Thank You for the scars!

Recently, I was going through a difficult time. I don’t know how it is for others, but when things are not going too well, I not only dwell on what is the current source of my frustration, but also things that have gone badly in the past. During one of my “mopey” moods, this verse from the song ‘Circle of Life’ (Movie- The Lion King) popped into my mind:

“Some of us fall by the wayside

And some of us soar to the stars

But some of us sail through our troubles

And some have to live with the scars”

Of course, my mind latched on to the last line, “Some have to live with the scars”. And I thought to myself; “I have so many scars already, only God knows how many more I will collect till the end of my life!”.

At that moment, The Good Lord reminded me of something I learned in my immunology class years ago- ‘Scar formation is a natural part of the healing process. An injury does not become a scar until the wound has completely healed.’

That meant only one thing: If a scar was forming, it meant the wound was healing. The body was attempting a repair.

I understood that I could choose to look at scars either as reminders of the hurt people had inflicted on me/ bad decisions I had made and deeply regretted/mishaps and accidents that left me wounded or in pain… OR as reminders of how The Good Lord stepped into situations of brokenness and destruction and set me on the path of healing and restoration; gave me beauty for ashes; gave me hope in a situation of despair; resurrected me from emotional and spiritual death.

I could look at scars and either remember the pain of betrayal, the wound deceit had inflicted OR the faithfulness and unchanging love of God and His power to redeem and renew, transform and restore.

The Lord reminded me of a mishap that occurred when I was 7 years old. A group of friends and I were playing in school atop a flight of stairs. Someone rammed into me at full speed and both of us went hurtling down the flight of stairs. The left side of my head hit a table which had nails jutting out and one of the nails cut the side of my face just half an inch from my left eye. I began bleeding profusely and was rushed to a nearby hospital and received medical attention. I had to wear a huge dressing on the wound for the next one month, but thankfully no permanent damage was done.

I still have the scar of the wound. It reminds me of God’s powerful protection and incredible mercy. I shudder at what would have happened had the nail pierced my eye.

When I look at Jesus’ scars, they remind me of what He did for me. How He loved me so much that He went through the agony in the Garden, scourging, crowning with thorns; He faced the mocking crowd which hurled insults at Him and death by crucifixion.

He rose to new life. But He still has the scars.

When The Lord heals/delivers/resurrects us, we too may still have the scars. But we will be overcomers; victors; more than conquerors through Him Who loved us.

—
Image used (c) Volkertoons

Not only the Priests, but us also!

In my first article of this series, Did the concept of “Social Media” originate in the Catholic Church?, I attempted to deflate the common misconception that it is somehow novel that the Holy Father would call upon priests to use the modern forms of media to spread the Gospel.

In fact, in his World Communications Day message The Priest and Pastoral Ministry in a Digital World: New Media at the Service of the Word,  Pope Benedict writes, “Church communities have always used the modern media for fostering communication, engagement with society, and, increasingly, for encouraging dialogue at a wider level. Yet the recent, explosive growth and greater social impact of these media make them all the more important for a fruitful priestly ministry.”

In this letter, the Holy Father explores 3 main themes:  Why priests should use new media, How they should approach and utilize new media, and most importantly, How they should present their faith and vocation in these new media endeavors.

As to why the clergy should use new media, Pope Benedict mentions that the Gospel message is not an ancient story but very relevant to modern times.  “God’s loving care for all people in Christ must be expressed in the digital world not simply as an artifact from the past, or a learned theory, but as something concrete, present and engaging.” He points out that a priest’s online ministry is not just to Catholics.  “A pastoral presence in the world of digital communications, precisely because it brings us into contact with the followers of other religions, non-believers and people of every culture, requires sensitivity to those who do not believe, the disheartened and those who have a deep, unarticulated desire for enduring truth and the absolute.”

The Holy Father then identifies that priests can use “…the latest generation of audiovisual resources (images, videos, animated features, blogs, websites) which, alongside traditional means, can open up broad new vistas for dialogue, evangelization and catechesis.” *(emphasis mine)  These seem to be three key areas where priests can engage in new media ministry.

But the Holy Father cautions that it is not enough for priests merely to be present online.  He writes, “Yet priests present in the world of digital communications should be less notable for their media savvy than for their priestly heart, their closeness to Christ.”

He continues,  “All priests have as their primary duty the proclamation of Jesus Christ, the incarnate Word of God, and the communication of his saving grace in the sacraments.”  and “…  priests must always bear in mind that the ultimate fruitfulness of their ministry comes from Christ himself, encountered and listened to in prayer; proclaimed in preaching and lived witness; and known, loved and celebrated in the sacraments, especially the Holy Eucharist and Reconciliation.”

This is the core of Pope Benedict’s message.  He is asking priests to embrace their vocation to the priesthood– to become holy.  It is this message of holiness lived out in their persons in answering the call to the priesthood that the Holy Father is asking priests to carry to the ‘digital continent’.   He is calling on priests not just to share the good news but to BE the good news.

I would argue that this call to personal holiness applies not just to priests but indeed to all Christians, whether they endeavor to share the Good News– online or off.

April 2010

Daily Intercessions through the Word of God – April 2010

Sanctuary Intercessors – India Branch of FBB
International Catholic Charismatic Missionary Intercessors of the Fellowship of the Burning Bush (FBB)
The ‘Intercession Diary’ has the approval and blessings of the Bishops’ Team of the Archdiocese and contains intentions of our Cardinal and the Bishops

(Join us in agreement to intercede each day according to the Scriptures, ask the Holy Spirit how to pray to actualize God’s promises in each situation)

Day/Date    Interceding According to the Mind of Christ
Thu

1/4/2010
Jn 13:8 If I do not wash you, you have no part in me

Holy Thursday. This month we focus our prayer on living out ‘Victorious’ lives in the power of the Resurrection. We pray today for each of us who fail to live out our Baptismal promises in our day to day life – failing to reject Satan, all his works and all his empty promises. May the sacraments, especially the Eucharist – the institution of which we commemorate today – be indeed the source and summit of our life (CCC #1324) and that we may truly live out our baptism as God’s children living power-filled lives. In this Year of Priests, we pray for our priests, that the Priesthood which was instituted at the Last Supper, be nourished, washed and healed by the Lord
Fri

2/4/2010
Jn 19:30 It is finished

Good Friday. It is said, “Two men looked out of prison bars, one saw the mud, the other the stars”. “It is finished” could appear to some as the end, but to the believer it is the assurance that Christ has accomplished the will of the Father – to reconcile all things to Him. May we venerate with all our hearts, our minds and strength the Saving Cross of Jesus Christ – the source of our wisdom and power (1 Cor 1:24). We pray for all those persecuted for following Christ, in our own country (especially in Orissa and Karnataka) and all over the world. This first day of the Divine Mercy novena, we pray for the merciful gaze of the Father upon all mankind and especially upon poor sinners
Sat

3/4/2010
Luke 2:35 And a sword will pierce through your own soul also, that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed

Today let us pray with Mary - also revealed as Mother of Sorrows - who grieves for all the sin that grieves the heart of God. We bring to the Lord the Souls of Priests and Religious. In a special way we pray for holiness. We pray with Mary and St John Marie Vianney for those who are trapped in the desires of the flesh and those impacted by the scandals facing the Church in Ireland, USA, Germany, etc.
Sun

4/4/2010
Mark 16:6 He is risen

Easter Sunday. The focus of our prayer this month is that the Church and each of us live Victoriously in the power of the Risen Lord. Today we pray for the Church that she may be a prophetic voice in the world – in an age where the sense of sin is lost, may she never be silent but with the power and authority of the Risen Lord speak out against sin and evil. Day 3 of the Divine Mercy novena: we bring to the Lord all Devout and Faithful Souls who have stood for the Truth, that they may be protected and empowered by the Risen Lord
Mon

5/4/2010
Mt 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations

We pray for a Victorious Church in the area of Proclamation. May we never be fearful of lovingly bringing the Good News to those in need. We bring to the Lord those who do not believe in God and those who do not know Him, that the rays of His grace enlighten them
Tue

6/4/2010
Jn 17: 21 That they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they be in us, that the world may believe that you have sent me

We pray for a Victorious Church in the area of Ecumenism. Day 5 of the Divine Mercy novena: we bring to the Lord the Souls of those who have separated themselves from His Church. We pray that the Merciful Father does not look upon their errors, but upon the love of His Son and upon His bitter Passion, which He underwent for their sake. Pray that the Holy Spirit breaks down the walls of error and ego
Wed

7/4/2010
Mk 9:37 Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the one who sent me

We pray for a Victorious Church in the area of standing up against Abortion. Day 6 of the Divine Mercy novena: we bring to the Lord the Meek and Humble Souls and the Souls of Little Children. We pray that the Merciful Father has mercy on those involved in the Abortion industry and that they may be drawn by the light of the Risen Saviour. We especially pray for mothers contemplating abortions
Thu

8/4/2009
Mt 25:40 Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers you did it to me

We pray for a Victorious Church in the area of reaching out in Service and Mercy in response to Her Lord’s words. Day 7 of the Divine Mercy novena: we bring to the Lord the Souls who especially venerate and glorify His Mercy in being merciful to others – especially the orphans, the aged, the destitute, the AIDS affected, the sick and dying. May God bless them with the vision of Christ in those they serve
Fri

9/4/2010
1Pet 3:15b Always be ready to make your defence to anyone who demands from you an account of the hope that is in you

We pray for a Victorious Church in the area of Apologetics – teaching and defending the Catholic Faith and her various doctrines. Day 8 of the Divine Mercy novena: we bring to the Lord the Souls who are in Purgatory. We pray that the streams of Blood and Water which gushed forth from the Sacred Heart put out the flames of Purgatory, that there, too, the power of His mercy may be celebrated
Sat

10/4/2010
Luke 24: 27 Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures

We pray for a Victorious Church in the area of Catechesis – especially the instruction of children and youth. Day 9 of the Divine Mercy novena: we bring to the Lord the Souls who have become Lukewarm. We pray that the Saviour set their lives aflame with the Holy Spirit
Sun

11/4/2010
Jn 20: 28 My Lord and my God

Divine Mercy Sunday. We pray for those receiving the sacraments of First Holy Communion or Confirmation this Eastertide. May they, like Thomas, have a personal encounter with the Risen Lord and know that they can lead Victorious lives in their studies and relationships
Mon

12/4/2010
Ps 128:1-3 Happy are all who fear the Lord, who walk in his ways. What your hands provide you will enjoy; you will be happy and prosper: Like a fruitful vine your wife within your home, Like olive plants your children around your table

This week we pray for the Victorious life of the Risen Lord in our homes – the domestic Church. We pray for Christian families devoutly living the Gospel values in their spousal and parent-child relationships. May the Merciful Lord, who is the Rock on which their marriages and homes are built, bless them; may they be shining lights and an example to those around
Tue

13/4/2010
Eph 4: 26- 27 Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun set on your anger…and do not leave room for the devil

We pray for the Victorious life in homes which are being rocked by domestic violence and abuse. May the Risen Lord help the members of the family to realise their folly and invite the Lord of Mercy to wash away the hurts and baggage of the past that they are carrying
Wed

14/4/2010
Phil 2: 3 In humility count the other better than yourself

We pray for the Victorious life of the Risen Lord in families broken because of property disputes and misunderstandings that led by love and humility, peace and joy will truly return to the family’ so that sibling and other relationships may be enriched and overflow with love.
Thu

15/4/2010
Eph 6:2- 3 Honour your father and mother. This is the first commandment with a promise, that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life on earth (Deut 5:16)

We pray for the Victorious life for homes faced with the problem of rebellious children… in fact in some cases parents are even terrorised by their own children. May there truly be a return to love and forgiveness and a healing of all hurt that may have caused this behaviour. May our children seek the Lord first in their life and honour their parents with the grace and strength that the Merciful Lord provides
Fri

16/4/2010
Ps 127:3 Behold, children are a gift of the Lord

Today we pray for the Victorious life for childless couples, those who are unable to conceive and those who do not wish to have children. May the Merciful Saviour have compassion on them and open their hearts and their wombs to participate in His Divine Plan of creation
Sat

17/4/2010
Ps 69:13 But as for me, my prayer is to thee, O Lord, At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of thy steadfast love answer me

Let us lift the Night Vigil held today at St. Andrew’s College Chapel, Bandra, where the focus of intercession is praying for the victorious life of the Risen Lord in our lives as we prepare for Pentecost.. We also pray for the Don Moen concert happening today, may the Lord bring unity and respect for each as we strive to sincerely come together as one body with one Shepherd - Jesus
Sun

18/4/2010
Jn 21:17 Do you love me?

This week we pray for the Victorious life of the Risen Saviour for ourselves – my victory flows from His grace and my openness to deny myself and follow Him. We pray that all Christians are able to honestly reply to Jesus’ question on their love for Him, in word and action
Mon

19/4/2010
Gen 22:14 The Lord shall provide (Jehovah-jireh)

We pray for the Victorious life for ourselves, that God will supply all our needs – spiritual, mental, emotional, physical and material. Not as we desire but as per His will. We pray for a deeper relationship with the Risen Lord and His Word, as 1 Cor10:13 tells us that God is faithful and He will not let us be tempted beyond our strength but will also provide the way of escape that we maybe able to endure it
Tue

20/4/2010
Eze 48: 35 The Lord is there (Jehovah Shammah)

We pray for the Victorious life for our children and youth, that the Lord will cover them with His protective & divine Presence. We lift up every child who has appeared for exams (school/College, etc); may God protect them from every negative/destructive tendency, and bless them with the grace to stay positive. We pray for all children/youth camps and programs that will be organised for the spiritual and overall development of our children/youth during the vacations
Wed

21/4/2010
Judges 6:24 The Lord is Peace (Jehovah Shalom)

We continue to pray for the Victorious life for ourselves guided by the various names of God in Scripture – that we will truly experience peace. In a life of chaos and constant strive may we find an oasis of peace at the feet of the Lord. We pray with the words of Rom 5:1 that we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ through whom we have obtained access to share in the victory and glory of God. We especially remember Bishops Percival Fernandez and Agnelo Gracias as we remember their anniversary of being ordained Bishops
Thu

22/4/2010
Ex 15:26 God the Healer (Jehovah Rophe)

We pray for the Victorious life for ourselves, especially those racked with pain and sickness. May we seek from the Divine Healer the restoration and healing of our spirit first and approach Him with confidence and surrender for our physical, mental and emotional healing. We pray with confidence in the words from 1 Pet 2:24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds we are healed.
Fri

23/4/2010
Jer 23:6 The Lord is our righteousness (Jehovah Tsidkenu)

We pray for the Victorious life in our times of guilt and shame by seeking the reconciling love of the Father in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. May we always be assured of the Lord’s mercy and move forward rather than be stuck in a rut of self-pity and excuses. We pray in the words of Rom 6:13 that we do not yield as instruments of wickedness, but yield ourselves to God as children who have been bought…as instruments of righteousness
Sat

24/4/2010
Eph 6:4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up with the training and instruction of the Lord

We pray for the Victorious life in parent-children relationships, especially those where the parents are overly controlling, denying their children their independence and room to grow and blossom. May parents seek the grace from the Lord to overcome their own insecurities
Sun

25/4/2010
Ps 23:1 The Lord is my shepherd (Jehovah Rohi)

We pray for the Victorious life in our times of deep darkness. May we always be assured of the Lord’s presence with His crook and staff. We lift up the youth who have strayed like sheep and pray for their return to the Shepherd & Guardian of their souls; that they avoid the thief who only wants to destroy and hear the Shepherd’s voice and follow Him who assures them of life in all its abundance
Mon

26/4/2010
Lev 20:8 The Lord who sanctifies me (Jehovah Makkadesh)

We pray for the Victorious life in our striving for holiness. Each of us is called to be holy and perfect as our Heavenly Father. We pray that we may have the grace to press on to this goal, in the words of Rom 6:22 Now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the return you get is sanctification and its end eternal life
Tue

27/4/2010
Ps 18:30 This God — his way is perfect; the promise of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him

Let us pray that the Government in Karnataka would shun and book under the law, every fundamentalist person/organisation still terrorising Christians; may God grant them a firm resolve to protect Christians especially those affected by the recurring violence
Wed

28/4/2010
Ps 7:17 I will give to the Lord the thanks due to his righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord, the Most High

We lift up ‘Joyful Noise’, a ministry under the Family Commission in our Archdiocese, that as they spread awareness of the Gospel through music, exposing the negative affects of secular music and providing an alternative in Gospel music, God may meet every spiritual and temporal need of this team. Pray that they be protected against all the wiles of the enemy
Thu

29/4/2010
1 Cor 1:20 For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why we utter the Amen through him, to the glory of God

We continue to pray for the Inner Healing Ministry and the retreats organised under the leadership of Fr. Franklyn Lobo, CSSR and Anthony Lobo that together with their team they are protected by the Lord and empowered by the Holy Spirit to set free those in bondage
Fri

30/4/2010
Ex 17:15 The Lord is my banner/victory (Jehovah Nissi)

We end this month as we pray for the Victorious life in all spheres of our lives – our Church, our families and ourselves. We pray for the Victorious life in our struggles in life – be it in our spiritual struggles (with sin/sinful habits) or material struggles (in our careers, studies, business, etc.). Just as the Israelites were successful in battle when Moses held up his hands to the Lord, may we learn from this and stand steady and firm through continuous prayer through all of our life’s battles, so the Lord may take over and fight the battles for us. We pray with the words of Col 2:15 that the Lord disarms the principalities and power through the triumph of His cross

Holy Father’s Intentions for the Month (Pray for these intentions daily)
General Intention: That every tendency to fundamentalism and extremism may be countered by constant respect, by tolerance and by dialogue among all believers.

Missionary Intention: That Christians persecuted for the sake of the Gospel may persevere, sustained by the Holy Spirit, in faithfully witnessing to the love of God for the entire human race.

—
Vetted by Fr Byron Mendonca, Assistant Parish Priest, Mt Carmel Church, Mumbai, India.
All scripture passages are taken from Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition.
We suggest you print out this page & keep it in your Bible.
Please contact Royston@Glorify-God.com for any feedback.

Victors, not victims!

“Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? … thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ”, boldly proclaims Paul (1 Cor 15:54-57) summarizing the Paschal mystery. “Victory in Jesus”. Do our lives reflect this victory?

Christ wants us to be a victorious people - people of the light, a people set apart (1 Pet 2:9). Are we taking our job seriously of being ‘salt’ and ‘light’ (Mt 5:13-16)? Unfortunately most of us are either afraid, apprehensive or filled with apathy when it comes to ‘stepping out in faith’.

This month as we celebrate the Christian’s raison d’être – the death and resurrection of Jesus. – let this not be one more ‘Holy Week’ filled with externals, while our hearts are far away from God (Mt 15:8). Let us make the most of the glory of Eastertide, as we truly desire to be transformed (Rom 12:2) from being insipid and wayward to being ‘salty’ and focussed in our approach, joyfully experiencing ‘Victory in Jesus’.

And so, the focus of our prayer and intercession this month is for the Victorious life in Christ – that we may experience victory in our Church, our families and our lives in the power of the Risen Lord.

Let us pray fervently this month for our Church. Over the past few months, sadly, the European churches seem to have taken up from where the American churches left off – with sex allegations/scandals erupting in Ireland and Germany. While we pray for the Universal Church – that she plays her prophetic role in today’s world - we also pray for the Indian Church, specially our persecuted brethren in Karnataka and Orissa.

We pray this month for Victory in our families. Christian families seem to be stuck in the mire of brokenness, abuse and addiction and property disputes. It may be just my imagination/opinion but Christian families seem to have more problems and court cases against family members than the average non-Christian families. May the rays of the Risen Son warm up the stone-cold hearts in our homes, that truly the Domestic Church will be an oasis of peace – overflowing with life and love into the society at large.

And finally, we pray for ourselves – that we live Victorious lives in the power of the Risen Lord.

May the rays of Divine Mercy that come forth from the Risen Lord sanctify and transform us. May they warm us with the fire of love so that we may no longer remain lukewarm but be on fire and shine brightly for Christ in the world. May Mary, the mother of Mercy cover us with her intercession that we truly live out our calling of being ‘an Easter people, with Halleluiah as our song’ (St Augustine).