A Spiritual Festival
for Thousands
Potta Bible Convention
’99
Let anyone who wishes
take the water of life as a gift" (Rev 22:17)
Five days of divine beneficence
for Potta, the seedbed of the Christian Renewal Movement in Kerala! The
young and old thronged to savour the sweetness of the Kingdom of God. They
were precious moments of spiritual exhilaration provided by the renowned
ministers of the word of God for the people at large. For the volunteers
at Potta Ashram, they were days of fulfilment when they saw their intercessory
prayers, sacrifice and hard toil bearing fruit so plentifully. Fr Antony
Thekanath, the Director, warmly welcomed the guest speakers and others
to the tent-shaped pavilion. The Bishop of Irinjalakuda, Mar James Pazhayattil
inaugurated the convention by lighting the lamp, a symbol of Jesus, the
Light of the nations. Fr James Chelappurath, the Provincial of Mary Matha
Province of the Vincentian congregation, addressed the gathering, wishing
them God’s blessings in abundance.
On the third day of the convention,
lasting from January 30 to February 3, Archbishop Mar Varkey Vithayathil
was the chief celebrant at the Eucharistic sacrifice. During the homily,
the Archbishop spoke about the joy that filled his heart when he saw the
hundreds of thousands assembled on the grounds. The reason, he said, was
that man had grown tired listening to human words. In order to attain peace
and serenity, he was now turning to the word of God. Fr Joseph Vadakkel
MCBS, Thomas Paul, Pappachan Pallath and George Kunnumpurath lent fervour,
vigour and depth to the series of talks presented. A fitting conclusion
was provided by the Archbishop of Trichur, Mar Jacob Thoomkuzhi. Citing
his own experiences, he explained in a beautiful expose, how God uses all
our pain, despair and misfortune for our own good. It is clear that the
convention has set the stage for a deeper spiritual renewal.
Excerpts from
the messages given at the convention that kept reverberating in the hearts
of the listeners.
Understand the truth
Be delivered from
the curse
Fr George Panackal
Jesus Christ gives us deliverance
from the curses and bondage that have come down to us from our ancestors.
There are also blessings which we have inherited. Ability to sing and study,
wealth and health-all these have come to us from generation to generation
through the mercy of God. Similarly, hereditary diseases, vulnerability
to alcoholism, drug addiction and vices of sensuality, fear and superstition
are also inherited traits. We bear the brunt of what our ancestors did
at one time, when they rejected God. But, instead of blaming them or becoming
desperate, let us search for what we lost, in Jesus Christ, who is able
to give us all these blessings in plenty and beg for his mercy.
Grow in the Rosary
devotion
Fr Mathew Naickomparambil
The Blessed Virgin Mary has
an important place in our life. She is our mother too. She has great power
of intercession with God and authority over Satan. The Lord has given her
the power to crush the head of Satan just as he gave Michael, the Archangel.
Those who pray reciting the Rosary receive an anointing of the Holy Spirit
and authority over Satan. The Rosary is a prayer with the Blessed Virgin,
meditating on the life of Jesus. Through the merits of Jesus Christ, God
grants us all that we ask through the Rosary.
"…Lord, show us
the Father, and
we will
be satisfied"
(Jn 14:8)
Fr Augustine Vallooran
In John’s Gospel, chapter
14, Philip is entreating Jesus, "Lord show us the Father and we will be
satisfied". Let us ask Jesus to show us the Father’s face. That is enough
for us. Jesus answers us through the word of God. "No one comes to the
Father except through me"(Jn 14:6). This is a glorious invitation: the
picture of the loving Father clothed in love. When John lay his head on
the breast of Jesus, he understood that that heart was throbbing with love.
He, therefore, writes in his letter, "God is love". We, too, must say,
"God is love". To others and to the whole world we must say, "God is love".
Preach the Gospel
Bravely
Fr Mathew Eluvunkal
All of us who have gathered
here today are the fruit of the bold and brave proclamation of the Gospel
by St Thomas and St Francis Xavier in our country, India. Wherever you
may be, whatever circumstance you may be in, what ever be your field of
action, never lose a single chance to proclaim Jesus. Take the example
of Moses in the book of Exodus. Moses, immersed in the pleasures of the
royal court, could not preach the word of God. But when he gave up the
ways of the world and its allurements, and walked up to the heights (the
mountain top), he realised the depth of God’s love and the intensity of
the fire that is God’s word. Thus he could internalise a great message.
Our weapon has to be the Holy Bible. Our murderers and enemies must be
helped through our constant prayer.
Be Witnesses
Fr Jose Vettiankal
Jesus wishes that each of
us be with him and bear witness to him. If we wish him to stretch out his
healing hand and make us whole, certainly, he wishes that we follow him
and bear witness to him. When we testify to others the favours we have
received from him, we are making him known to them. They are led to believe
that Jesus will heal them too. They receive through him salvation, joy,
peace, wealth and all sorts of blessings. Let us proclaim Jesus through
the experience of the healing we have received.
Permitted by the
Spirit or prohibited by him
Fr John Kanichery
We, who habitually commit
sin, can also do good. Paul, the apostle, said, "I am the greatest of sinners".
The intervention of Jesus in Paul’s life and the great things he did through
him later, are telling examples of the miracles God performs in our weak
bodies. One who is a slave to alcohol and to adultery, is helpless in the
midst of temptation. As a result of repeated sinning, human nature becomes
weakened daily. When sin is repeated, one is pulled down into an unredeemable
situation. The word of God says that the Spirit helps us to avoid the occasions
of sin.
Jesus gives us through the
Spirit that which no other power or philosophy can give us. We are able
to live in the presence of God with a pure heart through the power of the
Holy Spirit. There is joy that is permitted by him. There is joy which
is not. What we should strive to attain is the joy given by the Holy Spirit.
For example, the bliss of marital life is a joy given by the Holy Spirit.
But sexual pleasure outside marriage is not.
Do not disregard
a warning!
Fr Antony Payyappilly
Conversion of heart becomes
complete when we have a purpose in life. If this does not happen, we will
fall into sin again and again. God gives us messages beforehand to lead
us aright. Those who receive them will be saved. Those who do not will
be lost. Judas, who betrayed Jesus, disregarded the warning Jesus gave
him. Three times Jesus foretold that Judas would betray him and this would
lead him to eternal damnation. Judas, who ignored these warnings or did
not listen to them, brought punishment on himself, whereas Peter, though
he twice disregarded the warning Jesus gave him, realised his mistake the
third time, repented and lamented sincerely. This led Peter to the experience
of salvation.
It is impossible
to recount the number of signs, wonders and miracles that occurred during
the convention. A few are recorded here to strengthen the faith of the
readers and for a fresh anointing.
Antony hails from
Elinjipra. For the last 3 months he could not walk or raise his arms. During
the healing prayer at Holy Mass he was miraculously healed. He was healed
of mental depression, too, testifies Antony.
Nibi Antony (13) is
the son of John and Jancy from Panagad. The boy Nibi could not walk by
himself because of a constant fit of shivering. Studying in the 5th std,
his case was very pitiful the whole of last year. During the healing service
Nibi became perfectly normal.
"Let your steadfast
love,
O LORD, be upon us,
even as we hope in you."
( Ps 33:22)
Jolly Francis is from
Avittathur and has a child. There were 25 stitches on her knee cap which
had been operated on for a tumour. She could not, therefore, kneel or stand
for the last 10 years. During the Holy Hour she had an experience of getting
a shock. From then onwards the pain left her and she could stand and kneel
with no difficulty.
"Our heart is glad
in him, because we trust
in his holy name"
( Ps 33:21)
45-year-old Prakash, from
Manjali Chalathuruthu, had been partially paralysed for the past 4 years
and was using crutches for 6 1/2 months. He could nothing by
himself. During the convention he was placed among the bed-ridden patients.
During the Holy Hour as he was listening to the word of God, he was miraculously
healed. He walked up to the stage, with the volunteers holding aloft his
crutches.
54 year-old Madhavan is
from Kothaparambu near Kodungallur. He was in great distress as for 5 years
his left leg and arm were paralysed and, as a cooly, he could not do any
work. During the healing session he became perfectly normal. "How sweet
are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" (Ps 119:103)
Sr Alippia CMC belongs
to the convent in Puliyila kunnu. During the Holy Hour the deafness that
had afflicted her for two years was fully healed.
A fall from the bus forced
Clara Chowarakaran (40) from Chiranagara to undergo surgery of the
knee. She was not able to walk or kneel. When Father announced that bed-ridden
patients were being healed, Clara felt the urge to walk. And walk she did
to the stage with no difficulty whatsoever!
(Prepared
by Leeji John Tholath)