FREEDOM, FAITH AND FELLOWSHIP

                           A talented teacher used to start his class by stating a story and raising a query to arouse in the students an interest in the subject of study. The students of the school admired his style of teaching and listened to him with ardent attention. They answered his questions with innocence and he listened to them with patience.

                           Once he had to teach them about the struggle for freedom led by the leaders of the nation. He narrated a story to introduce the concept of freedom, liberation and independence. “A prisoner had to spend several years in prison. After years of painful confinement within the prison bars, he was released. Returning to his native village, he saw a man selling caged birds to customers passing along the road. He saw the scene and rushed to the man. He purchased the caged birds by paying all the money he had with him. Then he opened the cages and let the birds fly high in the sky and return to their natural nests.”

                           After telling this story, the teacher asked the children, “Now tell me, why did he buy the caged birds and let the birds free to fly in the air?” The students thought deeply. One of them replied innocently, “Sir, it was because he needed only the empty cages!” The teacher was lost for words.

                           A train is free only so long as it stays on its track. Once it is derailed, it loses its freedom for a meaningful movement. Voluntary sacrifice of personal rights is the basis of true freedom and a peaceful social life. In his epic poem, ‘Paradise Lost’, John Milton (1608-1674) depicts the devil’s distorted vision of liberty through the words of Lucifer after he is cast from heaven to hell, “Better to reign in Hell, than serve in Heaven.”

                           But in the Christian concept, true freedom is a kind of voluntary bondage. It is obtained only in outright obedience to Almighty God and the filial fellowship with His children. The Psalmist declares, “In my distress I called to the Lord; He answered me and set me free” {Psalms 118: 5}.

                            Jesus said to those who believed in Him, “If you obey my teaching, you are really my disciples; you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” {John 8: 31, 32}. “If the Son sets you free, then you will be really free” {John 8: 36}.

                           St. Peter advises, “Live as free people; do not, however use your freedom to cover up any evil, but live as God’s slaves” {1 Peter 2: 16}. St. Paul identifies true freedom as a generous gift of God - liberation from the clutches of sin and Satan. “But now you have been set free from sin and are the slaves of God. Your gain is a life fully dedicated to Him, and the result is eternal life” {Romans 6: 22}.

                           St. Paul exhorts us to preserve our freedom: “Freedom is what we have – Christ has set us free! Stand, then, as free people, and do not allow yourselves to become slaves again” {Galatians 5: 1}. He adds that the gift of freedom should promote the spirit of love, service and charity, “You were called to be free. But do not let this freedom become an excuse for letting your physical desires control you. Instead, let love make you serve one another” {Galatians 5: 13}.  

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© By: Prof. Dr. Babu Philip, Darsana Academy, Kottayam-686001, Kerala, India ( Former 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:

http://www.moral-stories.com

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                         This is Story No. 316 in the second site. Please click ‘Older Posts’ at the bottom of a page to read previous stories and click 'Newer Posts' at the bottom of a page to read newer stories in these sites. Please click on a word in the 'Story Themes' to read stories on that theme.

GROWTH TO BECOME SMALL

                     Before slavery was abolished, slave markets were very common in the developed countries. Here, poor and helpless people, were exhibited in the public and sold for a price like animals or vegetables.

                    A rich man bought a young slave from the market to work in his farm. The slave was a Christian and obeyed his master's orders with love and respect. Impressed by his innocence and dedication, the landowner asked him to accompany him during his next visit to the slave market to buy more slaves for his new farms.

                    Reaching the slave market, they saw a large number of slaves displayed for sale. The owner sought the opinion of the slave in selecting suitable slaves. The slave pointed at an old and frail man and pleaded to purchase him. The rich man was reluctant  as the man was old and weak, but the young slave insisted. Finally the old man was bought and brought to the farm. The young slave was eager to help the old slave and even shared his duties with pleasure. When he fell ill, the young slave looked after him and saved him by his tender care. Seeing these acts of affection, the master asked the young slave whether the old man was his father or a close relative. The young slave denied. When the master insisted, he told the story of his association with the old man.

                    When the young slave was a child, the old man had stolen him and sold him as a slave to the slave traders. The master asked, "That means he is your worst enemy. Then why did you care for him?" The young slave replied, "Sir, I am a Christian. Jesus taught us to love our enemies. I am following His commandments." The owner was impressed by this exemplary display of Christian love. He became a true Christian and granted freedom to his slaves.

                    Jesus taught, "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who ill-treat you { Luke 6: 27, 28; Matthew 5: 44, 45}. The supreme sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross, His forgiveness and His constant compassionate love to us in the Holy Eucharist, the Sacrament of Salvation, are exemplified in the popular hymn in Malayalam, "Thiruvosthiyay ennil anayum, sneham, Daiva sneham..." in the album "Oru Vilippadakaley", composed by the blessed poet, Rev. Fr. Joy Chencheril, MCBS of Kerala, South India and tuned by Mr. Jacob Koratty. The lyrics of this hymn are translated here to be sung in the original tune as follows:

"In Eucharist you fill my mind, Oh! Love, Divine Love!

You come to stay inside my mind, Oh! Love, my Jesus! (2)

         To become so small, how much should one grow?

         How to be so lavish in love? (2)

I pained Him with my bitter tongue.

There He gave 'Sacrament of Love'! (2)

I blamed Him so much in my mind.

He blessed it with merciful love! (2)

       {To become so small........in love?(2)}

I crucified Him with my hands.

There He gave me 'Manna of Life'! (2)

My mind was furious at Him.

He filled it with flames of deep love. (2)

    

{In Eucharist........Jesus.}

{To become so small........in love? (2)}"

Translated from Malayalam into English by Prof. Dr. Babu Philip (Email: [email protected])

For a video of the original hymn, kindly visit: www.youtube.com/watch?v=1e8Xt9uoAl4

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© By: 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 and Leo. S. 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:

http://www.moral-stories.com

http://christian.moral-stories.com

This is Story No. 235  in the second site. Please click ‘Older Posts’ at the bottom of a page to read previous stories and click 'Newer Posts' at the bottom of a page to read newer stories in these sites. Please click on a word in the 'Story Themes' to read stories on that theme.

A HORRIFIED HORSE

Alexander, the Great (356 - 323 BC) had a wonderful and gorgeous horse, Bucephalus, which carried Alexander through several battles to create the mighty Greek empire. There is a legend about the taming of Bucephalus as described by Plutarch, the Greek historian and biographer.

When Alexander was only twelve years old, Philoneicus, a Thessalian brought a wild horse before King Philip II of Macedon, the father of Alexander. He wanted to sell it to King Philip. But the horse was uncontrollable and unstable. No one could tame it.

Alexander observed the peculiar behaviour of the horse and noted that it was behaving abnormally as it was scared of its own shadow. Every time it saw its shadow, it got frightened and became uncontrollable. Alexander volunteered to tame it. King Philip promised to buy the horse and gift it to Alexander if he could ride it.

Alexander knew that it was shying away from its own shadow. So he stroked it gently and slowly turned its face towards the sun and led it forward, so that its shadow was behind it and it could not see its shadow. The horse became tame and Alexander easily mounted on it and rode happily. He named it Bucephalus and used it in all his conquests till its death.

Our shadow becomes visible to us only when we turn away from the source of light. The shadow grows in size as we move away from the light.

The shadow of our sins haunts us as we turn away from Jesus, the light of the world. As we move away from Him, the shadow of sin appears to grow to alarming proportions and frighten us. But if we turn towards our Saviour with repentance, our sins cannot scare us. He sacrificed His life and redeemed us from sin and the influence of Satan. He will forgive our sins.

The saintly sages of ancient India used to recite the Vedic prayer:

“ASATO MA SAD GAMAYA,

THAMASO MA JYOTHIR GAMAYA,

MRITHYOR MA AMRITHAM GAMAYA.”

{Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 1.3.28}.

This popular prayer of Hindus in the Sanskrit language can be translated as:

“Lead us from Untruth to Truth,

Lead us from Darkness to Light

Lead us from Death to Immortality.”

Jesus revealed to us, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” {John 14:6}.

“I am the light of the world,” He said. “Whoever follows me will have the light of life and will never walk in darkness” {John 8:12}.

“I have come into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in the darkness” {John 12: 46}.

St. John teaches us, “God is light and there is no darkness at all in Him” {1 John 1: 5}. Isaiah foretold His incarnation and mission, “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. They lived in a land of shadows, but now light is shining on them” {Isaiah 9: 2}.

“The Word was the source of life, and this life brought light to mankind.The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has never put it out” {John 1:4,5}.

God said, “I, the Lord will be your eternal light; The light of my glory will shine on you” {Isaiah 60: 19}.

Let us turn towards Jesus, our eternal Light, who removes the shadow of sin from our lives.

By: Dr. Babu Philip, Professor, Cochin University of Science & Technology, Fine Arts Avenue, Kochi-682016, Kerala, India.

This is Story No. 149 in this site. Please click ‘Older Posts’ at the bottom of a page to read previous stories and click 'Newer Posts' at the bottom of a page to read newer stories in this site. Please click on a word in the 'Story Themes' to read stories on that theme.

HEAVENLY FAMILY

After every stage of creation, God was pleased with what he saw (Genesis 1). The only thing God found to be “not good” was the solitude of Adam (Genesis 2: 18). Hence He made a suitable human companion and established the first family on earth. He made man in His own likeness (Genesis 1: 26, 27). He designed family in the likeness of Heaven.

During an interview with a couple celebrating the golden jubilee of their married life, the husband was asked, “What is the secret of your successful married life?”

He said, “In our family, we follow a division of labour. I take the decision in all the important matters. My wife takes decision in all silly matters. So there is no confusion and we are happy.” The next question was, “How do you classify matters into important and silly?”

“That is my discretion”, asserted the dominating wife.

That is how several families maintain peace - by surrendering to the dominance of the stronger partner. Real happiness results only when there is close co-operation and mutual respect between partners. Otherwise the better half becomes the bitter half. In several oriental Christian churches, during the sacrament of matrimony, the priest adorns both the husband and the wife with the matrimonial ring. It symbolizes that the spouse is received from God. Matrimony is thus a union of three- the husband, wife and God. Marriages are conceived in heaven and celebrated on earth. The ideal family is an image of heaven.

By Dr. Babu Philip, Professor, Cochin University of Science & Technology, Fine Arts Avenue, Kochi-682016, Kerala, India.

This is story No.85 in this site. Please click ‘older posts’ at bottom of page to read previous stories.