Do whatever he tells you.

It is from the Gospel of St. Luke and it is the word of our Blessed Virgin Mary commanding the servers in the wedding feast at Cana to do and obey what Jesus will tell them this phrase makes think and ponder in a very deep sense. I am amazed as I read the further verses that these servants just spontaneously obeyed the word of Jesus without much philosophizing and questioning. I happily found out in the following verses that their obedience bore fruit that is water miraculously turn into wine. As I reflect upon it, an insight flush into my mind and found out that Mary my Mother is always present in people’s life even today and now. She knows what one’s community or family or tribes or society needs I too came to the realization that I, a Salesian religious is like a servant of those Cana time. I am one among many. In addition, our Blessed Virgin Mary is certainly asking me through this message to obey what her son Jesus Christ tells me to do. Hence, the question is what am I to do? Shall I listen to the voice of Jesus and act in order to bear fruit? I feel yes! I must do as a religious.

Life is like music: synchronize it!

Music becomes music only and only if a perfect tune is present, else it’s nothing but a noise or a pure sound. In music there are notes, chords, pitch, scale, an octave and so on. There is therefore a combination of chords that will turn the sound of a musical instrument into a beautiful music. In accompanying the songs or the hymns we have to strictly follow these combinations so as to get a correct and perfect tune.

It naturally happens that within that combination there are one or two chords that come accidentally to that particular set of combination. I simply called it a stranger chord. Of course many called them as accidental chords. These chords do not appear so as to destroy the song; in fact they came in between to add beauty to the sound of the music.

So also our life is like the music. I am a chord say ‘A’ chord or ‘G’ chord and to make my life fulfilled and beautiful I need someone to help me and guide me. So these chords that always there in my life is my parents, my past and present teachers, my superiors, my friends and all those who in one way or the other contribute to the good of my well being. It is also possible that in my life I will meet and face hardship and difficulties like these accidental chords but these aspects will certainly make my life good and beautiful if I accept it and learn from it. So appreciates the chords of life that add meaning and beauty to our existence.

Hearing and imitating may not give us correct knowledge.

Most of our knowledge is achieved through our hearing and imitating I would like to cite this above preposition with the help of these examples.

1. The very word “tomorrow” is learned through hearing and imitating

I truly learned this word through hearing. I heard people talk of tomorrow which means ‘the day after today’ it sounds perfect because everybody and anybody use it. But I personally feel that it is not a fact or say a knowledge that is not real.

Why do I say that way? If I think of this word tomorrow, it remains just a word or a concept because the tomorrow is never there for the tomorrow is nothing but it is today in short, “tomorrow never come.” Tomorrow is just what we are saying, in reality it is not there.

2. The vocabulary I use while I am in the conversation

Here too knowledge is received through hearing and imitating I heard from a professional English professor when he use the complicated and beautiful words in his lecture. So to impress my hearers I use the same words without actually knowing the real meaning of the words which later cause me to shame because the words I imitate is nothing but a wrong meaning. That is how the fact is many of us do use words without actually knowing the meaning of it. . We hear and imitate we see and imitate. So as to conclude with a main heading “hearing and imitating,” don’t always provide us genuine knowledge. The duty of the students of philosophy therefore is not to learn thing so passively but learn with an open minded and with a critical outlook.

What does mother Mary wants from me?

What does mother Mary wants from me?

An elderly priest once came to our community. In keeping with the Salesian tradition, he delivered to us a well-thought good night based on the motherly love or the “what is the expectation of our blessed virgin Mary from us.” He began his thought by sharing to us about his personal experience. He told that on the 70^th birthday of his mother. He and his two brothers went fort to their mother and asked, “Mommy on the special day like this or on your birthday like this would you like us to give an offer you? Their mother with her loving heart looks and smiles at them and said, “My dearest sons, I expect neither silver nor gold from you. I only wish and want from you is happiness in your lives. I want to see you all happy. If you are happy that’s enough for me.”

He concluded thus, so also with our mother Mary. She wants nothing from us especially external matter. In fact she wants from us to be happy. So the thought he gave is that really entered into my soul is “offer her my happiness.” And if I am not happy  or if I find difficulty in my life he told me that I must pray and ask her to help me to be happy always and to share that happiness t others.

It's just a joke!

It’s just a Joke!

I am extremely happy to notice that many guys in the seminar hall are very peaceful and consent with themselves even though their flexible neck perform itself the Gita Yoga. I turn to my pal who sits besides me and show him the peaceful scenery around. She too was amazed to notice that many dudes perform their disco neck dance. So I tell him to whether give them a gentle kick or not. To my surprise he quotes to me the unknown commandment. “thou shall not disturb for he knows what he is doing!

What is the Christian Identity in India?

WHAT IS THE CHRISTIAN IDENTITY IN INDIA?

The question is actually a big question. It is not fair to concise it to only a paragraph or two. However at this very juncture I would like to limit my self to only one or two paragraphs. The question is what is the Christian identity in India? For me personally I feel that the particular worldview and the vision as Father Mike said matter. We as Christian we should live authentically the Christian world view and the Christian vision. I am amazed to hear that in Christianity in quite many parts of our country. The cast system exists. I consider caste system as an evil or the system of dehumanization. So the question will be is this practices is in unification with Christian world view? I don’t think so! In short so as to conclude I would like to sate that for us Christian in order to have that authentic Christian identity we need to go back to the life of Christ and live the vision and the world view of the real Christian.

Any language I learn is not useless.

Any language you learn is not useless

There are many languages in our country India. The national language is Hindi. Learning Hindi is not useless, it is in fact too useful however Hindi alone would not suffice our well in our country. People converse different languages in many different places. I feel tough and difficult to learn languages in short I think I don’t have that gift of learning language. Many times in my life I come into my thought that learning language is useless for it consume my times and my energy. But I can’t say so. For example, two times I have traveled alone by train. In the southern part people talk Tamil, Telegu Malayalam, etc. in the central part of India many talk Hindi while here in Maharashtra people talk Marathi and Hindi.

I was not at all feeling comfortable because I did not know any of these languages. The worse feeling I experience because of the lack of languages is the feeling of loneliness and insecurity. So I realized that if I know these languages at least something of it I feel it will do me much good.

As a conclusion learn as many languages as you can for it is not useless I can guarantee at least to myself It is hundred percent useful.

Failure is a step to success.

Failure is a step to success.

Few bright people turn away from this phrase or quotation, for it is not naturally become success just because we fail unless we try to get out of it. For some it sounds as if all of us should fail so as to succeed. But to tell you the truth, these people will say it is not just that. Failure is one and success is another. So if we once fail, it’s fine there no problem at all. But we must want to succeed next time. If we want to succeed what we have failed then we need to work hard and recognize myself that I have failed in this or that attempt.

So failure become a step to success only and only if one wants not to fail again. If he or she is content with the failures, then it will become failure is a step to failure not at all to success.

ears ago, I feel that what we are reading and what we are preaching makes no sense without having a strong faith on that very word itself “ask and you will receive.” It will therefore bear fruit if and only if we ask and seek with strong eady and will be ready to be a teacher in my life.

Ask and you will receive!

Ask and you will receive!

It’s a verse taken from the Gospel of Mathew. A pagan friend of mine lost his dearest sister when she was just eight year old he came to me barking and telling me that you Christian preach the words of God and proclaim to many of us in the village that whoever asks what he or she needs will receive. But look at our family, at my parents we prayed to God to help and cure my sister, but nothing turned up to be better.  I was quite and just did not know what to say for at that very moment it is not so easy to talk about the resurrection of the incarnate spirit.

When I reflect at that scene that happened years ago, I feel that what we are reading and what we are preaching makes no sense without having a strong faith on that very word itself “ask and you will receive.” It will therefore bear fruit if and only if we ask and seek with strong eady and will be ready to be a teacher in my life.

Teaching is not a job, it's a vocation.

Teaching is not a job, it’s a vocation

From the start of my schooling, I have never understood fully about the role of the teachers. Whenever I met them on the way I just wished them spontaneously but had never understood how much they have labored to help me and my friends. This sick mentality remains on in me till this very moment. I, many times take for granted regarding the role of each teacher in the college I am studying. Truly I have never understood fully until I myself get chance to act as a teacher. These days we are having a course on principle and method of teaching (PMT). It was so true that the course demanded from us to learn the principles and methods from the professor and then put the things we have learnt into practice. So at the heat of the preparation for the class as a teacher, I realize that this is how ones need to be if he or she is to be a teacher. At the same time I remember all my teachers past and present who in many ways help me through their sacrifices. As I am preparing for the two days of classes with my brethren and with the help of Bro. Assistant I realize and even have the guts to voice it out that “Teaching is not a Job, It’s a vocation.”

So if it is a vocation then, “come what may.” I am ready and will be ready to be a teacher in my life.

Lord Give me that peace.

Lord Jesus gives me that peace!

Lord Jesus when I look at you,

I don’t further know what to do.

I feel peace, joy and the absence of pain.

Nevertheless; I find it difficult to explain.

I believe that you present everywhere,

You present here and also out there.

It is no wrong therefore to spend time wherever I feel please,

But the fact is, ‘away from the picture of yours I don’t have peace.’

I feel happy to wonder the beauty of nature,

And to experience that you are there.

But at the end of the appointed time I don’t feel free.

In fact my heart remains, empty.

In some way what our Reverence said hold true,

Only and only in the chapel will I find you.

However I can’t conclude that you are only in the chapel,

You are omnipresence or you present everywhere.

Lord Jesus gives me always that peace and joy,

And help me to make you known to the boys.

Stay with me Jesus wherever I am,

And may in my lives your kingdom come.

Gospel Reflection.

GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MARK, 8:34

JESUS CALLED THE PEOPLE AND HIS DISCIPLES TO HIM AND SAID, ‘If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me.’

This verse goes along very well with these phrases.

No cross, no crown.

No pain, no gain.

He that will have the fruit must climb the tree.

He who would gather honey must bear the sting of the bees.

It seems to very much apply only for the religious and clergy. Superficially yes but totally no. This verse invites all Christians to understand the beauty of hardship and suffering that each of us face in our daily lives and to transform it into a great wonderful glory.

The Final Mystey

The final mystery!

One day a pious brother who led the rosary completed the fifth glorious mystery by announcing thus, “and the final mystery is the coronation.” Many were amazed by his new method of concluding the mysteries and few didn’t realize what was going on during that particular time. A guy who walked side by side with him was taken up by his display of uniqueness and so this inspired him to do the same when his turn of leading the rosary came.

Two days after his turn comes when we reached in the third mystery he said, “in the quarter final, let us contemplate upon the Nativity.” And on the fourth mystery he announced this is the semi final, “the presentation.” So pray hard so that we can win and reach the final mysteries and of course to catch Jesus wherever he may be!

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The day for their accompaniment came and so the good-for-nothing fellow went up to accompany the piano. To everyone surprise he played marvelously well to the point that this top-most musician in the community adore him in his heart. When the mass is over this musician who was considered by the community as the best of all bowed down and said, “I am so sorry for not accepting you as you are.” I am happy to be with you during the accompaniment. Then this new musician, “the considered to be good-for-nothing fellow,” said, “You see presumption do not always give correct evidence.

Presumption doesn't always give correct evidence

Presumption doesn’t always give correct evidence.

A cleric who was considered by many as a good for nothing was so delighted to see his dearest name in the list for the accompaniment in the chapel during the liturgical services. The assistant of the community usually arranged for two clerics. One was to accompany the guitar and the other was for the piano. The other guy who was considered by many as a top-most musician got discouraged to have seen that he supposed to play together with this good-for- nothing fellow. As usual their term to accompany in the chapel came. A top-most musician went to the chapel a night before. He tuned the guitar to the equal tune of the piano. He fixed the number in the board and the “considered to be good-for-nothing fellow did not come to help him. He waited for almost an hour but this guy didn’t show up. Out of frustration, the top-most musician left the chapel and angrily went to bed.

The day for their accompaniment came and so the good-for-nothing fellow went up to accompany the piano. To everyone surprise he played marvelously well to the point that this top-most musician in the community adore him in his heart. When the mass is over this musician who was considered by the community as the best of all bowed down and said, “I am so sorry for not accepting you as you are.” I am happy to be with you during the accompaniment. Then this new musician, “the considered to be good-for-nothing fellow,” said, “You see presumption do not always give correct evidence.

a weird definition of life

Life is not like a rubik's cube wherein we can solve matter just only with a given formula.

Mother Mary, "My Vocation Promotor."

Mother Mary, “My vocation promotor.”

I did my elementary and secondary studies in my parish school. When I was in class seven I wanted to join the Salesian, however my parents, teachers and the parish priests of my parish, suggested that I should join after my matriculation. I got annoyed and convert myself into one amongst those boys who performed illegal acts that was not applicable for the boarders. Almost every first Friday of the month my mother came to visit me and told me that she was praying for me asking the blessed virgin to help me on my studies and in my life.

Three years after experiencing those entire cow boys’s life, I again felt the call within me nevertheless; it gave me no peace unless I respond to it.

After class ten I expressed this desire to my parents and to my parish priest. They told me to consider about it. I without hesitation left all things even though it was difficult. A big word of thanks to our Lady and I do believe that it was the Blessed Virgin Mary who called me and is calling me to the congregation and to this ways of life.

Shower him your blessing dearest Lord.

Shower him your blessing dearest Lord.

The next day after the day of the passion of Christ, a well-played musician who belonged to the fraternity congregation was asked by the prayer leader to accompany in singing during vespers. It was then Saturday, the evening of the Easter vigil. Taking for granted for he thought that he will manage the show he took off the guitar with him to the chapel without checking it out the hymn he supposed to play. So after the usual leading, “O Lord comes to our aid and glory be to the father and to the son and to the holy spirit. As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be word without end. Amen alleluia. He beat and strums the guitar to his content with a perfect timing but for the up to date wrong hymn.

The assembly was shocked and so a soft commotion was going on for they realize that he played wrongly. A shy disciple whose seat was right in the corner stood up and said’ “Dearest Lord shower your blessing upon him for he did not know what he is playing/doing.”

The three intentions for our Holy Father.

The three intentions for our Holy Father!

A humble brat came to visit his brother in the seminary. He had strong faith in the Lord. So he hardly put out a pray of petition in an increasing volume and he is so convince that the Lord heard our pray and He usually knew it before we could actually voice it out.

In the evening he joined the community in praying the rosary. He was shocked to realize that many clerics whom we consider as confreres walked along the path like those guys who had just finished the whole magnum of whisky. To make the situation worse three pious and active confreres continuously asked our blessed mother to intercede for our Holy Father for three times. This poor brat was amazed and then he asked the lord his favor, “Dear Lord first of all wake them up and then be kind enough to grant their wish for it seem extremely necessary for them!”

I love you this much mother.

A six years old boy named Archesz was once asked by his mother to attend the catechism class that was held every Sunday in their parish. When he returns home his mother asked him whether or not he manage to grasp the teaching of the teacher. To his joyful mood he said yes! And he told that the teacher elaborate something on the famous topic “LOVE.” So his mother asked him,” my dear son do you love me? If yes, then how much do you love me?

Filled with joy Archesz said yes mommy and then at that very moment he stretch out his hand like Jesus who died and suffered for us on the cross and said “Mommy I love you this much.”

His mother was amazed by his holiness and thoughtful behavior up to the point that she sent him to the seminarian to become a priest.

A smart ass!

A smart ass!

A boy, who was considered by many as a smart ass, wrote a short article. The assistants of the boarding who was in charge of correction and proof reading found out that his handwriting, his grammar and the flow of his idea was just horrible. So, not to offend the boy the assistants indirectly wrote a comment at the bottom of the page, “A boy whose writing is like this cannot wear with any shoes he wishes to!”