Have
you pondered what kind of faith you have? Is it deeply rooted in the Word of
God or is our faith planted in loose soil of worldly expectations? Can I stand in
the Presence of God and declare that I have picked up my cross and followed
Jesus in my life?
The
final video of the 6-part DIVINE LENTEN
2017 WEEKLY VIDEO REFLECTION SERIES at the top of this post is "EVERY SUFFERING IS A CALL FROM GOD" – by Rev. Fr. Augustine Vallooran
V.C., Director - Divine Retreat Centre, Muringoor, Kerala, India.
In
this heart-provoking homily, Fr. Augustine explains with insightful wisdom how
our faith is moulded by the sufferings we face in our lives and the importance for
us to have a Christian character.
"Often
our faith is very shallow. When I ask for something, I want it immediately. I
want it right then. If God does not give it to me, I will go to another god….My
life is centred o me, my agenda, my plan and my timetable. Faith is the
opposite. Faith is centring my life on God. I do not understand God’s Plan but
yet I wait for God’s Plan to be revealed God could be disciplining our faith to
make us become perfect. In Romans 5:5,
St Paul tells us, ‘When there are
problems, do not become disheartened because afflictions bring us endurance,
endurance brings us character and character brings us hope A hope that will
never fail us.’”
“What
is Christian character? Christian character is the way we continue trusting in
God.”
“Every
moment of pain and every moment of struggle is when we share in the Cross of
Jesus Christ (1 Peter 3:15) It means
God is so close to me He said, ‘Take up
your cross and come after me.’ (Matthew 16:24) I take the cross and go after Jesus step by
step. ‘Come after me’, Jesus said. What does that mean? It means Jesus is in
front of you He walks in front to Calvary – from there to the Glory of the Resurrection.”
“For those of us baptized in Jesus Christ,
there is nothing called Ancestral Curse. Romans 8:1 – ‘If you are in Christ Jesus, you are not under a curse.’”
“The
Bible teaches us that every drop of tear, every but of pain offered with the
Cross of Jesus will bring salvation to someone we love who is close o us –
someone we are praying for That is what is called Intercessory Prayer.”
“Therefore, a moment of suffering is not a
moment of curse. It is a moment of a Call. God is calling you to be united with Jesus….Mothers and Fathers,
Husbands and Wives, Brothers and Sisters, if you choose to love, that means you
choose to save. If you choose to save, that means you choose to suffer.”
“A
moment of pain is a moment the Lord is calling us to the Cross as a co-saviour –
‘Come! Take up your cross and follow me.’”
On
Maundy Thursday, the Healing Adoration Service, “COME TO ME ALL YOU WHO ARE BURDENED AND I
WILL GIVE YOU REST (Matthew 11:28)” conducted
by Rev. Fr. Augustine Vallooran V.C. will be posted as we surrender our
lives to Jesus this Holy Week.
We
give thanks to God for the proclamation of His Word through the Divine Lenten
2017 Weekly Video Reflection series. Please share this post with your loved
ones, prayer groups and friends to make this sacred season of Lent a truly
transforming experience in our Christian life.
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