DEATH, THE FRIEND

There is a story about a person who was afraid of death. He spent a long period in prayer and penance to please God. Then God appeared before him in a dream and asked his wish. He prayed to deliver him from death. God answered that death was inevitable for man and so this prayer could not be granted. He then requested God to give him a clear warning before his death. God agreed and vanished. Overjoyed, he started to lead a life of leisure and sinful pleasures, hoping to turn to God as soon as God issues a warning about impending death. In course of time, his hair became grey, skin got wrinkled, health deteriorated and his teeth were lost. Still he continued his sinful ways.


Finally at the moment of death, he had a vision of God, ready to declare his death and judge his deeds. The man complained, "Why didn't you warn me earlier? You have not kept your word!" God replied, "I gave you a series of warnings - your greying hair, wrinkling skin, failing health and falling teeth were the warning signals of an imminent end. But you ignored the warnings. Now you have to meet your fate."


Death often appears unexpectedly. At every moment of life, we must be prepared and ready to meet and greet death as a friend.

"You fool! This very night you will have to give up your life: then who will get all these things you have kept for yourself?"{Luke 12:20}. Let us save our riches in heaven. {Luke 12:33}

By: Dr. Babu Philip, Professor, Cochin University of Science & Technology, Fine Arts Avenue, Kochi-682016, Kerala, India. For more moral stories, parables and anecdotes for students, catechists, teachers and preachers, kindly visit the web-site: http://www.moralstorieschristian.blogspot.com

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POWER OF PROVIDENCE

Once upon a time, following a shipwreck, one of the crew managed to hold on to a wooden remnant of the ship and was washed ashore a desolate island. He stayed there for many months expecting a rescue by some other ship. He built a tent and started a new way of life. Most of the time he reached the beach and looked for signs of help from an approaching ship. He prayed fervently but his prayers were not answered for a long period. One day, feeling much depressed and disgusted, he stood at the beach, as usual, inspecting the horizon, expecting the appearance of a ship as an answer to his prayers. Suddenly, to his horror, he found that his tent was on fire. He rushed to the scene but was helpless. He cursed God and his fate, as his last possessions were lost in the fire. He returned to the beach, ready to commit suicide in the ocean. As he entered the water, he could see the flag of a distant ship. A boat was fast approaching him. The sailors arrived and rescued him. Back in the ship, he asked the captain how they could learn about his plight. The captain said, "We saw the fire and the smoke rising from that island. We sent the boat expecting some one there."


It was only then that he realized that God's ways are mysterious. He felt sorry for cursing God for letting his only possessions catch fire. He realized that the fire was God's signal to the sailors in a distant ship. He learned to trust His lasting love.

"I alone know the plans I have for you, plans to bring you prosperity and not disaster, plans to bring about the future you hope for." {Jeremiah 29:11}

By: Dr. Babu Philip, Professor, Cochin University of Science & Technology, Fine Arts Avenue, Kochi-682016, Kerala, India.
For more moral stories, parables and anecdotes for students, catechists, teachers and preachers, kindly visit the web-site: http://www.moralstorieschristian.blogspot.com

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EAGLETS' SCHOOL

The eagle is used as a model in the Bible to teach God's loving care for man. The eagle is a symbol of authority, beauty, care and strength. It has several unique features and practices. The female eagle chooses her mate only after he succeeds in a test of skill to recover the stick she drops down from different altitudes. This skill is essential in teaching the eaglets to fly. Eagles are completely committed to their mates and remain together till death.

After marriage, the eagle-couple work together and build a nest at a high altitude, inaccessible to other birds. The eggs are laid on soft and warm bedding. She pulls out soft fur from her own breast to adorn the bed. The baby eaglets enjoy the fine rest in the nice nest. When the eaglets reach a suitable age, the mother, with her wings as a broom sweeps out the soft things from the nest to make it hard. Later the eaglet is carried out of the nest, resting on her wide wings, into the open air. Without a notice, she flips over and drops the eaglet free in the air. The eaglet tries its best to fly and stay in the air. The father watches the training with deep concern. If an eaglet falls down tired, the father will quickly fly down and support it on its wings before it hits the ground. Gradually the training succeeds and the eaglets learn to fly and live independently.

God, like the eagle, may stir our nest and remove the comforts. He may drop us so that we may learn to survive. We need not fear as He is always near, ready to support us in every fall. The parable of the eagle teaches us to face the trials of life with firm faith in God's infinite love and mercy {Hebrews 12:6-11}, {Proverbs 3:11,12}, {Job 5:17,18}.

In the song of Moses recited to the Israelites {Deuteronomy 32:11}, we read, "Like an eagle teaching its young to fly, catching them safely on its spreading wings, the Lord kept Israel from falling."

By: Dr. Babu Philip, Professor, Cochin University of Science & Technology, Fine Arts Avenue, Kochi-682016, Kerala, India.
For more moral stories, parables and anecdotes for students, catechists, teachers and preachers, kindly visit the web-site: http://www.moralstorieschristian.blogspot.com

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AN ELEGANT ESCAPE

One day an old dog fell down into a barren well. The animal cried aloud. Its owner heard the cry but decided to abandon the dog, as it was very old and sick. The well was useless and so he decided to fill it with mud and bury the dog alive. His children and some workers came to his help. They began to shovel dirt into the well.
When each shovelful of dirt fell on his back, the dog would shake it off and take a step up. They continued to shovel dirt on top of the dog at maximum speed. But the dog continued to shake off the dirt and rise up from the well step by step. Soon, everyone was amazed as the dog stepped up over the edge of the well and happily reached his master, wagging his tail affectionately. The man felt very sorry for trying to bury his loving pet.

The smart dog teaches us a good lesson. In life, troubles, suffering and failures may fall on us like the dirt that fell on the dog. Let us not worry about them or feel hopeless. We should not let the troubles defeat us or bury us. We must shake them off and rise to the top, step by step, using every failure as a stepping-stone. Let us trust in God who will guide us through all our problems. A poet teaches the difference between pessimism and optimism thus:

"Two men looked out from prison bars;

One saw mud; the other saw stars."

Let us choose to look up to Heaven and rejoice in the Lord!

St. Paul advises, "Don't worry about anything, but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking Him with a thankful heart" {Philippians 4:6}.

By: Dr. Babu Philip, Professor, Cochin University of Science & Technology, Fine Arts Avenue, Kochi-682016, Kerala, India. For more moral stories, parables and anecdotes for students, catechists, teachers and preachers, kindly visit the web-site: http://www.moralstorieschristian.blogspot.com

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THE SEVENTH WORD FROM THE CROSS

The seventh and last word of Jesus from the Cross was: "Father! In your hands I place my spirit!" {Luke 23:46}. This word symbolizes His entrance into Heaven and is addressed to His Heavenly Father to whom He returns after the successful completion of His sacred sacrifice for the redemption of man. With these words He surrendered His spirit to His Heavenly Father and His body to His beloved Mother who was standing with tearful eyes near the Cross.

These last words of Jesus were foretold in the Psalms, "I place myself in your care. You will save me, Lord; you are a faithful God" {Psalms 31: 5}. Prophet Isaiah had foretold in detail the Passion of 'the suffering servant' {Isaiah 52:13 to 53:12}. The last word of Jesus from the Cross, like the first, was a prayer addressed to His Father. It marked the perfect fulfilment of His mission as man for the redemption of man. He is the Lord of life and death. Hence He gave His life to the Father as a total surrender to the will of the Father.

In the early days of human history, Cain killed his brother, Abel. It is believed that Adam found the dead body of Abel and carried him to Eve and laid him on her lap. They witnessed the first death on earth, the consequence of their first sin. Here, the new Abel, Christ is put to death by His jealous brothers. Soon, His silent body will be laid on the lap of the new Eve, Holy Mary.

The death of Jesus was accompanied by violent reactions in nature- "The curtain hanging in the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split apart, the graves broke open, and many of God's people who had died were raised to life" {Matthew 27: 51, 52}.

The seventh word is a declaration of His entrance into Heaven - a return to His glory after shedding even the last drop of His precious blood for the redemption of man. Jesus is the living and immortal God. He took birth as man, lived and died to give life to mortal man. Jesus had taught us, "The greatest love a person can have for his friends is to give his life for them" {John 15: 13}. He performed what He preached. On this Good Friday, the Lamb of God was slain and all the prophecies were fulfilled. Let us praise Him and thank Him.

By: Dr. Babu Philip, Professor, Cochin University of Science & Technology, Fine Arts Avenue, Kochi-682016, Kerala, India. For more moral stories, parables and anecdotes for students, catechists, teachers and preachers, kindly visit the web-site: http://www.moralstorieschristian.blogspot.com

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THE FOURTH WORD FROM THE CROSS

"My God, My God, why did you abandon me?"{Matthew 27: 46, Mark 15: 34}. These words were uttered by Jesus from the Cross when a mysterious darkness covered the earth at noon on the first Good Friday. He saw the darkness of man's sin, and experienced the spiritual effect of sin, a separation from God. Jesus felt that for a moment he was abandoned by his Father. This experience of solitude, an apparent abandonment by God, enabled Jesus to bear the burden of man's sin as He was "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" {John 1: 29}. The words of Jesus symbolize the agony of those who are in loneliness, apparently abandoned by God. Here Jesus acts as a mediator for sinners.


These words were foretold by David in his 'cry of anguish' in the Psalms which prophetically refer to His agony on the cross. {Psalms 22:1-21}. The darkness at noon was predicted by prophet Amos, "The time is coming when I will make the sun go down at noon and the earth grow dark in daytime. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken. I will turn your festivals into funerals and change your glad songs into cries of grief" {Amos 8: 9, 10}.

This is the fourth and central word of Jesus from the Cross. Jesus bears the burden of all the sins of humanity, and lives the complete human experience of a sinner separated from God, an experience of descending into a hell of horror, to free us from the clutches of sin. It is by His death that we are redeemed. The Divine nature of Jesus cannot be separated from his human nature, but He willed a withdrawal of His Father's face and all Divine consolation to suffer voluntarily in His human nature the spiritual effects and extreme penalty of sin committed by the whole humanity - that is loneliness or a sense of abandonment or rejection by God. His soul filled with loneliness as His eyes felt the darkness. He acted as a mediator for sinful humanity. The physical agony of crucifixion was insignificant when compared to the mental agony which He took upon Himself.

Archbishop Fulton. J. Sheen remarked, "Christ's cry was of the abandonment which He felt standing in a sinner's place, but it was not of despair. The soul that despairs never cries to God. This emptiness of humanity through sin, though He felt it as His own, was nevertheless spoken with a loud voice to indicate not despair, but rather hope that the sun would rise again and scatter the darkness { 'Life of Christ', St. Paul Publications }."

By: Dr. Babu Philip, Professor, Cochin University of Science & Technology, Fine Arts Avenue, Kochi-682016, Kerala, India. For more moral stories, parables and anecdotes for students, catechists, teachers and preachers, kindly visit the web-site: http://www.moralstorieschristian.blogspot.com

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THE SIXTH WORD FROM THE CROSS

The sixth word of Jesus from the Cross, "It is finished" {John 19: 30} is a word of victory, declaring the successful completion of His worldly mission. It is a cry of joy and a farewell to the world. He accepted death not as a 'fate' but as a 'deed' by obediently surrendering to the will of His Father. It marked the end of His mission as man. God displayed His infinite love to man by the acts of creation, revelation and redemption. Through this word, Jesus states that His life as man was completed by faithfully fulfilling what His Heavenly Father had willed and had entrusted to Him. All the prophecies have been fulfilled in Him.


In His infinite mercy, God willed to restore man to his original glory. Our 'Fall' resulted when the disobedient Adam and the proud Eve disobeyed God at the tree of Eden. Jesus, the obedient new Adam, accompanied by the humble Virgin Mary, the second Eve, completed the redemption of man at the tree of the Cross. The Cross is the sacrament of salvation, a symbol of success in the Sacred Sacrifice by the Son of God for the redemption of man.

A similar statement of completion appears at the beginning and at the end of the Holy Bible. In the Book of Genesis, God completes and finishes the act of creation {Genesis 2:1, 2}. In the last chapter of Revelation, the creation of the 'New Heaven and the New Earth' after the end of the world is proclaimed by the words, "It is done!" {Revelation, 21: 6}. In His sixth word from the Cross, Jesus declares the completion of Redemption of man. It is time for the work of sanctification by the Holy Spirit.

Jesus finished His redemptive mission. But we are to follow Him, carrying our own crosses of sacrifice and penance. Unless there is a Good Friday in our lives, there will never be an Easter Sunday. Christ gets crucified again and again when we commit sins by our sinful thoughts, words, actions and omissions.

St. Peter reveals, "For you know what was paid to set you free from the worthless manner of life handed down by your ancestors. It was not something that can be destroyed, such as silver or gold; it was the costly sacrifice of Christ, who was like a lamb without defect or flaw"
{1 Peter 1: 18, 19}.

By: Dr. Babu Philip, Professor, Cochin University of Science & Technology, Fine Arts Avenue, Kochi-682016, Kerala, India. For more moral stories, parables and anecdotes for students, catechists, teachers and preachers, kindly visit the web-site: http://www.moralstorieschristian.blogspot.com

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THE FIFTH WORD FROM THE CROSS

The fifth word of Jesus from the Cross, "I am thirsty" { John 19: 28 } is an ex-pression of the sufferings of God abandoned by man. The Creator needs the creations just as the shepherd needs his sheep.

In the state of severe suffering, intense pain and large loss of blood which Jesus was subjected to, physical thirst would be natural. Just before His crucifixion, He was offered a concoction of wine mixed with the drug, myrrh { Mark 15: 23, Matthew 27: 34 }. It was a drink usually given to criminals before crucifixion to reduce the sensation of pain by dulling the senses. But Jesus refused the drink as He preferred to willingly suffer the agony of the Passion in full for the redemption of humanity.

Here, hanging on the Cross, the God who created the galaxies in space, stationed the stars in the sky and placed the planets in their proper orbits, moans for the mercy of man! He created the clouds, oceans, rivers and waterfalls, divided the sea, brought water from the rock, walked over water, turned water into wine and wine into His blood. But at Calvary, He cries aloud for a drop of water to drink.

Jesus had declared,"Whoever is thirsty should come to me and drink. As the scripture says, 'Whoever believes in me, streams of life-giving water will pour out from his heart'" {John 7:37, 38}.

To the Samaritan woman, He had promised the Life-giving water. "Whoever drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water that I give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring which will provide him with life-giving water and give him eternal life" { John 4: 10, 13, 14 }.
He could have quenched His thirst easily; by performing a miracle. But He did not do any miracle for Himself.

In response to the request of Jesus, the soldiers soaked a sponge with cheap, sour and bad wine (vinegar) and fixed it to the end of a stalk of hyssop and lifted it up to His lips. Jesus accepted it { John 19: 29 }. These events were foretold by Prophet David in his Psalms: "My throat is as dry as dust, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth" { Psalms 22:15 } and "When I was hungry, they gave me poison; When I was thirsty, they offered me vinegar" { Psalms 69:21 }.

The use of hyssop to bring the vinegar close to His mouth and in contact with His blood is seen as a sign of purification of man by His Sacred Sacrifice. Stalk of the hyssop plant was dipped in the blood of the Paschal lamb and used to apply the blood on the door-posts and the beam above the door to escape the avenging angel during the first Passover { Exodus 12: 21, 22 }. David wanted to be purified from his sins with hyssop { Psalms 51:7 }. The hyssop was prescribed in the Old Testament to sprinkle blood to cleanse lepers { Leviticus14: 1-7 }. Moses sealed the covenant by sprinkling blood using the hyssop { Hebrews 9: 18-22 }. It is believed that Jesus died on the cross at the time when the Chief Priest killed the Paschal lamb in the Temple. Jesus was the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world { John 1:29 }. He was slain for our sins.

The thirst of Jesus was a yearning for souls, a thirst to transform, redeem and sanctify every human being. It gives us the message of Evangelization. Let us serve as humble instruments of Jesus to save the souls enslaved by Satan. Let us strive to serve and meet the needs of our suffering siblings. Let us be blessed to hear these words from Jesus, during the Final Judgment,
"I was hungry and you fed me, thirsty and you gave me a drink" { Matthew 25: 35 }.

By: Dr. Babu Philip, Professor, Cochin University of Science & Technology, Fine Arts Avenue, Kochi-682016, Kerala, India. For more moral stories, parables and anecdotes for students, catechists, teachers and preachers, kindly visit the web-site: http://www.moralstorieschristian.blogspot.com

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HOLY MARY, MOTHER OF GOD

During the visitation by St. Mary, her elderly cousin Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Her son, John the Baptist, was baptized in her womb and jumped with joy. St. Elizabeth, filled with and inspired by the Holy Spirit, addressed St. Mary as 'my Lord's mother.' She exclaimed, "You are the most blessed of all women, and blessed is the child you bear! Why should this great thing happen to me, that my Lord's mother comes to visit me? {Luke 1: 42, 43}. The original word for 'Lord' used here in Hebrew is, "Adonai" and in Greek, "Kyrios". These mean "Lord God" (Yahweh). This is the equivalent of the salutation, "Holy Mary, Mother of God," which Catholics repeat in the Holy Rosary.

We firmly believe that St. Mary conceived Him by the power of the Holy Spirit. Through her, was born as man, Jesus Christ—the second person of the Holy Trinity, one-in-being (consubstantial) with the Father and the Holy spirit, and true God from true God. Jesus is true God and true man. In His person are united both a divine nature and a human nature. We believe that Jesus is a divine person, and this person is God. St.Mary is Jesus' Mother. Hence St.Mary is the mother of God. Mary is not just the Mother of Jesus' human nature alone - mothers are mothers of persons, not natures.

St. John wrote, "The Word became a human being and, full of grace and truth, lived among us. We saw His glory, the glory which He received as the Father's only Son." (John 1:14). St.Mary did not create the divine person of Jesus. He existed with the Father from all eternity.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church expresses this truth in the following words: "In fact, the One whom she conceived as man by the Holy Spirit, who truly became her Son according to the flesh, was none other than the Father's eternal Son, the second person of the Holy Trinity. Hence the Church confesses that Mary is truly `Mother of God´ (Theotókos)" (CCC, no. 495).

The angel Gabriel informs St. Mary, "The holy child will be called the Son of God"{Luke,1: 35}. Mary is the Mother of the Son of God, or the Mother of God. She was protected by God from original sin. She was born in sanctity and grew in sanctity without even a shadow of sin, reflecting God's infinite sanctity and divinity.

Just as the moon reflects the brilliance of the sun, she reflects the glory and grace of God and reflects or transmits to us the grace of God, the Sun of Justice, Jesus.

In Christian tradition and faith, she is venerated as the 'Mother of God'. We must follow the great example of humility of our Blessed Mother, who said, "I am the Lord's servant; may it happen to me as you have said" {Luke 1: 38}. We must turn to her always as our own Mother, pleading, "Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen."

By: Dr. Babu Philip, Professor, Cochin University of Science & Technology, Fine Arts Avenue, Kochi-682016, Kerala, India. For more moral stories, parables and anecdotes for students, catechists, teachers and preachers, kindly visit the web-site: http://www.moralstorieschristian.blogspot.com

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GOD'S GIFTS

This story is adapted from a joke told by His Grace Mar Aprem, Metropolitan and Head of the Assyrian Church of the East in India.

A Bishop had a large and luxurious car. It was driven by a poor and old driver. Wherever they went, the Bishop received a royal reception but nobody cared about the poor driver. One day, while they were speeding, the limousine was hit by a truck. Both the Bishop and the driver died on the spot. They reached the Pearly Gates of Heaven.


A grand reception was accorded to the Bishop. St. Peter garlanded him and escorted him in a gorgeous procession to a splendid abode. The driver went in silently and located his room with difficulty. Later he met St. Peter and complained, "I had hoped that every one would be treated with equal honour here. But you totally neglected me while offering a majestic welcome to the Bishop who came with me. Heaven is not different from the earth. Your partiality is not pardonable."


Hearing this complaint, St. Peter laughed and consoled the driver, "Dear son, do not worry. Drivers arrive here every day. But the Bishop who came with you is the first Bishop we have received in a whole century! So we thought of celebrating his entry."

The story is not meant to belittle the merit of Bishops but to highlight the high standard of sanctity and perfection expected from a Bishop and others who have received God's special call, gifts and anointing. They are expected to exhibit a high degree of perfection in proportion to the magnitude of gifts received from God. Bishops, priests, nuns, catechists, evangelists and other lay leaders should show a response suited to their vocation for justification. This is reflected in the parable of the servants who received different amounts of gold coins (talents) narrated in the Gospel {Mathew 25: 14-30}. Each person receives different amounts of gifts according to his natural ability. The trading of the coins signifies that we must make faithful use of the spiritual gifts and opportunities received from God, for the service of God and man. One with greater capacity receives greater opportunity and has greater responsibility.

By: Dr. Babu Philip, Professor, Cochin University of Science & Technology, Fine Arts Avenue, Kochi-682016, Kerala, India. For more moral stories, parables and anecdotes for students, catechists, teachers and preachers, kindly visit the web-site: http://www.moralstorieschristian.blogspot.com

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MICHELANGELO'S ANGEL

The splendid statue of an angel holding a decorative candlestick (candelabrum) is a masterpiece of the renowned sculptor Michelangelo (1475-1564). He carved it out of a block of marble to decorate the tomb of St. Dominic at Bologna in Italy. Later he was asked how he could make the marvellous model from a shapeless stone. The gifted sculptor replied, "I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free." In his opinion, "Every block of stone has a statue inside it and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it." He added, "In every block of marble, I see a statue as plain as though it stood before me, shaped and perfect in attitude and action. I have only to hew away the rough walls that imprison the lovely apparition to reveal it to the other eyes as mine see it."

These statements illustrate an important insight. There is a virtuous angel within every person. To reveal this angel, we have to get rid of the vices and malice that mask the majestic model. Harmful habits, sinful actions and worldly desires often conceal the real angel within us. Let us transform ourselves to expose and express the exquisite angel in us. St. Paul advises, "So get rid of your old self, which made you live as you used to – the old self that was being destroyed by its deceitful desires. Your hearts and minds must be made completely new, and you must put on the new self, which is created in God's likeness and reveals itself in the true life that is upright and holy" {Ephesians, 4: 22-24}.

By: Dr. Babu Philip, Professor, Cochin University of Science & Technology, Fine Arts Avenue, Kochi-682016, Kerala, India.
For more moral stories, parables and anecdotes for students, catechists, teachers and preachers, kindly visit the web-site: http://www.moralstorieschristian.blogspot.com

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FEAST AND FAST

Gilbert Keith Chesterton and George Bernard Shaw were two contemporary British writers. Chesterton was a very fat man who loved eating. Shaw, on the other hand, was a strict vegetarian and was very thin and lean. The story goes that Chesterton once said to Shaw, "Looking at you, people would think there's a famine in England," to which Shaw responded, "Looking at you, they'd think you caused it!"


At the end of a monotonous meeting, the Chairman announced that the next item is the best part of any meeting - that is, 'eating'! Immediately the members rushed to the dining hall happily.


Food is a basic requirement of every living thing. God has provided enough resources on earth for every man's need but not for his greed. While several underprivileged people are exposed to constant poverty and frequent starvation, many rich people suffer from disorders associated with overeating such as obesity. Overeating and lack of activity are the major causes of obesity which may lead to very serious diseases such as heart-attack, diabetes and stroke.


There is a story about a person who complained to his doctor that he was not feeling hungry for about an hour after a meal. To reduce the weight of the extra obese person, the doctor prescribed two slices of bread in the morning and one at night. The patient sought a clarification- whether the bread should be eaten before the usual meal or after it!


The Holy Bible teaches us that over-eating or gluttony can be a sin. We must control our appetites but should not allow appetites to control us. If we fail to control our overeating habits, we may fail to control other bad habits such as addictions, anger, arrogance, envy, greed, lust and laziness. God has given us delicious and nutritious food. We may enjoy them- but only in moderation, using only appropriate quantities. Let us make sacrifices to feed the poor and hungry around us.


"Don't associate with people who drink too much wine or stuff themselves with food. Drunkards and gluttons will be reduced to poverty. If all you do is eat and sleep, you will soon be wearing rags {Proverbs 23:20-21}.


Jesus concludes the parable of the rich fool who planned to build bigger barns to store his corn, with the words: But God said to him, "You fool! This very night you will have to give up your life; then who will get all these things you have kept for yourself?"{Luke 12:16-21}. Practice of temperance and occasional fasting improves our physical, mental, moral, emotional and spiritual health.

By: Dr. Babu Philip, Professor, Cochin University of Science & Technology, Fine Arts Avenue, Kochi-682016, Kerala, India.
For more moral stories, parables and anecdotes for students, catechists, teachers and preachers, kindly visit the web-site: http://www.moralstorieschristian.blogspot.com

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THE SACRED SACRIFICE ON THE HOLY CROSS

The Book of Genesis describes God's creation of the Garden of Eden. In the middle of the garden there were two trees. One was the tree of life whose fruit could give life or immortality. The other was the tree of knowledge (of good and evil) which brought death to man. Satan tempted Adam and Eve to eat the forbidden fruit of this tree and this sin caused their 'Fall'. They were sent away from the paradise of pleasure. God posted an angel with a flaming sword to prevent them from returning to the garden and eating the fruit of the Tree of Life which could have made man immortal, but in a state of sin. God wanted to redeem man and promised the redeemer (Jesus) who would crush the head of Satan {Genesis 3:15} and make man eligible for everlasting life in a heaven of happiness.


The tree of life was a symbol of the Cross on which Christ was crucified for the redemption of man through His generous gift of everlasting life. Several legends and paintings illustrate this truth. One legend says that the original 'tree of life' got uprooted from Eden during the Flood and later landed near Jerusalem. It was used as a bridge across a stream. When Jesus was sentenced to be crucified, the Romans searched in haste for a wood to make His cross. The tree used as the bridge was cut into two and joined to make the cross of Christ. Several variants of this legend are popular. They suggest the life-giving role of the Cross by relating it to the tree of life in the Garden of Eden.

Other legends assume that Golgotha, 'the place of the skull' {Matthew 27:33, Mark 15:22, Luke 23:33, John 19:17}, where Jesus was crucified was the place where Adam's skull was buried. When the Cross was fixed to the ground, the skull was directly under the Cross. The sanctifying blood of Jesus directly dripped on Adam's skull and washed away his sins. This story signifies the redemption of Adam and his descendants who were waiting for centuries, for the sacred sacrifice of the Son of God on the Holy Cross. With his arms outstretched unto infinity, Jesus on the Cross embraced all humanity. Jesus taught us, "The greatest love a person can have for his friends is to give his life for them" {John 15: 13}.

By: Dr. Babu Philip, Professor, Cochin University of Science & Technology, Fine Arts Avenue, Kochi-682016, Kerala, India. For more moral stories, parables and anecdotes for students, catechists, teachers and preachers, kindly visit the web-site: http://www.moralstorieschristian.blogspot.com

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THE SEVEN WORDS FROM THE CROSS

Jesus Christ, the Living and Immortal God, by His life and death, gave life to us, the mortal men. The last seven sayings of the Saviour are recorded in the Gospels. The pulpit of His last words was the Holy Cross. The power of this eternal sermon could awaken even the dead from their graves. These seven words summarize the mystery of His life, mission and vision. The audience of this great sermon represented different sections of humanity - saints, sinners, soldiers, priests and Pharisees. The words may be arranged in the following order:

1. "Forgive them, Father! They don't know what they are doing" {Luke 23:34}. The first word of Christ on the Cross was His prayer addressed to His Father imploring pardon for His enemies. He was pleading for the forgiveness of sinners in general.

2. "I promise you that today you will be in Paradise with me" {Luke 23: 43}. His second word was an answer to the prayer of a penitent sinner, a pardon granted generously.

3. "He is your son." "She is your mother" {John 19:26, 27}. These were addressed to His loving Mother, St. Mary and dear disciple, St. John. Thus He assigned to His Mother, a spiritual motherhood of humanity.

4. "My God, My God, why did you abandon me?"{Matthew 27:46, Mark 15: 34}. This was uttered when a mysterious darkness covered the earth. It symbolizes the agony of those who are apparently abandoned by God. Here He acts as a mediator for sinners.

5. "I am thirsty" {John 19:28}. This displays the sufferings of God abandoned by man and is addressed to men. He thirsts for loving souls.

6. "It is finished" {John 19: 30}.The sixth word declares the completion of His worldly mission. It is a farewell to the world.

7. "Father! In your hands I place my spirit!" {Luke 23:46}. The last word symbolizes His entrance into Heaven and is addressed to His Heavenly Father to whom He returns after the successful completion of His sacred sacrifice.

Before Christ, the cross was a sign of sin and shame. His sacred sacrifice made the Cross the sacrament of salvation and the symbol of victory over sin and death. It is a sign of success and source of strength to us to lead a life of sacrifice, service and suffering. The Passion of Christ preaches the painful path to paradise.
By: Dr. Babu Philip, Professor, Cochin University of Science & Technology, Fine Arts Avenue, Kochi-682016, Kerala, India. For more moral stories, parables and anecdotes for students, catechists, teachers and preachers, kindly visit the web-site: http://www.moralstorieschristian.blogspot.com

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THE FIRST WORD FROM THE CROSS

Jesus sacrificed even the last drop of His precious and sanctifying blood for the redemption of the world. The first word of Jesus on the Cross was His prayer addressed to His Father pleading pardon for His enemies and persecutors:

"Forgive them, Father! They don't know what they are doing" {Luke 23:34}.

Jesus prayed for everyone responsible for His Passion and Crucifixion including - the Jewish priests, Pharisees and the thief who ridiculed and despised Him, the Jews who pleaded for the release of Barabbas and cried for crucifying Him, Pilate who sentenced Him without justice, Roman soldiers who persecuted Him and gambled for His clothes, Peter who denied Him, the Apostles who deserted Him, Judas who betrayed Him and each one of us who, by our sinful thoughts, words and actions, crucified Him.

The prophecy of Isaiah was fulfilled in Crucified Christ: "But because of our sins he was wounded, beaten because of the evil we did. We are healed by the punishment he suffered, made whole by the blows he received. All of us were like sheep that were lost, each of us going his own way. But the Lord made the punishment fall on him, the punishment all of us deserved" {Isaiah 53: 5, 6}.

His Divine love prevailed even at the height of His suffering. Jesus showed how to practice what He preached: "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who ill-treat you'{Luke 6: 27, 28}; "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may become the sons of your Father in Heaven"{Matthew 5: 44,45}. He taught us the lesson of forgiveness in the Lord's Prayer: "Forgive us the wrongs we have done, as we forgive the wrongs that others have done to us" {Matthew 6:12}.

Forgiveness is a divine quality. It is the secret of peace in personal, social and spiritual life. One who does not forgive and forget the defects and misdeeds of others creates a hell in one's own life and also in the lives of all around him.

Through these words, Jesus taught us the need, nature and strength of prayer and forgiveness. Every sin is an act by which Barabbas is preferred to Jesus and Jesus is crucified again. It is a nail thrust on the arms of Jesus, outstretched to bless us. If we happen to fall into sin, let us confess our sins and pray for the grace to trust in the infinite mercy of God.

Let us kneel at the foot of the Cross, the pulpit of love, and raise our hands to him, to praise Him, thank Him and adore Him.

By: Dr. Babu Philip, Professor, Cochin University of Science & Technology, Fine Arts Avenue, Kochi-682016, Kerala, India. For more moral stories, parables and anecdotes for students, catechists, teachers and preachers, kindly visit the web-site: http://www.moralstorieschristian.blogspot.com

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THE SECOND WORD FROM THE CROSS

The Gospel of Luke records that two criminals were crucified on either side of Jesus. Legends say that the thief crucified on His right side was Dismas and the one on His left was Gestas (Gesmas). Gestas was abusing Jesus continuously even while hanging on his cross. But Dismas was touched by the innocence of Jesus and by His prayer for forgiving His persecutors. He repented and rebuked Gestas for his blasphemous and cruel words to Jesus. Dismas prayed to Jesus, "Remember me, Jesus, when you come as King!"{Luke 23:42}.This was his last prayer, perhaps it was also his first prayer. Jesus accepted and answered his prayer immediately, forgave his sins and offered him entry into Paradise. Jesus said to him, "I promise you that today you will be in Paradise with me" {Luke 23:43}. Archbishop Fulton. J. Sheen remarked, "The thief died a thief, for he stole Paradise!" The thief acknowledged Jesus as his Saviour when all His disciples except John had deserted Him. Dismas could escort Jesus to Heaven.

There is a popular legend about the early days of Dismas. The Holy Family fleeing from Bethlehem to Egypt, to escape from the infanticide ordered by King Herod, sought refuge in a cave on the way. St. Mary requested the lady living there to give some water to bathe Baby Jesus. She readily gave it and collected the water in which Jesus was bathed. She then bathed her own baby, Dismas, a leper, in the same water. Dismas was immediately cured miraculously from leprosy. He was the son of a robber and later he joined his father's gang. The incident in his infancy was a symbol of the spiritual healing he was to receive in Calvary.

Prophet Isaiah had foretold, "He willingly gave his life and shared the fate of evil men. He took the place of many sinners and prayed that they might be forgiven" {Isaiah 53:12, Luke 22:37}. The crucifixion was a prototype of the Last Judgment, with the judge, Jesus at the centre and the thieves representing the saved and the lost, the two divisions of humanity, on either side.

The kind words of Jesus to the penitent sinner reflect the prophetic message of the Old Testament, "You are stained red with sin, but I will wash you as clean as snow. Although your stains are deep red, you will be as white as wool" {Isaiah 1: 18}.

Jesus had said, "I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine respectable people who do not need to repent."{Luke 15:7}.

By: Dr. Babu Philip, Professor, Cochin University of Science & Technology, Fine Arts Avenue, Kochi-682016, Kerala, India. For more moral stories, parables and anecdotes for students, catechists, teachers and preachers, kindly visit the web-site: http://www.moralstorieschristian.blogspot.com

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THE THIRD WORD FROM THE CROSS

The Gospel of St. John narrates the words of Jesus from the Cross to His loving Mother and His dear disciple (St. John), who were standing close to the Cross. He said to His Mother, "He is your son" {John 19:26}. Then He said to St. John, "She is your mother" {John 19: 27}. Thus Jesus proclaimed His last will and testament. By giving a son to his beloved mother, he was entrusting the whole humanity to her tender maternal care and intercession. By gifting his dear disciple with a mother, He was giving a mother to the human race. St. Mary was with Jesus from the crib to the Cross. She co-operated in His redemptive mission from the womb to the tomb and guided the Church in its infancy. By these words He assures a shelter and support to His mother and gifts a Mother to His Church. By the words of Jesus from the Cross, Mary is anointed as the Mother of His Church, the mystical body of Christ, which He redeemed.

The words to His mother are regarded as her second Annunciation by God - calling her to become the spiritual mother of mankind. She thus became the universal mother, the new Eve. Jesus was her only son by the flesh. But the whole human race became her spiritual children by this anointing at the Cross. Jesus was giving us His mother, to be our Mother. Each one of us was represented by St. John at Calvary.

Traditionally it is believed that St. Mary consoled St. Peter who was in tears following his denial of Jesus. Her words transformed him and filled him with correct repentance, enabling him to take up the responsibility of leading the young church. Her presence at the Pentecost testifies her special role in strengthening the early church

Following the words of Jesus, "the disciple took her to live in his home" {John 19: 27}. Let us follow the disciple by bringing her into our home and life and venerating her blessed name in the Holy Rosary: Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen.

By: Dr. Babu Philip, Professor, Cochin University of Science & Technology, Fine Arts Avenue, Kochi-682016, Kerala, India. For more moral stories, parables and anecdotes for students, catechists, teachers and preachers, kindly visit the web-site: http://www.moralstorieschristian.blogspot.com

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