Dear in Christ,

As you all are aware the condition of Makarios Thirumeni continues to
be the same with slight improvements. For our Community in Newcastle
the observance of Nineveh Fast has a special meaning- as it is not
individualistic but keeping the real meaning of a Lent- observing with
corporate thoughts.

On Sunday HG Clemis Thirumeni was the chief celebrant for the H. Qurbana.
HG Nicholovas Thirumeni visited the hospital on Monday.
Monday Miday Prayers and Evening Prayers were said at the Hospital
chapel where a few of our members attended. This evening (Tuesday
evening) there will be Evening Prayers followed by a devotional Address.
On Wednesday (16 Jan) at 6:00 PM GMT there will be H.Qurbana at the
following venue:
St. Andrews Church
Lamesley
Gateshed
NE11 0EU

Let us be fervent in our fasting and prayers.
Yours in Christ

Fr. Happy Jacob and Fr. Abraham Thomas
Newcastle


--
St. Gregorios Indian Orthodox Church
Cranfield Road
Brockley
London SE4 1UF
0208691 9456
0795 744 0736

http://malankaraorthodox.tv/images/Lekhanam.pdf


--- In MORM@..., "Korason, Varghese"
<Varghese.Korason@...> wrote:
>
> Dear Moderators,
>
>   I understand that MORM is bringing up quality discussion and
productive changes in our faith community in general.
>   Attached is an article I wrote on the state of affairs on
American Diocese.  Last 10 plus years of my service rendered to the
diocesan administration on various levels gives me certain pertinent
facts, which may be critical or rational to some people but it is a
reality to the core issues we are experiencing here today.
>   I humbly request your assistance.
>
>     Varghese Korason
>
>   3 Lane Place, Plainview, New York, NY 11803


Read the article at http://malankaraorthodox.tv/images/Lekhanam.pdf

H. H. The Catholicos Kalpana regarding ammendment of the constitution

Pl. Visit
http://malankaraorthodoxchurch.in/images/stories/File/Achanmarku.pdf

Joice Thottackad

Dear All,

I feel it is high time we need to have the PRO or official
spokesperson clarifying issues. I understand Fr.Dr.O.Thomas is
assigned the post but he is yet to speak as PRO. The Indian government
has intitated the Right to Information (RTI) act. I think we also
should have the RTI regarding our church matters rather than hearing
twisted versions from others through media and always media can get
influenced depending on their political and economic mileage. This
initiative will ensure that people with hidden agenda/vested interests
inside and ourside the church will not manipulate. Many a times the
church members IRONICALLY right from the top to bottom hear news even
twisted versions through unofficial church publications and believe.
Those publications are doing a good job as long as church is not able
to cater to what the faithful need. The church website is a step ahead
towards RTI.

I request Fr.Mathew Koshy to have a column of RTI link for our website
for answering the faithful by designated officials. Half of the time
and problems will be over with this simple act.

I also request all of you to pray for Jan.26 when usually our church
face problems at Aluva Thrikkunathu seminary. I have my semster break
and will be there during that time.
Wishing all of you a belated X mas and 2008 full of his blessings.

Chikku Abraham
IIT Bombay

By voluntarily resigning at the age of 62, Mar Anthonios has set an
example to every other metropolitans and vicars.

I am proud of Mar Anthonios, and I thank God for giving such a good
shepherd to the church.

I earnestly wish and pray that his leadership and guidance strengthen
the Sleeba dasa Samooham, and thereby the church.

http://www.malankaraorthodoxalmayavedhi.org/News%20Bullettin/Special%20Bullettin\
%202008.pdf


John Kunnathu

Dear Moderators,

   I understand that MORM is bringing up quality discussion and productive
changes in our faith community in general.
   Attached is an article I wrote on the state of affairs on American Diocese. 
Last 10 plus years of my service rendered to the diocesan administration on
various levels gives me certain pertinent facts, which may be critical or
rational to some people but it is a reality to the core issues we are
experiencing here today.
   I humbly request your assistance.

     Varghese Korason

   3 Lane Place, Plainview, New York, NY 11803

Dear in Christ

Yet another long day at the hospital. Again quite a few visitors.
Anglican Bishop of Newcastle Rt. Rev. Paul Richardson representing the
Archbishop of Canterbury visited the hospital. He brought a
consolation note from the Archbishop which wishes the speedy recovery
of our Thirumeny and assures the prayerful support of the Anglican
Community in the UK. The Archbishop quoted from St. Paul, saying
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.... who
comforts us in all our troubles.. For just as the sufferings of Christ
flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort over
flows. 2 Cor 1: 3- 5". The Bishop's presence was indeed a matter of
great consolation for all of us.

Again the supportive presence of Rev. Fr. Yesudasan, Fr. Daniel and
two other Rev. Deacons are to be appreciated well.

Metropolitans HG Kuriakos Mar Clemis & HG Zacharias Mar Theophilos led
the evening prayer at the hospital chapel. Followed by the evening
prayer special Litany and Intercessory Prayers were said for
Thirumeni/ The sober and spiritual air is indeed bringing good hope to
all of us.

HG Mar Theophilos will celebrate the H.Qurbana this evening at 6:00 PM
GMT in Newcastle. (For the details of the venue please contact:
07863562907- Fr. Happy Jacob)

Well, it is not that we have forgotten to mention the physical
condition of Thirumeni; it is been well updated by the moderators. Let
us all but join in one spirit in interceding for the recovery of
Thirumeni.

Thanks and God Bless

From Newcastle General Hospital

Fr. Happy jacob & Fr. Abraham Thomas

MGOCSM Madras Centenary Meeting: Response from Gen. Secretary

Pl. Visit
http://www.malankaraorthodox.tv/


Joice Thottackad

Dearly beloved in Christ,

First of all we would like to appreciate and thank all
the support we are getting from all our Church members
both spiritually and physically. We thought of giving
a brief note on the things happening here:

We don't want to give an exposition on His Graces
medical condition as it is accurately been updated by
the moderators by the 'text' supplied by the doctors
who are in touch with the ITU in regular intervals.
When His Grace was brought back from the Operation
Theatre yesterday at about 18:00 Hrs GMT we have again
seen him. The condition might have deteriorated but
His Grace looks graceful as ever.

It will be a sin if we leave unacknowledged the
exemplary service rendering by our Church members in
Sunderland. They are taking all the efforts in
accommodating with all the possible provisions our
people who are visiting Thirumeni.

Also we would like to assure all of you that all
possible measures have been taken to face the worst.
We have resources in every single area. Considering
every single anticipated outcomes we have delegated
teams who are doing their best to make all the
stand-by arrangements.

Supports have been regularly offered by Local
Authorities, India Govt: Officials (thanks to Minister
E.Ahmed and the officials of the Indian High
Commission) and Ecumenical Leaders in the UK.
The Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury is quite
supportive. Bishop Rev. Paul Richardson, representing
the Archbishop of Canterbury will visit Thirumeni at
the hospital this afternoon. Bishops and clergies of
all the Oriental and Byzantine Orthodox Churches are
in the scene with their prayerful support. The
Catholic Archbishop Rt. Rev. Kevin McDonald has
personally rang and offered all the support. All the
local Churches in Newcastle and the North East of
England have been informed about the incident and
several Churches are doing a 'seven days candle lit
prayer'.

His Grace Mar Theophilos is already here giving all
the spiritual and moral support. His Grace Mar Clemis
is expected to be in Newcastle today by 11:30 GMT.
Rev. Fr. Yesudasan and the deacons are also here.
We thank and praise God Almighty for all these
supports and high spirit.

We would highly recommend to minimize your visits. Let
us leave our Thirumeni to the care and love of our
Lord.

Fr. Abraham Thomas & Fr. Happy Jacob
Newcastle, UK

Dear John,

Looks like you are conducting an opinion poll on the subject of
transfer of clergy? In that case also you cannot get my say on
dotted lines,eliminating the "If" from my statement.
Regards,

Yesudasan Nedumoncave.

The MGOCSM centenary (centum glorious) conference in Chennai is being
held from 12-15th january.
They have included 1 rock show,1 pop show and Oxygen(Orthoidox praise
and worship-guitar and drums) along with a "rock for jesus"
competition for youth.

All this is held during the moonu noyamb.

www.a2j.org

www.swapnaabraham.com

These are the sites of the performing bands.Please check them out.



When we phoned the organisers they were unaware that their programmes
coincided with the Holy Nineveh Lent or the Moonu noyamb.They made
directions to the food committee only after our protests.

But they will not withdraw the frenzied music programmes they have
charted for the afternoon of 13th and 14th.
When the moonu noyamb is starting they will be dancing to rock,pop and
using fireworks.

please check the programme schedule of theirs at this site:

www.mgocsm.in.


Your faithfully,

George Alexander.

Dear Yesudasan,
    Thank you for responding. That places you in the category of those
people who care. within those who care, there are two groups: those
who are for clergy transfer and those who are against it. You have
stated:

"Clergy transfer and centralised salary system is welcomed,if it
could be implimented effectively on sound footing, considering the
various aspects involved in it."

From this statement, I believe that you are in support of a system of
clergy transfer. If so, we are on the same side. Please confirm this.
Are we on the same side in this issue? Are you 100% in support of a
system of clergy transfer?

How fascinating it is to see the exact coincidence of Mr.
Arapurayil's and Mr. Matthews Abraham's allegations on Sydney Vicar!

Mr Abraham writes

"""""""""""""" I will give you a brief description about the whole
situation.This achen was a lay man in Sydney. One day he decided to
become achen and joined a local seminary and studied. he was
ordained by Mathews II bava and appointed as vicar of Sydney
church.""""""""""""""""""""

Isn't it that the way things always are? All achens and thirumenis
are laymen before their ordination. One day they will decide to
serve God and start studying. Bava thirumeni or a metropolitan will
ordain them. Exactly the same has happened in Sydney vicar's case.
Does Mr. Abraham know any other priest who was born as one? What is
the relevance of this here? Are you making a judgement on Bava
thirumeni's decision to ordain a priest? If that is the case, you
are not only insulting the supreme head of our church, you are
insulting yourself by exposing your megalomaniac personality.



"""""""""""""""""""""This is about a recent incident which happened
at our church in…. An old lady died recently in the parish. The
burial was conducted as per our rights. When the body was brought to
the church, achen asked to keep the body
on the right side, where ladies sit. ………….People present there
reminded achen about the mistake but achen was not willing to listen
to any of them.  There was heated arguments after the burial and
there is tension prevailing in the parish.""""""""""""""""""""""""

Haven't you got any shame in spicing up and inflating a trivial
incident? Your statements are half-baked lies.  I attended this
funeral and all related ceremonies. There was no such demand from
anyone during the service and there was no `tension' prevailing in
the parish after that. Of course the family was concerned and it was
the talk of the parish, however, the matter was resolved in a decent
manner. Why would there be heated arguments and tension over this
incident? Do you think Sydney people are so immature? Tension
existed in the minds of wicked people who wanted to see the
destruction of the parish. They are the ones who publish spiced up
version of a small incident in cyber space, on a pseudo- name of a
person who doesn't exist in the parish.


"""""""""""""""""""" Ever since he is the permanent vicar and never
moves from there.People are very frustrated with this achen and no
one is there to hear their plight. he is ruling there like a
dictator."""""""""""""""""""

Oh my my! What a pity! Even Jews under Hitler were not this
pathetic. Mr. Abraham, are you trying to make us believe that
malayalees are such an easy walkover?  This has never been the
malayali nature especially when it comes to church matters. No one
with common sense will believe your words. Is it possible to find an
orthodox parish in this century where a priest can rule like a
dictator and people are suffering in silence?  Be realistic, though
you are emotional. If all Sabha members were as sweet as Sydney
people, as you have portrayed, our Sabha will not have all these
fights.

""""""""""""""""""I hope you understand the
situation.""""""""""""""""

At least I understood your situation. You have a personal grudge
with a priest, but you can't leave the parish, as you need the
membership of orthodox community for your existence in a foreign
land. That's why you cannot use your real name. And all you want is
this vicar should go from here.  You are the self appointed leader
of `oppressed and long suffering' people of Sydney parish! There are
people like you in all parishes, but you are different from them as
you know very well Sydney parish members will not agree with
your `findings' if you come out in public. You found an easier way
to mudsling people under a fictitious name going on cyber space.
That is the situation here.

Please verify the whole situation and publish it, if possible so
that the leadership become aware of the realities.

The leadership is very aware of the realities at Sydney parish, as
they have seen many people like you in many parishes. Be patient my
friend, you may get cronies one day, then you can start the evil war
and create split in this beautiful church. And then you can have the
real laugh. Unfortunately this is the plight associated with many
parishes of Orthodox Church.

God bless you

Your fellow parishioner

Kuruvilla Mathews
sydneysider87@...

It is disgusting to see that this public platform is abused as a
means to express someone's petty feelings and personal grudge
towards a priest and a parish. It will be highly misleading for the
readers to read only the inflated and ridiculous accusations about
Sydney priest and parish. As the writer of this message says that
faithful believers owe an answer, I think he and the readers should
hear another side of events described.

Mr Sam Arapurayil says"
  ''''''''''''Besides he does not have any exposure to the practices
of Indian church as he is permanently settled in India''''''''''''

Sydney vicar is not permanently settled in India. He is permanently
settled in Australia. More over, this argument is strange. How could
one not get used to Indian church, if he is settled in India? Should
he get settled in another country to get to know Indian church? All
the Sydney parishioners are malayalees from Kerala, no one is more
used to Kerala or less used to Kerala than any other person
(including the priest).

'''''''''''''' ….Due to his less exposure, he commits a
lot of mistakes in the liturgical and administrative functions of
the parish. As Mr.Mathew Thomas correctly said, I have several times
witnessed his autoritrian style of
nctioning….."''''''''''''''''''''''

Mr Arapurayil (though he has only  `occasionally visited Sydney
church' a few years back!) thinks he is in a right position to judge
a priest as `stubborn and authoritarian'. I do not want to challenge
his right to do so. Any one can form opinions about another person.
However, Mr Arapurayil conveniently hides or pretends to forget the
sacrifices this priest has done and he is still doing, the entire
struggle he and this parishioners fought, all the unrelenting
leadership he is providing and the commitment he and his family
express towards Sydney church, to bring us to this stage. Merciful
Lord wouldn't have bestowed this priest with the honour of forming a
congregation and a church in a foreign land if he was not worthy of
it. Also the parishioners would not have accepted his leadership and
supported him all these years if he was as pathetic as Mr Arapurayil
has portrayed.

In all communities, decisions are made collectively and all
individuals may not agree with all of them. If the decision made is
not agreeable to us, we will say the leader is stubborn,
authoritarian. One has to look beyond his/her nose and think for the
community. There is a saying in English' you can change the job, but
you will get the same boss'. Similarly I would say `you may change
the parish, buy you will get the same priest'. For Mr Arapurayil,
Sydney vicar may be `stubborn'. Another priest might be weak enough
to dance according to Mr Arapurayil's tune, but he will have some
other drawbacks. Grow up and learn to cope with different
personalities.


""""""""""""""Most of the members are least bothered about the
administrative functioning and achen misuses this
to his selfish advantages….""""""""""""


Mr Arapurayil observes that we (the Sydney church members) do not
bother about what is happening in the parish! If it was the case,
this parish would have collapsed years back and a beautiful church
building with a huge financial obligation wouldn't have
materialised. The parish people are aware of how hard it was to form
a parish and build a gorgeous church on a foreign land among all
resistance we had to face. More over, they know that church is a
place to worship God and have fellowship, bring children up in
Christian values and finally hold together as a malayalee Orthodox
community.

And what selfish advantage the priest got so far? What advantage a
priest who is not remunerated by the church can take?  People those
who are regular to the church know very well that Sydney priest is a
selfless and most committed servant of the Lord. What spiritual
needs of his parishioners has he not met?

""""""""""""""""""…….Due to his stubborn attitude many of the
members keep a fair distance from the activities of the
parish……""""""""""

What a ludicrous statement! This parish is functioning normally and
most of the parishioners, wholeheartly and enthusiastically
participate in church activities. There are many organizations and
activities that are run smoothly. Sunday school, MGOCSM, youth
movement, MarthaMariam samajam are the various organizations that
are getting more lively and active as the years pass by. How someone
from Banglaore could make a hypothetical statement that is valid
only on his fabricated world of existence?

There are people who keep a distance from the church or even leave
the church in all parishes of all churches. Personal problems,
personality problems that could lead to social withdrawals,
reluctance to contribute financially to the welfare of the church,
finding new exciting belief systems etc are a few to mention as the
reasons. Unfortunately this is rife in Orthodox Church. It is not
unique to Sydney parish. Moreover, how strong is a person's desire
to worship God, when he/she counts a priest's attitude more
important than their spiritual needs?

This parish is growing and more families are joining willingly when
they migrate to Sydney. Generally our services are attended by a
full church, and I do not know how an `occasional visitor' could
make such an unfounded statistics about us sitting in Bangalore (as
he claims)!


"""""""""""""""""""""""""""Even if we forget all the failures
mentioned above, my question here is, why cant anyone touch the
Vicar of Sydney parish, in the sense why is he the permanent vicar
of Sydney parish………thirumeni? Isn't the rules and regulations not
applicable to the achen
of Sydney? """""""""""""""""""

Bingo! We hit the real issue here! So this is what Mr Arapurayil is
really concerned about!!!!! He can forget all the personality
drawbacks, liturgical mistakes, but he can't sleep until the vicar
gets a transfer!!! If this is your real problem, can't you come
directly to that, instead of mudslinging on the vicar and the parish?

There are always small-minded people who fight their own minds (like
Mr Arapurayil) for their place in this world. Sabha is bigger than
an individual, it is for a community. Sabha cannot be run for an
individual's petty pleasure; a vicar's transfer is only one of them.
It might not happen whenever an occasional visitor has a personality
clash.  It will happen when the Metropolitan endorses a majority
decision or whenever the Metropolitan wants.

This parish and church are in its infancy, you may have many mean
and petty feelings towards us, but please do not make an attempt to
destroy the church. It will not work.

Fellow believer
Kuruvilla Mathews
Sydney
sydneysider87@...

Dear all

Thrissur Principal Munsiff has ordered that Mannamangalam St. Mary's
Church which has over 350 families belongs to Malankara Orthodox
Syrian Church and Jacobite Church, its priests or members have no
right to interfere with the prayers and administration of the Church.
This Church was taken over by a group of anti social people belonging
to the Jacobite faction in 2002 forcefully evicting the then vicar
Very Rev. Paulose Corepiscopa who served the Church over forty years.
The court observed that this Church is within the jurisdiction of
Thrissur diocese of Malankara Orthodox Church. Moran Mar Baselius
Marthoma Mathews II was elected by the Malankara Association held at
Parumala in 2002 under the supervision of Hon. Justice Malimat. The
Hon. Supreme court of India accepted this election and declared that
His Holiness alone shall have authority in and right to administer the
Orthodox Church. It is noted that four representatives attended the
said Association from Mannamangalam Church. His Holiness in turn
appointed H.G. Yuhanon Mar Meletius as the Metropolitan of Thrissur
diocese and this Church comes under his jurisdiction. He is the one
who has authority to appoint priest to the said Church, the court
ordered. No evidence has ever been produced by the Jacobite faction to
prove that they have any authority in this Church.

The court further restrained the Jacobite faction priests and people
from making any obstacle in the smooth conduct of the religious
services conducted by the present vicar Fr. Reji Mamkuzha appointed by
the lawful Metropolitan Yuhanon Mor Meletius. Neither the priest
appointed by the Jacobite faction nor his supporters can enter the
Church, Kurisupally, Cemetery or Sunday school to conduct any service
or to establish any kind of authority or right. A similar order was
passed regarding the Chuvannamannu Church few months back. This order
is in the process of execution.

Yuhanon Mor Meletius Metropolitan
Thrissur

Complete Malayalam Writings of Dr. Paulos Mar
Gregorios Vol I

Sneham, Swathandhriam, Puthia Manavikatha

Pl. Visit & Download

http://www.paulosmargregorios.info/BOOKS/Sneham/Sneham.html
or
http://www.malankaraorthodox.tv/

Joice Thottackad
Kottayam, Kerala


      
________________________________________________________________________________\
____
Looking for last minute shopping deals?
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--- In MORM@..., "John Kunnathu" <johnkunnathu@...>
wrote:
>
> On every New Year day, the new office bearers take charge of the
> administration of our parishes in the American Diocese. This is an
> excellent and exemplary system.
>
> We elect new people every year to hand over the administration of
> our parish. This means that the ultimate power rests on the
people.
> This is a democratic system, which is the rule of the people, by
the
> people, and for the people. This system gives us, the people, the
> power to vote for the office-bearers that we want. Only those
people
> who prove responsible to the community usually get elected in a
> democratic system. If someone proves irresponsible, people can
vote
> him/her out of the office.
>
> In contrast to democracy is dictatorship. Where a dictator rules,
> people have no power. People are not given the choice to vote for
a
> dictator. A dictator rules as he/she wants whether the people want
> him/her or not. Dictatorship was how the whole world was ruled
until
> recently. Even today dictatorship is practiced in several nations
in
> the world where a person or a group of people rule a nation
without
> the consent of the people. Where there is dictatorship, people are
> denied freedom, and they are in slavery.
>
> Hence, what we do in our parishes every New Year day is an
excellent
> and exemplary practice.
>
> But this is only one side of the picture. There is another side of
> the picture of our parishes in this diocese that we can't feel
very
> proud of. For each parish, we elect a new trustee, a new
secretary,
> and the new committee members every year, but the chief
> administrator stays in power without any change at all. A vicar is
> the chief administrator of a parish, and the vicars stay with the
> same parish all life long in American Diocese.
>
> People have no power regarding the vicar, the chief administrator.
> He cannot be voted in or out of the office by the people. A vicar
is
> appointed by the bishop. In American diocese, vicars are not
> transferred at all. Once appointed, he stays as its vicar until
his
> death. This system makes the vicar a dictator. As long as the
chief
> administrator stays in power indefinitely as a dictator, the
> democratic set up for the rest of the people in the administration
> is not of much value. Thus the administrative set up we have in
our
> diocese now is a dictatorship, which puts us in slavery.
>
> Each parish works independently as a kingdom in itself. In the
> absence of any clergy transfer or any centralized salary system,
the
> existence of a diocese seems meaningless. Even if this diocese
> ceases its function, nothing significant will happen; all these
> parishes and their kings will continue here without any diocesan
set
> up. There are talks about splitting this diocese into two. I am
> skeptical about its advantage. The present one doesn't serve any
> purpose at all; then why do we need two of them?
>
> It is time now to sit down and think if this is what we want. Why
do
> we sacrifice our God-given freedom to some dictators?
>
Dear Moderators,

The term "Chief Administrator" is not applied for a vicar in any
records of our church. They are the representatives of the Bhishop,
shepherds and servants, Biblically and Ecclesiastically.The
phrasiology,"Chief Administrator" underlines an irrilant
nomenclature to the office of a vicar.

"People have no power regarding the vicar. He cannot be voted in or
out of office". Yes, this is as per the constitution of the church
and nothing special in American Dioces.He is the president of the
Managing Commitee by being the vicar, not voted in, and therefore
canot be voted out. People can represent the individual issues to
the Bhisops.

Clergy transfer and centralised salary system is welcomed,if it
could be implimented effectively on sound footing, considering the
various aspects involved in it. But that will not make the people
the masters and clergy the slave, as reads in between lines of the
article under reply, and it should not happen too. The usage of the
terms, "dictater" and "dictatership" freely used in the article
shows the misuse of the freedom the author enjoys.

Regarding spliting the docese, it will only help the growth and
efficiency of the divided units and its parishes.

Yesudasan Nedumoncave
Philadelphia

God is Here, Where Are You?

Sermon delivered Sunday January 6, 2008 by Fr John Brian at Holy
Transfiguration Orthodox Mission in Madison, Wisconsin. Focusing on the
meaning of Nativity and Epiphany - God's manifestation.

Pray for our mission efforts.

17 minutes, 58 seconds

Listen at
http://frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2008/01/god-is-here-where-are-you.html

PODCAST OR DOWNLOAD:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/frjohnbrian or
http://frjohnbrian.hipcast.com/rss/spiritual_reflections_or_fr_john_brian.xm
l

+*+*+*+*+

Previous Sermons:

God is Ready - Are You?

Homiletic sermon delivered Sunday December 23, 2007 by Fr John Brian
at Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Mission in Madison, Wisconsin.

Focusing on the meaning behind the genealogy of Luke 3. Attention given to
the beginning of Isaiah Chapter 11, Acts Chapter 3 and Galatians 4:18-20.
These are among the readings appointed for the preparation period for Holy
Nativity in Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church calendar year.

31 minutes, 52 seconds

Link:
http://frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2007/12/god-is-ready-are-you.html


PODCAST OR DOWNLOAD:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/frjohnbrian or
http://frjohnbrian.hipcast.com/rss/spiritual_reflections_or_fr_john_brian.xm
l

Pray for our mission efforts.
Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Mission Parish
Maruroopa Palli
621 N. Sherman Avenue, Suite B3, Madison, Wisconsin
Sundays 9:30 am ~ 608.242-4244
http://maruroopa.blogspot.com/
www.angelfire.com/wi/inroads/transfig.html
o HEAL YOUR LIFE o DEEPEN YOUR FAITH
o ENRICH YOUR PRACTICE o REFRESH YOUR SPIRIT

December 6, 2007: Holy Episcopal Synod Holds Special Session

The Holy Episcopal Synod of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church held
a special session, which was presided over by His Holiness Baselios
Marthoma Didymus I on December 6th, 2007 at Devalokam, Kottayam.  The
following Metropolitans participated: H.B. Paulose Mar Milithios, H.G.
Dr. Geevarghese Mar Osthathios, H.G. Mathews Mar Epiphanios, H.G.
Philipos Mar Eusebius, H.G. Thomas Mar Athanasios, H.G. Geevarghese
Mar IVanios, H.G. Dr. Thomas Mar Athanasius, H.G. Yuhanon Mar
Milithios, H.G. Kuriakose Mar Clemis, H.G. Zachariah Mar Anthonios,
H.G. Dr. Mathews Mar Severios, H.G. Geevarghese Mar Coorilos, H.G.
Paulos Mar Pachomius, H.G. Dr. Yakob Mar Irenaeus, H.G. Dr. Gabriel
Mar Gregorios, and H.G. Dr. Yuhanon Mar Chrysostomos.  The following
decisions were arrived at:

1) The norms for episcopal selection were drafted.
2) The Synod addressed the recent news that surfaced in local Indian
news medias regarding the episcopal consecration of a Turkish monk
from Germany for the Syrian Orthodox Church in Europe.  The Synod
sought the necessary explanations from the concerned bishops regarding
the consecrations.  These explanations were then accepted by His
Holiness the Catholicos and the Holy Episcopal Synod.
3) It was decided to honor H.G. Dr. Geevarghese Mar Osthathios
Metropolitan by awarding His Grace with the "Sabha Ratna" title on the
occassion of His Grace's 90th birthday (navathy) celebration. His
Grace is bestowed with this title in recognition of His Grace's
extraordinary charismatic leadership throughout his prolific
ministerial life in the Church.  The title will be awarded by His
Holiness Baselios Marthoma Didymus I on Sunday, 9th December, 2007 in
Thiruvalla at the Bethany Aramana.
4) The proposal to begin a cancer care centre in St. Gregorios Mission
Hospital, Parumala was approved in principle.  The details and final
decisions regarding this proposal will be made in the next session of
the Holy Episcopal Synod, that is scheduled for February of 2008.

Sorce:
http://malankaraorthodoxchurch.in/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=215&\
Itemid=185

Dr. Thomas Mar Macarios Speech on Augen Mar Dionysius'
Death

Pl. Visit
http://malankaraorthodox.tv/Mar%20Macarios/mar%20macarios.htm

or

http://www.malankaraorthodox.tv/


Joice Thottackad
Kottayam, Kerala


      
________________________________________________________________________________\
____
Never miss a thing.  Make Yahoo your home page.
http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs

Despite all the short comings I still believe that our church will stand
the test of time... as it has always done.  Our rich tradition and
rituals associated with worship is noteworthy.  However this is the only
factor which has helped our church from crumbling under the present
turmoil!!

regards

Roy,
St.Thomas Orthodox Church, Thevara, Cochin.

Dear Friends in Christ,


Our Bishop of Canada & Europe His Grace Dr. Thomas Mar Makarious was
involved in a road accident on 5th Jan'07 (Saturday) on H.G's way to
Newcastle airport ( UK ).The injuries are multiple rib fractures and
severe chest injuries. HG is admitted in Newcastle general Hospital
and is in critical condition. His Grace is 83 years old and was healthy.


Please uphold His Grace in your prayers.


Infact in the month of June'07, our church lost one young Bishop H.G
Augen Mar Dionysius at the age of 52, who passed away instantly after
a car accident in Kerala. In Nov'07, we lost one of our pioneer
Bishops in the field of Mission work at the age of 83 after a heart
attack in Muscat .


Our church is undergoing a very rough time.

Please pray for our church.



With Prayers

Faithful of the

Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church (Indian Orthodox Church)

On every New Year day, the new office bearers take charge of the
administration of our parishes in the American Diocese. This is an
excellent and exemplary system.

We elect new people every year to hand over the administration of
our parish. This means that the ultimate power rests on the people.
This is a democratic system, which is the rule of the people, by the
people, and for the people. This system gives us, the people, the
power to vote for the office-bearers that we want. Only those people
who prove responsible to the community usually get elected in a
democratic system. If someone proves irresponsible, people can vote
him/her out of the office.

In contrast to democracy is dictatorship. Where a dictator rules,
people have no power. People are not given the choice to vote for a
dictator. A dictator rules as he/she wants whether the people want
him/her or not. Dictatorship was how the whole world was ruled until
recently. Even today dictatorship is practiced in several nations in
the world where a person or a group of people rule a nation without
the consent of the people. Where there is dictatorship, people are
denied freedom, and they are in slavery.

Hence, what we do in our parishes every New Year day is an excellent
and exemplary practice.

But this is only one side of the picture. There is another side of
the picture of our parishes in this diocese that we can't feel very
proud of. For each parish, we elect a new trustee, a new secretary,
and the new committee members every year, but the chief
administrator stays in power without any change at all. A vicar is
the chief administrator of a parish, and the vicars stay with the
same parish all life long in American Diocese.

People have no power regarding the vicar, the chief administrator.
He cannot be voted in or out of the office by the people. A vicar is
appointed by the bishop. In American diocese, vicars are not
transferred at all. Once appointed, he stays as its vicar until his
death. This system makes the vicar a dictator. As long as the chief
administrator stays in power indefinitely as a dictator, the
democratic set up for the rest of the people in the administration
is not of much value. Thus the administrative set up we have in our
diocese now is a dictatorship, which puts us in slavery.

Each parish works independently as a kingdom in itself. In the
absence of any clergy transfer or any centralized salary system, the
existence of a diocese seems meaningless. Even if this diocese
ceases its function, nothing significant will happen; all these
parishes and their kings will continue here without any diocesan set
up. There are talks about splitting this diocese into two. I am
skeptical about its advantage. The present one doesn't serve any
purpose at all; then why do we need two of them?

It is time now to sit down and think if this is what we want. Why do
we sacrifice our God-given freedom to some dictators?

H.G. Dr. Thomas Mar Makarios has been admitted to the New castle
General Hospital after a car accident on H.G.'s way to New Castle
Airport after the declaration of St. Thomas Orthodox Congregation as
a Church.  Another vehicle hit on the side of the Thirumeny and
Thirumeny got severe internal injury and rib fracture due to the
impact of the crash.  Thirumeny is admitted in the New castle
General Hospital at about 1 p.m. Houston time.  I spoke to the
secretary of the Church in London at 5 p.m.  and He told that
Thirumeny is on ventilator as the Blood pressure is very low. Later
I have called Mr. Varghese and came to know that Thirumeny is in
Operation Theater and the doctors are trying to control the internal
bleeding. Later I have talked to Rev. Fr. Happy and Dr. Abraham by
telephone at 9 p.m. and they told that due to the internal bleeding
and internal injury Thirumeny undergone  a surgery and another
surgery is going at the time that I called them.

Kindly pray for Thirumeny.

With regards,
Charly V. Padanilam, Houston.

Hope you all remember the situation of Congress party
before one year. There were different groups. The
media & people celebrated the activities of these
various groups.


A similar situation happening in Malankara Sabaha. Now
most of the managing committee members participating
in group meetings.Indian Orthodox Herald, a
publication from US,
published the decissions of  such a group meeting held
in Adoor as a lead news in the VOLUME III ISSUE 152
MALAYALAM EDITION. How  such decissions can become a
lead news ?This we have to think later.


  Malankara sabha has a strong democartic back ground .
Every parishes in the sabha elected there members to
Assciation as per their strength ( The ratio is
100:1). Then thsese association members elect Managing
committee. After this Malankara Metropolitan,the
president of Managing committee ,nominates some of the
managing committee members  as per churchs
interests.We should really aprreciate such a strong
structure. Managing committee is the high power
committee and  strong personalities with great vision
should come to managing committee.

  one  Rambachan came to Managing Committee as a
nominated member. That time itself some people who
knows Rambachans capabalities opposed that
decission.He has very strong relationships with
Manorama and political leaders.

He was a candidate in a Bishop election but failed to
get the confidence of association. But he is very
powerfull in Devalokam Circle. He wants to show or
label Ommenchandy ,opposition leader, as his man.
He was the leader of the group meeting conducted in
Pathanamthitta. How such a personality came to MC as a
nominated member ?  Any way the news says twenty MC
members supported him.It is not a small number. Whose
interest they can keep in the MC ?

Another personality was a manager in a seminary.
Recently he was transferd to another seminary. He is
the editor of an yellow magazine and publishes the
news about who he does not like in the orthodox
faction.Before he published such news from JOc. But
now a days he stopped those news. For example one of
the main news  in his latest publication is about an
award of Rev Fr. Varghese Kallapara who is an official
spoke man of JOC.
In JOC , getting award or title is not a news. Every
day it is happening. But for this great hostorian it
is a news.  As I mentioned , he was the manager of a
seminary in Kerala and 'elected' to Managing Committee
from UK-CANADA-EUROPE
diocesse. As an alamayan in Malankara Sabha it was a
surprise for me. He was a candidate in the last Bishop
election but unable to gain sufficient votes from
Clergies. He has  strong support from  south belt.He
thinks that he has to serve the church as a
metropolitan. who can stop him ? The news says he
joined his hands with the rambachan to conduct the
faction meeting in Pathanamthitta.


As per the IOH news , another group meeting was
conducted in Adoor. It was the lead news. But Fr.
Shebaly suppressed about the  people participated in
that meeting.

I was a witness of the last Bishop election held in
Parumala. The campaign was worser than a college
campus election. So the holy synod wants to introduce
some norms for the metropolitan election.It is clear
that these groups  want to oppose the holy Synods
decissions.

Any way if it goes like this I am really in confusion
about the future of my beloved church.


Whether the  church leaders who love the church can
control the activities of such group makers, yellow
papaers and the clergy who give much importance to
such activities ?

It is a million dollar question .


Thanking you

Shaju Joseph
Doha


      
________________________________________________________________________________\
____
Looking for last minute shopping deals?
Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. 
http://tools.search.yahoo.com/newsearch/category.php?category=shopping

Mannamangalam St. Mary's Orthodox Church (Thrisoor Diocese) Case:
Munsif Court Judgment, 2-1-2008.
Court order in favour of the Orthodox church.

Joice Thottackad

Mar Gregorios Abdal Jaleed: Visudhiyude Niradeepam
Edited  by M. Kurian Thomas.
Published by Sophia Books, Kottayam

Pl. Visit & Download the pdf File.

http://www.malankaraorthodox.tv/

Joice Thottackad
Kottayam, Kerala

Monthly Reminder


  Dear friend,
       Thanks for being a member of the Malankara Orthodox Renaissance Movement. 
We are a support group of those people who earnestly wish for a renewal in our
church, and together, let us strive to make a renaissance in our church and in
our world.

      You may contact us at  almayavedi@..., and send a message to the
group at MORM@... .You may also post a message directly on the the
site of the group by going to http://in.groups.yahoo.com/group/MORM/.  Feel free
to write to us anything you want to tell us. However, everything you write may
not be posted in the group. We are trying to have a focused discussion and
research of the issues in our church.

       If you have a friend who might like to join us, please encourage and help
him/her to join, or send that person's email address to us, and we will be happy
to send an invitation.

      We are looking for volunteers to do researches on specific topics and
issues related to the church. If you like to participate, please let us know.

Regards,

         Moderators

New Year: New Heart
“A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit
will I put within you and I will take away the stony
heart out of your flesh and I will give you a  heart
of flesh,” Ezek 11:19, 36:26,
	 Destruction of Jerusalem, Judah, Israel and the
captivity were according to the sovereign plan of God
to teach the erring nations a lesson. But the love of
God is so great that He cannot forsake Israel forever;
He will restore them. But before that the people had
to turn from their evil ways and seek God. God himself
will initiate the reversal by putting a new heart in
them, a heart of flesh instead of their stony heart.
This great message of hope is relevant to all
generations.
	 What is a stony heart? "Skleerocardia," hardness of
heart is the term in Greek for stony heart. "Stony"
("stiff-necked," Ex 34:9) stands for infidelity, pride
and unrepentant mind, defiled with worldly thoughts,
delights of the flesh and full of hate and resentment.
It is unrepentant, unforgiving, unkind, unloving,
cruel, away from God and spiritually dead and no room
for goodness, morality or righteousness. It is
stumbling to Gospel. Skleerocardia is mentioned only
in two places in the Holy Bible. (1) Mathew 19:8 when
Jesus explained why Moses allowed divorce, "Because of
the hardness of heart." It is a condition which
prevents blood flow into heart. As a dysfunctional
valve prevents regular blood-flow into the heart and
causes death a stony-heart prevents flow of God’s
grace causing spiritual death. Satan takes control and
impels such a person to commit all sorts of sinful
rage. Change of attitude is difficult in such a
vicious condition. A spouse who lives with such
persons is exposed to the danger of severe abuse,
injury or even death. Divorce was preferred as a
lesser evil for the safety of the weaker partner, not
as a universal standard. Stony heart rebels against
God. God calls Israel, “House of rebellion, impudent,
heard-hearted, adamant and harder than flint.”
Wickedness, infidelity, broken relationships, family
feuds, rivalry, social unrest, etc are attributes of
stony heart. (2) In Mark 16:14 when "Jesus rebuked the
disciples for their unbelief and hardness of heart."
The disciples who saw the crucifixion thought that the
Lord failed and all their hopes ended. They closed
their heart to believe the Gospel that the "The Lord
is risen." Whether a heart is closed to love one's
wife or disbelieve the Gospel, both are in the same
predicament; closed to God's grace.
	 A stony heart refuses to (1) obey the word of God,
(2) heed to the sermons and (3) call for righteous
living. Sins of commissions and omissions come out of
the stony heart. “Watch over heart with all diligence
to guard the character,” Pro 4:23. Bible says not to
hold what belongs to another. Achan was put to death
for holding what did not belong to him, Joshua 7:1-26.
Gehasi was punished with leprosy for holding what was
not due to him, 2K 5:20-27. Lev 27:26-33 says,
"Firstborn of animals, all the tithe of the land
whether the seed or the fruit, is the Lord's." Haggai
1:6-9 says, "You have sown much and bring in little;
you eat but not satisfied; you drink but you are not
filled; you clothe but no one is warm and he who earns
wages, earns to put into a bag with holes; consider
your ways. My house is in ruins while every one of you
runs to his own house." Malachi 3:8-10 says, "You have
robbed me in tithes and offerings. Bring in all the
tithes into the storehouse." 'In the old times men
were instructed to offer in the temple the
first-fruits of the threshing-floor and the winepress,
Num. 18:12. Likewise we ought to offer God
self-control and truth, ascetic practice, love and
prayer as the first-fruits of the virtue of
contemplation. Through the first we repulse the
assaults of mindless desire and anger; through the
second we vanquish empty thoughts and the snares into
which they lead us,' says a Church father.
	 Heart of flesh is just the opposite of stony heart.
It believes in the Gospel and delights in the Word of
God and takes refuge in the Lord, Ps 34:8. Be it sick
with sins of the flesh, infixed in worldly desires or
imperfect, it approaches Christ who is life and
perfection of virtues, the doctor who heals and
fountain of mercy. Heart of flesh is free from burden
of iniquity because Christ is its justification and
strength; the way to eternal life, light and
imperishable beauty. It is full of love, compassion,
morally upright and righteous; forgives, considers no
offence to others, repents and corrects so that
relationship with spouse, siblings, kids and others
are in proper place.
	 How and why God's horrible judgment fell upon
Zedekiah? Like his most predecessors, “He did that
which was evil in the sight of the Lord his God and
humbled not himself before Jeremiah the prophet
speaking from the mouth of the Lord,” 2 Chr 36:12. “He
rebelled against the king, who had made him swear by
God, he stiffened his neck and hardened his heart from
turning unto the Lord God of Israel,” v13. “Moreover
all the chief of priests and people transgressed very
much after all the abominations of the heathen and
polluted the house of the Lord which he had hallowed
in Jerusalem. The Lord God of their fathers sent to
them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending
because he had compassion on his people and on his
dwelling place. But they mocked the messengers of God
and despised his words, misused his prophets until the
wrath of the Lord arose against his people till there
was no remedy. Therefore he brought upon them the king
of Chaldees who slew their young men with the sword in
the house of their sanctuary… and he gave all into his
hands,” v14-17. Babylonian army besieged and burned
down Jerusalem, captured the king, ransacked and took
holy vessels and valuables of the temple, killed the
people and carried young people into captivity to
Babylon, v18, 19. This total destruction of the nation
fulfilled Jeremiah’s prediction, Je 25-27; v20. This
reminds not to rebel against admonitions.
	 Are we different? Many people seldom think how humble
they came in this country and prospered. First batch
immigrants carried $6 with them. After years of
suffering discrimination and toils many are
millionaires, landlords, employers and professionals.
Indian community ranks in the highest per-capita
income group, score highest in academic excellence,
professional expertise and finance. But do we credit
these achievements to God's blessings which enabled us
to become what we are and feel thankful? Many are
church leaders but lack faith of our fathers. Many cry
for help in trouble and when get help turn they their
back to God! All round prosperity led man to falsely
put his trust in his self-righteousness rather than
God who sustained him leading to a gradual moral
degradation. Some people's attitude amazes me; they
are very courteous, religious and punctual on Sundays
but when the question comes of helping parish, diocese
or a charity they show a stoic face and seldom spare a
penny, at the same time would expend huge sums
inviting priests, bishops and friends to make baptism,
marriage, memorials, etc grand. In the hot pursuit of
happiness people often forget their very root. A
migrant Malayalees' peculiarity is that women earn
more wages and they take upper hand in decisions; men
being helpless. Many are obsessed with a wrong notion
that high-end houses and cars make them great and
compete to excel others. Many people buy them not for
need but for status-sake! Many people commit beyond
their ability and work overtime to pay it off. Being
exhausted they find neither time nor money for the
church! Unfortunately the competitions are primarily
between siblings. Many siblings are not in talking
terms and worst of all they convert the church into a
venue to unload all cold-wars, jealousy and anger and
challenge one another to prove their dexterity.
Pathetic indeed; people careless of the church
sanctity encourage sides resulting in group-rivalry.
Parents who run after never-ending quest for material
gains neglect the children. They learn undesirable
things from TV Internet and evil friends and grow
disoriented and squander the wealth. Many youngsters
remain either singles or divorcees for, the parents
failed to impart family values in them. Many are
society magnates but spiritually dead, no peace at
home, live in mansions but zero in hospitality,
curious to imitate the west but not their good
aspects.
	 “Our greatest protection is self-knowledge to avoid
the delusion that we are seeing ourselves when we are
in reality looking at something else. This is what
happens to those who do not scrutinize themselves.
What they see is strength, beauty, reputation,
political power, abundant wealth, pomp,
self-importance, bodily stature, certain grace of form
or the life. They think that is what they are. Such
persons make very poor guardians of themselves:
because of their absorption in something else, they
overlook what is their own and leave it unguarded. How
can a person protect what he does not know? The most
secure protection for our treasure is to know
ourselves: each one must know himself as he is, and
distinguish himself from all that is not he, that he
may not unconsciously be protecting something else
instead of himself,” St Gregory of Nyssa.
	 Repentance is essential to inherit heaven. One who
does not repent shall perish, said Jesus, Luk 13:3.
One who is in Christ is a new creation, behold old
things passed away. May God bless you. My family and I
wish you a very happy and prosperous New Year, Love,
Johnachen.


--- MORM@... wrote:


---------------------------------
   Malankara Orthodox Renaissance Movement
Malankara Orthodox Renaissance Movement
        Messages In This Digest      (2
Messages)

1.
       The December 2007 edition of "Shroro" is now
online  From:       Thomas Daniel

2.
       Christmas 2007  From:       joicethottackad

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               Messages
1.
                        The December 2007 edition of
"Shroro" is now online              Posted by:
"Thomas Daniel"            daniel_reji@...
                                 daniel_reji
                  Wed Dec 26, 2007 9:58 am
               The December 2007 edition of "Shroro" is
now online

Dear friends and brethren,

The December 2007 edition of "Shroro - The Syriac
Orthodox Christian
digest" http://www.socdigest.org is now online.

Your dedication to the faith has given birth to
Shroro, and your love
and interest has made the tremendous growth in this
magazine leading
to its immediate success.

We ask that you pray for us, so that we may better
serve ourcommunity's
interests in coming years.

Shroro Editorial Board
http://www.socdigest.org


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2.
                        Christmas 2007
Posted by:      "joicethottackad"
joicethottackad@...
          joicethottackad
Wed Dec 26, 2007 9:59 am
"He will be great in the sight of the Lord," Luke
1:15.
Third Sunday of Church calendar is "Sooboro d'Skario"
or "Annunciation
to Zacharias." This Sunday is forerunner to Christmas,
even as St John
the Baptist was forerunner to our Lord.
Faithful knows as poet says, "If winter comes, can
spring be far
behind?", that Christmas is only eight weeks away. For
Malankara
Orthodox Church it is also "Parents' Day." Zacharias
and Elizabeth are
model spouses; "Both were righteous before God,
walking in all
commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless,"
v6. Model spouses
only could make model parents. They are role models of
parents because
they brought up their child in Lord's discipline. I
wrote an article
on this subject, "They were both righteous." So this
time I would
discuss another aspect of today's reading, the angel's
prediction as
to who would be the offspring, verse 1:15.
              Zachariah was still confused and
trembling at the sudden
sight of angel. Did this message comfort him? In John
the Baptist
these words were actualized. Jesus said; John was the
greatest among
those born of women, Luke 7:28. We live in a society
where leaders
award 'chevaliers' and 'commanders' not for good
reasons but for
buttering them and people obsessed with the idea of
obtaining titles
by hook or by crook. Is there anything greater than a
good certificate
from Jesus? And missing that would be terrible!
	 Wealth, high influence, leadership, admiration from
others, etc are
signs of greatness and everyone's dream. Pharisees
bore a bad label on
them as lovers of power, position and craving for
honors from public.
Jesus called them hypocrites and taught the disciples
not to imitate
them, Luke 14:7. But were disciples different? Even
when Jesus was
talking about his final ordeals on earth the disciples
were
preoccupied with a dispute as to who was greatest
among them, Luke
9:46; who was greatest in the Kingdom of God, Mat
18:1-5. Jesus showed
them a little child and said, unless converted and
become like a child
they will not enter in the kingdom. The disciples were
drenched in
worldly thought, not spiritual. Jesus showed the child
because
children are free from ambitions. They are teachable,
humble, simple,
lowly and dependant. Mother of Zebedee's sons wanted
Jesus to grant
her children sit at his right and left, Mat 20:21.
Jesus enlightened
her ignorance and told the hard way, that is, it was
not He, but the
Father who decides to whom it be granted. Being great
is great
ambition, nothing wrong, if guided by noble
intentions, pursued in the
right direction and stuck to righteous means;
contrariwise, nothing
else would be deadlier.
	 It is indeed a matter of great joy and comfort if one
knows
beforehand what his/her child would become.
Unpredictability of
children's future is great concern for many parents.
Parents wish that
their children should grow up healthy, intelligent,
courteous and
blameless. With this end in view they afford them the
best possible
living conditions, education and opportunities.
Ironically, only a few
come out with flying colors. Parents never get the
answer why their
child did not fare well despite best opportunities.
There are too many
instances when parents are meek and gentle but
children are unruly;
parents are very religious but children are
irreligious or even
atheists, parents are morally upright but children opt
to live in
immoral way of life. Some people very actively manage
church affairs
for many years in various capacities, spending
lion-share of their
time, energy and money for the growth of church and
community and yet
they are helpless and unhappy that their children do
not follow their
foot-steps. Many 'church leaders' told me "My children
go to English,
Protestant denominational groups." They neither come
to our church nor
marry from our faith/community. Many parents live in
perennial regret,
generalize, pretend smile and wonder why their child
went wrong. Some
children brought shame on the parents. Parents take
advantage where
children are obedient, fail to credit their
sentiments; guided by
false pride, take them to Kerala and force them into
marriage and ruin
the whole life. Some youth told me, they hate the
church because
parents are fighting in it. Some others said they lost
self-esteem for
their parents led shameful life; bad
in-house-relationship drove them
out of community. But all are too quick to blame the
church instead of
introspection into their own follies in the church and
the household.
There are too many contradictions in life; who could
discern all the
mysteries!
	 I assert by the authority of the word of God,
parents' basic
responsibility is to bring up children in Lord's
discipline; if they
fail in that they fail in all other aspects. How shall
I expect my
children behave great when I live in drunken revelry,
addiction,
infidelity and debauchery? People seldom distinguish
greatness in the
sight of the Lord and in the sight of the world.
People posit high
value to saints; they conduct pilgrimages, feasts,
give offerings in
the name of Saints, plead for intercession, etc. Good,
all these are
essential to spiritual growth. How many of them have
avowed, "My child
must become a saint like Parumala thirumeni," nurtured
them to be so?
We honor saints for their strong faith, prayer life,
missionary zeal,
blameless conduct and leading others in faith. Chief
aim is to emulate
their worthy examples (swamseekaranam). Parents ought
to be
role-models; good conduct, punctual in church and
regular partakers of
the holy mysteries, etc. Managing churches and
communities are
secondary, not primary duty. Home ought to be a
miniature church where
prayer, hymn, bible reading, virtuous conduct;
compassion, charity and
kindness are a routine. Many are yet to discern that
things great in
the eye of society; high-end job, high income,
mansions,
club-membership, social drinking, etc are not so great
in God's sight.
	 What then will be great in the sight of God? To the
Jews Jacob was
great because he had divine revelation; ladder
touching earth and
heaven. Samaritan woman asked Jesus, "Are you greater
than our father
Jacob?" John 4:12. Constant contact with God is sign
of true
greatness. Righteous and blameless is great. According
to rabbinical
teaching, "A Jew who has no wife or a wife who has no
child is outcast
in God's eye." Thus Zachariah was free to divorce
Elizabeth. But they
were both blameless and righteous before God, Luke
1:6. St Paul gives
a list of 'great' in the sight of God and the true
nature of
greatness. "By faith Moses refused to be called the
son of Pharaoh's
daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with
the people of God
than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming
the reproach of
Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt,"
Heb 11:24-26. "Of
whom the world was not worthy," Heb 11:38. 2 Maccabees
7:1-42,
describe the ordeal of a mother (Morth Smooni) and her
seven children
for her faith in God by the persecutors. Martyrs are
great for they
received imperishable crown in the Kingdom of God.
	 Nehemiah, a captive Jew was cup-bearer to King
Artaxerxes. It was a
high position in the palace. But he was unhappy
because "The walls of
Jerusalem were in ruins." He wept, mourned and prayed
for days, Neh
1:4. The king favored him. He reached Jerusalem and
built the walls of
Jerusalem. Sanballat, Tobia and Geshem plotted to kill
Nehemiah. But
Nehemiah sent word to them, "I am doing a great work,
Neh 4:19, 6:3."
He who does great thing for God is great.
	 Jesus taught enough about who is great in heaven; one
who is poor in
spirit, suffering, meek, hungry for righteousness,
merciful, pure in
heart, peacemaker, persecuted for the sake of
righteousness and
falsely accused is great, Mat 5:3-12; teach and obey
the Law properly
will be great in heaven, Mat 5:19; love the enemies,
do good to those
who hate, bless those who curse, pray for those who
are spiteful, do
not retaliate to those who do evil, do not expect
rewards, do not
judge, do not condemn but forgive, avoid hypocrisy is
great, Luke
chapter 6; who humbles himself is great, Mat 18:4.
Referring to
self-justification Jesus said what is highly esteemed
among men is
abomination before God, Luke 16:15. In short, one who
obeys God is great.
	 He who discerns great things and does them is great
indeed. Jesus
said not to worry about life but rather completely
trust God, life is
more important than food and body more important than
clothing, Mat
6:25. He who admits that God is greater than all other
things is
great, John 10:29. But today's man obsessed in his
scientific and
technological expertise claims he is greater than God!
He is yet to
acknowledge he has no skill before Tsunami! Yuri
Gagarin, first
astronaut, went round space in "Sputnik," on return he
said, 'I did
not find God anywhere.' Such was the proud of the
Communist Russia
which converted "St Peter's Square" into museum and
avowed 'to efface
God from the face of earth'. Look at the tragic demise
of Communist
Russia. Religion now thrives there more than ever
before. But Kerala
politicians are still in denial. "The fool has said in
his heart,
there is no God. They are corrupt and have done
abominable iniquity,"
Ps 53:1. Those who lead abominable way of life or
inclined to live in
self-denial deny God. Unknowingly they are on the path
of destruction.
St Mary exulted, "My soul magnifies the Lord…For He
who is mighty has
done great things for me," Luke 1:49. Great is the one
who is thankful
to God. David who was thankful reminds us, "Forget not
all His
benefits," Ps 103:2. Are we thankful to God?
	 Christianity is in crisis. As never before, Church is
plagued by
heresies, desertion, lack of faith, spiritual
lethargy, disunity,
strife, hatred, litigation, erosion of values,
immorality, visionless
selfish leadership, foreign yoke, etc. Should we not
bitterly weep for
the Mother-church? We need to pray, "Lord, we went far
from you, help
us return, come quickly; restore your beautiful bride
to its original
glory." Let this Christmas be a time of dedication.
Let our spiritual
fervor inflame so to rejuvenate the lost glory of the
Church; it will
certainly be great in the sight of God.
	 May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord
make His face shine
upon you and be gracious unto you; May the Lord lift
up His
countenance upon you and give you peace," Num 6:24-26.
My family and I
wish you very happy Christmas and blessed New Year,

Johnachen.