In the course of my conversation with John, I asked him, "Are you okay? No problems, I hope?" "None at all", was his immediate reply. A little later he said, " Father, it’s quite a long time since I have been thinking of putting an end to my life. I have a debt of 20 lakhs. There’s no way of clearing it. Neither can I dispose of the property I have. Please pray for me." This man had no inner peace, because he had no inner freedom. Every ring of the phone or door bell gave him a start and he wanted to escape by the back door, afraid of his creditors. The man who had brought John by force to Ezhumuttom Retreat Centre had informed me of his suicidal tendencies. I advised John after the retreat to participate in the weekly Saturday prayer services, to meet me on and off, and, above all, to put all his trust in God. He did so for two full years without fail. Eventually he got rid of his desire for suicide. His trust in God strengthened him. Just one year after his retreat, his brother, a business-man, offered him 9 lakhs to clear his debt. The next year, he sold his property, paid up the remaining debt, married off his two daughters and was able to buy some land with the small balance amount. With tears he joined me in a prayer of thanksgiving (cf Is 30:18, 1 Pet 5:6-7).

Many people attempt to acknowledge only the partial truth. People who give responses like "Yes", " I am okay", "The exam was easy", " I don't need any help", "Not bad", "Everything is going on well" and so on, are often deeply wounded within. They do not realise they are slaves to anxiety, despair, loneliness, a sense of failure, fear and the like. They have lost their inner freedom and unconsciously react in an uncontrollable and negative manner. They suffer severe mental pain while their problems remain unsolved. Some seek outside help. Others bear the burden of pain and unconsciously develop destructive attitudes and personality traits.
 
 

During a retreat, when the assembly was praising God loudly, a Hindu youth had a vision which he shared later with the group. He said: " I saw a vast stretch of land with a great number of sheep grazing. There were three of my children playing happily. Far away I could see a fire in the midst of which, on closer look, I noticed, were my children, crying out desperately. 'What does this mean, Lord?' I asked. The reply was, 'Those are your children. Can you remember the three occasions when you forced your wife to abort the child she was carrying? Here are those children.' I cried out weeping, 'Lord, forgive me.' I decided at once to spend a portion of my income on poor children. I had the experience of being forgiven and my mind was filled with peace."

All the incidents connected with the pressure this man put on his wife were recorded faithfully on his mind. After some time they sank into his unconscious. This is the power of the human mind - to record everything as if on video. It is possible today to bring back to memory all that happened in the past since all that we experienced, is deposited in our consciousness. As a result we become spectators of what we acted out in the past. All that has been recorded in our subconscious and unconscious mind can be brought to our conscious mind through dreams and visions.
 
 

A retreatant once recalled an incident that took place 24 years ago. She had kept it hidden in her heart, would think of it often and allow the wound to fester anew.

"Twenty four years ago a man took me to lonely place. I was gagged and raped and am now the mother of a twenty three-year-old daughter. I am still unmarried. I am poor and sick. But during the retreat I forgave this man and the harm he did to me, in the name of Jesus and prayed for him. My mind is filled with joy and I am healed of many of my ailments"

Often painful memories and unhappy experiences prompt us to seek remedies. So long as they remain in the unconscious there is no remedy. The result is pain. Moreover, when such memories accumulate, one yields to uncontrollable despair, hostility, envy, anxiety, fear and such destructive feelings. Besides, they cause various physical illnesses.
 
 

God's commandment, " Of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die"(Gen 2:17)was part of the great plan he had for man, promising him hope and a happy future (cf Jer 29:11). But our first parents wanted more benefits than what God had desired for them. They wished to be like unto God and broke his commandment and destroyed his plan. The result? They became aware of their nakedness. They who had everything now possessed nothing. With the shattering of the link that bound them to God, came mental pain which they tried to suppress.

They sewed fig leaves together and made clothes for themselves and hid behind the trees (Gen 3:7-8). They were in the clutches of fear. Yet, the LORD God made garments of skins for the man and for his wife, and clothed them(Gen 3:21) and promised them his only Son as their Saviour (Gen 3:15). With that, man learnt to wait for the salvation prepared by the God who waited to be gracious to him ( Is 30:18).
 
 

Jesus Christ, God's only Son, who is close to the Father's heart ( Jn 1:18) began his public life announcing, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news"( Mk 1:15). Christ alone can give man true healing and freedom. He has come to give"white robes" to the wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked (cf Rev 3:17-18) man, dressed in loin cloth made of fig leaves sewn together. The garments of skins made by God(Gen 3:2) are symbols of Christ. Animal skin can be obtained only through the shedding of blood. It is the blood of Jesus that cleanses us from all sin (1Gen 1:7).
 
 

Man understands God's plan for his welfare through the word of God. With the rejection of the word, man becomes blind, a captive and slave; and with that he is shattered spiritually, mentally and physically. The only way of salvation out of this morass of destruction is Jesus Christ the Lord. ( Lk 4:18-19). The one who rejects Jesus, the word of God ( Jn 1:1-14) cannot experience true liberty and healing. " So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed" ( Jn 8:36) . See also ( Jn 8:32; 14:17; 1:12).
 
 

The moment God commanded something to happen or to be created, it came into existence, it happened ( Gen 1:3-25). The word of God has power - the power to give healing and liberty and life. "He sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from destruction" ( Ps 107:20). "For neither herb nor poultice cured them, but it was your word, O Lord, that heals all people"(Wis 16:12). "It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life." ( Jn 6:63). "You have the words of eternal life" (Jn 6:68). Those who listen to and obey his words that give healing liberty and power in different areas of their life, experience joy, peace, love and consolation. "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" ( Mt 11:29). (see also Jn 15:11; 16:33; 17:26).

Besides these beneficial effects, the word of God can also liberate us from various kinds of bondage and purify us. " You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free" ( Jn 8:32). "Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth" ( Jn 17:17). " You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you" ( Jn 15:3).

Through St. Paul God teaches us that the word of God is the means of our salvation, discernment and consolation (cf 2 Tim 3:15-17 ; Heb 4:12; Rom 15:4). It is never futile (cf Is 55:11). It is capable of making our hearts burn within us (cf Lk 24:32).

Those who " hear the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart" ( Lk 8:15), with patience, " bear fruit, thirty and sixty and a hundred - fold " ( Mt 4:20). May the word of God that is our "comfort" in our " distress" (Ps 119:50) free us from all our bondage!