JES

US THE SOULMATE

What will separate us from the love of Christ? (Rom 8:35)

“Let it be with me according to your word”

(Lk 1:38).

Contents

EDITORIAL3. Search and Find FR. STEBY KALLOORKATTU V.C.

REFLECTION ON MARY

5. The Marian Devotion FR. GEORGE KOCHOLICKAL V.C.

SPIRITUAL REFLECTIONS8. Little is Much in the Hands of the Lord BRO. JOSEPH MACHARIA V.C.

SPIRITUAL REFLECTIONS10. Confidence in God can do all things BOCHERE PHOTINI

SPIRITUAL REFLECTIONS12. Utatu Mtakatifu: mwanzo

wa maisha ya familia FR. TOMY POKKATHUMADATHIL V.C.

SPIRITUAL REFLECTIONS

14. He Must Increase IRENE KARWITHA

TESTIMONIES16. Blessing, Healing &

Conversion etc

TESTIMONIES18. Blessing, Healing &

Conversion etc

TESTIMONIES20. Blessing, Healing &

Conversion etc

LIVING FAITH22. Always a Blessing TRESA JOSEPH, PHILADELPHIA

YOUTH VIBES24. Are the Youth

Desperately Searching? PAMELA MANDELA

WAY OF LIFE25. Vincentian Wisdom on

Spiritual Growth

THE SOULMATE JUNIOR26. Samuel, Quiz

SAINTS AND SAGES

28. They said it

POPE SAYS29. Mission Month

VINCENTIAN MINISTRIES

30. Programme 2019-2020

SAINT CORNER

31. St. Teresa of Avilla

OCTOBER 2019 No 4. Year 2 WWW.VRCTHIKA.ORG

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OCTOBER 2019 JESUS: THE SOULMATE3

Editorial

aulo Coelho’s famous novel, The Alchemist follows the searching journey of

a shepherd boy named Santiago. A recurring dream of valuable treasure draws this boy to travel. His dramatic searching ends when he realizes all he sought was in the ruined church where he had his original dream. The whole novel of untiring search of Santiago recalls the powerful utterance of Jesus, ‘search and you will find’ (Mt 7:7). When Jesus urges us to search, a question arises as to ‘what to search’. The answer list differs; a lost wallet, a lost child, or lost cattle. But, the biblical answer is different.

“From there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find him if you search after him with all your heart and soul” (Deut 4:29). “When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart, I will let you find me” (Jer 29:13-14a). The biblical answer of the question ‘what to search’ is crystal clear; it is the Lord our God we ought to search for confidence of finding Him is built when searched with heart and soul. The purpose of creation is to search, find and love the Creator. At the finding, the best the searcher receives is full happiness.

A few months back, newspapers reported the seperation of twin sisters at birth, who were united in search through social media. Their happiness was captured well by the pictures in the news. The same is the experience of an immigrant who lost his passport and after

searching for 3 days finds it among the books in the library; joy of his heart is unimaginable. How can one explain the joy of a searching creature finding one’s creator? St. Augustine puts it this way; ‘To fall in love with God is the greatest romance; to seek him, the greatest adventure; to find him, the greatest human achievement’. The words of the saints show his life of seeking and achievement. However, to search and find God, the creator becomes an easy job because of its paradox.

The beautiful paradox of this searching is ‘the searcher is searching and the searched is searching’. One who is searching God is searched by God himself. Chapter 15 of Luke portrays God in the job of searching. The lost coin, lost sheep and lost son were searched for and found. These three imageries elaborate a searching God, who began this search in the Garden of Eden as he called, ‘Adam, Adam, where are you?’ He continues seeking the lost. “For thus says the lord: I myself will search for my sheep, and will seek them out” (Ezek 34:11). The mission of Jesus’ purpose is that he came to seek the lost. The truth that what I am seraching is searching for me showers the grace of endurance for one to seek God. As St. John of the Cross says, ‘In the first place it should be known that if a person is seeking God, His Beloved is seeking him much more’. The Bible is the search history of God for the lost. The speech of a friend was very inspiring “Bible is the story of miracles. Man searches God and

God searches man, when they meet, there is a miracle.” If it is the history of the bible, it is the history of the Church. It will be the history repeated in the life of current Christians. “Draw near to God and he will draw to near you” (Jas 4:8).

October, the month of rosary opens a new spirit for our search. Having the company of a successful searcher is the spirit of this month. The rosary is a powerful prayer that helps us to search Jesus with Blessed Virgin Mary. Let us search God with Mary. Then, He who found Mary as His mother will find you and hold you in his arms. Heartfelt prayers and blessing of the month of Rosary be with all those who read this magazine.

Search and Find

......................................................................Fr. Steby Kalloorkattu V.C.

P

OCTOBER 2019 JESUS: THE SOULMATE4

An Evangelization Magazine from Vincentian Ministries

PRINTER & PUBLISHERFr. George Kocholickal V.C.

GENERAL EDITORSFr. Joseph Marottiparambil V.C.Fr. Jinu Puthussery V.C.Fr. Joy VellaramkalayilV.CFr. Tomy Pokkathumadathil V.C.

PUBLISHING EDITORFr. Steby Kalloorkattu V.C.

CIRCULATION MANAGERSFr. Joseph Elanjickal V.C.Fr. Jilson Vallyaparambil V.C.Fr. Reno Kanakattu V.C.

GRAPHIC DESIGNMutuku Ruth

PRINTERSDon Bosco Printing School, Makuyu.

SEND CORRESPONDENCE TOVincentian Retreat Centre, ThikaJesus: The Soulmate magazineP.O. Box 2009-01000Phone. 0766 929181EMAIL: Jesusthesoulmate@gmail.com

TO SUBSCRIBE OR RENEWCall or Whatsapp 0766929181JESUS: THE SOULMATEIf you believe in Jesus and accept Him as your personal saviour, He will be your soul’s sweet love and life’s best companion.

DISCLAIMERJESUS: THE SOULMATE considers its sources reliable and verifies as much data as possible. However, reporting inaccuracies can occur. Consequently readers using this information do so at their own risk. The views of the writers may not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial board. While every effort had been made to ensure that information is correct at the time of print, Vincentian Ministries cannot be held responsible for the outcome of any action or decision based on the information contained in this publication. The publishers or authors do not give any warranty for the completeness of accuracy for this publication’s content, explanation or opinion. Although persons and ministries mentioned herein are believed to be reputable, neither Vincentian ministries nor any of the contributors accept any responsibility whatsoever for such persons and ministries’ activities.

JES

US THE SOULMATE

What will separate us from the love of Christ? (Romans 8:35)

The Word of God says, “Do not be ashamed of the testimony about

our Lord” (1Tim 1:8).

You are encouraged to send your testimonies to us for publication

if you are certain by faith that a miracle (blessing, Reconciliation breakthrough, healing, conversion etc) has been granted to you by Jesus. Traditionally understood, a miracle is a supernatural sign or wonder, brought about by God, signifying His glory and the salvation of mankind.

The Church teaches, “If anyone says that all miracles are impossible,

and that therefore all reports of them, even those contained in Sacred Scripture, are to be set aside as fables or myths; or that miracles can never be known with certainty, nor can the divine origin of the Christian religion be proved from them: let him be anathema” (Vatican Council I, Dei Filius, no.3).

Please note, “Society has a right to information based on truth,

freedom, and justice. One should practice moderation and discipline in the use of the social communication media” (Catechism of the Catholic Church 2512).

We will try to publish as many testimonies as possible for the

glory of God and to deepen the faith of the children of God.

Publishing your testimonies is done as part of the spiritual services

of Vincentian Ministries. We do not demand or accept any fee to publish the testimonies.

However, we recommend to get some copies of JESUS: THE

SOULMATE and distribute them because this work of evangelization will not only encourage those who already know Jesus but also engage those who have not yet recognized Jesus as saviour in their lives.

If you own a shop or business, consider putting a display of this

magazine on your counter to resell to customers.

Give the magazine to your family members, church members,

workmates, friends, especially people in hospitals and schools as a gift.

Send your testimonies with a recent photograph to: jesusthesoulmate@

gmail.com or Whatsapp to 0766929181.

RETURN TO YOUR HOME, AND DECLARE HOW MUCH GOD HAS DONE FOR YOU (LK 8:39).

EVERYONE WHO ACKNOWLEDGES ME BEFORE OTHERS, I ALSO WILL ACKNOWLEDGE BEFORE MY FATHER IN HEAVEN (MT 10:32).

OCTOBER 2019 JESUS: THE SOULMATE5

honour her because God the Father honoured her first. Recall Jesus’ words: ‘whoever serves me must follow me, where I am there will my servant be also, whoever serves me, the Father will honour’ (Jn12:46). Who, if not Mary, served Jesus the most? Mary said ‘Yes’ to the plan of God thereby accepting Jesus and receiving him in her womb in spite of the obvious grave danger that this decision exposed her life to. She kept the new born baby on her breast and fled to Egypt in that chilling cold in order to save the child. Mary is the one who looked after the Lord for 30 years. She is the one who faithfully followed him even to the cross. Not once did she demand a single miracle from her son for her own benefit even though she knew well who her son was. Her love was pure, her love was sacrificial and her love was so deep. No one served Jesus as faithfully as the blessed mother did. Therefore, God the father honours her.

The fundamental axiom of Christian morality is the ‘imitacio Christi’, the imitation of Christ. This is another reason why we honour Mary. Jesus certainly honoured her. If we say that

The

True

Marian

Devotion

In this month of October, the Church invites us to intensify our love for Blessed Virgin Mary

through deeper devotion. True Marian devotion consists of three things: 1) Honouring the mother of God along with all others in our generation 2) Praying the rosary and 3) Imitating the Blessed mother.1. Honoring Mary with all the

GenerationBishop Fulton J. Sheen once

said, “There are not more than 100 people in the world who truly hate the Catholic Church, but there are millions who hate what they perceive to be the Catholic Church.” This statement is as much true about the Catholic Church as it is true about the Marian devotion. Many say that Catholics worship Blessed Virgin Mary. Nothing could be further from the truth. Catholics do not worship Mary; the Catholic Church teaches that worship is an exclusive preserve for God alone – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Catholics however, honour Mary because she is the mother of the Lord (Lk 1:43). We also

Jesus did not honour her, we risk accusing Jesus of sin - the violation of the commandment that says ‘honour your father and mother’. St. Maximilian Kolbe says: “Never be afraid of loving Mary too much. You can never love her more than Jesus did.”

Does not Scripture also say that all generations will call her blessed? (Lk 1:46-49). St. Peter writes: “No prophecy ever came by human will, but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God” (2Pet 1:20-21). It is the Holy Spirit who inspired the prophecy that all generations would call Mary blessed. Therefore, we honor the blessed mother today - in our generation.

Some people say that given that Mary’s role – as recorded in the Bible – is fairly negligible, she should be ignored altogether. Really? This argument is base and implausible. Three major salvific events characterize the salvation history: the birth of Jesus, the death and resurrection of Jesus and the coming of the Holy Spirit. A common thread runs through all these events. That constant factor is the presence of our Lady. We could never think about salvation history without

Fr. George Kocholickal V.C.....................................................................