While describing the two accounts of creation in Genesis in the original languages, Pope John Paul II (JP2) points out an interesting observation. When God created human, he is referred to as 'Adam' (created from dust). But when Even was separated, man is referred to as 'ishah' or 'ish' (stands for male) in relation to ishshah ("woman", because she was taken from her man - ish).
Thus the human being whom God created in the beginning became 'male' only when woman (female) was separated from her man (male). Thus in a way we can say that "masculinity" and "femininity" came into existence in the same moment in the human history.
Human being before getting a sexual identity was made to understand by God that he will never be happy in solitude. He needed someone whom he can communicate his love. He did not find any other creature suitable to be his companion. After separating another person from him, he found in Eve someone whom he found as perfect companion with who he can share his image of God, who is similar to him in most respects but with differences that mutually make them complimentary. It was evident from his first words expressing his joy and fulfilment -"Flesh of my flesh and bone of my bone". He found in her his own fulfilment, completion.
"No one has ever seen God. The only Son, God, who is at the Father's side, has revealed him." - John 1:18.
JP2 says - just as Christ revealed the invisible God to us, our body reveals our invisible soul. Sacraments are visible signs of invisible grace. Christ came as a sacrament of God. Likewise, body is the sacrament of soul. Nobody can see my soul (nor mind), but my body alone. But you can to some extend measure the state of my soul looking at how I conduct. When someone sees my body, [s]he knows that I as a whole being is present there.
Thus, what we do with our body is supposed to reflect what goes with our soul. If it's not, then we are not in harmony with our whole being. The Conjugal act of being "One Flesh" is thus supposed to be a total union of the husband and wife, a total self-giving and a total surrender. The pleasure attached with the One Flesh union must also reflect in the joy of accepting each other as a precious gift from God, that echoes "This one, at last, is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh". Thus the one-flesh union is a sacrament of an invisible unity.
Friday, 10 September 2010
Thursday, 9 September 2010
TOB Reflection - Conjugal Love
Conjugal love is the love ordained by God to be between a husband and his wife. It is a love that binds them to an exclusive relationship that they are supposed to give total fidelity till the death of one of the partners. This love mirrors the self-less and total self-giving love between God the Father and Jesus His Son. Just as Jesus (God's Word) was born before eternity from the Father, God gave shape to the Woman from the bone of Man's rib. Adam expressed his love through these words from the bottom of his heart (Gen 2:23-24) -
23 the man said: "This one, at last, is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; This one shall be called 'woman,' for out of 'her man' this one has been taken."
24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one body.
The Father loves the Son entirely and gives Himself entirely to the Son. The Son loves the Father and gives Himself entirely to the Father, and submits Himself to the Father. From their total self giving love the Third Person, the Holy Spirit proceeds. These Three Persons form a Total Communion of Love - the Holy Trinity, Three Persons, One God.
We see God preparing Himself to create man. (Gen 1:26-27)
26 Then God said: "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and the cattle, and over all the wild animals and all the creatures that crawl on the ground."
27 God created man in his image; in the divine image he created him; male and female he created them.
28 God blessed them, saying: "Be fertile and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and all the living things that move on the earth."
We see that creating main in God's image has a lot to do with creating them as male and female (They are but in one verse). The image of the Holy Trinity can be clearly found in the God's dream of human family.
23 the man said: "This one, at last, is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; This one shall be called 'woman,' for out of 'her man' this one has been taken."
24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one body.
The Father loves the Son entirely and gives Himself entirely to the Son. The Son loves the Father and gives Himself entirely to the Father, and submits Himself to the Father. From their total self giving love the Third Person, the Holy Spirit proceeds. These Three Persons form a Total Communion of Love - the Holy Trinity, Three Persons, One God.
We see God preparing Himself to create man. (Gen 1:26-27)
26 Then God said: "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and the cattle, and over all the wild animals and all the creatures that crawl on the ground."
27 God created man in his image; in the divine image he created him; male and female he created them.
28 God blessed them, saying: "Be fertile and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and all the living things that move on the earth."
We see that creating main in God's image has a lot to do with creating them as male and female (They are but in one verse). The image of the Holy Trinity can be clearly found in the God's dream of human family.
Friday, 3 September 2010
TOB Reflection - Conjugal Spirituality & Sexual Morality
One of the greatest resources we can ever avail of on marriage, celibacy and marital spirituality in the journey towards heaven is said to be John Paul II's great work "Theology of the Body" (http://www.ewtn.com/library/papaldoc/jp2tbind.htm) For those who wish to have an off-line copy of the same, do write to me.
It is impossible to understand the morality on the subjects like Abortion, Contraception, Divorce, Homosexuality, Adultery, Masturbation etc. if we do not understand what sexuality is in the eternal plan of God. I hope our discussion in this subject will help all of us to understand this aspect, on the basis of which the moral issues which we are discussing can be explained.
Very often when I engage in discussions with my friends on abortion, contraception etc., I find it extremely difficult to make my point if I do not touch upon of God and his design. It is true, that to accept and understand ourselves, one must be ready to open up his/her heart to accept our Creator and His ways. It is not surprising, as the Word of God suggests!
Matthew 19:3-14 says (http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/bible/matthew/matthew19.htm)
3 Some Pharisees approached him, and tested him, saying, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause whatever?"
4 He said in reply, "Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female'
5 and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'?
6 So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, no human being must separate."
7 They said to him, "Then why did Moses command that the man give the woman a bill of divorce and dismiss (her)?"
8 He said to them, "Because of the hardness of your hearts Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so.
9 I say to you, whoever divorces his wife (unless the marriage is unlawful) and marries another commits adultery."
10 [His] disciples said to him, "If that is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry."
11 He answered, "Not all can accept [this] word, but only those to whom that is granted.
12 Some are incapable of marriage because they were born so; some, because they were made so by others; some, because they have renounced marriage for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Whoever can accept this ought to accept it."
13 Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked them,
14 but Jesus said, "Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."
So, we should not be surprised that not all can accept His word, but only those to whom that is granted. Let us try to learn from God like children, for the mysteries of the Kingdom are revealed to them. Let us pray that we may become like little children.
It is impossible to understand the morality on the subjects like Abortion, Contraception, Divorce, Homosexuality, Adultery, Masturbation etc. if we do not understand what sexuality is in the eternal plan of God. I hope our discussion in this subject will help all of us to understand this aspect, on the basis of which the moral issues which we are discussing can be explained.
Very often when I engage in discussions with my friends on abortion, contraception etc., I find it extremely difficult to make my point if I do not touch upon of God and his design. It is true, that to accept and understand ourselves, one must be ready to open up his/her heart to accept our Creator and His ways. It is not surprising, as the Word of God suggests!
Matthew 19:3-14 says (http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/bible/matthew/matthew19.htm)
3 Some Pharisees approached him, and tested him, saying, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause whatever?"
4 He said in reply, "Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female'
5 and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'?
6 So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, no human being must separate."
7 They said to him, "Then why did Moses command that the man give the woman a bill of divorce and dismiss (her)?"
8 He said to them, "Because of the hardness of your hearts Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so.
9 I say to you, whoever divorces his wife (unless the marriage is unlawful) and marries another commits adultery."
10 [His] disciples said to him, "If that is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry."
11 He answered, "Not all can accept [this] word, but only those to whom that is granted.
12 Some are incapable of marriage because they were born so; some, because they were made so by others; some, because they have renounced marriage for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Whoever can accept this ought to accept it."
13 Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked them,
14 but Jesus said, "Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."
So, we should not be surprised that not all can accept His word, but only those to whom that is granted. Let us try to learn from God like children, for the mysteries of the Kingdom are revealed to them. Let us pray that we may become like little children.
Tuesday, 16 February 2010
Syro Malabar Mass - Songs with Chords
Dear all,
Ever since I started playing guitar for the mass, I was longing for an "inline chord book" for the Syro English Mass. Finally I have made it. But it is something that may require correction. Those who have Mass songs CD with you and who have chords sense, kindly send me the corrections.
Those who are learning/practising guitar, keyboard etc., please use this book also while you learn, so that not only will you practice, but also we have a few among us who are familiar with the Mass songs and can use the opportunity to do your part in the music ministry.
Syro Malabar Mass in Malayalam - Chords
Syro Malabar Mass in English - Chords
Ever since I started playing guitar for the mass, I was longing for an "inline chord book" for the Syro English Mass. Finally I have made it. But it is something that may require correction. Those who have Mass songs CD with you and who have chords sense, kindly send me the corrections.
Those who are learning/practising guitar, keyboard etc., please use this book also while you learn, so that not only will you practice, but also we have a few among us who are familiar with the Mass songs and can use the opportunity to do your part in the music ministry.
Syro Malabar Mass in Malayalam - Chords
Syro Malabar Mass in English - Chords
Monday, 31 August 2009
Testimony of a Woman who Underwent Abortion
http://www.lovematters.com/women.htm
"Two weeks after the abortion, I went into labor. I staggered into the bathroom. And there, with my husband beside me, I delivered a part of my baby the doctor had missed. It was the head of my baby..." "I'll wake up in the middle of the night, thinking I hear a baby crying. And I still have nightmares in which I am forced to watch my baby being ripped apart in front of me. I simply miss my baby. I constantly wake up wanting to nurse my child, wanting to hold my child. And that's something the doctor never told me I would experience."
LORI NERAD - former national president of Women Exploited by Abortion
"Two weeks after the abortion, I went into labor. I staggered into the bathroom. And there, with my husband beside me, I delivered a part of my baby the doctor had missed. It was the head of my baby..." "I'll wake up in the middle of the night, thinking I hear a baby crying. And I still have nightmares in which I am forced to watch my baby being ripped apart in front of me. I simply miss my baby. I constantly wake up wanting to nurse my child, wanting to hold my child. And that's something the doctor never told me I would experience."
LORI NERAD - former national president of Women Exploited by Abortion
Thursday, 18 June 2009
Change is Possible for Gays - Says Catholic Psychologist
Change is possible... men and women can come out of homosexuality.
http://www.catholic.org/national/national_story.php?id=33842&page=1
http://www.catholic.org/national/national_story.php?id=33842&page=1
Friday, 13 February 2009
Sin, Righteousness and Condemnation - Part 2
(See Part 1)
If my article inspires at least one person to approach God with confidence in spite of all unworthiness and sinfulness, I would regard that this mission of mine is fruitful.
The final words of a leader, a prophet or a saint are considered precious by the followers and those who regard him, and thus carry special significance. Though every single Word uttered by Jesus were precious, inspired and inspiring, the last things that he did were of very high importance. For example, He cried out to the Father commending His spirit unto Him. Similarly, the mutual entrusting of His mother (the woman) and the disciple whom he loved most, forgiveness offered to those who persecuted and mocked at Him etc. etc. So also is the final discourse that he gave to the disciples during the Passover meal.
It is very much noticeable that it was the first time we see in the Scriptures where Jesus spent so much time talking about the Holy Spirit and the way He was going to guide the Church. The promise of the Spirit was given not with any reservations, since Jesus knew and clearly foretold that a few moments from then that he was going to be betrayed, handed over, left alone and denied by the disciples. Instead, the Spirit was promised based on the infinite merits He himself earned for them (and us) being born as a man in flesh like us, endured temptations as we do (well, in its highest form), and living a life pleasing His Father in perfect and uncompromising obedience that even cost him his own life, offering it as a perfect sacrifice in atonement of all the sins of the entire mankind.
When I first read the passage of our discussion (John 16:7-13), I was a little surprised about the 3 things that the Spirit would convict the world of - Sin, Righteousness and Condemnation. Well, what's so big deal about these 3 things? Aren't they obvious? I thought I had already known well about these subjects. But being a neophyte, recently converted into this new faith from a totally different background, I knew one thing then; that there are so many things beyond my understanding. All those first 20 odd years of my life, I lived in total ignorance about God. It had never seemed obvious to me that someone like God ever existed. Then on one fine evening in the premises of St. George's Cathederal sitting with my classmate, I saw with fearful surprise that my friend is talking to Jesus in plain coloquial Malayalam language, as casually as he talks with me, with hardly any doubt that he is being heard. He was interceding for me, and I could experience the consoling presence of God who was lifting the burden gradually from my heavy laden heart. Weeks later, I was hearing more and more about this Jesus Christ from a few of my friends who too have experienced the manifest presence and power of Jesus, even through physical and mental healing. Again later, CAMPUS MEET '96 helped me walk a few steps ahead. And I cannot forget that evening when 3 of us were praying together in the class room Vimalagiri school when I received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Now I knew that I am just at the doorstep of a whole new and exciting world of which I had very little idea.
Thus, I was sure that there must be a lot of misconceptions I had (and the world has) about the above mentioned 3 things, which can be cleared only in the light of the wisdom that God grants through the Spirit. God gave me a thirst to explore the truth with all my strength right in the beginning of my walk with the him. "Seek, and you shall find...", I was certain that so will be it. If God is ready to reveal himself, then will he not be ready to share his wisdom? more so when he has encouraged us to seek him, his kingdom and his righteousness? So this thirst made me read the Bible, which I think I could read entirely in the span of a few months, along with a few wonderful books that helped me a lot to get me familiar with the exciting truths of this new world, which I came to know as being called "the Kingdom of God". It took me several years to understand what I am attempting to comment on, about the above 3 things; and I know that my understanding is very small. This is a humble attempt, and I hope to do so gradually in the upcoming mails, as and when the time permits. I invite all of you to read these, benefit from them if they are from God, correct them whenever it is from my ignorance or pride. I am sure that if not others, at least I will be benefited from this exercise. I hope to research on this more than ever before.
- To be Continued
If my article inspires at least one person to approach God with confidence in spite of all unworthiness and sinfulness, I would regard that this mission of mine is fruitful.
The final words of a leader, a prophet or a saint are considered precious by the followers and those who regard him, and thus carry special significance. Though every single Word uttered by Jesus were precious, inspired and inspiring, the last things that he did were of very high importance. For example, He cried out to the Father commending His spirit unto Him. Similarly, the mutual entrusting of His mother (the woman) and the disciple whom he loved most, forgiveness offered to those who persecuted and mocked at Him etc. etc. So also is the final discourse that he gave to the disciples during the Passover meal.
It is very much noticeable that it was the first time we see in the Scriptures where Jesus spent so much time talking about the Holy Spirit and the way He was going to guide the Church. The promise of the Spirit was given not with any reservations, since Jesus knew and clearly foretold that a few moments from then that he was going to be betrayed, handed over, left alone and denied by the disciples. Instead, the Spirit was promised based on the infinite merits He himself earned for them (and us) being born as a man in flesh like us, endured temptations as we do (well, in its highest form), and living a life pleasing His Father in perfect and uncompromising obedience that even cost him his own life, offering it as a perfect sacrifice in atonement of all the sins of the entire mankind.
Point 1: The Holy Spirit was promised to the disciples at a time when they were not so strong in faith; rather, they were to receive strength and power through faith once they would receive the same Spirit (Acts 1:8). So don't worry if you are stumbling often in the walk with God. The promise of the Spirit is still with you as long as you are a disciple (a person who has made a choice / decision to answer to His call, to be disciplined, trained and enabled by the Master). Your discipline is not going to earn you the Spirit, but the Spirit who has been given to you will enable you to become his perfect disciple.
When I first read the passage of our discussion (John 16:7-13), I was a little surprised about the 3 things that the Spirit would convict the world of - Sin, Righteousness and Condemnation. Well, what's so big deal about these 3 things? Aren't they obvious? I thought I had already known well about these subjects. But being a neophyte, recently converted into this new faith from a totally different background, I knew one thing then; that there are so many things beyond my understanding. All those first 20 odd years of my life, I lived in total ignorance about God. It had never seemed obvious to me that someone like God ever existed. Then on one fine evening in the premises of St. George's Cathederal sitting with my classmate, I saw with fearful surprise that my friend is talking to Jesus in plain coloquial Malayalam language, as casually as he talks with me, with hardly any doubt that he is being heard. He was interceding for me, and I could experience the consoling presence of God who was lifting the burden gradually from my heavy laden heart. Weeks later, I was hearing more and more about this Jesus Christ from a few of my friends who too have experienced the manifest presence and power of Jesus, even through physical and mental healing. Again later, CAMPUS MEET '96 helped me walk a few steps ahead. And I cannot forget that evening when 3 of us were praying together in the class room Vimalagiri school when I received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Now I knew that I am just at the doorstep of a whole new and exciting world of which I had very little idea.
Thus, I was sure that there must be a lot of misconceptions I had (and the world has) about the above mentioned 3 things, which can be cleared only in the light of the wisdom that God grants through the Spirit. God gave me a thirst to explore the truth with all my strength right in the beginning of my walk with the him. "Seek, and you shall find...", I was certain that so will be it. If God is ready to reveal himself, then will he not be ready to share his wisdom? more so when he has encouraged us to seek him, his kingdom and his righteousness? So this thirst made me read the Bible, which I think I could read entirely in the span of a few months, along with a few wonderful books that helped me a lot to get me familiar with the exciting truths of this new world, which I came to know as being called "the Kingdom of God". It took me several years to understand what I am attempting to comment on, about the above 3 things; and I know that my understanding is very small. This is a humble attempt, and I hope to do so gradually in the upcoming mails, as and when the time permits. I invite all of you to read these, benefit from them if they are from God, correct them whenever it is from my ignorance or pride. I am sure that if not others, at least I will be benefited from this exercise. I hope to research on this more than ever before.
- To be Continued
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