“FOR FREEDOM CHRIST SET US FREE” (Galatians 5:1)

Rev. Fr. Augustine Vallooran V.C.

The one message that Christianity has always proclaimed is the unconditional and infinite Love of God for humankind. More than every other love the world has known what the Bible projects is the tender personal care that God has for every one of His sons and daughters. He turns everything to our good so that there is no room for any fear or anxiety in our hearts. However we do face problems and impossible situations at every juncture of our life. Often we get depressed and at other times irritated with God's apparent silence at the sight of human misery. There are people who even end up giving up on God - questioning the very meaning of life. "Why me?" is a painful cry from the heart of many who are not able to cope up with the challenges of life. In the midst of our trials and struggles the Lord as Emmanuel (God with us) stands inviting us, "Come to me you who are tired and burdened, I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)  Genuine religion will lead us to the open arms of the Lord waiting to comfort us. However if we miss the Face of the Lord, we can easily be deceived by wrong answers that misinterpretations of the Bible and tradition of the Church lead to. 

“The Lord Has Forsaken Me” (Isaiah 49:14)

An elderly woman came to me to pour out her woes. Life seemed impossible. All she could see were problems. Everyone in the family was suffering. Her husband who had stopped drinking some years ago had taken to the bottle again. Her son was well qualified but was not getting a job appointment. Her daughter was not getting a proper alliance for marriage. This lady herself had a problem of insomnia - the inability to sleep at night.

She had attended a retreat a couple of months earlier and the counselor in that place identified her situation as the consequence of an ancestral curse. This so-called messenger of God declared that a curse had fallen upon the family which was why everything was going haywire. He prescribed a set of daily pious exercises including a certain number of rosaries and novenas to deliver them from this curse. The lady had to do much reparation for the family to be delivered from the ancestor’s curse. When she received this direction, she was at first relieved but when they returned from the retreat she felt more desperate. She had been told that if she failed to fulfill her daily prayer obligations she had to do the double of it the next day. That was the only way she was told that the curse coming down from the ancestors could be averted. She tried honestly to fulfill these obligations but because of the family responsibilities, she would invariably fail. On the one hand she could feel the curse of the ancestors pressing upon the entire family and on the other hand the failure to fulfill the pious obligations crushed her. In such despair she approached me.

I explained to this lady that as a baptized Christian, all the ancestral curses are washed away in the waters of the Sacrament of Baptism. I quoted to her the Catechism of the Catholic Church. I further explained to her that the Sacrament of Baptism is God's own hands reached out to us to save us through the ministry of the Church. If this ministry cannot save us from ancestral curses, any amount of pious exercises will not be able to effect that salvation.

“I Will Never Forget You” (Isaiah 49:15)

I took time with her to make her understand that the problem of each member of the family is to be understood in isolation and to be solved. Her husband would have to open his heart to the Lord once again to experience the Power of the Holy Spirit to defeat the evil power of alcoholism. Her son had to prepare himself more intelligently to face the interviews and with the help of God, he would get an opening. Her daughter was not able to find her future spouse because the right person God had destined for her was yet to come her way and would do so at the appointed time. The whole family has to learn to wait upon God as Jesus instructed the Apostles. The Apostles asked the Risen Lord whether that was the time when He would usher in God's Kingdom. The Lord responded saying that they had to wait until "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you." (Acts 1:8)  I prayed for her and helped her to prepare for the Promise of the Holy Spirit and His consolation. She indeed received the great peace of the Holy Spirit. She was able to sleep well. She also got the courage to intercede for her husband and children with Mother Mary on her side. Prayer was no longer a burden but a support and confidence.

Earlier she became distressed because of the wrong ideas and reasons placed in her mind by the counselor. It looks unfortunate that certain preachers and counselors are taking recourse to the easy answer of ancestral curse to solve the burning problems of life. Instead of turning to God for a solution, they are directed away from God to the desperate myth of curse of the ancestors. Instead of giving people the confidence of God’s Saving Love and the Hope of heavenly intervention, they are led to the helpless situation of blaming their ancestors for their misery.

“For A Brief Moment I Abandoned You” (Isaiah 54:7)

The Old Testament indeed speaks about ancestral curses coming upon man. "For I the Lord your God am a jealous God, inflicting punishment for their fathers' wickedness on the children of those who hate me down to the third and fourth generation; but bestowing mercy down to the thousandth generation on the children of those who love me and keep my commandments." (Exodus 20:5-6)  We find a few other places in the Old Testament where there is a similar mention of generational curses (Exodus 34:7; Numbers 14:18; Deuteronomy 5:9). It is noteworthy that in all these passages, the generational curses are called down only for the specific sin of idolatry. A Jewish interpretation of this passage specifically uses the term ungodly fathers and rebellious children. This refers to the realistic situation where a father has a sinful way of living and the children imbibe his sinful attitudes. In other words,the children make a choice to repeat the sins of their fathers. This is a warning to the parents not to live in sin setting a wrong example for their children. Moreover, in the next verse God promises "I will bestow mercy down to the thousandth generation on the children of those who love me and keep my commandments.” Therefore the teaching to the children is to turn to God in repentance and not repeat the sins of their ancestors.

In the prophecies of Ezekiel and Jeremiah there is a clear assertion that the children will not have to pay for the sins of their parents. "You ask why is not the son charged with the guilt of his father?" Because the son has done what is right and just, and has been careful to observe all my statutes, he shall surely live. Only the one who sins shall die. The son shall not be charged with the guilt of his father, nor shall the father be charged with the guilt of his son. The virtuous man's virtue shall be his own, as the wicked man's wickedness will be his own." (Ezekial 18:19-20)  This is the clear denial of any generational curse coming upon a human.

No one is permitted to blame his ancestors for his own misery. One has to take responsibility for one's own life. The prophet in fact begins the entire case with a more powerful question, "Thus the word of the Lord came to me: Son of man what is the meaning of this proverb that you recite in the land of Israel: ‘The fathers have eaten green grapes, thus their children’s teeth are set on edge’? I swear that there shall no longer be anyone among you who will repeat this proverb in Israel. For all lives are mine; the life of the father is like the life of the son, both are mine; only the one who sins shall die." (Ezekial 18:4)

“My Love Shall Never Leave You” (Isaiah 54:10)

Prophet Jeremiah speaking of the same proverb says that it is not to be even uttered again in the house of Israel. "In those days they shall no longer say, ‘the fathers ate unripe grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge’, but through his own fault only shall anyone die; the teeth of him who eats the unripe grapes shall be set on edge." (Jeremiah 31:29-30)   It is pertinent that the prophet speaks about this new liberation in the context of the new covenant that God was to establish, "The days are coming, says The Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah." (Jeremiah 31:31)  In this new covenant, God promises total forgiveness of our sinfulness, "For I will forgive their evildoing and remember their sin no more" (v. 34). This was indeed a prophecy of what the Saviour would do for humankind. At the Last Supper, Jesus took the chalice of wine and said, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you." (Luke 22:20)  It is in the Paschal Mystery of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ that we find total liberation from all our sins and the curses coming down from ancestors as well as our own personal inequities.

In Jesus Christ, all the promises of the Old Testament are fulfilled. The Old Testament looks forward to the person and teachings of Jesus for its completion. Hence Jesus corrects and completes the Old Testament teachings. Jesus said, "Do not think I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill." (Matthew 5:17)

Hence the usual formula that precedes the teachings of Jesus, "You have heard that it was said to your ancestors... But I say to you." (Matthew 5:21-22)  The Old Testament teachings on anger, hatred, adultery, divorce, oaths, retaliation etc. are given a new interpretation by Jesus (Matthew 5:21-48). To this list St. John adds the teaching of the ancestral curse. While relating the healing of the man born blind, St. John describes the disciples asking Jesus whether the blindness was because of his sins or the sins of his parents. Jesus rejecting this popular notion among the Jews answered, "Neither he nor his parents sinned; it is so that the works of God might be made visible through him." (John 9:3)  Here is a clear teaching of Jesus rejecting all talk of generational curses promising that God is ready to intervene in every form of human misery. Jesus went about healing every sickness, forgiving all forms of sin, saving broken families and thus preparing for the culmination of the work of salvation in His Death and Resurrection. Jesus took the powers of sin and death upon Himself and paid the price of it all in His Blood. This act of salvation was the ultimate manifestation of Divine Love. "No one takes it (my life) from me but I lay it down on my own." (John 10:18)

“If You Repent, I Will Restore You” (Jeremiah 15:19)

The salvific effects of the Paschal Mystery of Jesus flow down to us when we are baptized in Jesus Christ. In His first sermon, after having received the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, St. Peter proclaimed, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38)  This was the joyous proclamation of the early Church. St. Paul writing to the Romans explains the effects of the Sacrament of Baptism. In this Sacrament of Initiation, we are united with the Lord Jesus. The original Greek word used is “symphitos”. By this St. Paul means that as the foetus is united with the mother, so is the baptized person united with Jesus Christ to the effect that all the former’s sins and curses flow into Jesus and grace flows back into him. It is in this context that St. Paul affirms how Christ exempts us from the curse by taking it on Himself. "Christ ransomed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse of us." (Galatians 3:13)  St. Paul categorically asserts, "Hence now there is no curse for those who are in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:1)  The word used is 'en christo' which really means incorporated into Christ Jesus. This explains what happens at the moment of Baptism. As a branch is cut off from the main stem and grafted to a new stem, so are we disentangled from our human ancestral line and connected to the new stem that Christ Jesus is. This is the regeneration that happens at the moment of Baptism. Jesus Himself explained this when He said, "I am the vine and you are the branches," (John 15:5) inviting us to abide in Him and promising us that He will keep us united with Him. It is in this new life received in baptism that we have the promise that "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old is gone and the new is come." (2 Corinthians 5:17)

The Church explains further this teaching of the Holy Bible in its sacramental theology. The Catechism of the Catholic Church officially teaches us, "By baptism all sins are forgiven, original sins and personal sins, as well as all punishment for sin. In those who have been reborn nothing remains that would impede their entry into the kingdom of God, neither Adam's sin nor personal sin, nor the consequences of sin, the gravest of which is separation from God" (CCC 1263). The teaching makes it clear that what happens at baptism is altogether a new beginning in Christ Jesus making the baptised a "new creature" (1265), without any roots that reach back to any evil in his biological ancestry. Eventually if he commits any personal sin, the grace of the Sacrament of Confession washes it away. When we understand correctly the biblical teaching as elaborated by the Catholic Theology, we will come to the Truth of what Jesus said, "If the Son sets you free you are free indeed." (John 8:36)   It is this freedom that makes life with Christ a celebration.

“I Will Be Their God, And They Shall Be My People” (Jeremiah 31:33)

The remedy to the sins and curses, whether personal or ancestral, is the baptismal regeneration - the grace of the Sacrament of Confession and a life of grace united with Jesus Christ. Those who look to special exorcisms and generational healing rites run the risk of getting entangled with the New Age influences. The New Age theories show ways of escaping personal responsibilities for our own choices and decisions. They urge people to look elsewhere than in themselves for the source of their problems. The Church has always insisted that we are responsible for our choices and actions before God. Through an honest soul searching when we find out that we have gone astray from the Lord Jesus, we come back to Him in repentance which culminates in the Sacramental Confession and conversion. This is the way of ushering in the Kingdom of God in our personal lives and in our community relationships. The first sermon of Jesus was - "Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matthew 4:17)  

Retreats and counseling should help everyone to understand oneself and to turn to God in repentance. In the Sacrament of Confession, a renewal of the grace of Sacrament of baptism is effected. All that God seeks is our freedom to live life in all its fullness. For the days of trial, He is there giving grace. To even mention that suffering is the working of a curse is to negate the truth of Christianity which is founded on a God who is love and on Christ crucified to set us free from death and every shadow of evil. Let us remember the sure promise of His Love and Presence with us and turn to God with confidence in our every trial.

  

Let Us Pray

Lord Jesus You came down to the world as our Saviour. You set us free from the sins and curses that are the plight on this earth. You instituted the Church to continue Your ministry of liberation in this world. Thank You, O Lord, for Your Infinite Mercy that flows into us in the moments of our misery. Let us turn to You and live - finding all the answers in You. Let us never be disheartened by our struggles, rather find our hope in You.

Amen.

"PUT ON THE ARMOUR OF LIGHT" (Romans 13:12)

Rev. Fr. Augustine Vallooran V.C.

The Youth retreats at the Divine Retreat Centre are always celebrations of the vitality of the Church. Young people flock to the retreat not always knowing what God has in store for them. Invited by friends, urged by the parents, inspired by youth animators, they step in. Once they are challenged by the Word of God, they make a daring and honest soul searching and bravely commit their lives to God. God's Love revealed through the Word and the Sacraments fascinate them - giving a new direction and zeal for life.

The 34th National Youth Retreat that took place during the last week of May was a season of life-giving revelation and renewal both for the 1000 youth participants and for their parents who took part in the couples’ retreat that was held simultaneously on campus.

The theme of the retreat was St Paul’s exhortation to "Put On The Armour Of Light"(Romans 13:12).  The retreat ended with the participants lighting their candles from the fire of the Easter candle and taking an oath together that they would live henceforth for and with Christ. The theme of light dominated the teachings and services at the retreat. The Light of Christ seemed to illuminate their lives giving every participant a clear vision of the failures in the past and the path they need to take for their future.

“Awake O Sleeper, Arise From the Dead... Christ Will Give You Light” (Ephesians 5:14)

It is interesting to note that this particular scripture that we chose for the Youth retreat had played a significant role in the conversion of another young man – a conversion that would greatly impact the world of his time and Christian faith for generations. As a young man, St. Augustine was no saint at all - Indulging in every vice, arrogant in his successes, irreverent to faith and in truth living a very ungodly life, Augustine was the despair of his saintly mother. However just as darkness cannot hold out against light, his impiety had to submit to the enduring zeal and prayerfulness of his mother. He began accepting Christian truths also with the influence of the saintly Bishop Ambrose. The fact was that for long, the acceptance was merely intellectual and never became a personal decision or commitment to give up his old sinful ways that he was enslaved to.

While earlier he justified his sins, now he realized he was in the wrong but would continue to pray “Lord change me... but not today.” Procrastination was the other powerful weapon of satan. At one point it is said that Augustine heard a voice saying “Take and read.” He took up the Bible and opened it to this Letter of St Paul and the words shone out, “It is full time now for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed; the night is far gone, the day is at hand. Let us then cast off the works of darkness and put on the armour of light.” (Romans 13:11-12)  A long struggle ended as this scripture verse gave birth to a saint. He made the decision to live in the armour of light and the radiance of his saintliness was tremendous.

St. Paul in his incisive treatment of the journey of man from slavery of sin to freedom in the enlightening truth of Christ again writes, "Take no part in the fruitless works of darkness; rather expose them... everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that becomes visible is light." (Ephesians 5:11-14)  This scripture verse was proved in the course of the retreat for these young people in a very powerful way. The Light of Christ enabled them to discriminate the good from the bad, the honourable from the unworthy in their lives. Even the inner motives of their decisions and actions which they were not even aware of earlier became clear before their eyes. In the moments of honest confession and counselling, they could understand themselves and accept the personal call to a higher living with generous and brave decisions. At the end of these sessions, they came out very happy with the revelation that God had not given up on them but they had something to count on - the Light of Christ in their hearts to guide them for the future. They regretted the ungodly decisions made, repented over the wrong steps taken as they realized that it was a meaningless darkness that they were groping through in the past without the Llight of Christ shining on them.

“Everything Exposed By Light Becomes Visible” (Ephesians 5:13)

When St. Paul speaks about exposing everything in the light, he had a certain image in mind of the marketplace of his time. The shops in the marketplace were covered enclosures without windows. Anyone going to buy a commodity like a piece of cloth or a work of art would take it out to the street and hold it against the sun so that the light would reveal its true quality and any flaws it could have. In fact in light, not only does an object reveal its true calibre, it also begins to reflect light. This is the principle that explains colours of objects. An object is identified as red, for instance, for in light, the substance emits a red shade of light.

The outstanding feature about the youth at this retreat was the daring with which they placed their life before the Light of Christ - accepting that what they had thought was the truth was indeed a wrong leading. They made their commitment to expose every decision and action and motive to the Light of Christ and live according to what their Lord would want of them. As stark as the difference between night and day was the new stance for life and holiness that the youth personally took up. It was indeed a moment of victorious celebration in the Kingdom of God!

Christine was a medical college student. She had grown up in the wholesome atmosphere of a village with life revolving around the family and the parish in the devout practice of the Catholic faith. When she joined medical college, she was confronted with a situation she was least equipped for. Some of her classmates did not have any religion at all. A few were voluble about their atheistic ideas. There were a few Christian students who were under the influence of a Pentecostal pastor who was a rather persuasive preacher. Christine found it difficult to go to the Catholic Church. For one thing that it was not near her college and also since the services which were in the local language, which she was not familiar with, were at timings when she had to be present at college. Her friends invited her to a Pentecostal prayer meeting. Though initially apprehensive, because of their persistence, she began participating in this. She was disturbed by the negative preaching that focused on discrediting the Catholic teachings and painted all the other religions in very dark colours. However the fellowship gathering and the fervent prayers attracted her. In a personal meeting with the Pentecostal pastor, she was asked to reject the Catholic faith if she wanted to be saved. Her friends also urged her to heed the pastor's direction. Christine was very disturbed and felt lost. There was no one she could talk to, no one who could tell her the truth. For the vacation, she returned home but still plagued by the many confusing claims of the Pentecostal preacher that were in total conflict with the devout practices that her family was dedicated to. Her cousins who had all planned to come for the youth retreat invited her to join in - which she did in great anticipation. Here she offered to God all her confusions and disturbances asking for a clear revelation of His true Will. The Word of God says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all men generously and without reproaching, and it will be given him.” (James 1:5)  Again it is the testimony of a seeker assuring us, “For it is the God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 4:6)  While speaking about the spirituality of the Catholic Church, a preacher quoted the declaration of Jesus to Peter, "I tell you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (Matthew 16:18-19)  In the light of this Word, it became very clear that the Church of Jesus Christ was founded on the rock of Simon Peter and this Church is to be led by the successors of Simon Peter. Before her eyes, was exposed the evil agenda of the Pentecostal pastor to control and redirect the faith of the people towards himself. She understood she was misled by the foolish zeal of her companions and she made a firm commitment to be rooted in the Church.

In a world where media bombards the youth from every direction with ideologies disguised as truth, the action of the Spirit through the Proclamation of the Word at the retreat was revolutionary. “For though we live in the world we are not carrying on a worldly war, for the weapons of our warfare are not worldly but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every proud obstacle to the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)  The retreat itself was a war cry urging everyone to be ready for a battle which is always imminent. There is a perennial fight going on between light and darkness.

“I Have Fought The Good Fight…  I Have Kept The Faith” (2 Timothy 4:7)

St. Paul likens our spiritual existence to a warfare. There are evil powers within us and around us. Detailing for us the cross-section of a human heart, he writes that there are powers of darkness within, which forbids a man to do what he wants to. Though he wants to do the good and delights in the good that he wants to do, he finds that he is incapable of fulfilling his intentions. "I take delight in the law of God in my inner self, but I see in my members another principle at war with the law of my mind, taking me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members." (Romans 7:22-23)  These powers of evil are so strong that they are able to enslave a human person compelling him to actions against his own will. 

St. Paul also explains how such powers of evil get entry into human heart. "Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil." (Ephesians 4:26-27)  By anger in our hearts, we are giving entry to the evil power of hatred. Getting angry could be a temperamental impulse but after getting angry and hurting someone, we have two choices. We can get reconciled with that person and soothe his feelings. Anger vanishes and the relationship is restored to warmth and good will. However if one remains stubborn to cling on to their anger, one would justify his arguments and nourish these in his heart. That is when it becomes a power of anger and hatred.

Our imagination prefers to characterize evil as an ugly figure that lurks in darkness or mythical locations and by evil spells. But the Lord Himself tells us that evil stems from the human heart (Mark 7:20-23). As the powers of evil dwell and dominate our hearts, St. Paul tells us we are being led by the flesh.  "For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you would. Now the works of the flesh are plain: immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, party spirit, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." (Galatians 5:17,19-21)

James was an engineering student who was taking medication for depression. When he came for this retreat, he shared with me of how he was deeply distressed because of a deep-rooted addiction to pornography. He was introduced to it by his schoolmates. Every time he went for the Holy Mass or participated in the family prayer, he felt convicted and terribly guilty. He began to resent prayer because he felt condemned. On one occasion his uncle caught him red-handed and admonished him severely - threatening him of God’s curse. He felt like dirt now even at home. This made him all the more upset but he was more powerfully sucked into this unholy habit. This guilt and sense of shame led him to continuous tension and depression. He had to resort to medical help. I pointed out to him that the distress in his mind was but caused by a spiritual warfare within him between the forces of light and darkness. I invited him to make a total commitment to Jesus and surrender his body and all the capabilities and expressions of his body to Jesus Christ. Sexuality is a blessing God has given to man to enable the expression of love in the holy bond of marriage. God works through this to mould individuals into parents, participating in God’s creative work, bringing children into the world.

James wept but this time not out of pain but out of the relief that God had not abandoned him but was going to be there to help him come through what was a nightmare phase of sin and slavery. I could see in those tears the love and grateful joy of the prodigal son in the arms of his father. I led him to make an irrevocable commitment of his life to Jesus. He continued praying during the Inner Healing prayer service. The next day when he met me, he shared that he felt an overwhelming joy in his heart during the Adoration service. This joy was a result of the anointing of the Holy Spirit that set him free completely.

“Where Sin Abounded, Grace Abounded Much More” (Romans 5:20)

While explaining how pervasive sin can be, scripture describes that “through one person sin entered the world, and through sin, death, and thus death came to all.” (Romans 5:12)  As sin tormented individuals, it has a stranglehold on society at large. We are surrounded by sin at every level that it is so possible for a person to completely be desensitized to the atrocities of sin around.

In their journey towards light, the young people became aware of not only the powers of evil dominating them in their own hearts but in the society as a whole. St. Paul speaks about this conflict, "For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." (Ephesians 6:12-13)  Rebellion against God that welled up in the first parents has overflowed pervading every generation and becoming an evil power vitiating human relationships and social structures. Many of the young people I met shared how helpless they felt before the oppression of these evil forces in society. John, a young government servant, shared with me the tension of his mind. He grew up in a pious Catholic family and was himself actively engaged in the youth movement of the diocese. When he got this job, he took it up with the determination to be a witness at his workplace. Inspite of this, he was not prepared for the onslaught of evil. He was shocked when at the end of the first month, an unaccounted amount was paid to him by his immediate boss. When he tried to clarify with the boss as to its source, he laughed aloud and proudly boasted that everybody in the department got a share of all the money that passed under the table. Politely but decisively John returned that money to the boss telling him that he did not want to take home money that came from an unjust system. The boss advised him at first gently to flow with the current. When John refused to budge from his stand, the boss spoke in an intimidating tone warning him of the consequences of such a rejection. Everyone in the department would isolate him as a traitor and turn against him. This would definitely lead him to trouble. The boss advised him to rethink his stand. That night when he came home, he realized he was not ready for such confrontation. He also began to reason out that he needed all that money for the admission of his younger brother in the college. Consequently, he became part of the unjust system. Even when he saw his co-workers arrogant and heartlessly unjust to the helpless who came for any service to this department, he turned a blind eye. It hurt him often but he justified it by the argument that no one could fight such a rotten structure. At the retreat, he was confronted by the Light of Jesus Christ and he allowed the secret corners of his heart to be enlightened by the zeal for truth and righteousness. He felt a new confidence that through prayer he would be able to stand against the current. He confided in me that whatever loss he must incur, he was ready for the battle for now he was sure that all he wanted was the Lord on his side.

The Word of God finds fulfillment - "Everything which is illuminated becomes light" (Ephesians 5:14)  As these young witnesses march out into the world, there is a radiance on their faces. A radiance that comes when one has a vision of the Face of God. Truly “the light shines in the darkness and darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5) A contingent of strong young people have set out into the world rooted in convictions of the life-giving truth that in Jesus is Life and in Him is the Light.

Let Us Pray

Heavenly Father we thank You for the spiritual transformation You have brought about in Your children whom You drew into Your Presence. They have accepted Your Son Jesus Christ as the Light of their life. They have examined their lives in the Light of Your Son and they are now prepared to reflect that light around them. Hold them close to Your Heart that their light may glow in the world - bringing a new hope for humankind.

Amen.

LIVING WATERS: "WHAT AM I LIVING FOR?" by Rev. Fr. Augustine Vallooran V.C.

In this episode of LIVING WATERS, "WHAT AM I LIVING FOR?" - Rev Fr. Augustine Vallooran V.C.  enlightens every Catholic how to read the Word of God daily and to live it.

"You and I are citizens of Heaven - children of God!  The purpose of our life is to bear witness to Him.  Jesus said in Acts 1:8, "But when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will be filled with power, and you will be witnesses for me...to the ends of the earth." So we have a message to give -- a MISSION to fuifill on this earth. Everyday when we get up, you and I shall know a new day is given to us for a purpose...To live for JESUS is to live for LOVE!"

LIVING WATERS is a 30-minute daily Divine TV programme of anointed sharing of God's Word by Rev. Fr. Augustine Vallooran V.C, Director -- Divine Retreat Centre. It is the largest Catholic retreat centre in the world.

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

It can also be viewed on the Internet worldwide on DVNOnlineTV  at www.dvnonline.org

SINGAPORE

DVNOnline TV LIVING WATERS (30 minutes) Programme timings

by Rev. Fr. Augustine Vallooran V.C.

1.00 a.m., 9.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. daily

DVNOnline TV English Programming daily 

12.00 a.m. to 3.00 a.m.

 8.00 a.m. to 11.30 a.m.

3.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m.

“DO THIS IN MEMORY OF ME” (Luke 22:19)

Rev.Fr. Augustine Vallooran V.C.

All of us want to be remembered for posterity. We evaluate our life by how well we would be remembered. Consciously and even unconsciously our choices, decisions, occupations, ways of talking and styles of living are moulded by the expectation of how we want to be remembered. The son of a famous boxer recounts how his dad told him that he should always remember his father as the most powerful man in the world as that memory would encourage him to pursue his father’s footsteps. A rich man who built the village chapel would always point it out to his children saying that they should always be proud of their father for this contribution of his.

“This Is My Body… Broken For You” (Luke 22:19)

The Lord Jesus asks us to remember Him as the One who offered His Body to be broken and His Blood to be shed for us. This was His parting wish expressed at the Last Supper. While blessing the bread, the Lord said to His companions “This is my body to be broken for you” and taking the chalice of wine and said to them - “This is my blood to be shed for you” (Luke 22:19-20). Jesus then told them “Do this in memory of me whenever you gather together in my name.” Jesus in His three years of ministry performed great miracles that left people wonder-struck. He taught authoritatively of the mysteries of the Divinity and his listeners were amazed. However it was not by His spectacular actions and remarkable teachings that He wanted to be remembered but by the self-offering He made for us that we may life and have it in abundance.

Often we tend to interpret the Passion and Death of Jesus as if He was the helpless victim of the circumstances. The Lord however makes it very clear to His disciples that it was His choice to lay down His life for the salvation of humankind was His priority. “No one snatches my life away but I willingly lay it down.” (John 10:18)  In fact that was the purpose the Father sent Him to the world for. As John records, “The bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh… for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink” (John 6:51,55)  The gospel records that with this, many of His followers scandalized by the claim, walked away from the Master. The gospel also reveals that Jesus did not call them back. Neither did He take His promise back. Rather He turned to the twelve disciples and asked them - “Do you also wish to go away?” (John 6:67)

This stance of Jesus makes His life mission clear to us. He had come to give us the fullness of life by the ultimate expression of love of sacrificing Himself in order to become food for us. This is what we remember, celebrate and re-experience every time we gather at the altar. It is when we stand at the altar that we really understand who we are in terms of how precious we are to Jesus. He places such value on us that He even opts to forsake His life that we may live forever. In order that we may never forget this ultimate expression of love, He offered His Body and Blood for us to feed on.

“Do Not Remember the Former Things” (Isaiah 43:18)

It is very significant that Jesus inaugurated the Last Supper with this expression: “I have desired with a great desire to eat this Passover meal with you.” (Luke 22)  Every time we gather at the altar, we remember that the Lord waits for us. When we affirm our faith in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist, we settle for an intellectual acceptance of the doctrine that Jesus is truly present in the Eucharistic bread. However this truth should lead us further to understand and experience that He is present in the Eucharistic bread in order to be present to us. He said that even a strand of hair falling from our head is counted by Him (Matthew 10:30). Even the seeming trifles of our life do not escape the keen loving attention of the Lord. In our day to day life we are often hurt by the indifference of others. We are worried about the uncertainty of the future. We are insulted by the thoughtless arrogance of those we must interact with. We are haunted by the painful memories of the past. Such overwhelming negative experiences of our past could lead us to lonely depression where we are left wondering whether anyone cares for us. The antidote to every such moment is the invitation of the Lord from the Holy Eucharist, “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)  Every negative experience of our life should lead us to turn our attention to the Heart of Jesus throbbing in the Eucharist to receive us and replace every burden of pain and sin with His satisfying love. 

All of us carry a heavy baggage of painful memories of the past – memories that hurt, tempt and depress us; memories that trigger anger and despair. These memories will continue to weigh us down till it pushes us to our downfall. We can wonder, “Is there any way out? The Eucharist presents the one way – that it is in Christ’s unquestioning unlimited saving love.

“See, I Am Making All Things New” (Revelations 21:5)

A young college student came for a retreat. He had grown up in the Gulf. He came to India to pursue studies in engineering. Cut away from home, parents and community, he clung on to his new-found friends and soon lost his orientations and fervour of faith. He was led astray into an unholy way of living. He hardly attended college and did not clear any of the papers in the first year. He was shocked but his friends advised him to laugh it off. He never told his parents anything and continued to follow the careless ways of his friends. Towards the end of the second year, his principal summoned him to inform him that he could continue in the college only if he completed the papers of both years together. This time, his friends had no answer for him. Reality struck him hard! He was so distressed. He sought the advice of his local guardian who sent him for the retreat.

He was very distressed and came to meet me at the very beginning of the retreat and share how bitter he felt. He told me that he had wasted all the money sent by his parents and the great opportunity he had for a excellent training in engineering. However the most painful fact was that he wasted the trust his parents had placed in him. “I have made a dirty mess of my life and there is definitely no way out of this,” he concluded. I encouraged him to put his trust in God and offer himself totally in the Hands of God believing in what Jesus said, “Nothing is impossible to God.” (Mark 10:27)

At the end of the retreat, he joyfully approached me to share his testimony. He recalled how on the third day, while he was participating in the Holy Mass, God spoke life to his heart once more. During the Offertory, all the unbearable memories of his sinful life surfaced piercing his heart. He then remembered that he was just told not to cling on to such haunting memories with regret - rather to offer every such memory with the piece of bread on the altar to the Lord. He faithfully did so. During the time of Consecration, while the priest was praying the words of Christ at the Last Supper, “This is my body broken for you”, the words resounded in his heart as though the Voice of Jesus was whispering it to him. It occurred to him that the piece of bread on the altar had become the symbol of his own sinful past which Jesus took in His Hands and held close to His Heart declaring “This is mine.” He felt love gushing into his heart when Jesus took as His own the dirty mess of his past. In the Heart of Jesus, the misery of his past was transformed in a flame of love! He could not hear anything anymore except the whisper of Jesus, “This is my body.” All the painful memories of his past vanished from his heart as it was now replaced by a new experience. When he opened his eyes it was time for the Holy Communion. He received the Body of Christ and he felt engulfed in a flame of love. He knew he was a new creation in the Eucharistic experience.

I met this young man three years later. I realized that everything was changed about him. It had become a daily habit for him to participate in the Holy Mass. Every time he was in the church by the side of the altar, the precious memory he had in the retreat centre invariably surfaced filling his heart with that warmth of Christ’s Love making him His own. He gained enough strength to say a definite goodbye to his old friends and old lifestyle. Even the memories of the sinful past had been washed off as a new memory had taken root in his heart. He passed out of the college as the first rank holder. He finally confided to me, “Father, whenever I have been faced with difficult and tense situations, the memory of my experience at the Eucharist gives me a confidence that carries me through the storms.” I was reminded of St. Paul who said, “I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” (Galatians 2:20)

“The Old Has Gone, The New Is Here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

One can ask, “What’s in a memory?” Indeed. memories make or mar a human person. Psychologists today tell us that the memories we choose to hold on to will mould or distort our character. Though all of us are living in the present, our ways of thinking and styles of living are determined decisively by our understanding of the past events. If we cherish memories of being loved, appreciated and admired, we would have positive approaches in our relationships and be optimistic in our attitudes to life’s challenges. However if all the time we nurse in bitterness the negative memories of being rejected, sidelined and let down, fear and pessimism will color our expectations. Then we will not be able to trust anyone and we will become melancholic in temperament and judgmental in character.

We are not condemned to be stuck to our past forever. Our hurts were caused by the denial of love. Therefore our healing is made possible with a fresh flow of God’s Love that is unchanging and that will establish us through affirmation where we earlier were shattered because we were rejected and sidelined. For this crucial purpose of restoration, Jesus instituted the Holy Eucharist. By offering to feed us with His Body and Blood, Jesus promises us that in order not to die, we need to eat of His Body and drink of His Blood.

Indeed we live in a culture of death because of the unhappy and unholy memories that weigh us down. When we come before the altar, we are reminded of how much we are loved and valued. This memory flashes a light on our soul that will diminish and vanquish the shadows of our painful past. The Holy Eucharist is given to us by the Lord in His Infinite Love towards our continued and complete healing.

We are living in a world that is negative and rude. We daily encounter persons and situations that can be demoralizing. It is precisely therefore that the daily Eucharist becomes relevant and crucial as a healing balm and a source of strength and will see us walk through the fire and come out unscathed.

Let Us Pray

Thank you Lord for opening Your Heart to us and offering Your Body and Blood for our daily sustenance. The tiring and burdening experiences of our life and the wounds of the past continue to haunt us, raising fears and questions. Your Love manifested in the Holy Eucharist is what reassures and strengthens us. Lead us by Your Grace to Your Altar daily and that we may be nourished by Your Life-giving Body and Blood.

 Let us never languish in the prison of the past for Your Love sets us free. Being liberated by the outpouring of Your Love, we will become channels of Your Love and Peace to everyone around us.

Amen.