing that over 10 million retreatants from all over the world have had a personal God-experience right here in Muringoor - a small village in India! Weekly retreats are held in English and 6 Indian languages (Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Konkani and Kannada) every week of the year - that means consecutively for each of the 52 weeks of the year  beginning every Sunday and ending on Friday. My life for Christ truly began when I first stepped foot into Divine Retreat Centre's English campus on 14 February 1998. At that time, I remember my whole world as I perceived it, literally turned upside down as I heard Fr. Augustine Vallooran V.C. preach and celebrated Holy Masses and Adoration services with such holy awe and reverence and the gifted lay preachers and music ministry teams during my very first retreat. Jesus who seemed "distant" from me became a REAL, PERSONAL, LIVING SAVIOUR to me! I can never thank God enough for this absolutely Grace-filled week of my life. It was the moment I knew Jesus was living in me  but how was I going to live for Jesus? On 18 June 2004, I was given the wonderful grace to serve full-time in the Divine-Potta ministry and so began my personal faith journey that is etched in my heart deeply...

Now that I have served nearly 11 1/2 years full-time in Divine Retreat Centre, what is truly amazing is to have personally witnessed and learnt of the thousands of retreatants' lives still being transformed and so many miraculous healings that have taken place in the retreat centre. All Glory and Praise to God! Divine Retreat Centre is fondly known to millions as "God's Own Abode" situated in Kerala, the southern most state in India which has its tourism tagline as "God's Own Country." How apt. I have personally seen Divine grow from a simple retreat centre to an international retreat centre with facilities to cater for the ever-increasing numbers of international retreatants from across the globe. Yet, the fondest memories for many of the earlier retreatants (including me) was the sheer simplicity of the accommodation in the earlier days (dormitories!) and the large dining hall that served everyone with simple Kerala meals. It was a time when all the trappings of the world we lived in were stripped away and it was just Jesus who made His Presence known - one-on-one with each of us. It is here in Divine so many hearts have truly had a personal God-experience and our lives tangibly changed to live with a 'Divine" purpose.

  Fr. George Panackal V.C.      Fr. Matthew Naickomparambil V.C.     Fr. Augustine Vallooran V.C.

                  

In this 25th Silver Jubilee Anniversary of Divine Retreat Centre, we pray with great thanksgiving to God for the three founding Directors of Divine Retreat Centre - Rev. Fr. Mathew Naickomparambil V.C. (Spearhead of the Divine-Potta Ministry), Rev. Fr. George Panackal V.C. (the first Director of Divine Retreat Centre Muringoor, and currently Director of Divine Retreat Centre, Ramsgate, Kent, UK) and Rev. Fr. Augustine Vallooran V.C. (who was the the Director of English & Other Language Retreats and currently the Director of Divine Retreat Centre). It is awe-inspiring to see how the Divine-Potta ministry has grown. The untiring efforts and total trust in God's Providence of Fr. Mathew, Fr. Panackal, and Fr. Augustine has borne great fruit for the Catholic Church not only in India but for the Universal Catholic Church. Having served here full-time, there is ONE Word of God I have learnt that truly encompasses the amazing growth of Divine Retreat Centre to be the largest Catholic Retreat Centre in the world.  It was the Word of God that Fr. Augustine Vallooran shared with me in my first six months in Divine when I was panicking because Divine had no money for the evangelization and charitable initiatives that the Vincentian Fathers of the Divine-Potta ministry so courageously carried out. The Word of God was:

I look to the mountains;

where does my help come from?

My help will come from the Lord,

who made heaven and earth.

(Psalm 121:1-2)

 

From a stressed-out, worried person from the corporate world where we could only make our business plans if we had the financial and skilled human resources and technical experise to achieve goals, here I was right smack in the middle of simple, too-trusting and seemingly naive Indian priests who seemed oblivious of how things should be planned, funded and achieved in the secular world. They were very calm, peaceful, filled with an infectious joy and most of all an incredible trust that God will provide all that the Divine-Potta ministry needs. It has been a huge blessing that in my personal ministry, I have had the opportunity to serve the mission under the guidance of Fr. Augustine. As I look back, I am sure Father would have found me as strange as I found him because it seemed in my early days like we had lived in two different "planes" in this world! Yet, the patience and deep understanding and support that I have received in my ministry has enabled me to take the needed "extra" step" of faith in the Name of Jesus...and to experience the great joy of seeing the fruit of our mission achievements.

The Vincentian Fathers of the Divine-Potta ministry are from the Mary Matha Province of the Vincentian Congregation of India (V.C.).

The two main aims of the Vincentian Congregation of India are:

• Preaching the Good News to the Poor
• Caring for the Poor and Afflicted

To EACH of you, dear Friends of the Divine network, it is with much gratitude that we thank God for your constant love, support and prayers. You are very much an integral part of our Divine-Potta ministry. We also thank God for all the loving and caring Divine benefactors from India and around the world. The Divine-Potta ministry has no savings and actually have debts. Yet, there are many charitable efforts and evangelization missions that our Lord has placed in the hearts of the V.C. Fathers of the Divine-Potta ministry. After much prayers and discernment, with great confidence in the Providence of God, the V.C. Fathers have courageously answered God's Call. Divine Retreat Centre is not just a praying centre but is a Home of Love to 3000 of the most marginalized and afflicted members of our society on a long-term basis living in the Homes run by Divine Charitable Trust.

Divine Homes of Love:

◦ St. Vincent's Home (for AIDS Patients)

◦ Divine Care Centre for the Mentally Ill

◦ Divine De-addiction Centre 

◦ Divine Mercy Home for Palliative Care of Cancer Patients

◦ Maria Shanthi Bhavan Home for the Aged & Destitute Women 

◦ St. Mary's Home for Abandoned Women & Children

◦ De Paul Home for Boys

◦ Divine Home for Junior Girls
◦ Divine Villa for Senior Girls

Divine also provides approximately 700 meals weekly to the poor in local hospitals in the surrounding areas and assist many others in great need as per our Lord wills.

In 2008, after overcoming incredibly great obstacles, Divine Television ministry became a reality - a holy achievement that defied incredible odds! Divine Television began its first 24-hour commercial-free Gospel channel in United Kingdom. Europe and the Middle East. The programmes are broadcast in the English and Malayalam languages. The following year, Divine Television began its 24-hour broadcast in USA and Canada. In 2010, DVNOnline TV  became available on the Internet to every person across the globe. And in 2011, Divine TV which is known as GOODNESS Channel began its much awaited 24-hour commercial-free Catholic Gospel Channel in India. This evangelization initiative is truly God's Gift from Divine to the world. Now the Word of God from the Divine-Potta ministry is available to every person in need of Godly Comfort and Hope in their daily lives. It is a truly blessed joy that Divine TV is the most watched Catholic channel in the world today!

It is only through the AMAZING GRACE OF GOD that there has not been a single day when any of Divine-Potta's mission had to be stopped because there was a lack of funds or inadequate human resources or skills. Somehow, during our most critical needs and continuous prayers storming Heaven, God's Providence is gloriously manifested! It is this Mighty Power and Grace of God that truly uplifts each of us serving in the mission for we witness with our own eyes and hearts how Jesus has been faithful to the Divine-Potta ministry. It is why each of you, as Friends of Divine, have been the daily "blessings" God has given to our ministry. Together, we serve our Lord - we cannot do it without your love, support and most of all your daily prayers. We are the Body of Christ. 

Please do pray specially for all the Vincentian Fathers of the Divine-Potta ministry, the lay ministry volunteers and for the evangelization and charitable works of Divine Retreat Centre as we begin with thanksgiving our 25th Silver Jubilee Anniversary celebrations!

In this New Year of 2016, Fr. Augustine Vallooran V.C., on behalf of all of us at Divine Retreat Centre, extends prayerfully to each of you and your loved ones  

A MOST BLESSED & GRACE-FILLED 2016 FILLED WITH GOD's  BLESSINGS, JOY & HOPE!

Youtube Video: SERVE OTHERS - BE THE DIFFERENCE!

“THE WORDS THAT I HAVE SPOKEN TO YOU, ARE SPIRIT AND LIFE” (John 6:63)

Rev. Fr. Augustine Vallooran V.C.

Jesus defines a disciple as one who listens to His voice and does His will. “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27) Such are the followers whose lives are rooted and grounded in God’s love. In this is unfailing wisdom says the Lord: “Everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.” (Matthew 7:24)  They are not swayed by the currents of the world and fickle opinions of the people. They are determined to listen to what God has to say and live out life by His dictates.

“Blessed Are Those Who Hear The Word Of God” (Luke 11:28)

A young man, very committed to do God’s will asked me whether it was possible for him to hear the voice of God. I recommended him to read the Bible on a daily basis. He replied saying he does that. He shared that when he reads the Bible, he often feels very touched by certain sentences that stand out in a bright light before his eyes. He would however continue reading the passage and the sentences soon lose their impact. I told him that it was not enough to read the Bible. The Bible indeed is the Word of God, which is “living and active” as the Letter to the Hebrews teaches us (Hebrews 4:12). A Living Word is not to be read but to be heard in the depths of the soul. Therefore when we read the Word of God, we must be attentive to God waiting to speak to our hearts. I explained to him that when he felt touched by a particular verse in the Bible, he must recognize that those were the hallowed moments God wanted to speak to Him personally. In such moments, he should dwell on the verse reading it repeatedly and learning it by heart. In silence one needs to wait upon God with the prayer of Samuel, “Speak Lord, for your servant is listening.” (1 Samuel 3:10)   It is in such moments that God’s Word becomes real to our soul.

The psalmist tells us “If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my misery.” (Psalm 119:92)  The psalmist is thanking God for sending His Word to him in the moment of distress. That Word became the delight of his heart - casting away the shadows of misery. There is indeed delight in the Word of God that can dispel all darkness of sorrow from our heart. Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” (John 15:11)  There is a fullness of joy contained in what the Lord has spoken to us. Again Jesus says, “The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.” (John 6:63)  It is vital for us to open our hearts for the content of God’s Word to flow into us. Prophet Ezekiel speaks of how God instructed him to consume the word which he did and he testifies, “I ate it, and it was sweet as honey in my mouth.” (Ezekial 3:3)  Prophet Jeremiah confirms this beauty of God’s Word, “Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart.” (Jeremiah 15:16)   We also have a warning “If today, you would hear His voice, harden not your hearts.” (Psalm 95:7-8)

“If Anyone Hears My Voice And Opens The Door, I Will Come In” (Revelations 3:20)

The Bible speaks about the necessity of the eager waiting to make the Word of God a real experience in our lives. The Word of God has a very personal message to be conveyed to us. For every circumstance of our life, there is a word God is waiting for us to receive. Often we are satisfied with the historical meaning of the events of the Bible. Definitely the Bible speaks about historic events that took place at some point of time. For example what God did to King David when he committed a sin or how Jesus went to the house of Zacchaeus declaring salvation. These historical events have a theological meaning to convey to us. These mentioned events, for instance, speak of God’s Mercy. God takes the initiative to save King David and Zacchaeus. The theological lesson is taught once and for all as Jesus said, “The Son of man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10)   God however gives a very personal meaning to us when we read the Bible. God is the Love who is concerned about every single detail of our life. As Jesus, “Even the hairs of your head are all counted.” (Matthew 10:30)  In a difficult moment of life when I struggle with a problem, God will not be speaking theories and principles but a personal message of love to console my grieving heart. When we accept that message as the response for the heart, the Word of God becomes a comforting experience for us.

A question often asked is this, “Why is it that we are not able to hear the voice of God if He is speaking to us?” We learn a good lesson from the experience of prophet Samuel. God called him by name. He heard the call but mistook the voice to be that of the priest Eli. The boy ran to Eli asking why he called him. Eli only sent him back to sleep saying he had not called him. However when this recurred a third time, Eli sensed it was in fact God calling Samuel. He directed the boy to respond to God by saying, “Speak Lord, your servant is listening.” This time Samuel went to lie down not to sleep but to wait to listen. God called him and he responded as Eli had instructed. He listened to God’s voice preparing him to be the prophet of the people of God. There is a key verse in the passage that explains why the boy was not able to identify the voice of God, “The Lord had not spoken to Samuel before, and Samuel did not recognize the voice.” (1 Samuel 3:7)    Since Samuel was not familiar with the voice of God, he took it for granted that it was a mere human voice. That is why he ran to Eli and enquired if it was the priest who called him.

This is perhaps a common limitation. Since we are not used to the Voice of God, we do not imagine that God would speak to us. Neither do we expect to hear the Voice of God. Even as you are reading this article, I would ask you to pause a moment and check if are you able to hear the voice of Pope Francis. If you are not able to hear him, it is not because the Pope is not speaking. The sound waves have not been conveyed to you. If you bring a radio and keep it by your side and tune in to the Vatican Radio channel, the voice of the Pope will be clearly audible to you. So also we are not able to listen to the Voice of God not because God is not speaking but we because we have not tuned our hearts to the wavelength of God’s Voice. The Lord assures us, “Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great things.” (Jeremiah 33:3)

“He Sustains All Things By His Powerful Word” (Hebrews 1:3)

A young man came here for the retreat very distressed about what was happening to him. He failed in his college exam though he worked hard. When this happened, the father sent him to work in a relative’s business. He wanted to pursue his studies. But the father did not believe him to be capable of it. The son however was determined to demand this from his father. He stopped going for the work. He told his father in a very strong tone that he would only agree to continue his studies. The father was angry. The relatives instigated the parents that the boy was arrogant and lazy. The father shouted at him saying, “You are not good for anything. You are a liability to the family.” When he approached his mother hoping to get some consolation, she was already influenced by the discussions in the family. She scolded him saying, “You have failed us. You do not want to even honour your father. You are a disgrace to us.”

The young man was very shocked and slipped into depressive thinking. The words of the parents kept echoing in his thoughts. He decided there was nothing for him to live for anymore. He slipped into the habit of pornography. He became more hateful of life and of himself. He would not get sleep at night. He would spend his days locked up in the room. He began taking anti-depressants.

He was brought for a youth retreat by a neighbour boy who knew that he was going through some problem. This young man came to me in the beginning of the retreat saying he could not attend the sessions because of his medication. When I enquired why it should affect his participation, he openly shared all that he had been through. He was particularly angry with his parents. Their contempt towards him seemed unbearable. He was hateful towards them and towards himself. He hated his habits and his dependence on medication. I realized that the words of his parents had broken his heart. I explained to him that God has brought him for the retreat to speak a special word to him. If the words of those around him had triggered his downfall, he could be sure that the Word of God will rebuild his life. I encouraged him to wait upon God for His Word.

On the third day of the retreat, the priest proclaimed from the pulpit a word from the prophecy of Zechariah, “Thus says the LORD, ‘He who touches you, touches the apple of His eye.’” (Zechariah 2:8)   The priest explained that God sees His people as the apple of His eye. Listening to this, the young man at first dismissed it, “When I am not good enough even for my parents, why would God ever call me as the apple of His eye. Everyone looks at me as a liability and a disgrace. This is not God speaking to me, definitely.” The more he tried to resist the Word, the more powerfully the Word entered his heart. At one moment he felt the power of this Word gripping his heart! With a chill running down his spine, he realized it was God speaking and it was God speaking to him! Like lightning, it struck him that whatever the parents had said was not truth. God knew him and they did not. He was precious for God. God would be with him to support him and to fight his battle. A heavenly comfort filled his heart. A courage to face his future was infused into him. He wanted to live! He wanted to forgive his parents and move ahead. That night he did not need his tablets to sleep. As he woke up the next day, he felt a new enthusiasm for life. As he went back after the retreat, he took the Bible and read and reread that particular passage that remoulded his life. One thing occurred to him that the parents who had despised him should know that they were hurting the apple of the eye of God. But it was sure to him that the parents should know the truth not from his reaction towards them but by his changed way of life where he would give them the honour he never did in the past. When he returned home, his parents could not but notice a brightness that surrounded their son. His loving approach disarmed them. They came for the retreat and came to discuss with me their confusions. I encouraged them to trust him and send him for studies. This young man came out with flying colours, grateful to God for revealing to him how precious his life was.

“ Your Ears Will Hear A Word Behind You, ‘This Is The Way, Walk In It’ ” (Isaiah 30:21)

Life is made up of the decisions we make. At crucial moments when we take decisions, we need to be confirmed by what God has to say to us. Again in the situations of conflict in the family and everything looks dismal, we cannot abandon ourselves to our troubles. We need to know God is an ever-present help waiting to guide us to a healing solution. In this world we will face temptations. We could feel distant from God. We read how Jesus faced his temptations by resorting to the Word of God. The Word of God is indeed a sword that we need to dispel temptations. We may reach a situation where everyone says things that defeat us and our own thinking crushes us. God however is unchanging in His Plan to lead us to victorious existence. If we wait to listen to His Voice, we will indeed experience that His words are spirit and they are life.

Let Us Pray:

Lord Jesus, You are the Word that became Flesh to dwell in our midst. You continue to dwell in our midst revealing the Mercy and Power of the Father through Your Word. We bow down before Your Great Love for us that You care for every detail of our lives and for every little concern that bothers us. We had been people who had ears but would not listen and our lives were like rudderless ships. We thought life had no meaning or hope. From here we choose to wait on You as Mother Mary did. Speak Your Word to us, O God, that Your Word may be a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.

Amen.

DIVINE VIDEO: “ALL SOULS DAY – THE IMPORTANCE IN OUR CATHOLIC TRADITION" by Rev. Fr. Michael Payyapilly V.C

The Catholic Church worldwide celebrates All Souls Day on 02 November.

Divine Television presents a very precious and comforting spiritual talk, “ALL SOULS DAY – THE IMPORTANCE IN OUR CATHOLIC TRADITION" by Rev. Fr. Michael Payyapilly V.C., Director of Divine Retreat Centre, Somersby, NSW, Australia. 

Fr. Michael shares. “It is a day of mixed emotions because of the experiences we have had because of death.”

“The one beautiful thing that we have is the prayers that we as a Christian community offer together on earth for those who have passed away. The Tradition of All Souls’ Day is praying for the dead who have not yet attained the union with God – they are goung through Purgatory.”

“Will they attain the Kingdom of God”? Will they attain union with God? Keeping in mind the lives they have led, in our hearts, we may be worried of that aspect. And it is this particular day that gives us hope! The Church is looking at us and saying “Don’t worry”. We the Christian community will pray together for the sake of this soul. The whole Catholic Church today offers prayers for those who have not attained their union with Go. The whole Church together is offering prayers to Heaven! How much more the Father will listen and answer the pleas? Isn’t that the most comforting thought that we who are worried here about our beloved can receive from the Church? We are not alone in that prayer – we are one Family of God.”

“We need not weep about our beloved who have passed away because they are not weeping. In Heaven, they feel the Joy with God. Let us have happiness in our hearts – for we have an Intercessor in heaven – someone who will be praying for our family while sitting beside God.”

“Ultimately, our beloved who have passed away are God’s children. He has taken back what He has given us as ‘gifts’. He has left beautiful memories in our minds – we cherish it.”

“Let us thank God for every person who has come to our life and returned  to God!”    

For details of Divine Retreat Centre Australia, please visit the website: www.divineretreatcentre.org.au

DIVINE TELEVISION (UK/Europe & Middle East) Is known as GOODNESS Channel in India & Asia-Pacific and DVN Network in USA/Canada. 

Divine Television ministry is part of the evangelization efforts of Divine Retreat Centre - the largest Catholic Retreat Centre in the world. 

It can be viewed worldwide ONLINE at www.dvnonline.org

“DECLARE HIS MARVELOUS DEEDS AMONG ALL PEOPLES” (Psalm 96:3)

Rev. Fr. Augustine Vallooran V.C.

We are placed on this earth that our lives may be a blessing to those around us. Through our lives and our words, we bless others. Words reveal what is held in the heart. “The good man out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil man out of his evil treasure produces evil; for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” (Luke 6:45)  If there is deep faith in our hearts, we will make a great and welcome difference in the lives of those who are suffering. When we cling to faith, we will be used by God to fulfill His mission of spreading the light of hope to this world.

“Utter What Is Precious, And Not What Is Worthless” (Jeremiah 15:19)

The Gospel of Luke gives a rather elaborate description of the events leading up to the birth of Jesus, for there is plenty of significance when it is reflected on in the light of God’s wisdom. One such important passage is the visitation of the archangel to Zechariah who was to be the father of the Baptist. Angel Gabriel announces to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer is heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.” (Luke 1: 13-14)  What the angel declares is in fact good news – a prayer that is granted and a baby to be born. However, Zechariah responds with apprehension saying, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” The angel then declares, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God; and I was sent to speak to you, and to bring you this good news. And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things come to pass, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.” (Luke 1:18-20)

Zechariah was a priest, chosen to serve God in the temple. He was childless for his wife was barren. The Jews of the time understood this to be a curse from God, to be married and not have children. His life as it appeared was woeful. Nevertheless, he persisted in praying to the Lord and it was in his old age that God’s benevolence was manifested. The angel of God conveyed to him the great news of the long awaited blessing of a child to be born. Zechariah who all along was praying about this great blessing was now askance at the declaration of the angel of God. He could not believe what he heard since his wife and he were rather advanced in age. Unable to trust the Word of God, He instead sought a proof from God for confirmation. He was a man of reasoning and in the face of reason, his faith in God faltered. Though he was a priest serving God all the time, his sense of reasoning failed to acknowledge the Power and Might of God. He could not comprehend how God could work the impossible. Because of his unbelief, the angel of God told him that he would become dumb and remain so until the birth of his son.  

One could conclude easily that Zechariah was being punished. On the contrary, if we look closer we would realize that God in His Goodness and Infinite Wisdom prevented Zechariah from talking for his own sake. Zechariah did not really believe God’s message. Every time he would speak about his experience of the heavenly visitation, he would express his misgivings about the angel and the Word of God. In the process, he would be going against God by discrediting His Word. Zechariah’s speech would affect the faith of those around him and he himself would grow depressed. Though what he received was the good news of a blessing, he would become the bearer of bad news. This would undermine the blessings God was bestowing on him and others through him. Therefore, it was clearly better for him to remain dumb until the fulfillment of the promise with the birth of his child.

“How Beautiful Are The Feet Of Him Who Brings Good Tidings” (Isaiah 52:7)

In life, many things can go wrong. We get sad when things do not happen the way we want it to. We are angry when others step on our toes. We are desperate when our plans do not materialize. We are frustrated and upset when we are unable to control and maneouvre things our way. When we do not see anything good ahead for us, we lose hope instantly. The Word of God instructs us how to face such struggles in life.

Sufferings and setbacks are indeed the moments when God is waiting to enter into our lives and become part of our struggles. Jesus says, “Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will enter his house and dine with him, and he with me.” (Revelations 3:20)  A moment of struggle can awaken us to the faithful love of God that waits to redeem us. However, we need to open the door of our heart to let Him in. “Dining with the Lord” is a symbol of celebration in the Bible. The Lord is waiting to enter into the difficult moments of our lives to turn them all into a celebration. What is required here is a faith with which we open the door for Him who waits for us to let Him in. This is indeed genuine faith: to let go of our life into the hands of God for Him to take charge. When we are challenged we can stubbornly cling on to the problems of our life imagining that we are the masters of our destiny. It is in such moments that we make too many mistakes. On the other, we have the great opportunity to leave our life in the Hands of God. As servants and handmaids of God, we wait upon Him to listen to His Voice and to do His Will. This is when we are united with His Will and God’s magnificent Grace flows into all situations turning everything to our good. As St. Paul assures us, “We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)  We need to experience and understand how God is leading me by the hand changing my sadness to joy. “Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)  This is when we become the bearers of good news at all times as we have been assured that God is working in our lives. When we realize and acknowledge this in our lives then we will bring healing and hope to other weary and wounded souls with the message of our words.

A story is told of the time when the St. Peter’s Basilica was being constructed at the Vatican. Many people were working around the place, mixing sand, breaking stones and doing all the preliminary work usual to construction. A Cardinal was taking his evening stroll. He went to a woman worker and asked her how the work was progressing. She was in a grumpy mood and grumbled to the Cardinal, “I’m breaking stones all the day long. It is a very hard job. The sun is blazing. Work seems endless. I’m tired and fed up of doing this.” The Cardinal after listening to her proceeded to the other side of the construction site. He saw another woman breaking stones and enquired of her how the work was. Excitedly she said, “Your Eminence I am building the cathedral. I thank God for this great work that is happening and that I am a part of it.” With great joy on her face she was sharing her vision of how gloriously the cathedral would stand and how many nations would come and stand in awe at the masterpiece that was being moulded. Both the women were doing the same job. However, the first woman was getting broken while breaking the stones. The hardness of the job quenched her spirit. Therefore, she was tired of the job and had nothing good to say. Whenever she spoke, those who listening to her would become demoralized. The other woman was doing the same hard job but she was excited about it because she had opened her eyes to take count of God’s Presence and the vision of the Church to inspire her. This option strengthened her for the task. Her words effectively conveyed the good news of God’s Presence even in the midst of an unfavourable situation.

“He Comes With Good Tidings” (2 Samuel 18:27)

It is good to introspect on this important aspect of our faith. Do we really believe in God, particularly when things go wrong? The gospels describe a faith crisis that the disciples of Jesus faced when everything went against their calculations. Two disciples of Jesus, Cleophas and his companion were on their way to Emmaus. They were greatly discouraged and in fact had slipped into despair. Their entire conversation was about the tragic events surrounding the Arrest, Condemnation, and Crucifixion of Jesus. All their hopes were ended with the death of Jesus All that Jesus had spoken to them seemed meaningless now. They could not see God anywhere in what had passed. They had abandoned the community in Jerusalem and were heading back to their former life and their hometown.

In that moment of utter hopelessness, the Risen Lord joined them in their walk. Listening to their woes, He spoke to them words of comfort and hope. He explained to them the Promise of Scriptures that through the Crucifixion of Jesus, God was working the ultimate salvation for all humankind. “Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into His glory?” (Luke 24:25-26)  At that instant, they experienced hope stirring in their hearts. Their faith was renewed and they began to believe in the goodness of God and His infinite love for humankind. Later they would recount, “Did not our hearts burn within us while He talked to us on the road, while He opened to us the scriptures?" (Luke 24: 32)  When faith and hope entered their hearts, it dispelled the darkness from their mind and heart.  

In our families, elders can speak hope into every situation, however adverse, only when there is faith in the Goodness of God. When something upsetting or stressful happens, one can react to the situation with anger, frustration, sadness, or a similar negative emotion. But the one who believes in God will continue to cling to hope in God, confident that He will see them through it and no matter what happens He will work out everything for their best. A person who has deep genuine faith and firm trust in God will always speak words of hope. Whoever we are, whatever may be our profession, if we identify ourselves as disciples of Jesus, we are vested with the responsibility to always speak the Good News. We are meant to be prophets who declare the hope in a God who is good and who turns everything for the good.

“The Almighty Has Done Great Things For Me” (Luke 1:49)

Mother Mary is exemplary in her marvelous response to the call of faith. The angel of God greeted Mary and told her that she would bear the Son of God. She was perplexed wondering how it could all come about. When the angel explained her that it would be through the Power of God, she humbly submitted to God’s Will in her life without any hesitation, “Let it be to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38)  This was possible because she implicitly believed and trusted in the Goodness of God. Following this, when she went to the house of Zechariah to minister to her cousin, Elizabeth who was also pregnant, Mary’s very greeting filled the baby in Elizabeth’s womb with joy. This is the effect of the words of one who believes in the Mercy and Goodness of God, the very Power of God flows through them when they speak. Elizabeth recognized the Power of God at work in Mary and exclaimed, “Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.” (Luke 1:45)

When one is reconciled to every circumstance and situation in life, one can see God’s hand at work, transforming everything for the higher purpose of salvation for all. The degree to which one accepts and submits to the Will of God is proportionate to the joy one experiences in His Comforting and Reassuring Presence. That is why Mother Mary could sing with joy, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour.” (Luke 1:46-48)

“The Good News Of Faith” (I Thessalonians 3:6)

When faith is strong, no matter what adversities arise, one will continue to be hopeful in God - confident in a positive outcome. For this is what God is always pointing us to, “For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)  When a person of faith gives expression to his thoughts and feelings, it will always be with belief and hope in God’s Goodness, Love, and Mercy. For what we believe in is what we will speak. The words of such men and women will always be a blessing to others, leading others to turn to God in times of need. This is the faith we are called to possess, a faith that generates faith. The psalmist expresses this, “I believed therefore have I spoken.” (Psalm 116:10) St. Paul echoes this, “Since we have the same spirit of faith as he had who wrote, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we too believe, and so we speak.” (2 Corinthians 4:13)

What does living out of such faith mean? Even when friends and loved ones abandon us, the deep conviction that God loves us and is with us, should remain embedded in our heart. “The hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, every man to his home, and will leave me alone; yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me.” (John 16:32)  Even when all the problems around crush us and everything seems to be going wrong in life, our confidence in God will remain unshaken because we know that “If God is for us who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31)  In the adverse and painful circumstances of life, God can never leave us alone. We will continue to trust in His Love. In such faith, we shall never be disappointed for we shall be firmly set on the path that leads to victory.

Let Us Pray:

 Lord God, we praise You for Your Unfailing Love that will hold us up even when all else should pass away. As we meditate on Your Goodness, we pray that our faith may be strengthened, our lives be blessed and our words bring blessing to this world. In the moments of trial and temptation, may your Spirit remind us to hold on to the sure hope we have in You.

Amen.

DIVINE TV MUSIC VIDEO REFLECTION - "HOLY SAINTS QUOTES ON MOTHER MARY"

Holy Saints Quotes on Mother Mary is a special music video reflection by Divine Television. The hymn, "Who Is This One?" is sung by Glen and Teresa La Rive.

Mother Mary is not just the Mother of Jesus -- She was also given to each of us as our Mother  - "She is your mother." (John 19:27) Mother Mary always leads us to Her Son, Jesus and Her role in each of our lives is beautifully explained by the quotes of the Holy Saints.

The Catholic Church celebrates the Feast Day of The Assumption of Our Lady Into Heaven today (15 August). Let us pray for for the powerful intercession of our Blessed Mother for the true conversion of hearts of every person on earth to live a life pleasing to God.

DIVINE TELEVISION  (UK/Europe & Middle East) Is known as GOODNESS TV Channel in India & Asia-Pacific and DVN Network in USA/Canada.

It can also be viewed worldwide on DVNONLINE at www.dvnonline.org

HEALING ADORATION VIDEO: "I LAY IT DOWN AT THE FEET OF JESUS" by Fr. Augustine Vallooran V.C.

In this Grace-filled Healing Adoration, “I LAY IT DOWN AT THE FEET OF JESUS" by Rev. Fr. Augustine Vallooran V.C., Director of Divine Retreat Centre, we experience the Comforting and Compassionate Love of Jesus - our Divine Healer!

Fr. Augustine prayerfully leads everyone into the Presence of Jesus. “Jesus knows your name; Jesus knows your pain; Jesus knows every single detail of your life. As He said, in Matthew 10:30 – ‘Even a hair that has fallen from your head, I have counted it all.’ Jesus knows! Let us offer to Him and let us place in the Hands of the Lord every pain of our body and believe this – that the LORD has come today to heal us; to take away every form of distress from our lives.”

“My dear Sisters and Brothers, we are a crowd here but there is one thing very important to understand. We are not a crowd for Jesus.. We are individuals – individual persons called together and gathered in His Name and waiting for His Power to flow in us.”

“There is one thing we need to believe – the Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Wherever He went, the sick and the broken-hearted crowded around Him - waiting to touch Him, waiting to hear a Word from Him, waiting to feel His Power. The LORD is waiting to say that Word of Power to every one of us here. The LORD is waiting to send His Power into every one of our bodies. You must feel the Power in every part of your body that feels sick. God will never fail us.”

“This is the moment every blessing is for the asking. God has come so close to us!”

"HEALING ADORATION" is a weekly 60-minute TV programme conducted by the Director or Asst. Director of Divine Retreat Centre and produced by Divine Vision - the media wing of Divine Television Ministry.

For the past 7 years Divine Television has been telecasting 24 hours of commercial-free Catholic Gospel programmes in UK, Europe, the Middle East, USA, Canada and in India through Goodness TV. It is available on the Internet as DVNOnline TV in EVERY country around the world.

Divine's HEALING ADORATION can be viewed online weekly on www.dvnonline.org

Divine Retreat Centre is the largest Catholic retreat centre in the world. Retreats are held every week of the year in English and 6 Indian languages.

“BY HIS WOUNDS YOU HAVE BEEN HEALED” (1 Peter 2:24)

Rev. Fr. Augustine Vallooran V.C.

During a retreat, Jerome, a bright young man came to me and said excitedly that God had healed him of his headache. It did not sound to me as a remarkable healing worth mention. After all an aspirin tablet could have given him the same relief, I thought to myself. He perhaps noted the indifferent expression on my face and began to impress on me what that healing meant to him. He was suffering from this headache for a long time. Whenever he got that migraine pain, he used to depend on medication for temporary relief but the headache would recur rather frequently.

“I Am The Lord, Your Healer” (Exodus 15:26)

During the retreat, he had an acute pain. He waited for the Eucharistic Adoration. During the prayer service, he offered that pain to the Lord. He received a clear vision of the Crucified Lord in the Holy Eucharist. He could see the thorns on the Crown of Jesus pressing His head sharply and he realized that the pain must have been excruciating. It occurred to him that Jesus was bearing that pain for his salvation because Jesus loved him. Hence, there was no complaint in the Heart of Jesus as He was taking that bitter chalice from the Hands of His Father and offering it to Him for the salvation of this young man. At this point Jerome offered his own pain to the Heavenly Father with the pain of the wounds from the thorns piercing the Head of Jesus. He felt a soothing sensation spreading over his forehead reaching down through his body as a gentle wave. He sat there looking at the Holy Eucharist lost completely in the current of the Love of God. Eventually when he came to himself, he felt very fresh and light, without any headache. Great joy filled his heart!

He continued to explain to me that he could have got rid of his headache with the help of a tablet as he always did before but he said he would have forgotten all about it the next morning. This relief of pain on the other hand has become an unforgettable experience, because more than a mere absence of pain, it has come across to him as a Healing Touch of God. The Love of God sent vibrations into every part of his body and filled his heart with a great delight! He said that his headache was a very small thing but he realized how great was God’s concern for him that He took care of his little pain. What Jesus said became very true for him, “Even the hairs of your head are all numbered.” (Matthew 10:30)   Enthusiastically he affirmed that earlier when he had read such passages, he used to imagine that these were mere figures of speech not to be taken seriously. How could God care for such trifles of every human individual? He continued "But now I am convinced that the word of God is true in the fullest sense. God knows and cares for every single detail of my life. Nothing escapes His Loving Providence. The Word of God for me is more alive and credible now." This healing was an eye-opener to him, leading him to experience God's Presence as very tangible and close. He knew God was by his side directing the daily events of his life for his good. This healing changed his vision and way of life completely. He concluded saying that he has decided to do what Jesus had directed the man of Gerasene freed from his demonic possessions, "Go home to your friends and tell them how much mercy the Lord has had on you." (Mark 5:19)

“Your Faith Has Made You Well” (Luke 17:19)

The testimony of the healing of this young man reveals the saving significance of healing. Healing is not a mere relief of bodily pain or a restoration of physical health. It is a deep experience of the Love of God. In other words healing is a tangible way in which the abundance of God's Love is poured into a person, transforming his life completely. A restoration of physical health is not the end but merely the beginning of the healing process. By His Healing Touch, what God targets is not the bodily well-being alone but the very salvation of the whole person. God begins to act on a physical malady as an entry point. Through the bodily healing, a person comes face to face with God and opens the doors of life to Him. That is when God is able to come in to transform our human life to a celebration. Jesus said, "Behold I stand at the door and knock, if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him and he with me." (Revelations 3:20)  Bodily healing is a divine knock at the door of the heart. In the Bible, the banquet with God is the glorious sign of the experience of salvation. It is to salvation that all healings open the door. The Love of the Lord is tangibly experienced in every miraculous healing and Jesus is accepted as the Lord and Saviour of life.

The healing experience of this young man is a clear illustration of the glorious Plan of the Lord behind the miraculous healings of the gospels. As we study the gospel narrations of the miracles, we understand that Jesus worked miracles not as spectacular stunts to impress the crowds or as frivolous exhibitions of arbitrary power or as dazzling displays of Divine vengeance to punish his enemies. In fact, the refusal to work wonders that would please the fancy or constrain the admiration of the crowds. His turning down Satan's proposition to Him to jump from the parapet of the Temple and win the crowds was a clear indication of his stand (cf. Matthew 4:1-11). He was challenged by some of those standing beneath the Cross to come down from the Cross and save Himself and so prove His miraculous powers (cf. Matthew 27:39-44). He did not give in to the popular demands, not in His lifetime or in His death. Nor did He use His miraculous power to meet His own personal needs as he was tempted to change stones to bread (cf. Matthew 4:3,4).

“Be Of Good Cheer, I Have Overcome The World” (John 16:33)

The healings of Jesus were no pompous manifestation of Divine Power, but convincing proof by evidence of God’s Compassionate Love to the suffering humanity. The healings proved that God has intervened definitively into the human history to be the answer to the cries of humankind. The disciples of John the Baptist came to Jesus - querying whether He was the promised Saviour of humankind. He referred them to the miraculous healings that they had seen and heard of, “Go and tell John what you hear and see; the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear and the poor have the good news preached to them.” (Matthew 11:4-5) The miraculous healings of Jesus were clear signs of God’s kingdom breaking in.

Jesus started His public ministry by proclaiming, “Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand.” (Mark 1:15)  This was an invitation to prepare for the reign of God in the hearts of the listeners. He was about to usher in God’s rule into the history of humankind. He was taking authority over all the powers of sin and pressures of evil. While casting out demons, He was blamed by the Pharisees that His power of exorcism was from Beelzebub, the prince of demons. He defended His miraculous exorcisms as powerful signs of God’s Saving Presence. God was taking authority over everything destructive in humankind. “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand; and if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand? And if I cast out demons by Be-el′zebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore, they shall be your judges. But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.” (Matthew 12: 25-28). This was a solemn declaration that with the exorcism and healings, the Kingdom of God has already come into human history. In the person of Jesus, the long awaited time of salvation has arrived.

The rule of satan is overthrown. Satan was a “strong man” ruling over the world. This reign has come to an end. He is bound and kept in custody. Jesus has entered his territory and vanquished him once and for all. Jesus explained this saving strategy, “No one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man.” (Matthew 12:29)

He Will Come And Save You” (Isaiah 35:4)

The delight of Paradise was the joy of right order. Material nature and animal world were controlled by man, as it was man who gave a name to everything. The husband and the wife were united in the intimacy of love as Adam accepted his wife saying, “You are bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh.” The universe was filled with the Glory of God! It was man’s sin that turned everything upside down. The material world rebelled against man and he had to shed sweat to earn his daily bread. Man turned against woman, blaming her as the cause of her downfall. Pain entered into human race in the form of illness and disease. These ailments became the doorway to death. Satan took on the destiny of mankind and of the universe.

Jesus came as the Saviour to overthrow this rule of satan. He ushered in God’s Kingdom by rebuking the destructive natural phenomena of the wind and the waves. All the nature miracles were intended to bring the universe within the aegis of God and His care. Without any sweat of the brow, large crowds has its sumptuous feed. Empty wine jars were filled miraculously at Cana. The sick and the disabled were restored to health. Sins were forgiven and demonic possessions were broken. The dead were raised to life. The ill effects of sin were effaced by the miraculous works of Jesus.

As men fell for the falsity of satan and yield to evil in an act of surrender and gave up God, the power of satan's rule came upon to the giddy limit that satan can could make his vainglorious boast to Jesus about his control, “The devil took him to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them;  and he said to him, ‘All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me’. ”(Matthew 4:8-9)  The miraculous workings of Jesus are the effective devastation and despoilment of the stronghold of the devil who is now bound and rendered powerless by the Lord. Sin, sickness, natural catastrophe and death were the manifest showing of satan's deleterious rule. With the coming of Jesus, satan's rule is annihilated everywhere. Humankind is no more prey to satan's tyranny thanks to Jesus' mercy.

The miracles of Jesus were the saving activities of the great Liberator as He proclaimed in His first sermon in the synagogue of Nazareth, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” (Luke 4:18-19)

Jesus' healings were the compelling evidence to those who were disposed to the perception of God definitely at work in Jesus saving His people. Witnessing the miracles of Jesus it is recorded the people “glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!” (Lk 7:16)  After having gone about healing every sickness, forgiving all forms of sin, saving broken families, Jesus was preparing for the culmination of His work of salvation in His death and resurrection. He defeated the power of satan’s rule finally on the Cross and dispelled all the darkness of sin and despair in the splendour of the glory of the Resurrection. The mission of Jesus for our salvation will have its crowning glory in the Second Coming which is the point of culmination when “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelations 21:4)

 “I Saw Satan Fall Like Lightning” (Luke 10:18)

The miracles give us great confidence in the Saving Power of Jesus today. We are not anymore helpless victims of the power of evil. We have a God to intervene and exercise authority over our infirmities. Being rooted in the unchanging and all-surpassing love of Christ, we will not be shaken at the storms that must pass through our lives while we walk this earth.

         

The healing activity of Jesus should continue in the Church so that the Mercy of God should be experienced by everyone at all times. No one shall live in fear of Satan’s tyranny. All should know that Jesus is in authority. “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” (Matthew 28:18)  It is this Heavenly Power that is handed over to His followers. “He called to Him His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every infirmity… Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying, give without pay.” (Matthew 10:1,8)   The disciples obeyed the Master. “They went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that attended it.” (Mark 16:20)

The followers of Jesus who experienced deeply the Saving Mercy of God should become powerful channels for the healing to flow from the Lord to reach those in need. St. Paul explains this ministry: “the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

Let Us Pray

Heavenly Father we praise You for Your Great Compassion for us Your children. You moulded us in love. You see all that is within us. In every need, You have provided for us; comforting and strengthening us to live for You. Even when we failed You and slipped into the deception of death, You sent Your Son to save us. Now by His wounds we are healed. We remember Your Merciful Touch and we seek to be channels of Your healing. We offer every breath of our life to live and proclaim Your Glory.

Amen.