Hope you are all doing well. I wish and pray for all of you that God be with you and guide you graciously. I was happy to see more than twenty people on the first Saturday mass this past week. I hope and pray that you continue to come for the first Saturday masses and develop a special devotion to Our Lady who is our ardent intercessor.
Once a lady was taken for heart surgery. The surgery was so complicated that she almost died. When she was in that condition she went into the presence of God. She asked him if her time on the earth was over. God told her, “No. your time is not yet over. You have thirty more years to live on the earth. Only after that you will die for certain and you will come to me”. The lady was happy. In the meantime, the surgery was done successfully and the lady came back to life.
Immediately after the lady came to life and got well, she prepared herself to live her remaining life in a better way. So, she went to the beauty parlor and made herself look more beautiful than ever. With all possible cosmetic treatment possible, she made herself a tremendously good-looking young lady. All men and youngsters were astounded by her beauty and wanted to marry her. She was proud of her amazing beauty and relentlessly kept showing off her beauty. Once when she was so immersed in showing off, she was hit by a big truck and died.
There she went in front of God very furiously. She asked God in a terrifying tone, “God you cheated on me. You told me that I would live for thirty more years on the earth and I am killed now. You did not keep your word. You are a cheat”. She burst out her anger so much that God was taken aback. Then God made her come closer and looked at her closely. Then he said to her with a smile on his face, “My child, what I told you was true. But, because of the extensive change in you because of the make-up and cosmetic treatment, it was hard for me to recognize you. Sorry about that and now that you have come here for the second time, you may stay here”. (My apologies to all ladies young and old, it is only for fun).
This story may be funny. But that is what we are doing, like the lady in the story. God created us all in His own likeness and image. That means, we have to radiate the features of God in our behavior and life. We have to be like God in being people of love, peace, forgiveness, faith, brotherhood, equality, acceptance and all the Christian values. But what do we see in reality? We have lost our image both as human beings and Christians. Because, most times, we do not behave either like good hearted human beings or faith filled Christians. Where is our image of God? How do we bear witness to our God? How do we preach Jesus to others? Would God recognize us as His children who bear His image or would He tell us as He told that lady that He could not recognize us? I (Jesus) will declare to them solemnly, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.’ (Mt:7:23).
Let us keep our image as that of God and His likeness.
God bless.
Yours sincerely in Christ Jesus,
Fr. A. Antony
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