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1.  Frustrated IO church Gundas destroyed the flex bords errected by Jacobite
belivers at Aluva.
2. India displays military might, cultural heritage on Republic Day.
3. Ability of news manipulation for commercial benefits of mighty Malayalam news
paper "Malayala Manorama".
4. Catholicose Baseliose Thomas It lead the Holy Qurbono (Penta Mass) at St.
Mary's Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Chapel, Aluva Today.
5. His Excellency M. O. H. Farook Kerala Governer Passes Away

"One who claims to abide in Christ ought to walk as He walked. Would you follow
Christ? Then be humble as He was humble. Do not scorn His lowliness if you want
to reach His exaltation. Human sin made the road rough. Christ's resurrection
leveled it. By passing over it Himself He transformed the narrowest of tracks
into a royal highway. Two feet are needed to run along this highway; they are
humility and charity. Everyone wants to get to the top -- well, the first step
to take is humility. Why take strides that are too big for you -- do you want to
fall instead of going up? Begin with the first step, humility, and you will
already be climbing."

St. Caesarius of Arles.

--------------------------------------------------------------

"But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man's offense many
died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus
Christ, abounded to many." Romans 5:15

Today with Jesus

Bible verse:  "For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are
perishing but to us who are being saved , it is the power of God.� (1
Corinthians  1:18)

Does it make any sense to resign  from a high profile job to serve the
unfortunate?

There are two value systems:   the world and God. One is eternal and ecstatic
while the other is  temporal and  hopeless. Man is created for  eternity and
heavenly joy. There is  light, beauty, peace, love and holiness in following the
word of  the Cross. Both the beneficiary and the benefactor are simultaneously
blessed and happy by serving the hapless. We are here to serve and not to be
served.

Jesus, the perfect  God descended on earth  to be the  strength and support for
the sinful and weak people so that they could  elevated  to eternal bliss.  He
did  so by his crucifixion. This is viewed as utter foolishness in our modern 
world.   St. Paul says,  �For the foolishness of God is wiser than man�s wisdom
and weakness of God is stronger than man�s strength.� (1 Corinthians 1:25).  
Still, after 2000 years, Jesus is the only hope for mankind.

Jean Vanier is the founder of L�Arche Homes for the mentally disabled. He is the
brilliant son of a Canadian Governor General.  He recruits skilled workers to
serve and live among the unfortunate  people whose IQs register in the low
double digits. He says that  people often look upon him as mad. Vanier shrugs
this off  by saying he would rather be crazy and follow  the foolishness of the
Gospel than the senseless  values of our world. He insists that those who serve
people with special needs  benefit as much as the ones whom they  are helping.
Even the most disabled respond instinctively to love, and  in so doing, they
awaken what is most important in human beings: compassion, generosity, humility
and love.  Paradoxically, they replenish life in the very helpers who serve
them.

Prayer:  Jesus,  the friend of sinners and the disabled,   help us to get up
from  our mirth of sin and disabilities.  You are our only light, power and
hope.  Let us have an inner eye to perceive the eternal values of sacrifice,
compassion, humility, abstinence and patience.  We pray for all those beautiful
people  like Jean Vanier and also for all  who are being served.   All we ask in
Jesus' name.  Amen.

Paulose Achen
Toronto
www.jerusalemchristianmission.com
Saturday, 28th January 2012

Jan 2012 edition of Yakkoobyan
Download and read @ http://yakkoobyan.org/

Holy Father Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas Prince Patriarch of Antioch and All
East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church is on an Apostolic
visit to the charitable institutions of the Patriarchate in Lebanon.

Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East Supreme
Head of the Syriac Orthodox Church will ordain Rabban Very Rev. Captain Paul
Toza as metropolitan for the Syriac orthodox Church Missionary in Brazil on
Sunday February 19, 2012.

25 January 2012

Staff members and clergy gathered in New York's St. Vartan
Armenian Cathedral on Wednesday, January 25, for a brief service, to pray for
the health and recovery of His Beatitude Archbishop Torkom Manoogian, the
Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem.

The former Primate of the Eastern Diocese was admitted on
January 19 to a hospital in Jerusalem, Israel, where he is resting comfortably
but has been drifting in and out of consciousness. Patriarch Torkom will turn 93
next month.

In a quiet reflection at the service, Diocesan Primate Archbishop Khajag
Barsamian spoke of the patriarch as a great spiritual leader
of the Armenian Church, and a figure of enduring stature in the worldwide
community of Christian churches.

He said that the wellbeing of the Patriarch has a special importance to
Armenians in America, where he is respected and loved as the Primate who led the
Eastern Diocese for 24 years. Many current members of the Diocesan staff worked
with him during that time, and hold Archbishop Torkom especially close to their
hearts.

Archbishop Barsamian led the noontime prayer service, alongside other
participating clergy: Fr. Sooren Chinchian, Fr. Simeon Odabashian, Fr.
Mardiros Chevian, and Fr. Tateos Abdalian.

Diocesan staff members and several friends of the Diocese from
the surrounding neighborhood in midtown Manhattan offered prayers for the
Patriarch.

Archbishop Manoogian was originally admitted to Jerusalem's
Hadassah Medical Center two weeks ago, but was released after two days. He
became critically ill and was re-admitted on January 19, and has been under
observation by the medical staff for pneumonia. Members of the Jerusalem
brotherhood, as well as family members, have been by the Patriarch's side
throughout his hospitalization.

Archbishop Barsamian is asking all of our pastors and parishioners to keep
Archbishop Torkom in their thoughts, and to pray for his health and recovery.

"Only the perfect person, with a perfect conscience, a perfect mind, and perfect
power, can have perfect love. Such a person is our God. What every man eagerly
desires for his person is therefore that which exists in the person of his
Creator. What all people value - love above all - that is therefore what the
Creator is - Love. And so it has been from time immemorial to today and unto
ages of ages."

St. Nikolai Velimirovic.

--------------------------------------------------------------

"But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice.' For I did
not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance." Matthew 9:13

Today with Jesus

Bible verse:  "On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee, Jesus�
mother was there and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the
celebration.�(John 2:1, 2)

Time to find good relationships with friends and family really make you  happy.

Human life is a never ending saga of finding happiness. All the inventions and
discoveries are the end result of this pursuit. But  the quality of life and
happiness does not  mean the size of the house, or number of cars or the ability
to outfit one�s whole family with the best  products, but rather having the
things that decides happiness, decades of research have shown what actually make
people happy, good relationships, with friends and  family. But still the world
is loitering in the desert like a cursed soul in search of happiness intensively
closing the eyes on keeping good relationships with family and friends.  If we
invest our time, money, and effort in keeping relationships always ends in
happiness for you and   the generations to come.

Jesus was on a mission to save the world, the greatest mission in the history of
mankind. Yet he took time to attend a wedding and take part in its festivities
with her mother and disciples. We may be tempted to think we should not take
time out from our �important� work for social and family occasions. But maybe
these social and family occasions are part of our mission. Jesus valued these
wedding festivities because they involved people. Jesus came to be with people
to bring balance to our life in all our activities social, family, work and
spiritual.

Mathew, a charted accountant and Sera, a Post graduate teacher,   a high profile
busy  extend  family  with two grown up  children with parents  are living in
Chennai. In any functions marriages, prayer meetings, birthdays, deaths- in the
churches, homes of the church members, friends circles, relatives particularly
any sorrows � they are the first to come and  the last  to go. They find time to
attend and actively participate just like a family member in all occasions and
festivities. Recently they were out of station when one of their friend�s wife
died. The first thing they did after landing at the station was rushed to the
bereaved family with a heavy heart and extended their condolences. They are
happy and the people who received the blessed presence are relaxed and joyful by
their presence.  Recently a tragic incident happened in their family then the
friends and relatives were the anchor for them to come out from the blow.

Could you experience this joy? Not so   just try it.

Prayer: Jesus. Let more Mathews� and Sera�s be everywhere � in the homes and  
churches. Let us find time to be happy with those are happy and cry with those
who are in tears.

Let no functions be dry without the presence of people. Let you be our example
for festive participation in marriages and other joyful occasions.  We pray for
those who are lonely and friendless in their celebrations � joyful or sorrowful

All we ask in Jesus' name.  Amen.

Paulose Achen

Love your enemies, ........ pray for those who persecute you.

Matt. 5:43 48:  You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor
and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who
curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use
you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He
makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and
on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not
even the tax collectors do the same?  And if you greet your brethren [only, what
do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?  Therefore you
shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.  [Matt: 5:43, see
Lev. 19:18. Though there was no specific commandment to hate the enemy, this
teaching was common.]

Grant us faith, O Lord,

That we may be a partaker of the Father's perfection:

Forgiving love: To pray for and bless

Any that seem unloving or unkind toward us ,

And commit to you all my past feelings of hurt,

And bless all who were involved.

we ask for the Spirit of forgiving love that was in you, Lord,

As you prayed in pain for those who crucified you. Amen.

Forgiving love is the seed of perfection. It grows until there is a perfect
expression of God’s nature through the disciple who walks in forgiving love.

Jesus simplified and summarized the doctrine of perfection in just five short
verses, Matt. 5:44-48.

Love your enemies� is a new teaching, not found in the Old Testament. Therefore
you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect. Exceedingly
glorious words indeed! Unexplainable, but absolutely believable because of the
One who uttered them. Forgiving love � loving your enemies, blessing them, doing
good to them, and praying for them - is a fire that would consume all evil in
our nature. It is a virtue that enfolds all other virtues. Read Luke 23:43, and
see how Jesus loved those who crucified Him: Father, forgive them, for they do
not know what they do.” Note how kindly the Lord judged them. Lord, may
forgiving love rule my life and guide our  thoughts and prayers. Amen.

Thankful for your prayers,

Shibu Podiyan
Washington DC

Dear Sir,
I can't open the January edition yakkoobyan.�
�
Thanks & Regds
�
Abraham Varghese
ID 3298
"God is my saviour; i will trust him and not be afraid"
-------------------------------------
From the desk of Moderators
Please use the following URL link
http://www.syrianchurch.org/yakkoobyan/Jan2012.pdf

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FLASH News
29 Jan'12
As per the unconfirmed reports, A bomb blasted near "Our Lady of Sednaya Church
and Monastery" belongs to Greek Orthodox Patriarchate, no casualties reported.
All our Priests, Monks and faithful are safe. Please pray for them.

"The signs accompanying grace are much joy, peace, love, and truth. Such truth
impels man to seek truth. But the signs of sin are accompanied by turmoil, not
joy and love toward God. Take the example of the plant endive. It looks like
lettuce. But the latter is sweet, the former bitter. Also in the matter of
grace, some things resemble truth, and then there is the very substance of
truth. Similarly, there is the ray of the sun and the sun itself."

St. Macarius the Great.

--------------------------------------------------------------

"Therefore You are great, O Lord God. For there is none like You, nor is there
any God besides You." 2 Samuel 7:22

Today with Jesus

Bible verse:  "I WILL NOT LEAVE YOU COMFORTLESS. I WILL COME TO YOU.�(JOHN
14:18)

Are you an unwanted and   lonely  girl/boy in recess?

Loneliness and the feeling of unwanted is the most terrible poverty.� Mother
Teresa. Loneliness of the children breeds bully�s and terrorists in the schools
and  the society.  The fetes of  unloved and unwanted pregnancies is the
starting point of  loneliness of a child.  The ripples of loneliness never stop
till it hits on the shores of catastrophe. The people who are  feeling ��I
alone� and  I could not see any one near by with a  kind word,  a  smile, a 
touch, a hand shake , call for a  meal, a few steps  of  walk,  call for  a
game, good time for a fun will   at last  fade in to nowhere  and step into the
world of  silence and shadow of darkness.   Who bothers for  them ? There are
millions of children waiting to hear a word of   comradeship.. If we wide open
our eyes  then we can see plenty of  lonely birds at  the corner of  a  play
ground   and rooms in the schools. We are good in the crowd and inclined to move
with them. But are you have the prick of consciousness of the    people  those
who   have no opportunity to be in the mass?. By your simple un priced, a kindly
look, a word could  change the world of lonely from the bottom of the  despair
to the  pinnacle of  happiness.

There is a  loving God who cares for  the lonely. Loneliness is the first 
things which God�s eyes named , not good-John Milton. Then the  God said, � It
is not good for the man to be alone. I will make e a helper who is just right
for him.�(Genesis 2:18)  Ministering  in  the world , Jesus was with  the
marginalized: children, widows, orphans, sinners, prostitutes,  crippled,
lepers, demon possessed, our castes, tax collectors. He intended his disciples
also  to do so. Where are we?

Recess is the 20  precious minutes to play, dodge punches, be shunned in the
school. If you are a popular kid, it is glimmer vacation fro the school day. If
you are an outcaste, it is  torture chamber. It is the wilderness outside the
protective wires of orderly desks, mechanical pencil sharpeners and paroling
adults. McNamara who started the Niagara Recess Project, to turn recess in to
summer camp. Where older kids act like councillors, leading the wee ones in
organised games. The volunteers  are told� to look out the kids no one is
playing with and to start a games with them.� The mentor says,� I scan the
school ground, looking for targets. Sure enough, there she sits up against the 
school wall in her purple snowsuit, utterly alone. My heart aches just watching
her.� She  continues, �  I missed the girl in the purple  snowsuit. Did someone
come over and play with her in the moments before the bell, or did she gather
herself up quietly and slip back in to the safety of class unnoticed.�  She
herself was  a victim of  bullies in the school. In her 6 birthday party at an
indoor roller skating hall , McNamara fell and smashed the back of her head. Hs
lost 90 % of her hearing. She  does remember throwing her hearing aids out with
her lunch one day ay school, after kids teased her about them.

Do you have  any scars from grade school? Now act to wipe the scars of others 
by reaching out  at their loneliness.

Prayer: Jesus,  you are the true companion in our  loneliness and scars. Let our
children be wanted and loved by the teachers and friends. Let us  in search of
the lonely and be  a comforter. Give us the good heart to  find time to be a
companion for the lonely and the  marginalized. Let our children be the
volunteers in the schoosl to help the helpless and lonely.

All we ask in Jesus' name.  Amen.

Paulose Achen

Nineveh Lent

We observe Nineveh Lent- 3 Days- Monday 30 Jan to Wednesday  1 Feb 2012.

Conclude with Holy Mass(Qurbano) on Feb 1 2012 (Evening)  Evening Prayer- 7 PM
7.30 PM to 8.15 PM.

�The people of Nineveh believed God�s message, and from the greatest to the
least, they decided a fast.�(Jonah 3:5)

All are welcome

Jerusalem (St. Bursauma) Syriac Orthodox Church, 72, Birchmount Rd ,
Scarborough, MIN 3J6

www.jerusalemchristianmission.com
vvpaulose@...-
001-647-852-9954

THE LENT OF JONAH

The Antiochean tradition attaches great significance to the Lent of
Jonah, which is followed by the Sunday of the departed priests and
the Sunday of All Souls before we enter the Great Lent.
Jonah of the Lent is different from the other two persons of the same
name referred to in the Bible, the father of Simon Peter and the
prophet mentioned in 2 Kings 14: 25. Jonah is referred to as one of
the minor prophets, but the scholars are not unanimous in their views
on either the "prophet" or the book.Be that as it may let us
concentrate on the message which the Lent of Jonah conveys.

The first point to notice is that the book teaches the message that
God is not an exclusive possesssion of the Jews. This is the same
message that is implied in Matthew 4: 15,16. Jonah is the symbol of
Israel, the Israel which cannot accept that those employed in the
Eleventh Hour get the same wages as those who have been toiling from
dawn.However God does not abandon Jonah even if he boards the ship to
Tarsus instead of the one to Nineveh. Man has no right to block God's
mercy, be it to Nineveh, or to Jonah himself.

Secondly Jonah proves that God is on the side of Pluralism as against
Particularism.This again amounts to conceding to God the right to
judge.

Thirdly let us recall the message arising from today's readings. The
reading from the Acts bring back memories of the experience on the
Road to Damascus. Here the messenger, Saul, was not running away from
his errand. On the other hand he was trying to run it
meticulously.However he did not know that he was moving against God's
plan for him. Therefore God intervened directly, as through the storm
and the whale in the case of Jonah. Unlike Jonah who grieved even
after the ship and whale experience Saul willingly surrendered
himself to be made Paul. Jonah had preached halfheartedly as
evidenced by his dialogue later, but Paul did it enthusiastically as
we see from the Pauline Reading of the day(2 Corinthians 4(?, I am
typing from memory after returning from church!)). The Gospel is the
clear pathgiver in the circumstances for the Jonahs and the Sauls
that we are.In Mark we hear about the response of the early disciples
who left their entire world behind to follow an unknown carpenter.
Something told them that here was a carpenter who could build boats
for them to make them fishers of men. The Church seems to teach that
whether we are like Jonah who rebelled or Saul who went against the
Will of God albeit unknowingly God is out to rescue us, Jesus in
search of Peters and Andrews and Jameses and Johns, and that is the
promise and that is where hope finds its origin.

The crux of the message is that we shall not be judgemental in our
approach. Let us concentrate on this aspect this week to eliminate
the tendency in us to judge others by our standards. Let God judge.
Let us become conduits of his mercy and compassion, and remove from
our personality whatever blocks and barricades we have erected
knowingly or unknowingly which go block God's unending compassion.

TOTUS TUUS MARIA

D. Babu Paul

The Malankara World Journal Issue 50 3-Day Lent Special Supplement (January 30,
2012) is now available online at:

http://www.MalankaraWorld.com/Newsletter/MWNews_50.htm

This is a special edition of Malankara World Journal to commemorate the Nineveh
lent or Three-Day Lent. This year, the lent starts on Monday, January 30 and
ends on Thursday, February 2.

The Nineveh Lent or Three Day Lent is a lent of attrition and repentance
commemorating the repentance of the people of Nineveh at the preaching of
Prophet Jonah. This lent starts three weeks before the start of the Great Lent.
However, when you read the article by Biji achen, you will notice that there are
other reasons also to commemorate a three day lent.

We have provided a great collection of articles and sermons in Malankara World
to understand and practice repentance that is pleasing to God. This year, the
last day of the Three day lent coincides with another important feast of the
Church, viz., Ma'altho, presentation of Jesus in the temple and the purification
of Mary. We will have more to say about this feast in our next edition of
Malankara World Journal.


Table of Contents: Malankara World Journal Issue 50

1. Editor's Note

2. Bible Readings for Nineveh Lent from Lectionary

3. Sermons for Nineveh Lent

4. Inspiration for Today

5. Featured: Nineveh Fast by HH Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas

6. The History of the Three Days Lent in Syriac Orthodox Church by Rev. Fr. Dr.
Biji Chirathilattu

7. "The God of the Second Chance" by Dr. Haddon Robinson

8. Three Days Lent - Are We Ready to Obey, Pray, Repent? by Cheriyan Vengal

9. Here am I, Lord, Send Me from Footprints Diary

10. The Way Back by Greg Laurie

11. About Malankara World

Please read this special supplement online at:
http://www.MalankaraWorld.com/Newsletter/MWNews_50.htm

In HIS Service

Dr. Jacob Mathew
Malankara World
http://www.MalankaraWorld.com/

Malankara World Journal
http://www.MalankaraWorld.com/Newsletter/

Hudson, Ohio
ID No: 956

Nineveh Convention 2012
January 30, 31, February 1st
from 6.30 PM Onwards
Venue:
Charles Ranson Hall
United Theological College
Bangalore

Organized by: Jacobite Syrian Christian Church Bangalore Diocese

H.E. Zacharias Mor Philexinose, Rev. Sam T Koshy, Fr. Jose Maniparambil giving
gospel messages.

Programme will be live telecasted on www.malankarasyriacvoice.com and
http://wwww.malankaravision.com from 6.30 pm IST onward

"I saw the snares that the enemy spreads out over the world and I said groaning,
"What can get through from such snares?" Then I heard a voice saying to me,
"Humility." "

St. Anthony the Great.

--------------------------------------------------------------

"If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you
will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." Matthew 19:21

Today with Jesus

Bible verse:   �Ruth  found herself working in a field that belonged to Boaz."
(Ruth 2:3)

Are you unemployed?  Try this:  Volunteering.

Volunteering  is  also one of the means to get you a job.  It will not fail you.
It is God�s command  to serve  and be happy. An extra hand  for others will 
train you for a trade, ease the work of others, helps the  beneficiary , 
happiness for the  giver, a role model for others  and ultimately a job at your
hand.   This is  the lesson Solomon taught us  by the  simile  of ants. And he 
learned from them  how  to  volunteer.

Ruth was a widow with no means of providing for herself and so,  she went into
the fields to collect the grains. She was not shy or afraid of admitting her
need  and was a sincere worker.  When Ruth went out to the fields, God provided
for her.  If you are waiting for God to provide, consider this: He may be
waiting for you to take the first step to demonstrate just how important your
need is. Her task, though menial, tiring and perhaps degrading, was done
faithfully.  Jesus calls us for volunteering in his ministry service.  The
harvest is ready but the workers are few.

Every  morning, Camille  Boudreau arrives before 8 at the door of the
kindergarten at Ecole Bois-Joli, a French school in a port city on the  east
Coast of Canada. She helps the toddlers by taking off their snowsuits, boots,
hats, scarves and mittens. She reminds the children to arrange their winter
clothes in their cubbies and helps them put on their indoor shoes. She helps
them tie their  laces, then leads them into the class room to read and draw. At
a  quarter past 9, Camille says goodbye, and goes off to her class room.  �She 
is so patient,� Sophie de Jong, the teacher, says of Camille.  Sometimes  I�m
exhausted and I feel like just ordering the kids around. But if a boy forgot to
hang up his coat Camille would just say, "Are you forgetting something? And he
will say, �Oh yeah, my coat.� And then Camille will say, "Good , let�s go tell
Mrs. Sophie how good you were."  The kids adore her. Camille says, "Yesterday, a
little boy took out  a little home-made flower from his knapsack and gave it to
me. I know they appreciate  that I am helping.�  When asked why she goes to the
kindergarten every morning when most kids her age are enjoying an extra hour of
sleep, she says, �well, that is easy. I really like to be with kids. Plus I want
to be teacher, and I know this will help me later when I try to get a job.�

Prayer:  Jesus,  let  us be volunteers like Camille.  There are millions in need
of our volunteering. Let us  be spirited and motivated by your spirit of
enthusiasm to work. Let more volunteers come for easing the  burden of teachers.
Let us have the mind to sacrifice our comforts like  enjoyment of more sleep for
the benefit of others.  All we ask in Jesus' name.  Amen.

Paulose Achen

Tuesday,  January 31st  2012
www.jerusalemchristianmission.com
vvapulose@...
001-647-852-9954

Prophet Jonah

We, the orthodox Christians, most commonly use the book of Jonah during the time
of the three day lent. The church fathers set the lent to cleanse the faithful
people from their sins through fasting and meditation to prepare them for
certain events during the year.  This three day lent is called the Nineveh Lent,
because it is formulated after the Book of Jonah.  The people of the great city
of Nineveh repented and converted to God through the message from Jonah the
prophet sent by God.  The three day lent is also a preparatory lent of the
believers before the Great lent.
The most unbelievable miracle in the Bible is the event when Jonah was in the
belly of a great fish for three days and nights.  The one who accepted that God
is the creator of the universe and nothing is impossible for Him. He has
dominion over His creation then they will believe Him even though it seems to be
unbelievable to human understanding or even unproven by any one.  God, the
creator, has power and with His command, the sea can make the waves rough and
high or make it calm.  The whales will obey its creator�s command, swallow a man
or vomit him. By God�s mighty power the impossible is possible to keep a man
alive in the belly of the whale for three days and three nights. Nothing is
impossible for God for there is no proof, only Faith is required.


THE BOOK OF JOHAH

  The book of Jonah in the Bible is considered as a minor prophetical book.  The
author is the prophet and the narrator unknown.  The time frame of this book�s
manuscript is about the fifth century B.C. according to scholars.  The Book of
Jonah comprises a total of 48 verses in four chapters.  The places that are
mentioned in the book include: Nineveh, Joppa, and Tarshish.

CITY OF NINEVEH

  Nineveh was the capital city of Assyria and it was one of the greatest cities
in the world.  About 400 miles from Mediterranean on the east bank of Tigris. 
The main city was built rounded with five walls of 100 feet high and three
canals in about thirty miles long and ten miles wide.  The gardens were very
beautiful and the fifteen gates of the city guarded by colossal lions and bulls.
The famous temple in the city was built in the form of the pyramid that
glittered in sunlight.  The city was great in wickedness as it was in wealth,
power, and intellectual attainments.

DISOBIDENCE OF JONAH

  Chapter one begins with God commanding Jonah to go to the city of Nineveh and
preach against the wickedness.  Jonah, a Jew, refused to preach salvation to the
gentile city of Nineveh, the Assyrian capital.  Jonah had two reasons for this,
one being that Jews did not have any association or dealings with the gentiles,
and also Assyria was the greatest enemy of the Israel nation.  Due to these
reasons, Jonah disobeyed God�s commandment and he fled to Tarshish.

THE WILL OF GOD PREVAILS

Jonah boarded a ship going to Tarshish and went in to the bottom of the ship
trying to hide from the presence of God and slept.  As a result, God sent out a
great wind that created a mighty storm in the sea and the ship began to sink. 
The captain and the crew were afraid and everyone started praying to their own
gods.  The crewmen were Gentiles, and they were aware that Jonah was a Jew and
asked him to pray.  Jonah acknowledged that this happened due to his
disobedience to God.   Jonah asked the captain to throw him overboard, and
stated that the sea will begin to calm.  Due to this incidence, the gentiles
prayed to the Lord and offered sacrifices.  God prepared a great fish (in my
opinion a great blue whale large enough to carry a man alive inside.  The whales
are as large as 110 feet or more in length and 400,000 lbs in weight or as big
as 30 elephants together) that swallowed Jonah and carried him inside for three
days and three nights. Jonah chapter 1.

  REPANTANCE OF JONAH

Just imagine being in side of a whale for three days and nights, in my opinion,
Jonah probably suffered. God was teaching him a lesson to learn that he is
helpless and he cannot die or live without the mercy of God. Inside the whale,
Jonah started praying, his repentance and confession about his disobedience to
the Lord. The merciful
God answered his prayer and asked the whale to vomit him onto the land.  As God
commanded, the whale vomited Jonah. Jonah chapter 2.

  JONAH�S PREACHING TO NINEVEH

The Lord asked Jonah to preach in Nineveh.  Now Jonah knew that he had to obey
God even though he had his reasoning�s before.  The salvation is for the Jew,
only the people of God not for the Gentiles. The City of Nineveh was a walking
distance of three days. .  He was supposed to walk three days towards the city
of Nineveh, but after the first day, he cried out to the people that in forty
days the city will be destroyed by God.  He had no compassion or mercy in his
speech to the people in the city of Nineveh.  He just followed the order of the
Lord even though he did not want to do so.

  SALVATION OF NINEVEH

  The ordinary citizens of Nineveh heard Jonah�s preaching and they began to
change from their wickedness and repent their sins.  The word reached the king,
and he proclaimed fasting for the whole nation. Everyone did the fasting and
prayer without any food or beverages. It started from the king�s palace, the
rich and poor, babies and even the animals.  The cry from the city reached to
the Lord and God had compassion on the city and changed His decision to destroy
the city and decided to save it.  Jonah chapter 3.

  JONAH�S DISPLEASURE TO GOD

  Jonah waited to see what would happen to the city.  When he discovered that God
had forgiven the people and did not destroy the city, Jonah was very angry at
God and he wished to be dead than to witness the salvation of gentile nation. 
In this Book, God was teaching Jonah about compassion towards others with the
example of a plant (gourd) and the worm.  Jonah had the compassion towards the
plant and it grew over night and died the next day by the worm.  God asked Jonah
why he could not be compassionate towards more than 120,000 people in the city
of Nineveh who could not distinguish between right and wrong. Jonah chapter 4.

  CONCLUSION

There is nothing impossible for God. With faith, only we can understand the
miracles of the Bible.  Moses divided the sea with his staff and made a passage
way for the Israelites during their journey to the Promised Land. Then why is it
not possible for Jonah to stay alive inside a whale?  Elijah was fed by a
mountain crow (1 Kings 17:4-5) and an angle and he cross the wilderness walking
without food or drinks for forty days (1 Kings 10:5-8).  When we believe God is
the creator of the universe, we can understand these things He has done.  Humans
cannot understand the mighty power of God because humans are human and God is
God.

Salvation is the gift of God and that He gives it to those who He pleases.  The
Book of Jonah gives us insight of forgiveness of sins by earnest repentance. 
Fasting and prayer is the means of the repentance. Jonah and Nineveh received
the salvation through the mercy of God which was earned by repentance.   With
our sins, we are also in the belly of a great whale in the sea.  The great whale
is Satan, and he swallowed us in our sins and he is in the sea of this world. 
The only way out of his belly and out of this sea is repentance.  The prayers,
meditation, and fasting of the three days lent, will strengthen our souls to
repent from our sins.  May the Lord�s mercy and salvation come upon us and take
us to the shore in which He has prepared for us.

May God bless all of us.

By: Very Rev. Joseph C. Joseph Corepiscopa

Dear Members
A new Facebook Page on our beloved Catholica Bava is created.
http://www.facebook.com/CatholicosBaseliusThomas
We will try to update the page with Bava's program, messages and news related to
Bava Thirumeni. Please Join in and promote.

In Our Lord's Love
SOCM Moderators

Regi - You will find the pdf of Perumpilly Thirumeni's edition (which I assume
is the one you are requesting) on the SOR site at

http://sor.cua.edu/Liturgy/Hasho/GFMal20050502.pdf

Regards,
Thomas
---
Thomas Joseph, Ph.D.
Tech. Editor, Hugoye: Journal of Syriac Studies [
http://bethmardutho.cua.edu/Hugoye/ ]
Web Master, Syriac Orthodox Resources [ http://sor.cua.edu/ ]
ID: 0202

--- In SOCM-FORUM@yahoogroups.com, Regi Kurian wrote:
>
> Dears,
>
> Kindly let me know where we will get or site details of transliterated version
of Hasha week prayers published by Seminary publication, Udayagiri,Vettical.
>
> regards
> Regi Kurian
> 4149
>

"Do you see how the Lord created our nature to enjoy free will? I mean, how did
it happen, tell me, that while those people showed enthusiasm for wickedness and
rendered themselves liable to punishment, this man [Noe] opted for virtue,
shunned association with those and thus felt no effect of punishment? Is it not
crystal clear that each person chose wickedness or virtue of his own volition?
You see, if that were not the case and independence did not have its roots in
our nature, those people would not have been punished nor the others receive
reward for their virtue. Since, however, everything has been allowed to remain
with our choice owing to grace from on high, punishment duly awaits the sinners,
and reward and recompense those who practice virtue."

St. John Chrysostom.

--------------------------------------------------------------

"Whoever has no rule over his own spirit Is like a city broken down, without
walls." Proverbs 25:28

Today with Jesus

Bible verse:   �You have so little faith,� Jesus said. �Why did you doubt
me?�(Mathew 14:31)

Faith Matters.

Faith comes from love is faith indeed.  Faith in fear is not faith at all. Most
of the people�s so called faith in God generates from the fear of life, life on
this earth � sickness, jobs, house, death etc.  Most of the prayer requests in
western countries come for the prayer for the sick and   for generates wealth.
This is the gospel of prosperity and is antithesis of Christian faith in Jesus
and his sharing of eternal resurrected bless. This kind of faith is wobbling and
fading at the faces of danger and difficulties.    Faith in God in love   
clears us from the fears of life and bumps in it. The shouts   of His people
(Believers) at the face of terrifying waves of life are heard and saved by God.
But not the unbelievers or faithless. Love is the basic ingredient for a long
standing faith.  Faith out of fear has no locus stand.

�There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to
do with punishment. The one who fears is not made of perfect love.�(1 John 4:18)
The faith in love sometimes has darkest periods and doubts but that is not
unnatural. From out of that pit of darkness God will save them when they call in
distress. When Peter�s faith faltered, he reached out to Christ, the only one
who could help. He was afraid, but he still looked to Christ. When you are
apprehensible about the troubles around you and doubt Christ�s presence or
ability to help, remember that he is always with you and is the only one who can
help you. But it is doubtful to get anything without faith in love. So we do
have faith in love as an anchor in this shaking world.

An old Joke

An atheist is swimming in the ocean when he sees the fin of a great white shark.
In desperation he screams, �God save me.� A voice from heaven, �Why should I
save you? You don�t believe in me.� The atheist has an idea. �May be you can get
the shark to believe in you. � Very well� The Heaven close again, and suddenly
the shark is heading straight for the Atheist. All of a sudden the shark stops
and puts its fins together. It begins to pray. The Atheist is amazed. �It
worked. This shark believes in God.� Just then he hears the shark muttering, �Oh
Lord, make us thankful for the food we are about to receive.�

Prayer: Jesus, let us have the unwavering spirit of faith in you. We pray for
those who are in the edge of the fears of life to have your loving compassion
and love to save them from all their fears. Don�t close your eyes when we are in
danger. Hear all our cry from your compassionate throne and save us. Let us have
faith in you for your love. All we ask in Jesus' name.  Amen.

Paulose Achen
Wednesday 1 Feb  2012

ABOUT THE FAST OF NINEVEH

The fast of Jonah is a fast that is practiced by the Syriac Orthodox Church from
ancient days. Based on that, our church chose it at the time of Pope Abraam, the
62nd Pope of Alexandria. This fast was organized by the fathers of the church as
a sign of their love and unity in the orthodox faith. The church accepted it
without change. It is well known that Pope Abraam is the person responsible for
moving the Mokatam mountain.

This fast is practiced by the church for the following reasons:

To resemble the people of Nineveh, who have been warned by God that their city
would be destroyed in forty days. He gave this warning through His prophet
Jonah, and they fasted with real eagerness, crying to God that He would have
mercy on them and forgive them, so God forgave them. And that is why we fast for
three days, in preparation for the blessings and mercy of God.

In order to remember the mercy of God and His compassion towards sinners.

The church fasts for three days in order to remember the prophet Jonah and his
being in the belly of the whale for three days and three nights. We also fast
this fast because we see an example of a similar one in the New Testament, when
the multitudes, which followed Jesus, fasted for three days before He fed them
(Matthew 15:32).

This fast comes after Epiphany (or Theophany) and before the Great Lent. This is
why the church treats it with the same order as the Great Lent.

MAY THE BLESSINGS OF THIS FAST BE WITH ALL OF US. AMEN.

George Andraws
Member of Holy Coptic Orthodox Church
===========================================================

The Story ofJONAH

These days the church is preparing to start Jonah's Fast or the Fast of Nineveh.
This fast is known to be the fast of repentance, humility and the return to God.
This is why many of the young and old in the church hold fast to this specific
fast and abstain totally from food and drink for long periods of time, some even
abstain for three continuous days. Thus, the church considers this fast to be
one of the fasts of the first degree, similar to the fasts of Lent and Wednesday
and Friday.

The primary message of the book is clearly that God's interest and mercy extend
far beyond the Jews to the human race. This reminds us of the story of the child
who asked his teacher the question "was Jesus white or black?" According to the
story, the teacher replied that He was born with a fair complexion, but the
strong sun of Israel tanned him dark. In the book of Jonah, we see how God was
concerned not only for the Jews, but for the Gentiles too.

INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF JONAH

Even though the book of Jonah is only four chapters, it is considered one of the
special books of the Bible since it combines the prophetic element with the
historical element. When we examine this book, we find ourselves considering
many deep spiritual meanings.

WHO IS JONAH ?

Jona or Jonas is the Syriac and Hebrew dialect version of the Hebrew name Jonah
meaning "dove". Jonah, the prophet son of Amittai, from the tribe of Zebulon
(Joshua 19:10), came from the city of Gath-hepher located about 3 miles away
from Nazareth. It is said that he is the son of the widow of Zerephath (1 Kings
17:17-24) who was raised from the dead. Some critics have attacked the story of
Jonah as a symbolic story but the words of the Lord Jesus indicate the literal
interpretation of this book: "This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and
there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet... The men of
Nineveh shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn
it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than
Jonas is here" (Luke 11:29-32).

Let us study certain aspects of Jonah's Life:

1. Jonah the Stubborn

This book unveils to us, from its beginning, the details revolving around the
sin of disobedience, for Jonah has sinned and he is the prophet of God. This is
why the waters are salty and bitter, and his needs are very great. Furthermore,
the water is filled with rocks. Every problem under these circumstances is
enough to end a person's life. He becomes counted as one of the dead, but when
he finds himself in the belly of the great fish, he discovers that he is
surrounded by a river that has sweet water, not by waves or any danger of
drowning or dying. That is how we experience the work of our wonderful God to
whom we pray to in the Holy Liturgy of St. Gregory, saying "You have changed my
punishment to salvation."

The most beautiful thing in Jonah's praise to God is that it's full of hope and
confidence in God's response to his requests. That is why we find him saying
"out of the belly of hell cried I and thou heardest my voice" (Jonah 2:2).

Jonah says in confidence "yet I will look again toward thy holy temple" (Jonah
2:4). And we see him also saying "yet hast thou brought out my life from
corruption, O Lord my God" (Jonah 2:6). Therefore, we find that there is a
difference between the person who prays, simply to say words, and the person who
prays in faith, finding that God calls us saying all that you ask in prayer and
faith you will receive. God also says "If ye have faith as a grain of mustard
seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place and it shall
remove" (Matthew 17:20).

The Bible emphasizes that all are weak. Therefore, we see that Abraham, the
friend and companion of God, falling into the sin of lying and David, whose
heart is with the Lord, falling into the sin of adultery and murder. We observe
the loving Peter, who is one of the apostles, denying our Lord Jesus. In spite
of all this, God remains loving. Just as we describe him in the Holy Liturgy
"Thou hast changed my punishment to salvation."

Jonah appears in his disobedient attitude in many instances such as God's direct
invitation to his saying: "Rise and go to Nineveh." Then God speaks to him
through a mighty wind and this is a method that God uses to talk to us in that
He allows us to go through trials and tribulations so that the person can wake
up. But, Jonah goes to the bottom of the ship to sleep. God also speaks to him
through the innocent sailors who, when faced with trials and tribulations, call
each one to his Lord. Jonah's heart is still unmoved, on the contrary, he
increases his sleep and finally the Lord sends him the captain of the ship to
ask him to call on his God. Instead of remembering the voice of God saying:
"Call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify
me" (Psalm 50:15), Jonah refuses the captain's request. Finally, the sailors
cast lots to see who is responsible for this evil. The lot falls on Jonah and he
is sentenced to death because he confesses. "For the men know that he fled from
the presence of the Lord, because he had told them" (Jonah 1:10).

These circumstances often happen with us since God talks to us in many ways. We
refuse to listen because we are searching for comfort for our bodies or sleep,
or that we are preoccupied with many things and forget to respond and that each
one of us should get up and pray to his God. "Behold, I stand at the door and
knock..."

2. The Praying Jonah

Jonah is thrown in the sea and is considered dead. When he reach the stage of
death, Jonah finally arrives at the stage where he is praising and giving thanks
to Him. He does this in the belly of the great fish. All through the previous
stages, Jonah did not see God or hear his voice, but now he begins to see God.
Jonah starts to say with Job: I heard of Thee, but now my eyes have seen you.
Also like the three youths who saw God in the midst of the burning fire and just
as Daniel the prophet who enjoyed a visit by an angel of the Lord in the midst
of the lion's den. In just the same way Jonah starts to speak to God. He talks
to God about His love and His protection for him. As if Jonah is telling the
Lord how the people have condemned him by throwing him in the dangerous sea.

3. Jonah Warning the People

After the whale has thrown Jonah onto the land, Jonah goes to the city of
Nineveh according to the order of the Lord as it was given to him a second time.
"Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that
I bid thee" (Jonah 3:2). We find that Jonah carries the message to the city of
Nineveh and says to them "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown"
(Jonah 3:4).

Instead of Jonah talking to the Ninevites about the God who loves the salvation
of all, has gentleness, compassion, love, mercy and motivates us to repent, he
preaches about the angry God, the vengeful God and the powerful God. Here we see
the personality of Jonah who does the work of God with a mild attitude and
instead of going all over the city for three days, he goes in one day and that
is sufficient for him...

In general, there are many instances in which we lock out the picture of a
loving God. Even worse is when we forget many times the work of God within us
and we revert to our stubbornness and disobedience once again. Very often, we do
the work of God with loose hands, but, in spite of this, God still works in our
souls and hearts

We must realize that we are responsible for witnessing to others as our Lord
Jesus Christ said: "Ye are the light of the world." And again, "Let your light
so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father
which is in heaven" (Matthew 5:14, 16). We must live the life of continuous
thanksgiving "in every condition, for every condition and in whatever condition"
and thank the Lord for his great mercy towards us. Remembering always that
"cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord deceitfully (Jeremiah 48:10) and
"those that seek me early shall find me" (Proverbs 8:17).

4. Jonah the Rebellious

Here we see Jonah the prophet after he has glorified God and God prepared to do
His evangelizing and work through Jonah's weakness. Therefore, God has become
fruitful through Jonah so as to show him that He is a powerful God, and can save
with little or with much. God wants to show us that "neither is he that planteth
any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase" (1
Corinthians 3:7). We notice that the people of Nineveh have fasted, have worn
sackcloth from the youngest to the oldest, they have called to God and each one
has repented of his or her evil ways. God responds to their repentance, since it
is the most important thing that moves the heart of God towards mankind. "God
saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the
evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not" (Jonah
3:10).

Therefore it is proclaimed, from the beginning, that God's heart moves from the
repentance of sinners. This is evident in the parable of the lost sheep where
God leaves the 99 sheep to search for the one lost sheep. God leaves His chosen
people and He goes, assisted by Jonah, to look for the lost sheep, which is the
city of Nineveh. Just like how God leaves the 9 coins and lights up the candles
and sweeps the whole house in order to find the lost coin. Other parables also
point this out to us, like the parable of the prodigal son, where the father did
not ask anything of his son, but gave him everything simply because he had
returned to his father's house. This is the God that Jonah proclaims when he
says "for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and
of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil" (Jonah 4:2).

In general, the characteristics that angered Jonah from God were that He was
merciful and slow to anger. It is by this wonderful love, which God uses towards
all of us, that He produced the gourd to grow and shadow Jonah's head from the
sun. Then the Lord sent a worm to wither the gourd, an eastern hot wind and
again the sun beat upon Jonah. God did all of this so that He would move the
heart of Jonah a second time in order to remove the anger and weakness and
replace it with joy in the work for His glory. It is within this context that we
remember the words of our teacher St. Paul when he said that it is the
long-suffering of God that gives us the ability to be led towards repentance.
St. Jerome sees that the secret of Jonah's unhappiness is not the saving of the
people of Nineveh, but Jonah's realization of the unfaithfulness and
unthankfulness of His own people the Jews.

LESSONS FROM THE BOOK OF JONAH

1. God Wants the Individual and the Group

The title of this book refers to the people of Nineveh, but the book itself
talks about God who seeks for the salvation, repentance and return of His
people. In doing that, God uses many methods in order to arrive at the end that
He has in mind which is the salvation of the people of Nineveh, Jonah and even
any strangers such as the pagan sailors on the ship.

2. God Uses Nature for the Salvation of Man

Here we see, throughout the whole book, the natures of God and man. Man who is
disobedient and rebellious and God who uses the sea, wind, waves, gourd, eastern
wind and hot sun, which all work towards one goal - the good of man. It is for
this reason that we see God at the beginning, preparing paradise and then
creating man to be lord over it. In just the same way, God uses nature at the
time of Noah and to free His chosen people from their slavery under Pharaoh. He
also used animals to warn the prophet Baam, through a talking donkey (like Mr.
Ed). In just the same way, we see the prophet David saying "The heavens declare
the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork" (psalm 19:1). And
again "Praise ye him, sun and moon... Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye
waters that be above the heavens" (psalm 148:3,4).

3. The Intense Care that God Has for His Children

God cares for His children even at the time of their rebelliousness and evil.
That is why we find God's promises towards his children truly marvelous. "Can a
woman forget her sucking child... they may forget, yet will I not forget thee"
(Isaiah 49:15). "But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered" (Luke
12:7). "For he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his (God's) eye"
(Zechariah 2:8). All these promises we find fulfilled in the person of Jonah
even when he was under the sin of disobedience. That is why St. Paul talks about
God being faithful even when we are unfaithful. He cares for His children
irrespective of their condition, appearance, or the circumstances under which
they live. That is why David talks about this heavenly care as he experienced
it: "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want" (Psalm 23:1). David also says "I
have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor
his seed begging bread" (Psalm 37:25). This is God and we are His children.

4. Jonah a Symbolical Representation of Jesus

Here we find many points, some of which are the following:

A. The book of Jonah is a message intended for people to understand that
repentance is important. In just the same way, Jesus came carrying a message to
the world: "Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand."

B. Jonah goes into the ship, and Jesus Christ goes into the alter. Jonah is
condemned to death by the sailors, and Jesus Christ is condemned to death by the
high priests or the people who existed in the temple at that time

C. Jonah is thrown in the sea and we find him discovering the river around him.
Jesus Christ came for the salvation of the whole world.

D. Jonah remains in the whale for three days and while there, he cries out and
talks to God. Jesus Christ dies and goes into the tomb, remaining there three
days. During those three days, He goes down to Hades and takes with Him all
those who have slept, with the hope that He would take them back with Him into
paradise.

E. We must not forget that Jonah was part of Jesus' family tree and thus Jesus
literally became the son of Jonah

written by : unknown
edited & submitted by
George Andraws

Earthly Disparity and Spiritual Unity

Divisions among humankind have been part of recorded history from the
beginning. Life on earth is fraught with real physical dangers. It is part of
the animal world to join together for security and even prosperity.

Unity in Christ is of a higher realm. Joining together in spirit cannot be done
for animal reasons. In this week's sermon, Fr John Brian discusses spiritual
unity and church oneness as well as the disparities that appears in this world.

This sermon uses and refers to scripture readings appointed by the Syrian
Malankara calendar and was given on Sunday, January 29, 2012 by Fr. John-Brian
Paprock at Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Mission Chapel, Madison, Wisconsin.

This is a particularly important time for our mission - please pray for us and
let us know your support. This year has great potential and we need your
spiritual and earthly encouragement and support. Thank you in advance for your
kindness and considerations.

PODCAST OR DOWNLOAD: http://feeds.feedburner.com/frjohnbrian or
http://frjohnbrian.hipcast.com/rss/spiritual_reflections_or_fr_john_brian.xml
LISTEN ON-LINE HERE:
http://frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2012/01/earthly-disparity-and-spiritual-unity.htm\
l

The Malankara World Journal Ma'altho Special Supplement (No. 51, February 1,
2012) is now available online at:

http://www.MalankaraWorld.com/Newsletter/MWNews_51.htm

This is a special edition of Malankara World Journal to commemorate the feast of
Ma'altho (Presentation of Jesus at the Temple). Thge church celebrates Ma'altho
on February 2.

When we thought that the Christmas was all over and Jesus was well into his
public ministry, here comes another feast related to the early childhood of
Jesus Christ. February 2 is celebrated as Ma'altho (Mayaltho - Presentation of
Jesus at the Temple). Jewish custom required that all the firstborn sons be
brought into the temple on the 40th day. This is also the time for purification.

This feast is very important for the church and so it is celebrated on the
actual date (February 2 - 40 days after December 25) similar to Annunciation,
for example, that is always celebrated on March 25. We have provided
comprehensive coverage for this feast in our Sermons/Commentaries section in
Malankara World where you can read different perspectives on the importance of
this festival. Let me summarize the key points here:

1. Jesus was brought up as an young Jew following all the rules, commandments
and Mosaic Laws. He was circumcised when he was 8 days old according to the
Abrahamic Covenant. He was named Jesus, the name given by the angel before he
was conceived in the womb.

Jesus was taken to the temple when he was 40 days old for the prescribed
purification (Ex. 13:2, 12). They offered a sacrifice according to what is said
in the Law, "a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons."

Thus, Jesus showed his full humanity when he was a child following all the
things a human child will undergo, as prescribed in the law.

2. Jesus was raised by two average, ordinary people, Joseph and Mary. They were
very poor. He was an ordinary child when he was young. This, of course, follows
the theme of bible, 'God uses ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary
things.'

3. During the purification ceremony, we see the first public testament to the
divinity of Jesus (after the angelic and wise men's testimony when Jesus was
born). Two elderly saints, Simeon and Anna, testified the baby as the
long-awaited Messiah. Torah required that multiple witnesses are required to
provide legitimacy to a testament:

     "A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for
any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the
evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established. "
Deut. 19:15

Luke points out that, indeed, two witnesses testified to the Messianic status of
Jesus. These witnesses were godly, faithful people. They were part of remnant
Israel, those waiting for God's Messiah. No one could challenge the dedication
and spirituality of Simeon and Anna.

4. Today's Gospel reading also brings to light an important quality God expects
us to have. That is the virtue of patience. Simeon and Anna waited many years to
see the face of the savior. Their wait paid off. Good things await those who
wait patiently. When Joseph and Mary brought Jesus to the temple, they were just
two ordinary people bringing an ordinary child, from all external appearances.
There were virtually hundreds of people at the Temple mount offering sacrifices
and worshipping at that time. None of them saw anything special about Jesus. But
Simeon and Anna recognized Jesus immediately. It was the work of the Holy
Spirit, a reward for their unquestionable faith and patience.

We go to church every Sunday. We participate in Qurbana (some people watch and
some people take part.). Do we see just bread and wine or do we see the Body and
Blood of our savior in the Holy Mysteries? For those who patiently prays and
waits like Simeon and Anna, good things happen.

We soon will embark on the Big Lent and participate in the Crucifixion, Death,
Burial and Resurrection of our savior. Reflect on the meanings of sacraments and
liturgy. May be we can also sing with Simeon, "Nunc Dimittus:"

"Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word."

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Table of Contents: Malankara World Journal Issue 51

1. Editor's Note

2. Bible Readings for Ma'altho

3. Sermons for Ma'altho
     24 sermons, bible commentaries, homilies and Gospel analyses in Malankara
World based on today's Gospel reading.

4. Inspiration for Today-Simeon's Song
     The church historically knows this psalm as the Nunc Dimittus, the Latin
translations of the first two words, 'Now dismiss....'

5. Featured: Simeon and Anna - Gospel Analysis by Edward F. Markquart
     Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, "This child is destined for
the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be
opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed�and a sword will
pierce your own soul too." Simeon had a specific word or prophecy for the
mother, Mary. Simeon wanted Mary to know that her baby Jesus would grow up to be
a sign that will be opposed by many in Israel.

6. The Lord Has Come! The Song of Simeon by Marvin A. McMickle
     What kind of faith does it take to see through the exterior appearance of a
person, and to see beyond the social class into which they were born, and to
recognize within them that spark placed there by nothing less than the hand of
God himself? How many other people must have been in the Temple that day, and
yet when Simeon spoke there is no record that the others who were there, the
priests, the Pharisees, the other worshipers stopped what they were doing and
came to worship the child that Simeon had just declared to be the long-awaited
Messiah.

7. Why did Jesus Christ come?
    Jesus came to help people with a past put that past behind them. Salvation is
rescue from the past. You can't do this on your own. You need a Savior. What is
for certain about the past? Jesus rescues you from your bondage to past sin.

8. Seeking the Savior by Max Lucado
     One Incredible Savior: Don�t be satisfied with angels. Don�t be content with
stars in the sky. Seek him out as the shepherds did. Long for him as Simeon did.
Worship him as the wise men did�.Risk whatever it takes to see Christ.

9. About Malankara World

Please read this special supplement online at:
http://www.MalankaraWorld.com/Newsletter/MWNews_51.htm

In HIS Service

Dr. Jacob Mathew
Malankara World
http://www.MalankaraWorld.com/

Malankara World Journal
http://www.MalankaraWorld.com/Newsletter/

Hudson, Ohio
ID No: 956

Mrs. Ammini Paul , wife of Mr. P.A. Paul ( Ex Senior
VicePresident,SIEMENS and Ex BSNL Officer) died at her residence today
(01.02.2012) early morning. She was suffering from cancer ailment and
was terminally ill for last couple of weeks.

Mr. P A Paul had served as Trustee at St Peters JSS Church. Ammini
aunty as she was affectionately called was an active member of our
church.

She was the Sunday school teacher for Class I at St Peters church and
her affectionate and caring ways prompted toddlers of many generations
to initiate the Sunday school study. Members of St PetersJSSC fondly
remember her for the classes she took for the lower classes and that
includes me too. She was key in paving the foundation to the spiritual
basis for many people. She didnt limit her activities to her native
parish, but undertook the same effort for our Church in which all
places she could go as part of her husband's official work. She was
active in Dubai church, various churches in North India and also at
our parishes in Australia.I am sure members of all these parishes
cannot forget this great lady

A valiant and spiritual fighter for our Church and its spiritual
cause, she led a truly Christian life in all its meaning.

She was fortunate to recieve the Holy Unction last Sunday and breathed
her last today early morning.

Funeral is scheduled on Feb 3rd Friday at 11 AM

Tearful adieu

May her soul rest in peace

Dn. Paul
No. 172