GRACE...!

15/01/2017 This morning in Ongole DB Fr Thomas Santiago (Rector) gave a beautiful reflection during the homily. Here is the summary of that homily. He said "there are three categories of change/conversion.  First Category: Those who convert themselves because of others. Which means there are people who alter their deeds not because they are sinners, not because they committed mistakes but because of the public opinion, fearing what would the others think. Second Category: Those who change because of the fear of God or fear of punishment. This category is good but not complete. Third Category: Those who change themselves because of the love of God. Such people come to realization of the immense love of God for them. God's love is so great that we are enveloped in his love not because of what or what we are not. Despite and in spite of all that we are His love remains the same ever... Here is the lamb of God who came to take our sins away..... ...

          Well, in today's Gospel Reading the Church places before us the episode where Jesus heals the two blind men who pleaded him Son of David Have pity on us/me.          Jesus heals those two blind men because of their faith. The point that I would like to make is Why do we have eyes?  What is the purpose of sight? A random reflection: Scripture time and again reminds us about eyes of the mind and eyes of the Heart.        The purpose behind sight is that we may see clearly and begin to relate to our neighbors and begins. Because ultimately we are all judged on account of relationship with our neighbors and not on account of our achievements and credentials but Relationships. For this end God have mind by which we grow in Wisdom; Heart by which we grow in Love and Life that disposes Faith in God. Wisdom guides us to make right decisions in Life, Love enriches our life and Faith helps us to see thi...

         What is life? A question that has been invading in the minds of people since ages. Well, what exactly is life? It is the result of the choices that made yesterday. In life we ought to make choices that shape the life. There are plenty of choices at our disposal but then what matters most is not the about the choices but the right choices that certainly bring us laurels in life.         It is interesting to observe how we make choices and decisions. There are people who make right decisions and there are people who make their decisions right. Where lies greatness. This is not at all our concern but then where do we belong; Making right decisions or making our decisions right. Perhaps this we may call it the road less traveled...... think over...

One who prays ever never demands the other, rather his/her prayer life commands the other to pray like him/her ever...This we can see in the parable of Jesus where a rich man enters the temple and begins to magnify his prayer life saying "I spend time in prayer everyday and I give alms to the needy and I donate money to the temples etc., unlike that poor man standing at the entrance of the temple. The poor man unlike the rich man stands at the doors of the temple and expresses his unworthiness before the sight of God." Thus he pleases God than the rich man with his lengthy prayers...  Where do you and me stand? Examine and see.... 

Namakaranam and Annaprasana: In Telugu Hindu culture and tradition the naming ceremony of a baby is usually celebrated on the same day of the anna prasana (feeding the bay solid food for the first time). Cultural Reasons and Understanding: This sanskar/ tradition/ ceremony is performed on or after the sixth or seventh month as per the gender of the child, sixth or seven months for the boy child and odd months for the girl child. This ritualistic ceremony initiates the introduction of solid food for the baby. When the baby gets solid food for the first time, Mantras are recited and pujas are offered to the various deities. It is believed that, with Annaprasana , the flaws that arise due to intake of impure food when as a foetus are removed. It is also believed that Annaprasana ceremony will help to propitiate speech. The meaning of Annaprasana is anna =rice and prasana = to enter. Annaprasana is done after the Namakaran ceremony. The baby is given rice kheer or payasam...

I love nature and nature loves me. It is very true that when we begin love mother earth no doubt she loves us more than we love her. That is exactly what it means to say life comes from life. Nature is the perfect manifestation of God’s love for humanity. The one who is in tuned with nature will surely feel God’s grace all through and every stage of life. For he/she is completely engrossed and enveloped in Mother Earth/Nature. Let the heavens proclaim the glory of God says the Psalmist. So, my sincere wish and prayer is that we the humanity learn to appreciate God’s master piece, the nature. If we do so I AM sure that we also begin to love ourselves and our neighbors. Thus we spread the joy of life and the radiance of God’s love for us. 

Well, I just got up from the bed rolling over and rubbing the eyes with mixture of emotions and thoughts at both in mind and heart. However, what makes life thrilled was the object of my thoughts. Well none of us can ever get what ever we desire and dream of yet we can get something of all that we desire and dream of. This is the paradox of life. There where does the real meaning of life consist; in things, people, relationships, sex or friendships. I presume life is much more than all these things that are only momentary and transitory. What is then not transitory and momentary.   Well, it is life with God. Yes it is in Him that we all drive our inner meaning of life……For life comes from life and love comes from love. God desires us all to get back to him and so our spirit as well longs for his Di vine Touch..