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2008 International Goan Convention
Toronto, Canada
Early Bird Discount Registration closes March 31, 2008
http://2008goanconvention.com/registration.html
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19-Mar-2008
Dear Friend,
One of the constant refrains we hear a person saying is: "It's not fair!"
"Life's not fair!" We have an acute sense of justice when we are wronged and we
want to fight for justice for ourselves. However we do not feel so strongly
about justice for others, especially the poor, the marginalized and the
downtrodden. We have to get used to the fact that indeed "Life is not fair!"
Jesus accepted it and died on the cross though he was innocent and did no
wrong. The only way to make meaning out of suffering is to use suffering as a
means of loving others and God. Have a 'Good' Friday being loved by Jesus on
the cross! Fr. Jude
Sunday Reflections: Good Friday Unconditional love at any cost!
21-Mar-2008
Readings: Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Hebrews 4: 14-16, 5: 7-9; John
18:1- 19:42;
Today's first reading from Isaiah, the fourth and finest of the songs of the
Servant of Yahweh, is a passage of the humiliation and the suffering of the
suffering servant of the Lord, 'a man of sorrows and familiar with suffering.'
Through his suffering we have been saved. The reading gives us Israel's deep
insight into the problem of suffering, it contemplates the fate of the man upon
whom rests the hopes of Israel. The unmerited sufferings of the servant expiate
for the wickedness of the others. Beyond the rejection suffered at the hands of
his own people and his shameful death, his ultimate triumph is glimpsed. The
New Testament usage of this text identifies the suffering servant with Jesus.
The servant is innocent, humble and gentle. He is the one chosen by God to
bring his justice to the world. The mystery of suffering can never be
understood but has to be accepted and lived as part of being a follower of
Jesus Christ.
Bent, But not Broken!
A man in a fast-food restaurant once caught my attention. Bent hunchback, he
turned his head neither to the left not to the right. He was struggling to open
a paper napkin and place it on the table. Affected by Parkinson's, he lacked
control over his movements. Yet, determined to do what he wanted, he carried
on, undeterred by the looks his apparently 'clumsy' behaviour drew from the
people around. He opened the first fold. The folds were not sticking to each
other as such, yet the second fold did pose a problem. His trembling fingers
jerked up and down, as he clung to the napkin. Licking one finger he pressed it
to one side of the napkin, but the fold wouldn't open. Then he got an idea. He
moved his fingers to the corner of the napkin. Slowly, very slowly, he pulled
apart the two sheets. Then he spread it on the table. After that he took a
second napkin. To me, that looked like a feat of triumph on his part. He of
course showed no signs of exultation
-for him it was just another day and another lunch. He must have been a man of
great patience, courage and determination. All these qualities were in evidence
even as he refrained from betraying any signs of anger or self-pity. Obviously,
he was not that type of person. If he had a job to do, he would do it, cost
what it may.
Mariella Vigneux in 'The Sunday Times'
In the second reading the author of Hebrews presents Christ as the
compassionate high priest, who understands us and our human trials and
sufferings because he has gone through it all, being like us in all things but
sin. We are shown the means (suffering) by which the saving work of Jesus is
effected as well as the results for himself and for all those who trust in him.
Through his obedience he surrendered himself totally to the Father's will and
won for us our redemption. His was obedience unto death and it is through
obedience to God that we can accept suffering and make it an expression of our
love and trust in God. For the person who trusts there is no fear of death.
He abolished death
John Donne the poet once wrote, 'Death comes equally to all, and makes us all
equal when it comes.' Death is the ultimate reality we must all face. None can
escape it. Our culture tries to hide from it, but this is futile as it is the
one thing of which we can be absolutely certain. Death strikes at the very
heart of faith. But the wisdom of faith shines its light on the sober mystery.
For death, although the consequence of sin (Romans 6:23) has been swallowed up
by the One who did not sin. In Christ both sin and death lose their grip on us
and the world. - Vincent Nichols
Giving Generously
Harry was a confirmed bachelor. I do not know why he never married. He had a
decent job and lived with his brother's family. This brother was a respectable
hard-working man. However, his modest income was not sufficient to sustain a
somewhat large family. Harry was very sensitive to his brother's financial
difficulties and would quietly pick up and pay off a few of the bills or slip
money into his hands to take care of some of the major family expenses. His
married brother was always grateful for whatever help he received. When Harry
died they found among his belongings several slips of paper and receipts for
medical or other expenses that he had borne for a good many poor people he had
come to know of through the St. Vincent de Paul Society of the Parish. Harry
always gave generously yet anonymously. True to the gospels he didn't want his
left hand to know what his right hand was doing. He didn't even allow his name
to be published. He didn't want to be
praised for his generosity. God, he felt was the giver of all good gifts and
that he was only giving to others what God had given him in such abundant
measure.
Vincent P. in 'Challenged by the Scriptures'
On Good Friday we consider John's carefully written version of the passion and
death of Jesus. John's account of the passion is a powerful affirmation of
Jesus’ identity. John's description of the passion is dramatic and it presents
the triumph of the Son of God. The cross, an instrument of ignominy and shame
becomes the crowning glory through which Jesus the King ascends to the Father
and through which he brings salvation to the world. Throughout the passion as
described by John, Jesus is serenely in command as he asserts, "No one takes my
life from me but I lay it down of my own accord." In the central section of the
passion, the trial before Pilate, the recurrent theme is kingship. When Pilate
asks, Jesus calmly claims that he is a king though his kingship is not of this
world; rather he reigns in men's heart by truth. Those who oppose him see Jesus
as a danger to them and so they mock him, scourge him, ridicule him, but they
cannot ignore him. They
strip him of all power and even then he is not overpowered and always in
control. When men are at their worst, rejecting him and crying for his blood,
"Crucify Him! Crucify Him!" Jesus is at his best. "Father, forgive them,,,,"
When Jesus is led to his death, seemingly vanquished, John presents him as
standing tall and victorious. Jesus gives his life out of love and thereby
shows the way of service to his disciples. From the cross, the Lord is calling
us to love fully. The Good Friday story is not about something that happened a
long long time ago to Jesus but it is about me, and my refusal to love my
brothers and sisters, now, as Jesus loved me. It is about failing to hear Jesus
saying: "Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers that you do unto me".
Forgiveness-best revenge
George Washington and Peter Miller were schoolmates. One became the President
of the Unites States of America; the other, a pastor, a preacher of the Gospel
message. In his parish of Ephrata, 70 miles from Philadelphia, where Washington
lived, Miller suffered continual persecution, and even personal violence from a
man named Michael Wittman. Wittman on a charge of treason was sentenced to
death. Miller walked the seventy miles to see Washington, who asked him "Well
Peter, what can I do for you?" "For our old friendship's sake, George, I have
come to plead for the life of the traitor Wittman." "No, Peter, this case is
too black. I cannot give you the life of your friend." "My friend!" exclaimed
Miller. "He is no friend of mine. In fact he is my bitterest enemy, and has
been given endless trouble to me personally and in my parish!" Then Miller
explained to George what he had suffered at the hands of Wittman for over
twenty years. "Ah, then Peter," said
Washington, "this puts things in a different perspective. I could not give you
the life of your friend; but I will freely pardon your enemy!" Three days
later, Peter Miller and his persecutor Michael Wittman walked back to Ephrata
together. Wittman overcome by the beauty of Miller's forgiveness became a
totally new person! - This is a beautiful example of what Jesus asks us to do
in the Gospels: "Love your enemy. Do good to those who hate you." Jesus not
only preached forgiveness but also gave us the best example on the cross.
"Father, forgive them for they know not what they do!"
Percival Fernandez in '100 Inspiring Anecdotes'
How do I forgive?
'I have found it easier to forgive when I recognize that the very things I
hate in others are what lie hidden and not owned within me. However, when I own
that I am as nasty, stubborn, pigheaded, selfish or unjust as I blame others to
be, then automatically change occurs and I become more compassionate in the
process. Like most people I have believed that I am the one who has the
difficult job of forgiving others all the time. The truth however, I recognize,
is that others have often been the ones who are very tolerant, compassionate
and forgiving of me in so many different ways which I realize only in
hindsight. God himself has been so merciful to me all through my life. I, in
turn, am now called to show mercy and forgiveness to other people. We look on
the outstretched arms of Jesus on the cross today and hear him cry out, "Father
forgive them...." What is the Good Friday challenge of forgiveness that the
Lord is inviting us to? What are the burdens
of resentment we carry and the long-standing grudges we bear that we are asked
to set aside? "Answer me," says the Lord.' Vincent Pereira
'It is not easy to die even for a good man'
A Boeing 737 crashed in a severe snowstorm into the Potomac River in Washington
DC on January 13, 1982. Arland Williams, along with six others survived the
crash but was thrown into the icy water. Fighting for his life he courageously
gave up his chance of rescue each time a lifeline was thrown to him, preferring
instead to save others. Finally, he drowned giving his life for total
strangers. 'Greater love has no man than this, than to lay down his life for
his friends (Jn. 15:13) True love always involves true sacrifice. Jesus freely
laid down his life for us while we were still God's enemies.
Vincent Nichols in 'Walk with Me'
Looking at His cross may we know how much Jesus loved us!
Fr. Jude Botelho
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
PS. The stories, incidents and anecdotes used in the reflections have been
collected over the years from books as well as from sources over the net and
from e-mails received. Every effort is made to acknowledge authors whenever
possible. If you send in stories or illustrations I would be grateful if you
could quote the source as well so that they can be acknowledged if used in
these reflections. These reflections are also available on my web site
www.netforlife.net Thank you.
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