"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings Good News, who announces salvation!" (Is. 52:7)

A few months, starting from January, are the months of intense proclamation of the Word, among Christians. It is all the more relevant this year, 2000, being the Year of the Great Jubilee. With the commencement of the grand Potta Bible Convention taking place at the end of January, there is a whole series of conventions, big and small, taking place in various localities. Then there will be many Good News Conferences, like the Popular Mission led by the Vincentian priests.

Those who proclaim the Word will be declaring to you what was from the beginning, what they have heard, what they have seen with their eyes, what they have looked at and touched with their hands (1 Jn 1:1). They do that to create avenues for the faithful to come together in the communion of love and also to fulfil the commandment of Jesus : "Go into all the world and proclaim the good news" (Mk. 16:15). It is because Jesus is present in the words of the preachers that signs and miracles take place on the avenues of the proclamations and faith geminates in the minds of the participants. "I am with you always, to the end of the age"(Mtt. 28:20). As Jesus himself proclaims through the preachers, the preachers are the royal representatives of Jesus. That is why St. Paul wrote : "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news" (Rom.10:15).

Let us feel happy and proud that at this time of ours God has chosen and anointed many spiritual guides and lay preachers to bear witness to Jesus and to powerfully proclaim His Gospel. Let us co-operate wholeheartedly with the efforts of these anointed in proclaiming the Word, not only through our prayers and sacrifices but also with all other possible ways and means at our command. Thus let us become part and parcel of the vital experiences of salvation, security, peace, health, joy and heavenly bliss that the Lord promises . Let us be active harbingers of these great messages to be carried to all, around the world.

The basic tenet of the proclamation of the Word is that it 'leads the preachers and the preached, the leaders and the led, the speakers and the audience alike to the paths of greater faith and acts of love and charity. One often wonders if the field of love and charity is still left barren in the sense that enough is not being done in this vital field of the missionary aspect. The proclamation of the Word is not a mere rigmarole; neither is it a misconception that the chosen ones are very superior to those others who are just the commoners or masses, vastly inferior. On the contrary, the proclamation is the knowledge of the Heavenly Father's love and its enjoyment; it is the understanding that all the people, irrespective of caste, creed, race and nation, are brothers and sisters; it is the readiness to extend a helping hand to others, especially those who are lowlier. Thus let our Conventions lead all to the fountains of eternal life, to the marvellous concept of universal brotherhood , and to a life of selfless service and sacrifice to humanity.

Many people ask about the meanings of the miracles described in the Testaments. To fully comprehend their meanings and implications, an in-depth study of the Bible, especially the New Testament, is essential.
"Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power, wonders, and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know." (Acts 2:22)

This quotation proves beyond any iota of doubt that the signs and miracles bear incontrovertible evidence to the proclamations Jesus made during the initial stages of the early Christianity. There are vivid descriptions of many miracles in the Bible, especially in the Testaments and the Acts of the Apostles. The Testaments record miracles in four categories - driving away of demons, healing, nature miracles, and resurrection of the dead. I addition to these, there are summary statements regarding miracles in these Holy Writs. The salvific message of Jesus and his disciples has been encapsuled as "the proclamation of the kingdom of God through healing (Lk. 6:17-19)

It would be quite relevant here to grasp the views on miracles as contained in the Old Testament. For a thing to be considered as a miracle, it does not have to be beyond the laws of nature or beyond the purview of scientific explanations. The writers of the Holy Writs do not take pains to distinguish between purely natural and supernatural phenomena. Anything in everyday life that emphatically proclaims the presence of God is a miracle. Many things that we may not consider as miracles are described as miracles in the Old Testament. For example, the giving of seasonal rains (Jer 5:24), giving the sun for lighting the day and the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night (Jer 31 :35), the regulating of days and nights and the giving of rules to the sky and earth - all these are done by the wonderful commands of the Lord and the psalmist has excellently described them (Ps 19: 1-4; 139: 17-18). This universe itself is a great book where we see the face of God. The Israelites perceive the touch of the hand of God even in the ordinary happenings of their everyday lives, in their little successes and failures and in their past histories. This is especially evident if one looks into the Old Testament Books like Exodus, Proverbs and Job. There is no need for a thing to be a miracle to have something supernatural or startling in it. Anything that makes people sit up and contemplate about the love of God and his divine presence is considered as a miracle in the Old Testament.

The question raised by the miracles in the Bible is not whether they are historically based or not, but what does God want us to understand from these miracles. What is the message He wants to convey to us through these miracles ? What does He require from us? These are the important questions that deserve our attention. It is because of this that Jesus has warned us not to believe those false prophets and false messiahs, at the end of the age, who will produce great signs and omens to lead people astray (Mt 24:24). Even those who cast out demons in the Lord's name and who wrought many miracles will be rejected by the Lord, if they did injustice (Mt7:22-23). Therefore, miracles by themselves may prove futile. Jesus has never performed miracles to satisfy the curiosity of people (Luke 23 :8-9). He has never performed any miracle for self advertisement or self-aggrandisement; no miracle had the motive of self-seeking. (Mt 27:42).

With the advent of Jesus, a new era and a new humankind also have arrived and this knowledge is essential for the correct understanding of the meaning of the miracles he performed. These miracles are an essential part and powerful symbols of this new era. Therefore the miracles of Jesus touch upon the various aspects of life. He continued on his onward march, healing the sick of various sorts, feeding the hungry, and giving sight to the blind - the blindness here includes both physical and spiritual blindness. He heralds the dawn of the new era by being victorious over nature, death, sin and demons. In the Bible we witness a Jesus who alleviates the pain and misery of the people, a Jesus who gives strength to the feeble-minded. We should see the power and might of the Lord above the creations. Whatever God the Father can do, the living Christ also could do. He has complete control over life in its various stages, states, and circumstances. In all those spheres, Jesus is our shelter, on whom we can unburden ourselves.

The miracles proclaim the arrival of the kingdom of God, and the era of Christ (Lk 11 : 20; Mt 11: 4-5). That is why St. Augustine boldly said "Facta Verbi Verba Sunt", meaning the acts of the Word are the Word itself. The miracles also stand as symbols of the personality and teachings of Christ. Their main purpose is to show the triumph over sin and Satan. In this sense, the miracles also can be seen as a show of strength (Dunamis) (e.g. Lk 6: 19, 8:46). However in the Gospel of John, the miracles are picturised as signs and symbols (Semeion) and also the work of the Father (ergon). John stressed the spiritual aspect of the miracles (Jn 9:35-41).

In short, the aim of the miracles of Jesus is to give us a fore-taste of Paradise. They stand as the fore-runners of the peace, order and universal brotherhood, devoid of bitterness and bickering, that would be made available to the human kind Their aim is spiritual transformation. If people refuse to realise this aim, they will become the symbols of Judgement and God's wrath (Lk 10:13-14; Mt 11:20-22, Jn 15:24). Those who stubbornly refuse to change, even the resurrection of the dead won't be convincing enough (Lk 16:31). We also see that the people who refused to grasp the deeper meanings of the miracles even left Jesus (Jn 6:66). Like the Word of God, miracles can also become a two-edged sword (Heb 4: 12).

In the 2nd Century A.D. some unauthentic writings came out. The descriptions of miracles as containing in these spurious accounts and the miracles Jesus performed as contain in the New Testament vastly differ from each other. The miracles as contained in unauthenticated versions are full of exaggerations and they don't convey the real message of the miracles. These versions even record miracles performed just for fun. Therefore the Church does not regard them as miracles. During the time of Jesus, even magicians used to exhibit magical shows. But the miracles of Jesus are entirely different from the shows performed by these magicians. Jesus performs miracles with his own power and authority without fanfare. Just a word from him is enough to cast away demons, to calm the turbulent sea and to resurrect the dead. A miracle that does not reveal itself symbol is no miracle at all. Since the miracles reveal the mystery of Christ, the incidents narrated in the Revelations are called Revelation Stories by the modern scholars. That the miracles don't have an apologetic purpose has been an acknowledge fact. But in the past people looked at miracles with this perspesctive in mind.

Miracles are also challenges to faith. Miracles become miracles only when these divine signs and symbols are seen through the eyes of faith. Since the people of Nazerath did not possess this special quality, Jesus would not perform miracles there (Mk 6:5-6). Although the pharisees witnessed the miracles and other divine symbols, they did not believe in Jesus (Jn. 12:37). "All things can be done for the one who believers" (Mk 9:23). Those look at the miracles without faith are like those watching a film without sound. Only those who emit the rays of faith can grasp and understand and be at the same wave length historian, scientist, Bible Scholar, or Hierarchs of the church to explain one hundred per cent the mystery of the miracles. Miracles are the Divine Revelations that are seen by the eyes of faith. Miracles themselves become the avenues of training in belief (Mt 8:23-27). "I believe; help my unbelief ! " (Mk 9:24). We should make this prayer our own. With those who believe there will always be signs and miracles (Mk 16:17-18). Only those who have the spiritual insight can view those. It is an unassailable fact that even today, in various places, in various individuals, miracles do happen as they used to happen at the time of Jesus and his apostles, leading the people to the salvific experience. There would hardly be anybody who has not experienced some form of miracle in their lives at some time. Even today people are in despair; many are wallowing in the mires of sins and diseases. Even those who regulate their lives through their horoscopes and 'star predictions' wandering hither and their for peace, want miracles to happen. Those who offer these people release, comfort, healing, sight, etc. are also miracle workers. Jesus is the life and resurrection of the believers. He is the one who cures their spiritual cataracts, leprosy, hepatitis, hunger, paralysis - maladies of all sorts. He is the shelter and heaven for those who are tossed by the roaring winds and the raging seas. He is the one who gives them triumph over vices and sins. He is the new wine of the New Testament; he is the never-drying fountain - this is the knowledge and experience that the miracles offer to the faithful. The ultimate aim of the miracles of Jesus is to give us the wonderful experience of Heavenly Bliss in God's Kingdom.

The Pope appointed Fr. Mathew Vaniakizhakkel of the Vincentian Order as the new bishop of Satna, in MadhyaPradesh. This appointment is done to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Mar Abraham Mattom.

Mar Abraham Mattom made the official announcement regarding the appointment during a meeting of special invitees in the St. Vincent Cathedral in Satna, in the evening of January 14, 2000.

The new bishop was born on 23 December 1945 in Vandamattom Parish in Kothamangalam diocese. His parents are Mr. Ulahannan Vaniakizhakkel and Mrs. Annamma Ulahannan. Later the family moved over to the parish or Kaithapara, due to change of residence. Mar Vaniakizhakkel had his priestly training in the Mangalapuzha Seminary, Aluva. He was ordained a priest in 1972. Later he was sent to Rome and from there he obtained a doctorate degree in the Science of Spirituality.

He has served in the Vincentian Vidya Bhavan and in the Vincentian Novitiates, in Aluva, Kerala . Then he spent most of his time in Northern India. He has served long periods in Satna, Kailaspur, Patheri and Riwa, all in Madhya Pradesh. He was the Provincial Superior for four years. His appointment took place while he was serving as the Rector of De Paul Institute in Bangalore.

Vachanotsavam wishes to congratulate the new Bishop and assures him of our prayers for his good health and success in his area of activity.

Many people ask about the meanings of the miracles described in the Testaments. To fully comprehend their meanings and implications, an in-depth study of the Bible, especially the New Testament, is essential.
"Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power, wonders, and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know." (Acts 2:22)

This quotation proves beyond any iota of doubt that the signs and miracles bear incontrovertible evidence to the proclamations Jesus made during the initial stages of the early Christianity. There are vivid descriptions of many miracles in the Bible, especially in the Testaments and the Acts of the Apostles. The Testaments record miracles in four categories - driving away of demons, healing, nature miracles, and resurrection of the dead. I addition to these, there are summary statements regarding miracles in these Holy Writs. The salvific message of Jesus and his disciples has been encapsuled as "the proclamation of the kingdom of God through healing (Lk. 6:17-19)

It would be quite relevant here to grasp the views on miracles as contained in the Old Testament. For a thing to be considered as a miracle, it does not have to be beyond the laws of nature or beyond the purview of scientific explanations. The writers of the Holy Writs do not take pains to distinguish between purely natural and supernatural phenomena. Anything in everyday life that emphatically proclaims the presence of God is a miracle. Many things that we may not consider as miracles are described as miracles in the Old Testament. For example, the giving of seasonal rains (Jer 5:24), giving the sun for lighting the day and the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night (Jer 31 :35), the regulating of days and nights and the giving of rules to the sky and earth - all these are done by the wonderful commands of the Lord and the psalmist has excellently described them (Ps 19: 1-4; 139: 17-18). This universe itself is a great book where we see the face of God. The Israelites perceive the touch of the hand of God even in the ordinary happenings of their everyday lives, in their little successes and failures and in their past histories. This is especially evident if one looks into the Old Testament Books like Exodus, Proverbs and Job. There is no need for a thing to be a miracle to have something supernatural or startling in it. Anything that makes people sit up and contemplate about the love of God and his divine presence is considered as a miracle in the Old Testament.

The question raised by the miracles in the Bible is not whether they are historically based or not, but what does God want us to understand from these miracles. What is the message He wants to convey to us through these miracles ? What does He require from us? These are the important questions that deserve our attention. It is because of this that Jesus has warned us not to believe those false prophets and false messiahs, at the end of the age, who will produce great signs and omens to lead people astray (Mt 24:24). Even those who cast out demons in the Lord's name and who wrought many miracles will be rejected by the Lord, if they did injustice (Mt7:22-23). Therefore, miracles by themselves may prove futile. Jesus has never performed miracles to satisfy the curiosity of people (Luke 23 :8-9). He has never performed any miracle for self advertisement or self-aggrandisement; no miracle had the motive of self-seeking. (Mt 27:42).

With the advent of Jesus, a new era and a new humankind also have arrived and this knowledge is essential for the correct understanding of the meaning of the miracles he performed. These miracles are an essential part and powerful symbols of this new era. Therefore the miracles of Jesus touch upon the various aspects of life. He continued on his onward march, healing the sick of various sorts, feeding the hungry, and giving sight to the blind - the blindness here includes both physical and spiritual blindness. He heralds the dawn of the new era by being victorious over nature, death, sin and demons. In the Bible we witness a Jesus who alleviates the pain and misery of the people, a Jesus who gives strength to the feeble-minded. We should see the power and might of the Lord above the creations. Whatever God the Father can do, the living Christ also could do. He has complete control over life in its various stages, states, and circumstances. In all those spheres, Jesus is our shelter, on whom we can unburden ourselves.

The miracles proclaim the arrival of the kingdom of God, and the era of Christ (Lk 11 : 20; Mt 11: 4-5). That is why St. Augustine boldly said "Facta Verbi Verba Sunt", meaning the acts of the Word are the Word itself. The miracles also stand as symbols of the personality and teachings of Christ. Their main purpose is to show the triumph over sin and Satan. In this sense, the miracles also can be seen as a show of strength (Dunamis) (e.g. Lk 6: 19, 8:46). However in the Gospel of John, the miracles are picturised as signs and symbols (Semeion) and also the work of the Father (ergon). John stressed the spiritual aspect of the miracles (Jn 9:35-41).

In short, the aim of the miracles of Jesus is to give us a fore-taste of Paradise. They stand as the fore-runners of the peace, order and universal brotherhood, devoid of bitterness and bickering, that would be made available to the human kind Their aim is spiritual transformation. If people refuse to realise this aim, they will become the symbols of Judgement and God's wrath (Lk 10:13-14; Mt 11:20-22, Jn 15:24). Those who stubbornly refuse to change, even the resurrection of the dead won't be convincing enough (Lk 16:31). We also see that the people who refused to grasp the deeper meanings of the miracles even left Jesus (Jn 6:66). Like the Word of God, miracles can also become a two-edged sword (Heb 4: 12).

In the 2nd Century A.D. some unauthentic writings came out. The descriptions of miracles as containing in these spurious accounts and the miracles Jesus performed as contain in the New Testament vastly differ from each other. The miracles as contained in unauthenticated versions are full of exaggerations and they don't convey the real message of the miracles. These versions even record miracles performed just for fun. Therefore the Church does not regard them as miracles. During the time of Jesus, even magicians used to exhibit magical shows. But the miracles of Jesus are entirely different from the shows performed by these magicians. Jesus performs miracles with his own power and authority without fanfare. Just a word from him is enough to cast away demons, to calm the turbulent sea and to resurrect the dead. A miracle that does not reveal itself symbol is no miracle at all. Since the miracles reveal the mystery of Christ, the incidents narrated in the Revelations are called Revelation Stories by the modern scholars. That the miracles don't have an apologetic purpose has been an acknowledge fact. But in the past people looked at miracles with this perspesctive in mind.

Miracles are also challenges to faith. Miracles become miracles only when these divine signs and symbols are seen through the eyes of faith. Since the people of Nazerath did not possess this special quality, Jesus would not perform miracles there (Mk 6:5-6). Although the pharisees witnessed the miracles and other divine symbols, they did not believe in Jesus (Jn. 12:37). "All things can be done for the one who believers" (Mk 9:23). Those look at the miracles without faith are like those watching a film without sound. Only those who emit the rays of faith can grasp and understand and be at the same wave length historian, scientist, Bible Scholar, or Hierarchs of the church to explain one hundred per cent the mystery of the miracles. Miracles are the Divine Revelations that are seen by the eyes of faith. Miracles themselves become the avenues of training in belief (Mt 8:23-27). "I believe; help my unbelief ! " (Mk 9:24). We should make this prayer our own. With those who believe there will always be signs and miracles (Mk 16:17-18). Only those who have the spiritual insight can view those. It is an unassailable fact that even today, in various places, in various individuals, miracles do happen as they used to happen at the time of Jesus and his apostles, leading the people to the salvific experience. There would hardly be anybody who has not experienced some form of miracle in their lives at some time. Even today people are in despair; many are wallowing in the mires of sins and diseases. Even those who regulate their lives through their horoscopes and 'star predictions' wandering hither and their for peace, want miracles to happen. Those who offer these people release, comfort, healing, sight, etc. are also miracle workers. Jesus is the life and resurrection of the believers. He is the one who cures their spiritual cataracts, leprosy, hepatitis, hunger, paralysis - maladies of all sorts. He is the shelter and heaven for those who are tossed by the roaring winds and the raging seas. He is the one who gives them triumph over vices and sins. He is the new wine of the New Testament; he is the never-drying fountain - this is the knowledge and experience that the miracles offer to the faithful. The ultimate aim of the miracles of Jesus is to give us the wonderful experience of Heavenly Bliss in God's Kingdom.

Many people ask about the meanings of the miracles described in the Testaments. To fully comprehend their meanings and implications, an in-depth study of the Bible, especially the New Testament, is essential.
"Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power, wonders, and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know." (Acts 2:22)

This quotation proves beyond any iota of doubt that the signs and miracles bear incontrovertible evidence to the proclamations Jesus made during the initial stages of the early Christianity. There are vivid descriptions of many miracles in the Bible, especially in the Testaments and the Acts of the Apostles. The Testaments record miracles in four categories - driving away of demons, healing, nature miracles, and resurrection of the dead. I addition to these, there are summary statements regarding miracles in these Holy Writs. The salvific message of Jesus and his disciples has been encapsuled as "the proclamation of the kingdom of God through healing (Lk. 6:17-19)

It would be quite relevant here to grasp the views on miracles as contained in the Old Testament. For a thing to be considered as a miracle, it does not have to be beyond the laws of nature or beyond the purview of scientific explanations. The writers of the Holy Writs do not take pains to distinguish between purely natural and supernatural phenomena. Anything in everyday life that emphatically proclaims the presence of God is a miracle. Many things that we may not consider as miracles are described as miracles in the Old Testament. For example, the giving of seasonal rains (Jer 5:24), giving the sun for lighting the day and the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night (Jer 31 :35), the regulating of days and nights and the giving of rules to the sky and earth - all these are done by the wonderful commands of the Lord and the psalmist has excellently described them (Ps 19: 1-4; 139: 17-18). This universe itself is a great book where we see the face of God. The Israelites perceive the touch of the hand of God even in the ordinary happenings of their everyday lives, in their little successes and failures and in their past histories. This is especially evident if one looks into the Old Testament Books like Exodus, Proverbs and Job. There is no need for a thing to be a miracle to have something supernatural or startling in it. Anything that makes people sit up and contemplate about the love of God and his divine presence is considered as a miracle in the Old Testament.

The question raised by the miracles in the Bible is not whether they are historically based or not, but what does God want us to understand from these miracles. What is the message He wants to convey to us through these miracles ? What does He require from us? These are the important questions that deserve our attention. It is because of this that Jesus has warned us not to believe those false prophets and false messiahs, at the end of the age, who will produce great signs and omens to lead people astray (Mt 24:24). Even those who cast out demons in the Lord's name and who wrought many miracles will be rejected by the Lord, if they did injustice (Mt7:22-23). Therefore, miracles by themselves may prove futile. Jesus has never performed miracles to satisfy the curiosity of people (Luke 23 :8-9). He has never performed any miracle for self advertisement or self-aggrandisement; no miracle had the motive of self-seeking. (Mt 27:42).

With the advent of Jesus, a new era and a new humankind also have arrived and this knowledge is essential for the correct understanding of the meaning of the miracles he performed. These miracles are an essential part and powerful symbols of this new era. Therefore the miracles of Jesus touch upon the various aspects of life. He continued on his onward march, healing the sick of various sorts, feeding the hungry, and giving sight to the blind - the blindness here includes both physical and spiritual blindness. He heralds the dawn of the new era by being victorious over nature, death, sin and demons. In the Bible we witness a Jesus who alleviates the pain and misery of the people, a Jesus who gives strength to the feeble-minded. We should see the power and might of the Lord above the creations. Whatever God the Father can do, the living Christ also could do. He has complete control over life in its various stages, states, and circumstances. In all those spheres, Jesus is our shelter, on whom we can unburden ourselves.

The miracles proclaim the arrival of the kingdom of God, and the era of Christ (Lk 11 : 20; Mt 11: 4-5). That is why St. Augustine boldly said "Facta Verbi Verba Sunt", meaning the acts of the Word are the Word itself. The miracles also stand as symbols of the personality and teachings of Christ. Their main purpose is to show the triumph over sin and Satan. In this sense, the miracles also can be seen as a show of strength (Dunamis) (e.g. Lk 6: 19, 8:46). However in the Gospel of John, the miracles are picturised as signs and symbols (Semeion) and also the work of the Father (ergon). John stressed the spiritual aspect of the miracles (Jn 9:35-41).

In short, the aim of the miracles of Jesus is to give us a fore-taste of Paradise. They stand as the fore-runners of the peace, order and universal brotherhood, devoid of bitterness and bickering, that would be made available to the human kind Their aim is spiritual transformation. If people refuse to realise this aim, they will become the symbols of Judgement and God's wrath (Lk 10:13-14; Mt 11:20-22, Jn 15:24). Those who stubbornly refuse to change, even the resurrection of the dead won't be convincing enough (Lk 16:31). We also see that the people who refused to grasp the deeper meanings of the miracles even left Jesus (Jn 6:66). Like the Word of God, miracles can also become a two-edged sword (Heb 4: 12).

In the 2nd Century A.D. some unauthentic writings came out. The descriptions of miracles as containing in these spurious accounts and the miracles Jesus performed as contain in the New Testament vastly differ from each other. The miracles as contained in unauthenticated versions are full of exaggerations and they don't convey the real message of the miracles. These versions even record miracles performed just for fun. Therefore the Church does not regard them as miracles. During the time of Jesus, even magicians used to exhibit magical shows. But the miracles of Jesus are entirely different from the shows performed by these magicians. Jesus performs miracles with his own power and authority without fanfare. Just a word from him is enough to cast away demons, to calm the turbulent sea and to resurrect the dead. A miracle that does not reveal itself symbol is no miracle at all. Since the miracles reveal the mystery of Christ, the incidents narrated in the Revelations are called Revelation Stories by the modern scholars. That the miracles don't have an apologetic purpose has been an acknowledge fact. But in the past people looked at miracles with this perspesctive in mind.

Miracles are also challenges to faith. Miracles become miracles only when these divine signs and symbols are seen through the eyes of faith. Since the people of Nazerath did not possess this special quality, Jesus would not perform miracles there (Mk 6:5-6). Although the pharisees witnessed the miracles and other divine symbols, they did not believe in Jesus (Jn. 12:37). "All things can be done for the one who believers" (Mk 9:23). Those look at the miracles without faith are like those watching a film without sound. Only those who emit the rays of faith can grasp and understand and be at the same wave length historian, scientist, Bible Scholar, or Hierarchs of the church to explain one hundred per cent the mystery of the miracles. Miracles are the Divine Revelations that are seen by the eyes of faith. Miracles themselves become the avenues of training in belief (Mt 8:23-27). "I believe; help my unbelief ! " (Mk 9:24). We should make this prayer our own. With those who believe there will always be signs and miracles (Mk 16:17-18). Only those who have the spiritual insight can view those. It is an unassailable fact that even today, in various places, in various individuals, miracles do happen as they used to happen at the time of Jesus and his apostles, leading the people to the salvific experience. There would hardly be anybody who has not experienced some form of miracle in their lives at some time. Even today people are in despair; many are wallowing in the mires of sins and diseases. Even those who regulate their lives through their horoscopes and 'star predictions' wandering hither and their for peace, want miracles to happen. Those who offer these people release, comfort, healing, sight, etc. are also miracle workers. Jesus is the life and resurrection of the believers. He is the one who cures their spiritual cataracts, leprosy, hepatitis, hunger, paralysis - maladies of all sorts. He is the shelter and heaven for those who are tossed by the roaring winds and the raging seas. He is the one who gives them triumph over vices and sins. He is the new wine of the New Testament; he is the never-drying fountain - this is the knowledge and experience that the miracles offer to the faithful. The ultimate aim of the miracles of Jesus is to give us the wonderful experience of Heavenly Bliss in God's Kingdom.

The glorification of God is are peated theme in theGospel of St. Luke. The very purpose of healing is the glorification of God. This idea is made abundantly clear by Luke while describing the coming of Christ to the Mount of Olives..."as he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the followers began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen" (Lk 19:37).

It is recorded that the people praised and glorified God when Jesus healed the paralyzed man brought on a bed (Lk 5:24-26), when he raised from death the son of the widow of Nain (Lk 7:16), when He cured the stooping woman crippled by a spirit (Lk 13:13-17) and when he restored sight to the blind man (Lk 18:42,43).

Jesus had desired that all those who were healed must praise and glorify God. When only one out the of ten lepers He had cured had come back to express his gratitude, Jesus asked, "Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" (Lk. 17:17,18).

A primary aim of Jesus in raising Lazarus from death was the glorification of God. When he came to know about the illness of Lazrus, Jesus said, "This illness does not lead to death; rather it is for God's glory, so that the son of God may be glorified through it" (Jn. 11:140) Lazarus's return to life points to another matter. Jesus is the resurrection and life. But the paramount purpose of the miracles was the glorification of God. In fact there is no contradiction between the two purposes. By raising Lazarus from the dead, Jesus was proving that he is the resurrection and life, and through that brought about glory to God and the Son of God.

We can see that some objectives marked the miraculous healing acts performed by the apostles. After healing the lame man at the gate of the temple called Beautiful Gate, this is what Peter said, "The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our ancestors has glorified his servant" (Acts 4:21).

The reaction of the multitude that witnessed the miracles performed by Jesus was natural . They all praised and glorified the God of Israel. When Jesus wrought the miracle at Cana, changing water into wine, John records that "Jesus did this, the first of his signs", in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory and his disciples believed in him. (Jn. 2:11). All these healing and miracles were performed not just to conform the authenticity of Jesus alone but to glorify God the Father and the son of God.

God's mercy is as important an aspect to be contemplated as His glorification. It was this mercy that caused Jesus to perform many of the healings and other miraculous deeds. In the New Testament, we read many instances of healings, and they happened because of the mercy and pity of God, for the suffering men and women. The pain and suffering which he witnessed while walking on the high ways of Palestine, touched his noble heart. He did not turn away from the lepers with hatred and contempt. He healed them by placing his hands on their open wounds. His heart pained when he saw the funeral procession of the only son of the hapless widow. When people brought to him the blind, the lame and the handicapped, he cured them of their afflictions . What he gave them was not lesson in morals and religions, but healing.

The mercy of Jesus shown towards the sick and suffering had many practical potentialities. Very often our incentive to pray for cures of maladies is simply our desire to witness a supernatural phenomenon taking place. But this is not the reason for the healings we read in the New Testament. It is simply the infinite mercy of Jesus. If we can experience the same sympathy that Jesus had for the afflicted, we too can become the instruments of healing. So to be participants in the healing process we should pray God to give us the same empathy that Jesus had for the sick and suffering.

We are like a baby lying in the womb. The baby in the womb gives a lot of pain and anxiety to its mother. We also give pain to God. We are those that took away the life of His only Son, even then our heavenly Father comforts us in our pains. He doesn't want to lose even "One of these little ones" (Mt. 18:6) Therefore God, in his infinite mercy, takes upon himself our pains and wishes to give us healings. That is why the Hebrites compared the mercy o God to that of the womb.

It is this mercy in Jesus that made Him heal the lepers (Mark 1:41,42), cast away the evil spirit from the boy (Mark 9:22), restored the sight of the blind man (Mt. 20:34) and raised the dead man (Lk. 7:11-17). When Jesus gave bread to four hundred people, as we read in the gospel of Mathew, he was not trying to prove that he is the living bread, but because of his pity for them (Mt 15:32). In the same way he gave sight to the blind man (Mt. 9:27-37,20:29-34), healed the one afflicted by demon (Mt. 15;22-28, 17:14-21), cured the leper (Lk 17:13,14) because he listened mercifully to their prayers for cure. The same infinite mercy of God is exemplified in the healing of the person possessed by demons (Mk. 5:19), as we read in the New Testament.

The New Testament records that faith has a big role to play in the healing process. God responds positively to prayers done with good faith. In this connection, three incidents, from the healings that Jesus performed, need special mention.

Once two blind men came to Jesus hoping to get their sights restored. Jesus asked them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" (Mt. 9:28). This question of Christ not only reveals the necessity to have faith for healings to take place, but also about the faith itself. If one believes that God can heal, it means that he believes in the ability of God to give him bliss.

In the second instance, a leper came to Jesus and said, "Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean" (Mt. 8:2). He had complete faith in the ability of Jesus to make him clean. But, in spite of his faith, he had added, "if you choose" To effect the healing, God expects from us not only our psychological belief that he can do it, but also in His benevolence to effect such healings. It is a knowledge and understanding that God loves his children and he will give them the necessary healings when they are in need of them.

In chapter 9 of the Gospel of Mark, there is the story of epileptic boy who gets cured and this shows us another aspect of faith. The father of the afflicted boy took him to the disciples of Jesus. But they could not heal the boy. This must have adversely affected the faith of the father. However he went to Jesus and told him, "If you are able to do anything , have pity on us and help us. "This is what Jesus replied, "If you are able; All things can be done for the one who believes" (Mk 9:22,23) Jesus had always taught this principle. Jesus had not set a limit to what we can request from God. Why should there be a limit for God's powers?

So, in our faith, there are three things that we should note:

1. When we believe in the ability of Jesus to give us healings, we are also to believe that he can give us the bliss of joy and happiness.

2. We don't have to look at the ability of Jesus to heal, through strict psychological and scientific perspectives. Even in unexpected circumstances he can give healings.

3. For God, the degree of faith is immaterial when he works for his children "All things can be done for the one who believes". Thus we can see that the healings of God are rooted in the glorification of Himself and his Son, in the infinite mercy He feels for the suffering, and in our earnest and living faith. So our desire to heal and bless is an integral part of the nature of God.

The Holy Writs however, point out some other reasons as well for the healings. One of them is repentance and the readying of the path for the spreading of the Gospel. God removes the impediments and obstacles on the path of preaching the Gospel by healing. To know God and his kingdom from close quarters, He gives miraculous cures for diseases. They also indicate that God's kingdom is near at hand. He heals us, paying heed to our supplications He also heals for reasons only known and revealed to Him, in His infinite wisdom.

All these are part of the nature of God and His limitless objectives. Amongst the early chosen people, he had performed miraculous healings and even now they continue. Each of the facts related to healings recorded in the Holy writs is most valuable even today. If Jesus and his disciples performed healings among people of those days, even now this process is continuing. When we pray sincerely and earnestly for the sick and the suffering, we can still witness miraculous healings taking place in our midst through the mercy of our great Lord.

Many people may wonder, when they hear the loud singing of Hallelujah during charismatic conventions and retreats, "Why do people sing so sloudly? Is to awaken God who is asleep in the heaven?" Psalm 46:10 advises us : "Be still, and know that I am God". But in many other places we are asked to praise God with loud voices. Revelations 19:6-7 tell us that in the Heavens the praises of the Lord sound 'like " the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty thunder peals". "Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the sound of many waters and like the soiled of mighty thunderpeals, crying out Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory." This shows that when we experience the presence of God we will praise him loudly, with all our might. The Hebrew word Hallelujah means "Praises to you, O Lord ".

When we praise God loudly, we will experience the same thrill that the blessed souls experience when they praise God in the company of the angels in Heaven. We are praising that God who ensures his presence as Jesus promised - "Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them" (Mt. 18:20) and we strongly believe in his promise. The prophet Isiah tells us : - "Shout aloud and sing for joy, O royal Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel " (Is 12:6). When we are excited with joy and happiness, we make use of all our faculties - we shout, we clap. This should be the case even when we pray. Pslam 150:5 exhorts us - "Praise him with clanging cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals." Tobit 13:6 asks us "Acknowledge him at the top of your voice". Again, the Apostle Paul exhorts us - "I desire, then, that in every place the men should pray, lifting up holy hands" (1 Tim 2:8). Nobody asks people with no hands to clang the cymbals or to lift up their hands when praying. The dumb are not asked to sing praises. But those who can speak should use their voice to praise God, and those who have hands must use them to clang the cymbais and to lift them while praises are sung to God. When we feel ashamed to do these things, we are refusing to acknowledge the mercy of God who blessed us with these faculties.

We should be able to lift our hands, hearts, our minds and our bodies to God. When a small child desires his parents to take him up and carry him, he lifts both his hands to express his wish. He does not hang his hands down . Only when he lifts both his hands his father can take him up and give him loving kisses. Then that child will be safe from all dangers. In the Book of Daniel, Chapter 3, we read that the three youths were not burned when they praised God, although they were enveloped by fire. When Paul and Silas , when they were in prison, praised God the doors of the prison opened wide and their chains were unfastened (Acts 16:25-27).

Wherever God is praised, He is present. We should pray God to give us a heart which praises Him not only in our moments of joy and happiness, but also in our pains, miseries, and calamities. Let us lift our hands and sing Hallelujah!

In finding the goodness of God, we should find the meaning of life; when problems arise we make God the culprit. Job's wife said, "Curse God and die"(Job 2:9). That woman considered God responsible for their tribulations. She lost faith in the goodness of God. In fact it is the faith in the goodness God that sustains life when threatened by trials. Job's wife is an example for this. Ordinary people desire three things - wealth, dear and near ones, health. Job lost all these things simultaneously (Job 1: 13-19). He lost his wealth; his children died. He was abandoned even by his wife. Afflicted by loathsome sores from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head, he sat among ashes, scraping himself with a potsherd (Job 2:7-8). Even in his extremely worse plight, it was Job's firm faith in the goodness of God that sustained him. He told his wife :you speak as any foolish woman would speak. Shall we receive the good as the Lord of God, and not receive the bad? (Job 2 :10). This is the example of Job which is worth emulating. In spite of the various miseries, he never lost faith in the goodness of God. So God restored twice as much as he had before (Job 42:10). Whatever happens, never lose faith in the goodness of the Lord, because Lord always wishes the welfare of man. It is that faith that is essential for life. We should not measure God's deeds, by the same yardstick we use for measuring man's deeds.

The story of Joseph (Gen.45) is not different. Although he was innocent, he was sold as a slave. Although he did not involve in sinful activities, he was jailed. But he never accused God or anybody for his plight. When he prospered, we see him looking back and considering his misfortunes as part of the scheme made ready for him by God. The scenes where his brothers stand stunned and distressed when he reveals himself come vivid before our eyes. He says "I am your brother Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. And now do not be distressed, or angry with yourself, because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to prepare life (Gen. 45:4-5). Joseph was able to face each challenge because he had abiding faith in the infinite goodness of God. He asserted: "Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good" (Gen. 50:20). Optimism and hope in life are themselves a manifestation of the faith in God's goodness. When one loses that faith life becomes unbearable, resulting in despair, restlessness, depression and suicidal tendencies.

Conversions, miracles, and divine signs are meant to deepen faith and to enliven hope. We have just stepped into the third millennium and the Great Jubilee and during this special period let the miracles and signs, which are symbols of Divine goodness, be the root cause of flourishing faith in our hearts. Listen to St. Paul "We know that all things work together for those who love God" (Rom. 8:28).

December1,1979 I got up early in the morning,had a dip in the cool water of Muvattupuzha river and with an expectant heart I reached Vellurkunnam Shivan temple. The priest in charge there gave me a rudrakshamala after the necessary poojas and when I wore it around my neck I felt a lot of pride and joy.

I was born and brought up as a Christian and now I have acquired the guts to renounce Christianity and to expose its hollowness to the world.

'I have now finally discovered the ancient Hindu religion and I felt proud to belong to it.

As a boy, I played more in the church compound than I played in our courtyard. I was an altar boy and was an object of praise by many. Now I have put on the 'mala' in preparation to my pilgrimage to Sabarimala. The news spread like wildfire in and around the Parish. Many could not believe it.

Many knitted their eyebrows at the news. What happened to me, they asked. I, who was planning and hoping to become a priest; I, who was keen on following meticulously my religious obligations, - I should change like this! They just could not stomach it. I simply pitied those who asked me such questions. I thought of them as helplessly ignorant people who have been caught in the web of heredity and tradition. Poor fellows, I thought.

It was compulsory in my house that all the children read at least one chapter of the Bible after the church bell tolled for vespers. Our grandfather attentively listened, Iying in his bed, to the reading of the Bible by the children in turn. When all the others thought about this reading as a great nuisance, for me it was a highly pleasurable and intoxicating experience. Not only that I enjoyed very much the reading of the Bible, sitting alone in the night. I did not understand many things I read. But some unknown power was persuading me to read it. Thus by the time I was in Standard IV, I had read everything in the Bible from Genesis to Revelations, although I did not grasp the meaning of many things I read. When my grandfather said that I would be allowed to become a priest I was overjoyed. But many things happened making me change my decision.

When my father died in 1972, my mind became full of doubts about God. What is life? Why should we live? Is there a heaven or a hell? All these doubts tormented me.

The insecurity that enveloped our household after the untimely death of my father made my heart restless. In those very days another incident also took place that gave a mortal blow to my belief in Christianity and shook my faith to the roots.

I was born and brought up as a Jacobite and I had witnessed the many internecine, sectarian quarrels that rocked the Jacobite Christians. I saw how the bishops, priests and laymen divided themselves into distinct groups and, were fighting tooth and nail against each other. Some were in the Patriarchies group whereas the others paid their allegiance to the Catholicose group. People who go the church to pray and to take part in the holy mass are fighting in front of the altar, hurling abuses at one another; police are on guard while church services are conducted - all these unchristian happenings drove a wedge between me and my faith in the church and Jesus. Even then I strongly believed in a Creator. I was keen on discovering that Creator. But there was nobody with whom I could share my thoughts or turn to for advice. My only sources were books. I read about subjects my agemates would never think of reading. I forgot to play, to laugh, and to make friends. Books became my only friends.

Extensive reading made me even more restless. New doubts; new questions. I could not find any answers to my doubts and questions. I got a job after my college life, but my problems, my restlessness and my anxieties, were on the increase. I used to go to river banks and forests, ruminating, contemplating and I used to sit for hours immersed in deep thoughts. I spent all the salary I received in procuring more books. The subjects that captivated me were psychology, philosophy and occultism. My knowledge could lead me nowhere. My personal relations were absolutely superficial. I neither could love anybody sincerely nor could I receive love. I was a slave to a debilitating inferiority complex and meaningless fear. I could find no meaning in anything - a situation fraught with despair.

It was under these circumstances that I met a swamy, who gave me "Bhagwat Gita" as a gift. It led me to the ideologies of Hindu philosophy. I discovered some interesting new things in it. I have been repeatedly told by Hindu philosophers, Hindu friends and Hindu publications that Christianity is a religion that exaggerates the horrible punishments that await one in hell and that all men are sinners. And I felt them right. Gradually Gita became my Bible. I became a regular visitor to the Muvattupuzha temples. Thus I wore the "mala" in preparation to my intended pilgrimage to Sabarimala, on 1 December, 1979.

For 40 days, I continued getting up early in the morning and after taking a dip in the Muvattupazha river, I went to the temple for the pooja. I strictly observed the mandatory fast and abstinence. I expected that through the visit to Sabarimala, I will have some deep experience of god-head in me. With a lot of expectations, I washed myself in the Pampa river and with incantations of "saranam" I climbed the hill. When I stood amongst the thousands, the saranam calls echoing in my ears, I felt some kind of intoxication. But when I returned, I was sorely disappointed. I failed to get the power of the godly experience and the freedom it offers. My achievements in that pilgrimage were the intoxication of the incantations of saranam calls, and the quietitude brought about by strict fast and abstinence.

When I was doing the "ateendriya dhyanam" in the courtyard of the Advaitashramam in Aluva, I was hankering after the godly experience. When this meditation began, I used to feel a cool comfort in me. But nothing else was received by that dhyanam. Then I had a one-year long yoga training and I had expected there would be some positive transformation in my life. But my hopes never fruitioned.

Finally when I came to live in a village in Malabar for professional reasons, I felt happy that I was away from the suffocating hustle and bustle of city life. I was a lonely figure in my office and also in my lodge, living without any express aim in my life. Then through some poor people, the light of God illuminated my otherwise meaningless life.

I used to think that charismatic retreats are simply "crazy things" that were not meant for intellectuals. But, then, one day I went to a charismatic prayer meeting with a friend just to while away some time. Through the group assembled there I saw the love and power of God. Many sick people, abandoned by medical science branding them to be beyond any chance of recovery, were getting healed. I witnessed many alcohol and drug addicts getting freed from their bondage to these vices, through the powerful prayers of the poor, simple people assembled there. I was touched by their oneness in praising and glorifying God, just like the early Christian Church members. They prayed for me, too, and they pointed out to me the incidents in my life, through the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit had revealed to them the wounds I sustained and the mistakes I committed. For me, it was a brand new experience.

I realised that Jesus is very much alive today and he is also working today. I felt sorry for the years I had abandoned him. I prayed sincerely and tearfully for a re-unification with him. Then in April, 1982, during a charismatic retreat at Talassery Sandesh Bhavan, I dedicated my life to Jesus. He forgave me when I repented. He filled me with his spirit. I received joy, peace and hope that I had never experienced in all my life. My attitudes towards life and other related matters underwent a sea-change.

"There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved," (Acts, 4:12). I was absolutely convinced.

Subsequent years were full of miraculous happenings. I was a bundle of inferiority complex, but the good Lord called me to preach His Gospel. From Marthandam in Kanyakumari district to Kasargod, I have been preaching to many thousands about the love of God and the salvation offered by Jesus Christ. And this, I strongly believe, is a great luck. I became God's instrument in comforting the heart-broken and healing the afflicted.

During my onward march, I have often missed my path; I have been led astray; I have stumbled and fallen. I have also passed through stages of pain and disappointment . I have often experienced solitude and I have often been made the butt of ridicule. But from all these, the Lord has been kind enough to protect me. "But you have exalted my horn like that of the wild ox; you have poured over me fresh oil," (Ps. 92:10).

I have met a number of people during the past few years who want to grow in their spirituality but are unable to do so and continue living in misery. I have also met people who wanted to climb high but stumbled and fell down and are unable to rise up. Through sharing the understanding and experience that the Lord gave me with those unfortunate brethren, I wish that their lives become more meaningful and blessed. "Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the LORD." (Ps. 31:24)"The LORD has been mindful of us; he will bless us," (Ps. 15: 12).

The Eucharistic Thapovan Ashram of Nellippara declares an utter change in the existing norms. This Ashram is not just a haven and shelter for the rejected and helpless in the society. It wants to mould a society which will not allow anybody to wander in the streets as orphans and unwanted beings. It envisages a society that brings back the spirit of the early Christian communities where all property was held in common. An inhabitant of Nellippara whose name is Kodakanadi Sebastian gave the lead in this way of thinking by donating his house and land. Some others followed suit and gave away their properties and belongings for common use. It is in these premises that the Ashram is located and where these people who gave away their houses and properties live. The Ashram is lucky to have the patronage and support of Fr. George Kuttikkal. The Ashram is situated in Kannur district, on the Thaliparambu-Alakod, Cherupuzha route, between Alakod and Therthally.

Fr. George Kuttikkal has organized a special retreat christened THE HARD TAPASYA strictly for those who have taken part in the Mission Training Retreat for the Birds of Air at Chennaipara. The priority items here are the Holy Mass, Listening to the Word of God, and Prayers. Food and other routine matters are given only secondary attention. The participants here take just two simple meals a day in earthernware, to remind themselves of the plight of the street-children. The faces of the participants reflect not the pain of imitating the orphaned and hapless, but they reflect the radiance of satisfaction at being able to assimilate the suffering of the poor destitute. The service for the Birds of the Air is mainly concentrated in a place called Naikuttypara, not far from here.

In the Ashram one can find people wearing sack clothes. When the society at large spends lavishly on clothing and other luxury material, like thoughtless prodigals, the inmates of this Ashram want to follow the ways of the destitute. They kiss one another's feet proclaiming that they are better than themselves. The entire compound is dotted by tiny huts, dispensing different services. One of the huts is an office. Here you see a brother and sister busy in making rosaries. The rosaries are meant for the participants in the retreat. The thatched-roof shed, where the retreat is conducted, has rosaries and booklets which come free to the participants. Anybody can take it away without paying anything. If you can afford to pay, put whatever you want in the plate near the stack. That is all. This is a rare scene where you witness how an individual's efforts are converted for the good of the community, based on the teachings of the Gospel, making people broad-minded and generous-hearted.

"This is not just generosity, but duty," says Fr. George Kuttikkal. The issue here is obligation. Those who own houses have obligations to the homeless; those who have enough to eat have obligations to the starving; those who have clothes to wear have responsibilities to those who don't have anything to wear; the healthy are obliged to the sick; the employed can't forget their obligations to the unemployed; The free can't ignore the slaves; those who have heard the Good News have responsibilities towards those who have never heard of the Gospel . The Word of God points fingers to highlight these obligations. So this is not our generosity, our goodwill gesture, but it is our responsibility and their right.

The Friends of the Birds of Air (F.B.A.) are running some houses for the poor and they are following the Nellippara model. A glowing example is the "Pratyasha Bhavan" in Malayidamthuruth. There brother Varghese requested for and obtained barren lands from landlords and these lands have been brought under cultivation. The crops produced from these lands are distributed among the poor. The brotherhood here is enjoying the gratification of collective ownership and co-operative working and management. In this way the Friends of the Air and the workers together become builders of the kingdom of God in the Church and with the Church. (Is 37: 1-14)

We have to make sure that nobody is in a similar miserable plight as that of the traveller who was attacked and wounded by robbers and left dying on the roadside, during his journey from Jerusalem to Jericho. When we all can do that, the inequalities and evils that plague our society will disappear. When the followers of Christ insist on not demanding or taking any dowry, the dowry system will slowly vanish. In the Nellippara community, many showed this exemplary behaviour by not taking dowries. When such things are done, selfishness evaporates, and the horizon of love and brotherhood expands, starting from us and our families. Only when we can pinpoint to our children and cite concrete examples, this model will be emulated by others. Actions speak louder than words. Practice takes precedence over precepts. Vicious paths are abandoned and virtuous paths followed. Thus a new heaven and a new earth, based on divine justice, come into existence and flourish. The ideals and yardsticks of Jesus reflect even in our personal attitudes and our personality.

In our frantic search for safety, security and material prosperity, the Word of God is utterly forgotten. With all our back-breaking efforts to possess and enjoy the luxuries provided by the modern age, what we ultimately get is an atmosphere enveloped by insurmountable problems, restlessness, pains of various sorts, despair, utter lack of peace. But when a society is led by Christ, that society enjoys the security, riches, and brotherhood of Christ. When our hearth is warm that warmth is to be shared not only by the inmates of that family, but also by those who enter that house. When food is cooked in the house, it is not just for the members of that family, but it is also for the guests that come in. The camps of Nellippara Ashram are living examples of this love and brotherhood and it is this message that they want to proclaim.

The inmates of these camps have been the free birds of the street, who were enjoying the immense freedom available there. So no amount of material comfort could force them to stay huddled in these camps, just like no bird would like to stay even in a golden cage studded with the choicest fruits and grains. "It is the Word of God that gives these people strength, that cleanses and sanctifies them ," Fr. Kuttikkal concludes.

Discernment is a grace that is essential for the life of faith and an abiding and sustaining quality in the faithful. This is called 'The grace of graces', 'The Mother of graces' by teachers and scholars. This is a blessing that can be used whenever necessary. Because of that special nature, this grace vanishes as soon as the immediate need is fulfilled. Since this discernment has implications related to God, the Church, the individual and the society, often there is complexity and conflict in its use. Prayerful waiting, therefore, is an integral part of this blessing of discernment. This grace saves the faithful from the dangerous pitfalls of natural failures, deliberate mistakes and other human frailties. Rejecting the past and unmindful of the future, the world is rapidly changing. It is only through the gift of discernment that one will be able to distinguish between the good and the bad contained in the new and old, conventional and progressive ways of thinking. In other words, discernment is essential to diligently follow the paths and deeds of Jesus. It is the sine-qua-non for proper love, open-minded approach, and understanding of even oneself, one's fellow creatures, one's circumstances and environment and God himself.

In the Old Testament, discernment is not a topic that is clearly defined. The Israelites had understood the existence of the soul at different levels (1 Sam 11:6; 14-23; Num 11:17-25) and they had tried to understand it. The Old Testament, however, talks about the yardsticks to differentiate between real the fake prophets (Jer 23:28, Amo 7:7; Is 6:1). This knowledge can be considered as the first step towards insight. The subject of Discernment, Understanding, which was left vague in the Old Testament has been amply clarified in the New Testament. The New Testament makes it abundantly clear that for a mature Christian life, discernment is unavoidable. "Test everything," (2 Thes 5:19-21). "Your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you determine what is best" (Phil 1:9-11). "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God - what is good and acceptable and perfect" (Rom 12:2). Through all the above quoted messages, St. Paul points to us the significance of the blessing of discernment.

The best example of discernment is Jesus himself, as Jonsobrino points out. The fountain - spring of his power of discernment came from his Abba experience. Based on this insight, Jesus could make revolutionary use of two powerful words - "No" and "Yes". His determination to say 'No' to anything that undermined his divinity, humanity or universality remains the basic tenet of this discernment (Lk 4:1-17). The other side of his discernment consisted of his 'Yes' to undergo till the very climax the various stages of his loving sacrifice (Mt 26:36-46). It is the Jesus Christ of the New Testament that is the criterion for judging the deeds of the faithful, based on their grace of Understanding, which the Holy Spirit enables the faithful to achieve.

The grace of discernment is a gift that the Holy Spirit graciously grants to the believers. It is an experience of the Holy Spirit in oneself. J.M. Catello defines the gift of discernment as the ability to discriminate the various experiences of life. Some of our experiences are ordained by God, but some do come from the Devil. With proper insight, we can distinguish the sources of our experiences and then accept or reject them accordingly.

Put it in other words, the gift of discernment enables us to know what will be pleasing to God, and how we must behave, in a given situation. Through this we are able to find out the most appropriate things for the founding of the kingdom of God and to grow in the love of God, Man and Nature. Through this precious gift, the believer is able to enhance the blessings he received from God, through Jesus, and to bear witness to Him beyond the limitations imposed by time and distance.

Challenges and criticisms are an integral part of discernment. As this discernment is diluted by our human nature, it is not necessary that the decisions taken are 100 percent correct or sure of success. In other words any decision, although taken through discernment, may carry with it possible shortcomings. So there could be serious challenges to put these decisions into practice. It is because the existing conditions, rules and regulations, cultural background and so on, might put obstacles on the way of executing the decisions. Serious criticisms, hostile attitudes and even attacks can impede one in converting his decisions into practical projects. Even death cannot be ruled out, if one insists on carrying out his decisions. Here Jesus, who accepts and thus suffers the verdict of the Father, is an example to the believer.

Reactions should not be looked at as stumbling blocks that deter us from following the righteous path. Decisions should be taken, through insight, with a view to convert them into practical realities. Sr. Paula was the inmate of a convent and has been working as a teacher for long. She had a deep desire to help the spiritually wounded, through counselling so that she could help them in the healing process. She prayed for long. She consulted the authorities. But they refused to allow her to leave the teaching job. But Sr. Paula was determined. Objections poured in from all sides. But Paula stood steadfast in her decision which she thought to be God-ordained. She gave her resignation after a wait of one year. Then she went into the streets to daub balms and ointments to the wounds of the sick The objections slowly died down. Today she is contented and lives in her own convent, happy in the realization that she has been able to satisfy her heart's desire. In this context blessed souls like St. Francis of Assisi, who gave the clothes he was wearing to the poor and spent a life in their service, and Mother Theresa, who left the security of a cloistered nun to become the comforter of Calcutta's poor, deserve mention.

If we remain afraid of limitations and worried about objections, we shall never be able to grow, and make others grow, from Christ the Alpha to Christ the Omega. While discussing the moral aspect of discernment, Rene Simoen says that discernment should go beyond our closed ideologies and value systems if we are to carry out our decisions which may not be in consonance with the present codes defining right and wrong. We are further handicapped by the fact that our choices are limited. This going beyond is a painful move. It is an attack. It may not always necessarily conform to our social background and our past. But to live a life of faith we need courage, the courage of the children of God, the courage to go forward, looking intently to the tomorrows, not buried in the dead yesterdays and not chained by the debilitating todays. The followers of Christ can't be cowards! Far from it!

Proper Insight is a process in the Holy Spirit. One should assess, in the background and light of prayers, the matter to be considered in its various ramifications: its circumstances, its historical background, its relevance in today's context, tomorrow's reactions, and the good and bad that would emanate from it for self and society. Let us take an example. Imagine that a College has to be closed down. Then one has to think about and make proper assessment of the students' future, the condition of the staff there, the problems that would come up in the homes in that area, the ill-effect it would cause on the Christian way of life there, etc. Sobrino asserts - If the matter, on which one needs Insight, is approached with a clear conscience, is observed thoroughly, and studied carefully, proper and just decisions can be taken without being accused of prejudices, predilections or partialities.

It is not enough to have an adequate study of the matter for Insight, but there should also be adequate prayer. Prayers not only release the individual from the bondage to the matter for which Insight is sought, but they also will bring him nearer God. When an individual prays for a special cause, with definite time limits, he becomes free both externally and internally. It is necessary to listen to and note down the internal pulsations that occur during this special prayer period. These internal throbs can be very similar to the waves of the sea, high and low, strong or light. According to the study made by St. Ignatius Loyolla, the thought that is abiding is the one that is coming from God. For example, let us say, that one is seeking Insight to decide whether he should marry or become a priest. He should consider the good things and the bad things, and the challenges, inherent in both these vocations. So, the calling, the vocation, in which his mind abides more, the one that gives him deep thoughts of peace, happiness and love, is the one that he should choose. That is what holy people like Ignatius Loyolla teach us. It is so because these promptings come from the Holy Spirit. At the time of the seeking one has to check if his heart is filling with the fruit of the Spirit or is it restlessness, pain and fear that are felt there. It is true that with the individual's internal confirmation, there is also the need for external confirmation, say from the hierarchs of the Church. However, the voice of the conscience, enlightened by the Spirit, is more relevant here.

From the discussions above, one thing becomes obvious: the reality of Insight depends on its purpose, its direction. Its reality is decided by the question - how near does it bring the believer to the nature of Christ? We can know the source of an incident, experience or decision, in a life of faith, by looking to where - in which direction - it is leading. If it is self-centred, be sure, that it is not from God. On the contrary if it is altruistic, it has come from God. If it comes from God, the individual will feel a power beyond what he can muster, and he can hear a voice that is beyond human capacity. An example is the letter written by St. Paul to the Corinthians. The letter that he wrote pained them, but that pain led them to repentance (2 Cor 8ff). It means that the letter was inspired by the Holy Spirit and it did a world of good.

It is essential that the individual seeking Insight should have a definite and clear aim of establishing the kingdom of God. He should have properly read the signs of the time. The world is changing rapidly and the seeker of Insight has to carefully observe the ups and downs. The transformations, alignments and realignments that are constantly going on should be approached with an open heart. He also should have a purely neutral attitude on the matter for which Insight is sought, and it should be based on the love of God, Man and the Church. This neutrality helps in being faithful to the Holy Book to the Conventions, to the teachings of the Church, to one's own special culture, and to the Laws of the land. To get this neutral attitude, the seeker should, in all humility, dedicate himself to the wisdom of the Spirit. Then it will be possible to take appropriate decisions, guided by the knowledge, discriminatory power, and attention that the Spirit will bestow on the seeker. When he combines his God-given talents, intelligence, and rationale with the gifts of the Spirit, the decisions will be coloured by objectivity. The words of St. Paul are relevant here, "Brothers and sisters, do not be children in your thinking" (1 Cor 14:20).

In the opinion of J.M.R. Bellose, the Insight in the life of faith, guided by the Spirit, is beyond ordinary knowledge and understanding. It has a very special nature. It is special mercy of the Father, who through His Son Jesus, showed his infinite love to each believer, and let that love permeate each of their hearts through the Spirit that makes the Insight reaches beyond the comprehension of the five senses. Listen to the answer given to St. Peter to the question 'Who is the Son of Man ?, when Jesus was in the district of Caesarea Philippi. He said, "Blessed are you, Simon, son of Jonah ! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven" (Mt 16:13-1). It does not mean that the gifts God gave man during birth are less significant. E.M. Urena asserts : A person who takes a decision is initially influenced by his own culture, philosophy, knowledge, political and moral background and then through this natural process he moves into the special process of understanding with the Spirit's guidance. In the life of faith, the natural understanding reinforces the insight of the soul. Thus, following the will of God, one isable take decisions and regulate his affairs. Once the human spirit is submitted to the HolySpirit,he leads the person through the right paths, removing the initial doubts and wavering initiatives.The decisions taken, whether for the individual himself or for the society at large, under the guidance of the experienced Teacher, blessed by the holy souls, will be more accurate, more valuable and abiding. It is historical fact that God often chooses men asinstrumentsforrevealingHis Will, and to carry out His schemes for mankind.

The Samaritan woman asks Jesus, "How is that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?(Jn 4:9) This shows that there is no contact between the Jews and Samaritans. Later, she claims that Jacob was her ancestor (Jn 4: 12). Isn't Jacob the ancestor of the Jews also? If that is the case there is relation between the Jews and Samaritans. How is one to interpret this seemingly contradictory statements?

We reached the Bishop's palace after concluding the Gospel evenings which we were conducting in the Mannar Cathedral premises. Even though it was nearing midnight, the bishop and the priests there were immersed in prayers in front of the altar. On the one side you see people ravaged by the mighty Tigers and their dilapidated hutments. On the other side you see the government troops with their menacing weapons rushing past or cruising in armoured vehicles. Many inhabitants had lost their near and dear ones, but they still wanted their birthrights in their motherland. They were ready to fight to the last and become martyrs in the cause they held dear to their heart. The streets and valleys were teeming with suicide squads, who were eagerly waiting for the signal for battle from their leaders to get into action. Both the warring factions were readying themselves for a battle to the finish. Each group wanted a decisive win. The fire and smoke wafting into the sky reminded one of another burning of Lanka. The reports in the newspapers were only half-truths, as they were limited. The media could bring out only partial facts and had no stamp of authenticity.

When the L.T.T.E. posted their gorillas in the Vavunia-Madu combat sectors, the government troops withdrew from there. All the roads that would take us back to Colombo were closed. So getting to Colombo by road became an impossibility. There was also the uncertainty of not knowing how long the fight would continue. We were in a great dilemma. I had to reach India to carry out my other commitments here. The bishop of Mannar had negotiated with the military 'top brass in the area to ferry us to some nearby territory under the control of the army. But because of the fear that the Tigers would shoot down any army chopper in the air, that plan had to be abandoned. Then we were told that we could reach the southern shores of Lanka by sea from Mannar. Once we reached an army controlled province in the south, we could be driven to Colombo. But ,again, this plan had to be scuttled because a boat in the high seas would attract the wrath of both the Tigers and the Army as both the groups would not know to whom the boat belonged. We were in an impasse, and the night was wearing out. No workable solution was still in sight.

At early dawn, next day, even before the wake-up alarm sounded in the bishop's palace, the bishop was awakened by the twinkling of the telephone bell. At the other end of the phone somebody from the camp of the Tigers intoned, "We are stepping up the attack. Don't let anybody come out." Then the bishop pleaded with the L.T.T.E. Leaders on our behalf. He said to them, "There is a priest and a brother from India, who came here to preach the Word of God. They have to urgently get back to their country. So please allow us to take them to Colombo." Thus, because of the special appeal made by the bishop, the impending attack was stalled and we were given three hours to clear out. Taking advantage of this promise, we came out into the road.

We were in two vans. The van in front carried a banner, emblazoning Catholic Priests on peace mission and it had a white flag signifying non-combatant intentions. The bishop was in this van which was closely followed by our van, also with a white flag fluttering in front. We were heading for Colombo, driving right in the middle of the hot battle grounds. We never felt any fear as we knew that we were under the protective wings of the Lord. The bishop accompanied us till we passed the danger zone. He was a noble land exemplary representative of the Good Shepherd who willingly sacrificed his precious life for the sake of his sheep.

Thus we reached the bishop's house in Koornegala and later Colombo. When we had realised that it was difficult for us to come out of the battle grounds, we had called Potta Vachanotsavam and Divine Retreat Centre and other Convention avenues to conduct special intercessionary prayers for us. Your prayers had been answered by God. I wish to thank all those who prayed for us. May God bless you abundantly!

The people living in the northern parts of Sri Lanka experience the harsh realities and bitter truths of daily existence. They are faced with unnerving uncertainties. A nun whom we met in Colombo confided in us - "I was born and brought up in a house near Jafna. Even to visit my home, I have to go and sign in the military camp nearby and get permission from various personnel there. I can go to my own house only with military escort. In the internecine and fratricidal war that has been raging for decades, my brothers and siblings have been scattered. Some fled the country. Some have found refuge in the outskirts of Colombo." Heavenly Mother, you are the haven and shelter of those unlucky ones bereft of their near and dear are trampled under the feet of the mighty. When the nun heard this prayer, her eyes were brimming with tears.

When I was conducting retreats in Mannar diocese, I happened to have very close contacts with many Sri Lankan Tamils and also to visit their homes. They all have tales of woes to tell. When we hear of the atrocities committed by the Tamil tigers or their sympathizers - like the suicide bomber who killed Rajiv Gandhi or the acts of terrorism to eliminate Smt Chandrika Kumaratunge - we unconsciously develop some kind of dislike and hatred for these people. But when we know the facts from close quarters, things look entirely different. We, the sons and daughters of India, firmly rooted in the principle of non-violence, fought against the British Empire over which, it was their boast, the sun never set. When the powerful weapon of Fast unto Death was unleashed by the Mahatma, the hard-hearted bureaucrats of the British Raj started sneaking into the safety of the Buckingham Palace and Downing Street , overlooking the Thames. The Tamil tigers insist that to get one's rights even sacrificing one's life is not too big a price. This is what they say - Even in this land of our birth, our own motherland, we are strangers. For generations we have been living here but we have never felt, we are never made to feel, that we are the sons of the soil."

The Tamilians are generally hard working and most of them live in places like Jafna, Mannar and Baticalova. The immediate cause that acerbated the present crisis was the discrimination shown to Tamil students who wanted to join top level courses in the Lankan University. The new criteria for admission were made in such a way that Sinhalese students who scored much less than Tamil students got admitted first.

The Tamil feeling of alienation was deepened when they were excluded from law-and-order and defence outfits like police, army, etc. Although Tamilians form 35% of the Sri Lankan population, the Constitution qualifies Sri Lanka, officially, as Buddhist-Sinhalese nation. So what is the raison d'etre for the 35% Tamilians, consisting of Hindus, Christians and Muslims? Then they ask: "Are we not anybody in this land of ours? We have been variously derogatively nicknamed as 'boat people' and 'Kochikkar' (People of Kochi), with pejorative connotations. Why don't we get, as in India, provincial autonomy, representation in the Central Government and equal citizenship rights?" When we hear these questions and comments, the dislike we felt for the Tigers gets diluted. We can only pray God to make Sri Lanka a welfare state, following the paths of peace, love and friendly dialogue. If only the rulers, organizations and other outfits sacrificed their selfish interests, and not innocent human beings, on the altar of the motherland! If only the rich and power nations considered the 'warring countries also as nations and not just markets for selling their destructive weapons with which thousands are brutally massacred! When will the thirst for human blood satiate the vicious overlords of the modern consumerist culture, who can do any heinous crime, without remorse and compunction, for money, luxury or power? Even in this atrocious war raging in the Island nation, can not one detect the greedy hands of the so-called developed nations? Some of these 'big brothers' dole out alms by one hand, but the other hand supplies lethal weapons. The money may contain the inscription "We trust in God', but those bundles of money, if used to shed human blood, will only bring only perpetrators damnation in the eyes of God. The priorities should not be killing of people and destruction of material. Hasn't Jesus taught us, "Strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well" (Mt 6:33).

The purpose of our Gospel Mission in Sri Lanka is this. All should be led to have an experience of Godhead in them. All the problems have arisen because of the loss of the kingdom of God. The solution is not making the worldly power stronger, but leading the children of God into his kingdom. It is only when one knows the value of the thing he has lost, he can adequately mourn his loss. The many thousands that thronged to the conventions that were held at different venues in the Sri Lankan island, came there with tears in their eyes. They were like shepherdless sheep, wandering hither and thither looking for peace and comfort. Seeing these children of God Jesus must have repeated: "I feel pity for these people". He must have continued : "I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you" (Jn 14:18). To listen to the Word of God thousands of people had come to each of the conventions. The crowds included people who lost their homes in the fight between the Tigers and the army, those who lost their properties and farmlands, people stunned by the gruesome sights of the slaughtering of their kith and kin in front of their eyes, little kids begging for alms to buy something to eat, unemployed youths aimlessly roaming about, and victims of fatal diseases without shelter and medicine counting their days . When will these problems get solutions ? Jesus saw them at the convention venues and declared - "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Mt. 11:28-30).

Jesus touched and healed many thousands that were burdened and miserable during the retreats and conventions. He led the broken-hearted to the cool springs of comfort. "Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you that have no money, come, buy and eat" (Is 55:1). When the shepherd called, the sheep came running - from the battlefields to the lap of the Lord, from the hustle and bustle of the war to the holy grounds of the Conventions. When they listened to the Word of God, their broken hearts were filled with peace and hope. The Lord commanded : "Come now; let us argue it out" (Is 1:18). The crowds, unmindful of their caste, creed, race, language, nationality, - Tamils, Sinhalese, Hindus, Christians, Muslims - lifted their hands into the high heavens and sang hymns of praise to the Lord Jesus. Then they realised one thing - what they lost is not just the power of this world, not provinces and institutions, but the experience of the kingdom of God. Then the people cried shedding tears. The atmosphere echoed with messages of sympathy and repentance. They were moments of joy for the mind and joy for the body spiritual and physical elation. The Lord looked at that crowd, spread his hands and declared: "I am the Lord who heals you" (Ex. 15:26). He continued: "I will restore health to you" (Jer 30:17). When the crowds saw that speechless people were speaking and those who were carried to the convention venues were walking on their own, they were convinced that Jesus was the Saviour and the Living God. They were thirsty for more messages of salvation and refused to go away even after midnight The words of Jeremiah - " With weeping they shall come, and with consolations I will lead them back" (Jer 31:9) - were fulfilled here.

In the month of February, another series of conventions are planned for Sri Lanka. Let us pray for the people of that country. It is precious human lives that are pulverised by the human bombs; it is precious human bodies that get mauled and mutilated in the explosions; it is precious human lives that are hunted down like wild animals. Those who kill and those who die are human beings. Were they not delivered by their mothers? Don't they have the right to live? A whole country is getting annihilated. We have heard the legend of Lanka burning, and catching fire from the tail of Hanuman. Today let us light a thousand lamps and let us make a crore of prayers to God for peace in Lanka. Let the guns fall silent and let genuine peace reign in Sri Lanka. Let the Sri Lankan people be spiritually renovated and transformed into lovers of peace.

My name is Chackochan Koonamparayil. In 1993 I was afflicted by Soriasis in my palms, joints of my hands and waist. I went to many doctors but there was no positive result. In 1994 I took part in a retreat in Potta, and I was completely cured. While taking part in the retreat, I never thought of my disease or pray for any cure. I thank the good Lord for the healing He gave me. I continue praising Him. Thank you, Jesus. Praises be to you. Oh Jesus!

My name is Joseph Kune and I am a Sri Lankan. I am going to share with you the incident that helped me to have the experience of God in me, and also led me to the salvation that only Jesus can give.

My son Joseph Noel Benson had Fits, in 1998. After a series of tests and some initial treatment, it was diagnosed that a large tumour was growing in his brain. The doctors recommended an operation, but cautioned that the operation might result in the boy's death or in permanent paralysis of the body. He was highly critical. He was getting treatment at a very famous hospital, Navaloka, in Sri Lanka. In spite of the objections by the doctors treating him there, we brought the boy to the Child Trust Hospital in Madras. The doctors here also said that the operation might result in death or paralysis, as said by the doctors in Sri Lanka. While we were in the hospital, some of our friends gave us some copies of the Vachanotsavam magazine to read My friend Sukumar Silvera said, " Have faith in God. Didn't you read about the many miraculous healings that are reported in the Vachanotsavam" Sukumar also gave me a Bible. I read it very carefully. My faith in the benevolent mercies of God increased. We, my wife and I, sought the help of the prayer groups in the Divine Retreat Centre, Muringoor.

An operation was conducted on my son in Madras, and 40% of the tumour was removed. The whole tumour was not removed because the doctors were sure that if they removed the entire tumour the boy would be paralysed. They also foresaw that the tumour would grow again. I took part in the retreats led by Fr. Mathew Naickomparambil and Fr. Augustine Mundackat. The retreats were conducted in the Vincentian Retreat Centre at Ambathur and in the Good Shepherd College. The retreats were conducted in July 1998. I approached the priests who were leading the retreats and they prayed for my son. They consoled me by saying that God would cure my son and that I should pray for the mercy of God. Until then my faith was limited to going to the Church on Sundays. I was a Sunday- Catholic!

The doctors asked us to come back after six months of the operation and so we returned to Sri Lanka. To prevent any swelling in the brain, a tube was connected from the head to the stomach. Gradually the stomach began to swell and some watery substance began to leak from the stomach. The situation was worsening and the boy was not even in a position to eat or drink anything. So we brought him back to Madras. But before we went to the experts of the Medical Science, we decided to go to Muringoor to get the spiritual treatment by the Divine Healer, Jesus.

It was a Friday. My son, Noel, was sleeping on the shoulders of my wife. My wife noticed some divine light passing through the body of our son. After the retreat, we went for the operation and it was done successfully. We came back to the same hospital after six months, and the condition of our son had improved greatly. Now Noel is going to school. The scan report revealed that the tumour had withered .

Because of our son's very critical illness, we suffered a lot. But that suffering has been our saving grace like the proverbial silver lining in the cloud. Because of that we were able to know Jesus as the Living God I was prepared to spend any amount of money to save the life of my son. But I realised that no amount of money or man's power can save our lives and souls. I returned to Jesus and He did not reject me.

"And this is the boldness we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us" ( 1 John 5 :14)

The Gospels present us the picture of Jesus as Jesus at pray, Jesus praying in the morning in a desert, Jesus praying on a hilltop in the afternoon. The only thing the apostles requested the praying Jesus was to teach them how to pray.

These days prayers, preaching and fasts and abstinence are becoming very popular and so, in this context, it would be proper to contemplate on the themes of our prayers.

The prayers of Jesus were conversations with the Father. We can define prayers as dialogues with God. When we analyse the prayers of Jesus, who taught us to pray, we can easily, see for what things we should be praying. We often feel that our prayers go unanswered despite the promise God" gave us: "So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you." (Lk. 11 :19) There might be many things that we did not receive in spite of the fact that we prayed for long and repeatedly. Some people will say, "I am tired of praying for this specific thing. Let me stop praying for it." Often we doubt, when we feel thwarted in our prayers, what is the meaning of the promise the Lord gave us as recorded by Luke.

"You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, in order to spend what you get on your pleasures" (Jam. 4:3)

St. John says, "And this is the boldness we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us," ( 1 John 5: 14). These Gospel words reveal to us we should pray according to the will of God and not according to our wishes and needs. Jesus points out what is prayer according to the will of God. "Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" (Lk. 11 :11-13). If we, mere human beings, give our children good gifts, the Father in heaven, who loves us, will be giving us great and valuable graces.The greatest grace a human being can receive in his life is the Holy Spirit. When God blesses, He blesses with His greatest grace. (Mat. 7: 11)

When Jesus taught his disciples to pray, the Lord's prayer, the main thing he stressed was to pray for the kingdom of God. "Your kingdom come," (Lk. 11:2) . God's kingdom does not just resist of food and drinks, but it consists of justice, peace and the joy of the Holy Spirit. When we ask for God's kingdom we are asking for the rule of the Holy Spirit. That means we experience the justice, peace and joy of the Holy Spirit. Jesus asked us to pray for getting this blessing. Jesus continued to teach the prayer "Give us each day our daily bread"(Lk. 11:3). Just like we need food for our body, our soul also needs spiritual food to experience the kingdom of heaven and this spiritual food is the power of the Holy Spirit.

The greatest gift God gives us is the Holy Spirit. Many of us don't realise the importance of this gift. "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, 'Give me a drink' ..."(Johp 4:10). We do not realise that greatest gift we can get is the Holy Spirit and that is why many of us repeatedly pray for material things, comforts and luxuries of life,and power and position. If we pray for the gift of the Holy Spirit, Jesus tells us, we shall be given by the Father, who loves us, the power and might of the Holy Spirit in a greater measure than we asked for. Not only that, the concept of the kingdom of God entails our desire for all human hearts to be filled with the grace of the Holy Spirit. "But strive first for the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you." (Mat.6:33) According to this promise, when we pray for the kingdom of God, when we pray for the Holy Spirit to fill human hearts, God will have, even before we prayed for our needs, arranged for fulfilling our requirements. "Before they call I will answer, while they are yet speaking I will hear,"(Is. 65 :24).

In short our prayers should be for the coming of the kingdom of God and for the human hearts to be filled with Holy Spirit. "Ask, and I shall give." What shall we ask? We should ask for the Holy Spirit. If we have the spirit of God with us, we have everything. Nothing more is to be added to that. Instead of praying long and repeatedly for things that God does not wish, and feeling frustrated, pray each minute, each day to fill the heart with the Holy Spirit. That is the prayerJesustaught us.

Because we have wrong concepts about God we also have wrong reactions. Many people think that God is a strict Judge who gives severe punishments and this thought makes them suffer a lot of pain. But we should realise that God did not consider their trespasses against them (2 Cor 5:19). Then there are people who consider God as a merchant. They think that since we offer money and other things to Him, He is helping us in our needs. God blesses us not because we have done good deeds, but because He is merciful. When we fast and take part in Novenas, the purpose is to make us strong so that we can progress in the paths of righteousness. Some people think of God as a fire extinguisher. Such people live wanton lives, the way they like, and return to God when they face serious problems. But once the problems are over they go back to their old ways, completely abandoning God, once again. Rt. Rev. Valerian D'Souza, the bishop of Pune said "One danger that can happen in the charismatic conventions is that : People will always pray by calling 'Lord, Lord'. But it seems that they become the lords and the Lord becomes a servant. This is what they say We prayed and so the Lord did this or that for us. We thank the Lord for that. But nobody says "We prayed, but we were not cured. Thank God". Even if you did not receive the thing that you prayed for God can make use of your adversity for giving you many other graces. Think of this and we should be able to praise God. God is loving enough to organises everything, including our trials and tribulations, for our good. If you believe in this, you will definitely prosper.

I hail from a Christian family. But I experienced the love of God only after the week-long reMeat at the Divine Retreat Centre, Muringoor. It was in the month of May 1997. I had gone to Muringoor with my wife anddaughter.

At the time of the "couples' prayer", Rev. Fr. Augustine Vallooran asked the participating couples to pray for each other, placing the hand on the spouse's head When I was doing that I experienced an unspeakable joy, my body trembling all over. I also had been sugering from severe shoulder pains for 17 years, but now I felt relieved. Gradually, when I returned home, the pain completely vanished

The Lord Jesus had given me another healing too, which I did not recognise at that time. Prior to visiting Muringoor, I was a victim of severe acidity and the doctor had given me some medicines and I was feeling alright. Now the problem recurred and again the doctor gave me medicines, to last for a month. But the medicines did not help, in fact the problem was getting worse. When I thought deeply about the matter, the Holy Spirit revealed to me that I should stop taking medicines but continue praying for a cure. When I did that I felt a sweet taste in my mouth,instead of the usual bitter taste. And now I feel fine. Praise the Lord Thanks be to Jesus.

There was a serious problem for my daughter, Savini Mary. She could not write with her right hand because of a nerve injury. She was given some medication and she felt better for a while but she could not write with the right hand Then she started using the left hand. During prayers, the Holy Spirit revealed to me that I should massage her hand with holy oil. I did that and her right hand became completeiy okay. Praise the Lord. Thank you, Jesus.

These wonder~l healing experiences that I had boosted my faith and I started praying for the other needy people. John 14:12 asserts, "I am telling you the truth, whoever believe in me will do what I do - yes, he will do even greater thirigs, because I am goint to the Father." My Hindu friend Devidas had a serious sproblem and I prayed for him and also asked him to pray, narrating my experiences. He was cured and he has become a strong believer in Jesus. The same thing happened with a Muslim friend to whom I gave an Urdu Bible as a gift. He too had his problems and has been able to overcome them. He had divine visions and now he prays daily to Jesus.

Again, my daughter had severe headaches and was spending sleepless nights. Medication did not help much. When she was undergoing a thorough CT Scan, I went on praying earnestly to Jesus, and I am glad to report, that the C.T. scan proved her to be alright. I am sure this happened because of Jesus. Now she is a a student In the 1"' year Intermediate. She rides a two-wheeler to her college. Thank you Lord, thank you Jesus! !

I am a 2nd Year student of Carmel Teacher Training College, Pakyong, East Sikkim. Through this testimony I want to show the whole world that how Jesus has touched and transformed my life.

I was born into a Scheduled Caste Hindu family. Right from the beginning my religion was a big stigma to me as I had to suffer many indignities just because I belonged to a scheduled caste. I have been always wondering why a person should be stigmatised because of his religion, as he is born into it not because of his choice.

The moment of change came with my acquaintance with Sr. Irene Pariara, a sister of Apostolic Carmel of TTC. She told me about Jesus and his infinite love. My heart slowly began to fill with love of Christ. I began to pray earnestly and gradually I changed and I felt joy and satisfaction. I became a Christian. I am thankful to sister lrene for making me see the right Path. Today I live in dignity and I am filled with the peace of Christ. Many transformations have taken place in my life and I thank the Good Lord for them.

Kochi: Mar Vithayathil has been appointed as the Major Arch Bishop of the Syro Malabar Church. Holding the post of the Apostolic Administrator of the Church for the last three years, he will also be the Arch Bishop of Ernakulam - Angamaly Diocese. Syro Malabar Church was raised to the Major Archi Episcopal status with autonomous powers, on 16 December, 1982. Mar Vithayathil is the second Arch Bishop of this Church

Havanah: Reports from Cuba indicate that the last Christmas day was one extreme joy for the Church in Cuba The Cuban television broadcast the opening of the main door of St . Peter's basilica in Rome by the Pope, to mark the beginning of the Great Jubilee of the birth of Christ. The midnight mass celebrated by the Pope was also telecast. The Programmes that began at 11 p.m. (Rome Time) were recorded and telecast at 10 p.m. (Cuban time) so that people could conveniently watch the proceedings. It is the first time that a religious programme has been telecast for such a long time in Communist Cuba. This is one of the salutary effects of the Pontiff's visit to Cuba.

Kathmandu: 'The Sisters of Charity of Nazareth' - an Order of Catholic Nuns - have earned euologies and encomiums of the Government of Nepal, a Hindu nation, their welfare work for women in the rural areas. These sisters have been encouraging the women folk to come forward, together, imparting to them leadership qualities, to form mutually beneficial organizations, for the last six years. The State Secretary Kamala Pant said that Nepal needs more of such sisters.

Buenos Aires: In spite of immense pressures from coming from all over Argentina, Carlos Angel Rova, the goal keeper of the national team, is not willing to retract. The national coach put great pressure on Carlos, but Carlos retorted, "Yes, it is an honour for me. But for me God is greater than the 10 million dollars I will be getting as my remuneration". Rova was the goalkeepers of the Argentinian team in the 1998 World Cup in France. He stopped playing about five months ago because of his strong religious convictions which made him say that he would not play on Sundays.

The mercies that God gives the faithful, can not be reckoned as the wages that the workers receive from their employers. Wages are the dues that the workers receive from their employers. (Rom 4:4). But the blessing God gives the believer is a free gift. St. Paul takes great pains to explain this concept in his letter to the Romans.

St. Paul wrote : "What then are we to say was gained by Abraham, our ancestor according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the scripture say? Abraham believed God it was reckoned to him as righteousness." (Rom. 4:1-3)

St. Paul uses, in his letter, the example of Abraham to explain the forgiveness that God , through Jesus Christ, gave the faithful. If Abraham had solely depended on his body or his actions, he would not have believed that he would become a father or get the fulfillment of the promise made. "Hoping against hope. He believed that he would become "the father of many nations", according to what was said, 'So numerious shall your descendants be! He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was already as good as dead (for he was about a hundred years old), or even he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. ...his faith was reckoned to him as ~righteousness" (Rom 4:18-12).

Abraham firmly believed in the promise of God that he would be given a child, although he knew that if he depended on his body and his actions, he would never get a child That faith gave him a child That means he was reckoned righteous, he became a claimant for righteousness, not because of his actions, but because of his faith in Cod.

This kind of reckoning is true in our case also, and not just in the case of Abraham (Rom 4:23). The faithful get forgiveness of their sins, not because of their actions but through their belief that Jesus was crucified because of their sins and he resurrected from the dead for the sake of their righteousness. Rom 4:24, 25).

It is seen that many of the believers try to get the right to be forgiven by their work, fasting and other deeds of love and sacrifice. In fact forgiveness comes through our belief in the great sacrifice of love that Jesus made.