GRACE...!

It was on the eve of the community day celebrations that one of the staff members insight-fully opened my eyes with his thoughtful, insightful and emotion filled speech. Well, that great soul is Rev Fr V.V. Paul who is known for editorial work. What did he say? It was a great day for all the students of theology celebrating the community day on which we would be served good food and drinks. Hence, everyone was waiting for this good and great day. In view of this beautiful day, Fr V.V. Paul gave us food for our thought. For me it was a solid and nutritious food for my thought.  There are always two types of families, societies, communities. I believe that this formula even applies for the type of the self. The first type is the Ideal and the second is Actual . He said that 'these two types are equally important." Because, if Ideal is neglected then we become cynical and on the other hand if we reduce the actual then we fall into hypocritical syndrome. Therefore, the ch

    Introduction: The Greek word apocalypse means ‘to reveal’ what is concealed. The book Apocalypse is a revelatory literature with two approaches, namely apocalyptic and prophetic. The apocalyptic approach distinguishes the righteous from the wicked and rewards them accordingly. In a prophetic dimension, the wicked may repent and change their ways; the righteous stand in need of exhortation to faithfulness. It is highly pictorial, symbolic and metaphorical. There are about 800 allusions to the Old Testament. It was written in the reign of Roman Emperor Domitian 81-96 C.E. The scholars have opined the date from 90-95 C.E. The apocalyptic imagery and language reveal the severity of God’s judgement. The dominant image of the Lamb shows that God’s word of judgement was spoken in the Cross. Therefore, this book contains prophetic messages to the seven churches in Asia Minor. It is here that we must see the universal salvation that is intended by the author despite a deep strugg

Readings: Ps 118: Act. 4: 32-35; 1 Jo. 5:1-6; Jn. 20:19-31     Dear brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ, in this second Sunday of Easter, the mother church invites us to understand God’s immense love for us. As a response to God’s love manifested in His only son the three readings help us to reflect on God’s mercy. As his faithful children we therefore are encouraged to thank him and praise him for his goodness. In fact the Responsorial Psalm invites us to give thanks to the Lord for he is good and for his love has no end .    The gospel reading continues to explain to us about the immense love of Jesus; even when his own frightened to speak for him, afraid to stand for him and lacked faith to witness to him and secured themselves in the closed doors instead of overcoming trials and tribulations. Like the apostles we do face a lot of difficulties, doubts and uncertainties. It is at this situation the Lord intervenes and strengthens us through his Holy Spirit and by his peac

It's been a long for Christians who were fasting, praying and doing a lot of charitable acts during these 40 days of the Lent. For sure Easter is not the day to stop doing such good and kind acts. These acts are meritorious when done with an inner aptitude of love for God and for humanity. For it is the love of God that compels us do love the neighbour without any expectation. That is exactly what Jesus did on the Good Friday. Therefore, Easter is the continued fruit/merit of the sacrifice on Good Friday. Therefore, the sacrifice of Christ's life on Good Friday receives its ultimate reward on Easter Sunday. I believe, life on earth is perfectly imperfect. The time is the witness of this imperfect life. If birth is the beginning of life death is not the end of life; for death is only part of this imperfection. So, this perfect imperfection needs to be bridged by the divine imperfect reality. For, it is Christ who indeed incarnated into this imperfect reality; because His orig