Angels

As Christmas approaches we will probably see pictures or statues of angels here and there. So let us talk about angels and their roles in our lives.

But here we use the word angel in a very restricted sense – not as spiritual invisible messenger, not a special illumination or a winged creature bearing a summons, not even a vision or supernatural being. By an angel we mean any person or event that has changed the whole course of our life, influenced our behaviour, and us turn right when we were about to turn left and in general made us better.

Take for instance, the story of a young man named Tobias who was sent by his father to the land of Media on a mission. His mother was worried about sending her son on a long journey alone. So she went out and found a guide whose name was Raphael. Raphael not only protected Tobias from danger but also helped him accomplish his mission and found him a wife. Raphael was an angel to Tobias.

God sends many angels in our paths, but we often do not know it. In fact we may even go through life never knowing they were agents or messengers of God to lead us on to virtue or to deter us from vice. But they symbolize that constant intervention of God in the history of humans, which stop us from destruction and lead us to success and happiness and virtue. So lets think back and find out the angels who came our way through out this year as the year is ending soon. And then let us give them proper acknowledgement in our lives.

It may have been true that the Victorian era denied sex. But it may also be true that our day has gone to the other extreme. It has taken the mystery out of sex. Parents have always felt that there is something about it that they could never communicate to their children. Rightly so. The physiology yes, but the deep, personal relationship of husband and wife – that was invisible, incommunicable.

Sex today is no longer a mystery, inasmuch as it is reduced to a pure biological function. Because its mystery, which is a profound love for another person expressed in corporal union, has been lost, the taboo on sex has disappeared. Sex in human being is not same as sex in a pig. Sex in human is both a function and a communication. As a biological function it is same as in animals. As a communication, it implies another person and is worlds apart.

Eros becomes meaningful when the purpose is to become united with another person. Then it is quasi-divine.

A wife is saddened at the realization that her role could have been filled by any other woman. Sex as a function is replaceable like one pencil for another. Love is irreplaceable.

1. Deny that is anything called guilt. Take responsibility for only the good you do but not the wrong. Insist on praise and recognition for what you consider a job well done, and attribute the evil in your life to your mother, father, grandmother or grandfather or your neighbour or someone who called you idiot in childhood.

2. Next make yourself a judge of others. Once you deny your guilt and make everyone else guilty, this will take your mind off the judgment your conscience makes against you.

Read a lot of gossip columns, as this will help you find that others are more guilty than you.

3. When you are judged, immediately become agitated. Let your anger increase the more you find the criticism is justified.

4. After becoming agitated against your neighbour, become agitated against god. Make fun of religion. Seek out its failure in certain individuals who profess religion.

5. Become hard and rebellious. If you are young begin smashing things. This will enable you to give strength to your individual hatred of everyone and Him who made them.

6. Go to a psychoanalyst. Go specially to the one who will tell you that all guilt is normal and that you need liberation through sexual licence..etc.

7. Crush immediately all promptings from your conscience that you are indeed guilty. Call it weakness and refuse to listen.

Follow the above rules and you will develop a neurosis made from the guiltlessness and the innocence of your sweet life and the wickedness and brutality of others

And in the last analysis what is your neurosis? 

COWARDICE

Joy

Joy is not the same as pleasure or happiness. A wicked or evil person may have pleasure, while any ordinary mortal is capable of being happy. Pleasure generally comes from things, and always through the senses; happiness comes from humans through fellowship. Joy comes from loving God and neighbour.

Pleasure is quick and violent, like a flash of lightning. Joy is steady and abiding, like a fixed star. Pleasure depends on external circumstances, such as money, food, travel, sex, etc. Joy is independent of them; it comes from a good conscience and love of God.

If we wish to have true peace, we must give it a soul. The soul of peace is love. It is love that gives life to peace, more than victory or defeat, more than self-interest or fear or weariness or need. The soul of peace is love that comes from the love of God and expresses itself in love for all people.

Pope Paul VI

To share Joy is to show Love

To show Love is to know God

To know God is to do Good

To do Good is to spread Happiness

So, Lets spread Happiness

Prayer Does Not change God but Changes Him/Her who Prays

Teach Me Lord

To think of the happiness of others

To hide my little pains and heartaches

To profit by the suffering that comes across my path

That it may mellow me - not harden, nor embitter me;

And make me - not mean, nor haughty, nor irritable nor overbearing, but patient and broad

In my forgiveness.

If I don't need anything from you,

I feel freer to tell you what I want.

The diversity and beauty of India became so glaring to me these past two days.  Eight people (two of us Indians but from different parts) were living together for two days. Each time the others ask us about how things are done in India, we both  Indians  would come up with different answers which are both correct. This naturally left our guests totally confused. But I hope they got some idea about the richness and beauty of India. I guess its true about many other countries too. But it makes me so happy and proud to be what I am in terms of nationality. How nice it would be if all of us learn to appreciate the varieties of customs and traditions of this vast nation, instead of seeing it as a block. Of course its easier said than done. Some one has said - Great friendships are about two main things. The first is to find the similarities; and the second is to respect the differences. Below the external differences, lies the same desire, dreams and aspirations. So let us help one another to fulfil these dreams. Amen.