Ascension of the Lord Gospel is not a book

You feel very comfortable in the presence of some persons!  They inquire about you, they show interest in you and what you do, they console you when you are down, they talk positive things with you.  They are full of hope and love!  They radiate affection, compassion, and trustworthiness!

On the other hand, there are people who are all the time self-eulogizing!  All the time looking for an opportunity to say something great about themselves.  Even when they visit the sick, they would be preoccupied with themselves and their own concerns.  They stink!

Proclaiming the gospel is not explaining it in words and elaborating its theology or what we have learned from the books and libraries!

Gospel is not a book!  Gospel is not an exhortation!  Gospel is not a historical narration!  Gospel is you!  Yes, You are the gospel!

Be a piece of good news to someone or anyone!  Listening to someone's difficulties, wiping the tears of someone, clasping a hand with compassion, embracing someone with true love, sharing the joy of the other, laughing with a cheerful person, feeding the hungry, healing the sick, be at the service of the elderly or the deserted ones ... you can be good news in so many ways.

For this you must all the time look at the other person's needs, difficulties and situations; other cantered!    If you are self-centered, difficult to be good news to anyone!

Ascension is not from downward to upward! It is from inward to outward!

Therefore, Reach out!

5th Sunday of Easter Load Shedding

 

Look at the pen stand on your table; Old pens that don't write anymore and Pens that you don't use anymore! but, they are all there!  They are a burden to the stand and you!  Look at your table, room, home, and your vicinity!  You will find many useless things but don't feel like giving them up.  Books, old cell phones,  old laptops, clothes, shoes, and whatnot that you don't need anymore.  They get accumulated!  Your beautiful room is like a dark room where you dumb things!  A little garbage bin!

Get rid of them and create space where you can freely move around!

Throwing them away is certainly good for you but if you can combine it with "Giving it away" (to someone in need) is much better.

Similarly, the Mind is filled with thoughts, prejudices, and worries that curtails your happiness!  A hurting word by someone is dead and gone but your mind needs it to torment you!  An incident is no more alive but your mind entertains it to keep you strangled under it.

Your ego is such a poor guy that it cannot say sorry!  It cannot forgo things!  It cannot say "I misunderstood"!  Therefore, you hoard things against so many!  You take in more than what you can chew!  You stick to ideologies that are irrelevant! You get entangled in certain religious beliefs! you get into the morass of prejudices!

You have such beautiful wings with which you can fly around and enjoy the breadth and width of the sky!  But you are stuck to the slush!

Pruning is a must for growth and harvest!

As the pruned leaves and branches become good manure for the plants, similarly that which you have shred will enhance your growth!

Face criticisms and Address issues!  There is no use postponing!  It is better to lose the branches than the whole tree!  Pain can be very constructive if you can properly address it.

We are in the midst of the Covid crisis!  Again, Don't Panic and Don't postpone!  If you have symptoms attend to it immediately.  It will save time, energy, health, money,  family, and your life.  On the other hand, if you panic, you will sink quickly!