ALTAR OF THE ALMIGHTY
The Holy Eucharist
was being celebrated in a church in Kerala, South India. Quite unexpectedly, there
was a tremor and the place trembled. It
was an earthquake. As earthquakes are very rare in the region, the people were
afraid of the events. Someone declared aloud that it was the sign of a terrible earthquake
and that the church could crumble in seconds.
The
people rushed out of the church abandoning the Celebrant. They stopped only on
reaching a safer distant destination. Even the altar boys ran away in panic to
save their lives.
After
a while, finding that there was no casualty and feeling that it was calm and
safe, the faithful returned to the church. They were surprised to see the
Vicar, absolutely undisturbed, standing still, immersed in deep meditation,
holding the Paten containing the Holy Body of Christ in one hand and the Chalice bearing the Holy Blood of Christ in
the other hand. He did not move from his position while everyone in the
congregation deserted him in a hurry, frantic with worry.
The altar boys were ashamed of their lack of
faith. They asked the saintly priest how he could remain there alone,
unperturbed. The priest told them, "This is the altar of the Almighty. I
am holding the Body and Blood of Christ in my hands. Where else can one get
greater safety and security? I was praying for the safety of all of you."
The exemplary action of the priest caused a
spiritual renewal in the parish. Influenced by the incident, one of the boys who
witnessed the incident joined the seminary and became a renowned priest and
preacher. He testified in one of his sermons that this event had led to his
vocation. He is Rev. Fr. Starzon. J.
Kallikadan of the Archdiocese of Trichur (Thrissur) in Kerala, South India.
It
is said that there are five Gospels. They are the Gospels according to Matthew,
Mark, Luke, John and Me! The fifth Gospel is named after every Christian who
proclaims the Good News through his life and actions. The priest who remained
undisturbed, holding the Holy Eucharist, during the time of the tremendous
turmoil, silently but effectively proclaimed the Gospel of God. His example was more effective than an
eloquent sermon.
Jesus taught in the
synagogue in Capernaum, "I am the bread of life, He who comes to me will
never be hungry; he who believes in me will never be thirsty.....If you do not
eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you will not have life in
yourselves......Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life"
{John 6: 35-59}.
Jesus said, "Ask and you will receive;
seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you" {Matthew
7: 7}. This truth is expressed in
the lines of the hymn, "Mochanamathinaai paapikale varuvin yachippin...." in the Holy Eucharist of the
Malankara Orthodox, Jacobite Syrian and Malankara Catholic Churches (Antiochian
Liturgy). It can be translated into English and sung in the same tune as:
"Come to our Lord and beg for forgiveness, Oh,
sinners!
He opens His doors for those who knock at His doors.
Those who ask will receive and
Those who seek are sure to find."
A popular hymn in Malayalam begins thus:
A popular hymn in Malayalam begins thus:
“ഇല പൊഴിയും കാലങ്ങൾക്കപ്പുറം
തളിരണിയും കാലമുണ്ടതോർക്കണം.
കവിളിലൂടൊഴുകുന്ന കണ്ണീരിനപ്പുറം
പുഞ്ചിരിയുണ്ടെന്നതും - ഓർക്കണം.
പ്രത്യാശയോടെ നീ ദൈവത്തെ നോക്കിയാൽ
ഉത്തരം നൽകുമെന്നറിഞ്ഞിടേണം - അവൻ
ഉത്തരം നൽകുമെന്നറിഞ്ഞിടേണം.”
……………………………………………………………
FROM THE ALBUM, ‘BAVA PUTHRAN ROOHA’
LYRICS: BABY JOHN KALAYANTHANI
MUSIC: PETER CHERANALLOOR
SINGER: KESTER
POSTED IN YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IW9zTdqGn6w
TRANSLATION
:
“TREES
MAY SHED THEIR LEAVES IN A WINTER;
BUT
IN SPRING THEY WILL SPROUT AGAIN, REMEMBER.
TEARS
MAY ROLL DOWN YOUR CHEEKS DURING PERIODS OF PAIN;
BUT
A SMILE ON YOUR FACE WILL – SHINE AGAIN.
WITH
HOPE AND FAITH, TURN TO GOD’S MERCY AND PRAY.
HE
WILL ANSWER YOUR PRAYERS AND SHOW YOU THE WAY.
HE
WILL ANSWER YOUR PRAYERS AND SHOW YOU THE WAY.
Translation:
Prof. Dr. Babu Philip, http://www.moral-stories.com,
.........................................................................................................
© By: Prof.
Dr. Babu Philip, Professor, Cochin University of Science &
Technology, Fine Arts Avenue, Kochi-682016, Kerala, India, Prof. Mrs. Rajamma Babu, Former Professor, St. Dominic's
College, Kanjirappally, Leo. S. John, St. Antony's Public
School, Anakkal, Kanjirappally and Neil
John, Maniparambil, Ooriyakunnath, Kunnumbhagom, Kanjirappally,
Kottayam-686507, Kerala, India.
For more moral stories, parables and
anecdotes for students, catechists, teachers and preachers, kindly visit
our web-sites:
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