Once again, we approach the Prison Ministry Sunday; a Sunday set apart for great awareness of our brethren behind the bars. Let this Sunday give to all people an opportunity to explore pastoral and human care of all incarcerated, their family and victims all over India. Let the volunteers about 6000 people all throughout country proclaim that we are not alone, we shall feel united, encouraged and equipped and more committed, more than ever to share God’s love and restore justice. We shall proclaim to our brethren from the mountain top that they are not alone in their incarceration, pain, prayers, and their endeavors to be renewed persons.
Once Jesus was invited for a meal at the home of one of the leading Pharisees Jesus noticed that the Pharisees ‘s main concern was to be great by calling the great people. He was under the impression that he can be great by doing the big things of this world. But Jesus told that your wealth, your name, praise singers do not make you great in front of God. The Bible never depict them as great rather it reiterates as rich fools. Jesus said to his listeners, when you give a dinner, do not invite people who can give you back but call the poor, the crippled, lame, and the blind, ie. the least, last and lost of our society who cannot give back to you.
Jesus exhorts that your life itself is a great meal. You are the host and you have to spare your life for others. You have to celebrate your life as a meal for many who are those guests for the dinner? Jesus has given us the list of those people. “I was hungry and you feed me, thirsty and you gave me a drink: I was a stranger and you received me in your homes, naked and you clothed me: I was sick and you visited me”.
YOU have to spare your life for the people in the list. You have many people as models who celebrated their lives for the listed people. St. maxiMillian Kolbe, Bl. Mother Theresa, Fr. Damien,St. Alphonsa, Graham Stain, Sr. Rani Maria are some of them. Further you have to give not only what you have but your life itself. You have to give to all these who are in need of you. When you are busy with things of this world, do not forget people in your side ways. Jesus could see the blind man on the side of road as he moves along with multitude. Your office work, your straining and stress do not give you exception from these responsibilities. Sometimes you may feel that least, lost, and lost are the interference in your smooth way to highness of your life. But understand that they are the great treasures hidden in fields. All these things you thought as interruption, in your way to greatness, all disturbances and inconveniences in your smooth way, they are our ministries, our great, lasting episodes in the good news of Jesus Christ today.
In order to celebrate your life, God has endowed you with freedom. Celebrate your freedom for the freedom of many. You may think that by sharing your life you will lose or finishes your wealth and life. No! This is the teaching of this world. The gospel tells us that you will be blessed in hundred fold when you give. God gives back even for a glass of water. When a child gave five loaves of bread and two fishes, it was multiplied in to food for more than 5000 people. Since you are not ready to share your wealth, time, health and so on, many of the people are not blessed through you.
let your life and freedom be celebrated as a meal for many. There are many who wait to share with you, Jesus is also waiting to share with you. Whenever you do this for one of the least important member of my family, you do it for me.
May I take this occasion to express my heartfelt gratitude to all the volunteers and benefactors of Prison Ministry India for the prayers, and support for the brethren behind bars. Let Mother Mary, Our mother and St. Maximillan Kolbe, our patron be with us to intercede for us all before the God.
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