Merry Christmas

Headlines - 2013

Dear Friends,

It’s Christmas again; time to renew our friendship; time to recollect the blessings we have received from the Lord and from people like you. It’s time to celebrate the greatest gift humankind has ever received: the gift of Jesus.  May I share the headlines of 2013?

It was indeed spiritually enriching to end the year and usher in the New Year during the Retreat I preached for Garden Sisters, Maria Sadan, Indore from 27^th Dec. 2012 to 02^nd Jan. 2013.  I am deeply grateful to Fr. Jimmy and the wonderful people of St. Callistus Parish, San Francisco for the awesome Pastoral experience in their parish from Jan 5^th to the 13^th March 2013, including Lenten Mission for the people. I was happy to be a Resource Person for Quality Leadership Seminar for Principals at Shillong in May 2013; Seminar on Value Education for Transformation of Life: Prospectus and Challenges at Allahabad Agricultural University in July 2013; Retreat for   Sisters of St. Ann of Luzern at Visakhapatnam from 6th to 12th Oct. 2013; It had been a great privilege this year again to be part of the NAAC Peer Team Visit to Secret Heart College, Tiruppattur, Tamil Nadu; Islamiah College, Vaniyambadi, Tamil Nadu;  Pt. Lalit Mohan Sharma Government Post Graduate College, Rishikesh.  I have been nominated as a Member of Regional Direct Tax Advisory Committee on 03.05.2013.  I have been appointed as the Parish Priest of the newly erected Parish, Divine Mercy Church at SAIT Campus on the 20^th of December. I solicit your prayers and blessings.

St. Aloysius Institute of Technology is in its 5th year now with Electronics & Communication Engineering, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science Engineering, Electrical & Electronics Engineering and MCA.  I am pleased to inform you that from 2014 we are starting Polytechnic Diploma in Mechanical Engineering and Civil Engineering.  You are welcome to send students for B.E., MCA, Diploma in Mechanical and Civil Engineering.  Students who have completed 10^th Class are eligible for Polytechnic studies for 3 years after which they may go for direct employment or join in the 2^nd year of the engineering course (Lateral Entry). Both for B.E. and Diploma Courses S.T. /S.C. and OBC students will get Government Scholarships from their respective State Governments. Also bank loan facilities are available. You may visit our websites: www.saitjbp.org and www.frdavis.in for further information.   I am deeply indebted to the members of BGD Munster for their generous help in building the boy’s hostel at SAIT campus.

Please accept my sincere love and gratitude for what you have been to me in 2013; I solicit your blessings for 2014. May Jesus walk with you each day of 2014. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.   

Davis George

CHRISTMAS: THE GIFT OF HIS ONLY SON

fØLr t;arh & iq= dk migkj

MkWa- Qknj Msfol tktZ

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        bZ'oj us gesa fdruk vn~Hkqn migkj fn;k& viuk iq=] viuk bdykSrk iq=A ;g gS mlds vlhe izse dh fu'kkuhA bZ'oj LoxZ ls uhps vk, ftlls gekjs lkFk jg lds] og vius ekrk firk ds v/khu jgsA blfy, ge dHkh Hkh vdsys ugha gSA bZ'oj gekjs tSls cu x;s vkSj mUgksusa gekjs fy, nq[k lgs] vkSj Øwl ij vius izk.k R;kx fn;kA

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Christmas: The Gift of His Only Son

Once upon a time, there was a man who worked very hard just to provide food for his family. A few days before Christmas, he punished his little five-year-old daughter after learning that she had used up the family's only roll of expensive gold wrapping paper to decorate one shoebox she had put under the Christmas tree. The next morning the little girl, filled with excitement, brought the gift box to her father and said, "This is for you, Daddy!" As he opened the box, the father was embarrassed by his earlier overreaction, now regretting how he had punished her. But when he opened the shoebox, he found it was empty and again his anger flared. "Don't you know, young lady," he said harshly, "when you give someone a gift, there's supposed to be something inside the package!"

The little girl looked up at him with tears rolling from her eyes and whispered: "Daddy, it's not empty. I blew kisses into it until it was all full."  Heartbroken, he fell on his knees and put his arms around his precious little girl. He begged her to forgive him for his impulsive anger and lack of understanding.   Only a short time later an accident took the life of the child. It is told that the father kept this little gold box by his bed for all the years of his life. Whenever he was discouraged or faced difficult problems, he would open the box, take out an imaginary kiss, and remember the love of this beautiful child who had put it there.

Each of us has been given an invisible golden box filled with unconditional love and kisses from God. There is no more precious possession anyone could hold than the belief that God sent His Only Child, Jesus into this world for our salvation.  Let us fill the empty boxes, the empty hearts and empty lives of people around us with divine love, joy and peace.

“The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Emmanuel,” which means "God with us."  (Mt 1:23)  “God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (Jn 3:16) 

What a wonderful gift God has given us - His only Son! This is the ultimate proof of His love: God coming down to be with us. Back in 2000, in Bethlehem, John Paul II said “God became a child who was entirely dependent on the care of a father and mother. This is why Christmas gives us so much joy. We don’t feel alone anymore; God has come down to be with us. Jesus became one of us and suffered the worst death for us, that of a criminal on the Cross.” 

In his Christmas Message Pope Francis said, “The message announced to us in the Gospels is a message of joy. The evangelists described a joyful event to us. They do not discuss about the unjust world and how God could be born into such a world...The first Christmas was not a condemnation of social injustice and poverty; it was an announcement of joy. Everything else is conclusions that we draw. Some are correct, others are less so and others still are ideologies. Christmas is joy, religious joy, God’s joy, an inner joy of light and peace. When you are unable or in a human situation that does not allow you to comprehend this joy, then one experiences this feast with a worldly joyfulness. But there is a difference between profound joy and worldly joyfulness.”

“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.”  “An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.”  “But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.”  “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.”  “This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”  “Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying.”  “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” (Lk 2: 8-14)

Jesus continues to be with us as he promised.  “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” (Mt. 18:20)  “I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” (Mt 28:20)  “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Heb 13:5)  We may leave God, but He will never leave us.  No matter how bleak the situation, no matter how empty we feel, God will never leave you!  He is Emmanuel, God with Us.

___________________________________________________________________________________

Dr. Fr. Davis George, Director, St. Aloysius Institute of Technology, Jabalpur.

Email: dgoerge55@gmail.com, Websites: www.saitjbp.org  www.frdavis.in

Good Friday: He is guilty and must die!

Good Friday: He is guilty and must die!

Dr. Fr. Davis George

Terror struck again of the fateful 26/11.  Innocent people were killed; brave police officers became martyr for the nation.  The entire country was paralyzed and terror stricken.  In an encounter with the police at Girgaum Chopatty, Ajmal Kasab, the lone surviving terrorist in the attacks, was caught injured and is still in police custody.   Though he has confessed his involvement in the heinous crime and the entire country judging and awaiting for his death, still he has not been given the deserving punishment.  A terrorist caught in the act of crime.  But what is the verdict?

Jesus was found guilty by the High Priest, scribes, Pharisees and the unruly crowd during his life-time, gave the verdict that he is guilty and must die.  Guilty of what?  Guilty of telling he is the Son of God and the Messiah.  Guilty of telling them he has to suffer and die for the sins committed by others.

Guilty of healing people on a Sabbath day, guilty of giving hope and life to those who live in darkness of sin and death, guilty of going about doing good, guilty of criticism outward show of religion, guilty of showing that God is their loving father and they in turn are brothers and sisters, guilty of telling that He is the way, the truth and life, guilty of telling that even after crucification and death, He will rise again on the third day.  What a paradox of life, God who came not to condemn the world but to save the world, has been condemned and crucified just like any other criminal of his time.  Jesus said, “The Son of Man did not came to be saved, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.  For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous.”

Mel Gibson’s movie, The Passion of Christ, in some ways represents the very heart of Christianity – the voluntary, substitutionary and propitiatory death of Jesus Christ.  Gibson did not find any meaning in worldly riches and fame.  He became an addict of drugs and alcohol and even contemplated committing suicide.  Then he reportedly turned to the Bible and found purpose and meaning in Jesus Christ.

The big question is not ‘Who crucified Christ’; it is ‘Why Jesus was crucified’.  The answer this movie provides us is, as Gibson himself reported to Diane Sawyer of ABC, “He was pierced for our transgressions, and he was wounded and we are healed”. (Is 53:5).

Jesus Christ died for our sins.  He did not defend himself, Isaiah 53:7-9 speaks about the silent suffering servant of the Lord.  Verse 7 can be translated this way, “Though He was oppressed, He was submissive and did not open His mouth.”

He submitted to being arrested, mocked, spat upon beaten, stripped, struck down, forced to carry His own cross, and crucified.  The question we must ask is about the nature of his response.

Isaiah says, “He did not open his mouth”.  Why did he not protest his great injustice?  Why did he not open his mouth and defend himself?  Why did he strand there and take all this abuse submissively?

Even Jeremiah, the great prophet protested.  Even Mahatma Gandhi called for non-violent resistance.  But Jesus Christ offered no resistance at all, violent or non-violent.  The gospel accounts tell us that He did not defend himself before Annas, Capiaphas, the Sanhedrin, Herod Antipas, or the Roman governor Pilate.

In Mt.27:12-14 we read, “When He was accused by the chief priests and the elders, He gave no answer.  Then Pilate asked him, ‘Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?’ But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge to the great amazement of the governor.”  Isaah predicted this non-defensive and non-complaining attitude of the suffering servant.

“Seven hundred years before the birth of Christ, He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets.  A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.   In faithfulness he will bring forth justice.” (Is 42:2-3).

“The Sovereign Lord has opened my ears, and I have not been rebellious; I have not drawn back.  I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my break; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting.” (Is 50:5-7)

Then those who had seized Jesus led him to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered.  They sought false testimony against him.  Two came forward and said,  “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build in three days.”  And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.”

Jesus said to him, “You have said so.  But I tell you; hereafter you will see the son of an sated at the right hand of power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

Then the high priest tore his robes, and said, “He has uttered blasphemy.  Why do we still need witnesses?  You have heard his blasphemy.  What is your judgment?’

They answered, “He deserved death.”  Then they spat on his face, and struck him; and some slapped him, later they shouted again and again, “Let him be crucified.”  (Mt. 56:57-68).

Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus in to the practorium, and they gathered the whole battalion before him.  And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe upon him, and plaiting a crown of thorns they put it on his head, and put a reed in his right hand.  And kneeling before him they mocked him saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”

And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe, and put his own clothes on him, and led him away to crucify him.  And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, “you who would destroy the temple and built it in three days, save yourself!  If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.”

So also the chief priest, with the scribes and elders, mocked him saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself.  He is the king of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him.  Jesus could have come down from the cross and saved himself.  But then, he would not have been Savior of the world.

After forty days of fasting as He came out of the desert, the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to became loaves of bread.”

Jesus did not succumb to playing to the gallery and taking short cuts.  Jesus, thus, followed the eternal plan of salvation and showed the unconditional love of God.”

While we were yet helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.  Why, one will hardly die for a righteous man-though perhaps for a good man one will dare even to die.  “Bust God show his love for us in than while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.”  (Rom 5:6-8).  And yet, he was found guilty of death.  What a paradox?

Jesus did not come to condemn the world but to save the world (Jn 3:16-17).  He did not condemn the women caught in adultery but showed His compassion and forgiveness.  Jesus visited the house of Zacheous which made the latter repent and change his life.  Mathew the tax collector detested by others, was chosen as his apostle.

The repentant thief who sought forgiveness was promised heaven while dying on the cross.  On the cross Jesus prayed for forgiveness for those who were persecuting him.  All those who touched him in faith were healed.  All those who encountered him were transformed.

His life, suffering death and resurrection changed the history of the world.  By dying on the cross, Jesus destroyed death and by rising from the death on the third day.  He established that He is the resurrection and the life and that those believe in Him shall gain eternal life.”

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.  Because He lives, all fear is gone.  Because I know He holds the future, my life is worth the living just because He lives.”

FLAMES OF THE FOREST

Forest fire! Flames everywhere,
Birds flying away, helter-skelter,
Animals fleeing away for fear of death,
To places unknown yet safer for shelter.

Small creeping crickets, worms and snakes,
Unable to keep pace with the flames,
Consumed in the devastating fire,
Turned into ashes, dark and grey.

Butterflies pretty and beautiful
Yellow, green, maroon, and black,
Different colours, designs and textures,
As if knitted and painted to perfection,
In a wee second succumbed to the sweltering heat.

What a sight! Lonely, disenchanting, depressing,
Soot covered tree trunks, half-baked branches,
Fully burned heaps of leaves and small bushes,
Marked the forlorn landscape.

Then I took a closer look,
Death did not dominate the scene,
On the ground I could see the beginnings of new life,
Thick undergrowth was beginning to take hold.

New roots, new shoots, new sprouts, new leaves,
All from the ashes, dark and grey,
No more the barren land, forsaken by all,
‘cause life cannot be defeated, death is not the end.

New life has taken roots,
Steady and prolonged rain did the magic.
Let us celebrate the new life outside,
Let us celebrate the new life within.

You cannot be consumed for all the time,
The raindrops of God’s love steady and prolonged,
Will do the magic of restoring life.
Rise from the ashes and become a new creation,
You shall never be consumed by the forest flame.

My pigeons are like a legion

My pigeons are like a legion, navigating to perfection,
Never alone flying, always in a group;
As the leader leads the rest follow
And yet some one or the other dares to fly alone to the heights
What a sight to see, acrobatics one could never imagine
Almost as in a Russian circus somersaults, gymnastics and trapezing in the air
Unbelievable sight keeping the eyes glued and breathless
What grace and poise in the air a rare miracle to see
And they descent from sublime heights spreading their wings, tails and feathers
Not even the best air craft monitored by machine can reach this perfection
No crash landing or catching fire any time
Soft landing, fluttering in the air with wings outstretched and tails wide spread
It’s all in the wings and the tail and the feathers
Calculated to absolute precision, ensuring safe landing.
Every morning I whistle and they look here and there for a moment
Soon they spread their wings, tails and descent from heights,
Where they were perched waiting for my habitual arrival and whistling,
Signaling their time for feeding and rhythmic fluttering.
It’s a treat to the guest who accompanies me to the garden
Soothing sight, breathing peace in the midst of tension and strife.
Doves with olive branches have been symbols of peace form Noah’s time
Peace that we all crave for in a world full of strife
There come the angels of peace with the clarion silent whisper “Shalom”
If only we could just gaze on the uplifting sight of pigeons, doves- angels of peace
Perched aloft on the terrace and descent down with poise and grace
Listening to your call to feed on wheat and grains of choice.
Those hatching, never leave their nest
Fully focused on sitting and warming the eggs they have laid
Undisturbed, oblivious of their own personal needs
One aims to bring new life, a new set of pigeons to whisper to the world
“Shalom”, “Peace”, “Aslam Walekum”, “Om Shanti”,
In your hearts and homes, villages, cities and countries.
Peace that will last, transcending the boundaries of cast and creed.
Much to learn from my pigeons, doves and birds that I love.

One Man with God is Always in Majority

One man with God is always in majority
Who can be against you, if God is for you?
Number is decisive, majority counts, they say;
So they buy people who have no courage of conviction;
Majority is made on the foundation of shifting sand.
As it was made, so it collapsed.
Confusion confounded was the result Bedlam;
No one knows who is for whom; suspicion creeps in.
Majority, in number? No one knows.

The number makes all the difference! Without, it crumbles.
And yet, "unless the Lord builds the house, they labour in vain"
Put not your trust in Princes and Chariots, as they cannot save.
Whom would you please?
Minority in the right, or majority in the wrong?
Playing to the gallery, the easiest thing to do.
Cheap popularity, easy to achieve.
But as the flower blooms and withers.
It blooms and withers, faster than they think.
Only the man with God endures.

Flowers bloom in my heart

Flowers in my garden different colours, designs and fragrance,
Knitted together in perfect alignment.
Beautiful embroidery in his master’s hands,
It’s all within that tiny seed programmed by the Creator.
In God’s own time and ways mysterious blooms and brightens the landscape,
Giving freshness, radiating brightness irrespective of who you are,
On the one who comes closer it casts the magic spell,
Filling the soul with wonder, calming all fears,
Silencing the wavering mind with serenity from within and beauty divine,
Relaxing the body in a jiffy, regaining the lost strength as if in a flash;
Blossoming serendipity from within,
Kaleidoscope of God’s own creativity with awesome clarity and precision,
Beckoning us to smile, relax and enjoy the present,
The greatest gift of all, the moment of transformation, realization;
If God so clothes the lilies in the field,
How much more the heavenly father will take care of me?

Christmas: Behold the Dwelling of God is with Men

A man was walking over an old, half broken bridge to go across a river. When he looked down, he felt frightened to see the flooded river down below. When he looked around he saw no one around the place and felt very lonely. When he looked ahead he saw that the make shift bridge was very long and felt scared within. He cried out of fear, “O God come and hold my hand and walk with me and help me to go across.” Suddenly he saw God standing across the bridge. He begged God to come and walk with him. But God did not move and stood at the same place. He felt let down by God and grumbled and criticized God for his indifference. When he reached the end of the bridge he saw God holding the broken bridge in his hands. God is always present in all our difficulties and challenges. He may not be doing what we want him to do because he knows what is better for us. He is all the time holding the broken bridge so that we can walk across safely.

700 years before the birth of Christ, Isaiah prophesied “Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a Son and his name shall be called Emmanuel.” (Which means, God with us) (Mt 1:23) It is awesome to read and understand the mystery of incarnation, “And the word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the father.” (Jn 1:14) “The Lord is here,” said the Holy Father Benedict XVI “ from this moment, God is truly’ God with us.’ No longer is he the distant God who can in some way be perceived from afar, in creation and in our own consciousness. He has entered the world. He is close to us.’ Jesus reminded his disciples, “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Mt 18:20) Before Jesus ascended into heaven he again reminded the disciples, “I am with you always, to the close of the age.” (Mt 28:20) Centuries before the birth of Christ, it was told, “as I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. “(Joshua 1:5) This is the mystery and wonder of Christmas, God becoming like us and dwelling amidst us just like any of us. “Behold, the dwelling of God is with men….he will wipe away every tear from their eyes….” (Rev 21:3)

How do we find this God? Certainly God is not on sale, we need to seek him with our heart and soul. “You will seek me and find me; when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jer 29:13) He does not force his entry into our hearts.” Behold I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears my voice and open the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” (Rev 3:20) Going beyond the narrow boundaries of cast, creed and nationality Jesus told in his famous Sermon on the Mount, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” (Mt 5:8)

On a day like this we must pay heed to what Origen said, “Indeed, what use it would it be to you that Christ once came in the flesh if he did not enter your soul? Pope Benedict XVI said that the news of Christ’s birth “cannot leave us indifferent.” “If it is true, it changes everything. If it is true, it also affects me.” Jesus wants to be born in our hearts and transform our transform our lives and save us from fear, brokenness, loneliness, depression, failure, our short comings and sin. On this Christmas day let us give him our broken pieces and He will give us his peace. Merry Christmas. May you experience his presence and peace every day of 2011.