Cheriachan.

Cheriachan – Tall, lanky man wearing a kurta and a smile – a Catholic priest who used to walk the talk.

I met Achan first during my fulltime volunteering with Jesus Youth movement. I was so young and he used to pull my leg for some years thereafter that he’s spying on me on Facebook to see how much time I’m wasting time on social media. I can still hear his coarse voice and laughter and telling me ‘Amitha, ninte 70mm smile.’ (Your 70mm smile!).

Once we were traveling alone to a program in a bus which was a few hours journey. He shared about the street plays he used to do, singing in a park with an instrument to bring people’s attention and about using everything we have talents big and small to give Jesus to the person next to us. His sessions started simple and left you spellbound. When it ended, the star always God and him a mere instrument. The fervor in him never intimidated me neither made me think he’s an extraordinary being but it always left me empowered. After the program that evening he gifted me a small picture of holy family and told me laughing, ‘Thank you for tolerating me today and accompanying me. This is a small gift from me to you.’

One evening I was waiting on my friend to finish a training in India. I saw achan there. It had been sometime, so I eagerly went to talk to achan. Somebody quickly came and caught him and rushed him as he had to prepare for mass. He turned back and told me, ‘Sorry mole(daughter)I will come back to you.’ I left it at that and was around waiting on my friend. After mass, I was pleasantly surprised achan looking for me and came to sit with me to talk. We sat and talked and discussed different things. I was so touched by his effort to spare some time with me. He had a way of sprinkling love that you realise God was really present.

I think he was one of the few priests who was open to discussing with me when I asked him on various controversies in the church. His openness, convictions and to talk about the good and the bad, to put forth his views and opinions made me fall in love with church knowing there is truth and people inside church standing up for it.

I cannot detach you from your teasing laugh. The last time we met, I asked you to pray over me. You asked me ‘for what?’. I told you,’Chumma irikatte’.(Ahh simply for the sake of it). You replied,’Then you pray for me too’. We both chuckled and then you prayed for me.

I thought we were going to meet again so that I could scold you for walking alone that evening and for making us all go through so much tension and worry the last so many days. I thought you would laughingly reply so innocently ‘I needed some extra full force prayer. That’s why.’ I woke up in the wee hours on my wedding anniversary to hear you left this earth. Now I am upset with you that you chose that day itself. Maybe you are laughing upstairs telling me exactly why you needed to pray for me more now directly from up there closer to Jesus.

Acha, I believe with my whole heart you were an image of Christ to everyone who crossed paths with you. You were truly a saint I had the privilege of knowing. I write this with a lump in my throat and swallowing down the choking sobs but I want to remember you for your smiles and laughter.

I can only wonder how much more in pain people who were close to you are in right now knowing how much pain your demise has caused me.

Thank you for teaching us to love and serve.

I love you Acha.

Supermen!!

Today was a very long day for me. So many people, conversations, though I can’t definitely recollect much. However, two men caught my eyes today!

Early morning Superman1 arrived with his daughter in his arms. Obviously irritated to be woken up in the morning, she was stubborn not to leave him. Time for his session to start. He came forward with his daughter in his arms and carried her all along and took his session. Holy Spirit worked through His words. And the dad worked through his daughter’s needs.

Superman2 arrived quite late. He had called in to say that his little one had thrown up on the way to church and he had to take care of the situation, so couldn’t make it. Though late, to our surprise he did show up with all his clan ’cause I saw and heard that God worked mightily in his life the last couple of months that the least He could do was to come and testify it. There he was carrying his daughter in his arms smiling and testifying the Lord.

Not sure writing this makes sense, but I was touched, felt blessed to see this Supermen/Superdads in fervor for the Lord and for their family. #dailyinspirations 

Credits: Above picture from left- George Benny (Superman2) and Bejesh Solomon (Superman1)

I am Pro Life, though my questions continue..

I am 22, single, not married. Hence, this article is completely written out of the little I have seen, read and filled with the whole lack of inexperience and knowledge that you may have. I am not a feminist even if you think so because I dream of someday where my man will actually take care of me and be the head of my family. I am a Catholic Christian, ardently in love with my faith and trying to live up to what it is to be actually a Catholic. (The last part is tough for me – the living part.) As much as I love my church, I question many of its teaching, the basis of my beliefs taught to me. After all ‘Thomas’ is my surname.

 

Church is Pro life. I wasnot.

 

I am against abortion. Always was.

 

Church is against contraceptives. I was not.

 

I have such amazing friends and elders in life, together with whom we have had many never ending fruitful debates, discussions, read books together, and the whole lot reading on the internet on contraception.

 

When I marry, my man and I become one flesh. Not just when having sex but for the rest of our lives. Only natural marital relations (natural genital-to-genital intercourse) open to life has all three meanings: marital, unitive, and procreative. Only when these three qualities are retained when a couple makes love, does the couple actually attain true and selfless love, that they promised each other at the altar. Can’t wait to love.

 

Now, I am convinced. I am Pro life.

 

What frustrates me though is some pro life promotion which just doesn’t focus on the whole point but just on having kids. Natural Family Planning (NFP) and the abstaining period during the woman’s most fertile period is not a punishment phase but a time when the couple are to grow to love each other more, to find ways to show love to each other in ways other than sex. It’s a time to get intimate in the most creative ways.

And the posters, “What if Mr.X’s (who was the nth child in the family and who became a world leader) mom decided not to have him?” You know what? I think God would have made another child. It wouldn’t have been the end of the world. And just in case you forgot the successful first born, Oprah Winfrey, Amitabh Bhachchan and guess what even Pope Francis is a first born who are transforming the world.

The Pope warned that there are two dangers always present when speaking about this topic (‘Woman’), calling them “two extreme opposites that destroy woman and her vocation.”

“The first is to reduce maternity to a social role, to a task, although noble, but which in fact sets the woman aside with her potential and does not value her fully in the building of community. This is both in the civil sphere and in the ecclesiastical sphere,” explained the Holy Father, Pope Francis.

 

Maternity, although noble, takes toll on the woman’s life, her way of being, her relationships, and her priorities. It’s just not a biological matter. It sometimes seems to me among the pro life couples that it’s an unsaid rule that the wife has to henceforth stop her ministry outside (if she was involved), and the wife starts ministering to her kids (again a noble cause).

 

Should not in ministering to the kids both the parents involve? What happened to her dreams? What happened to her plans for her ministry? What happened to her career goals? Is it not unfair?

 

 

My point being, if pro life is what you are, then, for life you have to live it, in all the sacrifices and chores your better half usually takes it on them alone.