Moral Short Stories...

An Emperor's Embrace

2012-01-18T22:59:00.000-08:00

An emperor won several wars and conquered the neighbouring nations one by one, expanding his empire after every war. He had a baby boy, who was the heir to his throne. The emperor wanted his son to grow up as a fearless fighter and win wars to extend the borders of his empire further. He tried to instil into the infant the spirit of a valiant warrior.

Immediately after a successful war, he carried his only son along with him on his horse to the battlefield. He hoped to familiarize and intoxicate the child with the smell of fresh blood that filled the field. They could see the bodies of hundreds of soldiers lying dead or dying from serious wounds all around the battlefield. As he sped his horse victoriously, a dying soldier of the defeated country used all his remaining strength to shoot an arrow at the emperor. The unexpected arrow pierced the prince's heart and killed him on the spot. The emperor embraced his only son and cried aloud in agony.

Sir Winston Churchill once remarked, "In war, it does not matter who is right (ie. correct), but who is left (ie. not killed)!" In the war of 1861, a supporter told Abraham Lincoln that he hoped the Lord would be on their side. Lincoln replied, " I am not at all concerned about that; but it is my constant anxiety and prayer that I and this Nation should be on the Lord's side."

When the armed men approached Jesus to arrest Him in the Garden of Gethsemane, St. Peter, the Chief of His Disciples drew his sword and struck at one of them, cutting off his ear. Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back in its place. All who take the sword will die by the sword" {Matthew 26: 52}.

© 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 my web-site: http://www.moralstorieschristian.blogspot.com

A Wise Woodcutter

2011-12-29T19:55:00.000-08:00

Two woodcutters were entrusted with the work of cutting down the old rubber trees in an estate before replanting. One of them was stout and strong. The other was lean and thin. On the first day each of them could cut down the same number of trees. But the next day, the lean man could cut more trees than his friend. The third day, the trend continued, though the stout man worked harder without rest, sweating profusely. The stout man doubted his own strength and suspected that he was becoming weaker as his performance was steadily declining.

He watched the work of the lean man to learn the secret of his success. He was found to take frequent breaks and go away, apparently to rest, but mysteriously, was more productive. The stout man asked his colleague about his secret. The lean man said that every hour he used to take a short break to rest and relax for a while, and during this period, he used to sharpen his axe as it gets dull with repeated use. A sharp axe enables one to work more effectively with less effort. The sharp axe cuts deeper and the occasional rest supplies strength and energy.

This is true in our daily life. Some people are always busy with their work. They do not find time to rest or sharpen their mind. Meditation, prayer, reading good books, hobbies and healthy interaction with family and society are the means to sharpen our personality and spirituality. ‘Workaholics’ like alcoholics get addicted to work and find no time to sharpen their ‘axe’. We can sharpen our axe (head, heart, hands and habits) by prayer. Abraham Lincoln once remarked, “If I had six hours to cut down trees, I would spend the first three hours sharpening my axe and the last three cutting down the trees.”

“If your axe is blunt and you don’t sharpen it, you have to work harder to use it. It is more sensible to plan ahead” {Ecclesiastes 10: 10}.

A Christmas Gift

2011-12-14T21:58:00.000-08:00

St. Jerome (347-420) was a Dalmatian priest, a great scholar and a Doctor of the Church. He prepared the ‘Vulgate’- the first authentic translation of the Bible into the Latin language. He was staying in a cave in Bethlehem, close to the birth-place of Jesus.

On a Christmas night, he was meditating about the birth of Jesus and wondering what gift he could give to Jesus. Suddenly, he had a vision. Baby Jesus appeared before him in the midst of a brilliant and dazzling light and asked him, “Jerome, what will you give me for my birthday?”

St. Jerome replied in ecstasy, “O Divine Infant, I give you my heart.”
“Yes, but give me something more,”Jesus requested.

“I give you all the prayers and affection of my heart”, replied the saint.
The Holy Child asked for more and more.

Finally, St. Jerome said, “I will give you all that I have and all that I am.”
Still, Jesus wanted more.

Now Jerome had no answer. So he asked, “O Divine Infant, I have nothing more. What is it that I can give you?”

Baby Jesus replied, with a smile on his lips, “Jerome, give me your sins.”

Quite perplexed, St. Jerome enquired, “What will you do with my sins, my Lord?”

“Give me your sins, so that I may pardon all of them,” replied Jesus.

Hearing this, he wept, out of joy and love for the loving Jesus.

Jesus came to this world to wash away our sins by His precious blood. “Indeed, according to the Law, everything is purified by blood, and sins are forgiven only if blood is poured out” {Hebrews 9: 22}.

Jesus is the “Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world” {John 1: 29}. The incarnation of Jesus is the deepest expression of God’s compassionate love for the sinful mankind.

Sin resembles quicksand, the bed of loose sand and mud in a marshy land which sucks down any object from its surface. A person sinking in a quicksand is dragged down into it and cannot come out of it by his own effort. Similarly, man cannot save himself from the clutches of sin. Jesus is the only person who can deliver us from the quicksand of sin.

By His sacred sacrifice on the Holy Cross at calvary, the sacrament of salvation, He broke the power of death, sin and Satan. He bore the burden of our sins on the Cross and washed away our sins by shedding even the last drop of His Holy Blood.

“…the blood of Jesus, His son, purifies us from every sin” {1 John 1:7}. “For by the sacrificial death of Christ, we are set free, that is, our sins are forgiven” {Ephesians 1:7}.

© 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 my web-site: http://www.moralstorieschristian.blogspot.com

A PRICELESS PORTRAIT

2011-12-07T20:52:00.000-08:00

A rich man had a passion for collecting great works of art. He had a huge collection of exquisite and expensive paintings created by world-renowned painters. Everyone envied his priceless collection. He had an only son whom he loved more than anything. His wife died during the child’s birth and a loving nurse looked after the boy during his infancy. But the boy died young. The man made a fine portrait of his only son which he preserved as a treasure. Before the rich man died, he prepared a will and entrusted his faithful lawyer to execute it.

The lawyer announced the auction of the rich man’s possessions. A huge crowd had gathered, anxious to bid for the famous paintings at the lowest possible price. The lawyer announced that as per the will, the first article to be bid was the portrait of the rich man’s only son. There was a silence. Only one person - an old woman dressed in shabby clothes came forward to bid for the son’s portrait. She was the boy’s nurse from his infancy and wanted to keep the picture as a mark of her affection to the child. As she was very poor, she could offer only a small sum of money. But as there was no one to bid for a higher amount, she was declared to have won the bid.

The crowd made a loud demand to start the bid of the expensive paintings. But then, to the surprise of everyone, the lawyer declared that the auction was over. He then read aloud a secret stipulation in the will of the rich man, “Whoever comes forward and wins in the bid to possess the portrait of my beloved son shall be declared as the legal owner of all my possessions.” Thus the poor, loving lady became the legal heir to the whole assets of the rich man.

Here we see that the one who accepted the son got the Father’s entire assets. It illustrates the infinite riches we inherit from our heavenly Father when we are ready to accept Jesus, His only Son, into our hearts. We then gain entry into the Kingdom of Heaven.

“For God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not die, but have eternal life” {John 3:16}.

“God has given us eternal life, and this life has its source in His Son. Whoever has the Son has this life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I am writing this to you so that you may know that you have eternal life - you that believe in the Son of God” {1 John 5:11-13}.

“If God is for us, who can be against us? Certainly not God, who did not even keep back His own Son, but offered Him for us all! He gave us His Son - will He not also freely give us all things?” {Romans 8:32}.

POWER OF PRAYER

2011-11-19T00:53:00.000-08:00

A farmer had two daughters. The elder one was married to a farmer. The younger daughter was married to a potter. The father used to visit his daughters frequently. During one of his visits, the elder daughter requested him to pray for more frequent rains as their growing crops were badly in need of water. He agreed. Then he visited his younger daughter. She told him that they wanted more sunshine to get their clay pots dried in the sun for hardening. She wanted him to pray for more sunshine without any rain. The poor father was in great confusion as his daughters were demanding his prayers for contradictory gifts. Finally he took a bold decision and prayed, “God, do as you wish. May your will be done!”

A child may see a sharp and shining knife and cry to get it as a toy. But no loving parent will give such a dangerous gift to a little child. This explains why many of our prayers are not answered immediately. God, as our loving father, knows our future and grants only those gifts which we deserve.

Richard. C. Trench remarked, “Prayer is not overcoming God’s reluctance but co-operating with His willingness”.

William Cowper said, “Satan trembles when he sees the weakest saint upon his knees”.

God speaks through Jeremiah, "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}.

HARD TIMES

2011-10-12T21:10:00.000-07:00

A student complained to his learned teacher about the difficulties he has to endure in his life. He came from a very poor family and had to look after his home and support his aged and sick parents and his younger siblings by working hard every day after the classes in school while his wealthy class-mates could play and rest without any stress or strain. He was almost exhausted and had even thought about committing suicide.

The wise teacher gave him a carrot and an egg to examine. He was asked to comment on their hardness. He said that the carrot was sufficiently hard that it cannot be crushed by hands. The egg could be easily cracked and the liquid contents would leak out with ease.

Then the teacher put the carrot and egg together in a pan, added some water to cover the articles and then boiled the water over the flame. After some time, the teacher took out the articles from the pan and asked for the comments of the student. The boy observed that the carrot, which was hard earlier, had become very soft after boiling. The egg, on the other hand, became very hard during the boiling. Its contents had solidified and now would not flow out even when the shell is shattered.

The teacher told the boy, “Earlier, you were like the carrot. Your courage and strength of mind were lost when you were exposed to the hard realities of life. You became weak and could be smashed easily.”

Next, he displayed the egg and told, “Be like the egg. You are soft and tender by nature, but the adversities of life should make you bolder and stronger. Then you can gain the courage to face any harsh moments with confidence.” He then narrated the biography of successful persons who could overcome the hard times of early life with confidence and earnest efforts.

The teacher could arrange some financial support for the boy. The boy was earnest, honest and hard working. By the constant support and guidance of his loving and dedicated teacher, he could mould a successful career in life.

The round, smooth beautiful pebbles found in rivers are the results of years of grinding in the flowing river, enduring water falls and floods. A flute is made by harsh treatments of natural bamboos. The steps involve cutting, shaping, drying and perforation. It is said that adversity is the best university to perfect our personality.

We must accept the sufferings and pain of life with the spirit of sacrifice which Jesus displayed in his life and death. Jesus declared, “If anyone wants to come with me, he must forget self, take up his cross every day, and follow me” {Luke 9: 23}. “Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple” {Luke 14: 27}.

Jesus said, “I am telling you the truth: a grain of wheat remains no more than a single grain unless it is dropped into the ground and dies. If it does die, then it produces many grains” {John 12: 24}.

Jesus proclaimed, “Come to me, all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest” {Matthew 11: 28}.

© 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 my web-site: http://www.moralstorieschristian.blogspot.com

Murder of a Mother-in-Law

2011-06-25T09:27:00.000-07:00

The only daughter of a distinguished doctor got married and went to live with her husband and her mother-in-law. She could not tolerate the words, habits and opinions of the old lady. They started to argue with each other and to fight at first sight every day. When the situation became unbearable, her husband sought the intervention of her father. The doctor called his daughter and had a detailed discussion about her domestic life. She complained about the mother-in-law and sought his help to eliminate her for ever. “Give me a poison which would kill her instantly”, she requested.

The doctor was very wise and diplomatic. He told his daughter, “I agree with you that she should be killed. But if you use a poison that kills her instantly, others may suspect you and if you are caught, you may be sentenced to imprisonment or even death by the court of law. We will do it more intelligently. I will supply a special drug which, though poisonous, acts only very slowly. You must mix the contents of one capsule in her food everyday and serve it to her, pretending to be very friendly to avoid any suspicion in any one. We will celebrate her death within six months”.

The girl gladly grabbed the bottle of capsules offered by her father and regularly fed it to her mother-in-law as directed by her father. She took great pain to pretend affection to the lady she hated like hell. She offered all assistance and tender care to her and stopped all impulsive reactions to her arrogant actions. She prepared special delicious dishes to serve the poison without arousing suspicion.

As days rolled on, both the ladies learned to control their temper. The old lady started to shower love, care and affection on the girl as she appeared to be very loving, gentle, simple and humble. The conflicts in their personalities came to an end and the girl started to love the old lady like her own mother. She stopped giving the drug and met her father with an earnest and honest request. She told him, “Daddy, please prescribe an antidote to the poison I had been giving to my mother-in-law. I am genuinely sorry that I misunderstood her and tried to kill her. Now she is dearer to me than my own mother.”

The doctor was very glad to see the transformation. He replied, “I was sure you would approach me, reproaching yourself for being harsh to her. Don’t worry about the drug any more. What I gave you were actually capsules of vitamins. They should have made her healthier now. You may make her happier now.” The affection she showed to her enemy was only pretence with the intention of appearing innocent after the murder. But her acts of love could transform the old lady and sweeten their relationship.

Jesus gave us a golden rule of life, “Do for others what you want them to do to you” {Matthew 7: 12}. The famous phrase, “As you sow, so shall you reap” is based on the words of St. Paul, “A person will reap exactly what he sows. If he sows in the field of his natural desires, from it he will gather the harvest of death; if he sows in the field of the Spirit, from the Spirit he will gather the harvest of eternal life” {Galatians 6: 7, 8}.

Our actions have their reactions and repercussions. We will receive the consequences of our actions. Jesus taught, “Do not judge others, and God will not judge you; do not condemn others, and God will not condemn you; forgive others, and God will forgive you. Give to others, and God will give to you” {Luke 7: 37, 38}.

The Lord says, “When they sow the wind, they will reap a storm” {Hosea 8: 7}. “Plough new ground for yourselves, plant righteousness, and reap the blessings your devotion to me will produce” {Hosea 10: 12}.

A boat in bonds

2011-05-23T03:28:00.000-07:00

A gang of drunkards was rowing a country-boat along a lake. On the way they saw a shop where liquor (toddy) was being served. It was getting dark and all of them were tired. They decided to have a halt and resume the row after relishing a drink. They got out of the boat and tied the boat safely with a rope to a tree on the bank of the lake.

Then they entered the liquor shop and ordered drinks. They filled their bellies to the full with the liquor and returned to the boat with unsteady steps. They got into the boat and rowed hard, happily singing a fond melody in the ecstasy of intoxication. Hours rolled on. At sunrise, when they came back to their senses, they were surprised to find that they were still stationed near the liquor shop. They examined the boat and found that it was still bound to the tree. In the intoxicated state, they forgot to untie the boat. It could not move though they rowed hard for a full night!

A prayer group had a senior leader. He used to repeat this request in every prayer, “Lord, clean all the cobwebs entangling my life.” One day, tired of hearing this repeated request, one smart member who was to pray next, prayed aloud, “Lord, our leader has been praying every day to get his cobwebs removed. Kindly grant him the strength to kill the spider that is causing this constant trouble!” The members greeted the prayer with great applause.

Man has an inherent inclination to sin. Satan skilfully exploits this tendency to draw us towards sin again and again. Bondage to certain people, places, ideas, attitudes or articles may be the driving force that leads us to a sin repeatedly. The courage and determination to remove the root cause of the sin is the best way to escape from a temptation. Killing of the spider is the surest way to avoid cobwebs. Rowing can move a boat only if the bond to the tree is broken.

A gifted preacher finished his sermon on sin. He had narrated his own sinful past and the story of his successful transformation. There was a question from the audience, “What were you before repentance? He answered, “A sinner.” The next question was, “Then, what are you now?” The preacher repeated, “A sinner.” “Then what is the difference?” the person inquired. The preacher replied, “Earlier, I was a sinner, running after sin. But now I am a sinner running away from sin!”

Sir James Young Simpson (1811-1870) who discovered the use of chloroform as an anaesthetic, was asked to list his greatest discoveries. He said that his greatest discovery was that he was a sinner in the sight of God and that his second greatest discovery was that Jesus died for a sinner like him.

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and there is no truth in us. But if we confess our sins to God, He will keep His promise and do what is right: He will forgive us our sins and purify us from all our wrongdoing” {1 John 1: 8, 9}.

Prophet Isaiah foretold the severe sufferings of our Saviour who saved us from our sins: “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” {Isaiah 53:5}.

St. Paul consoles us, “But now you have been set free from sin and are the slaves of God. Your gain is a life fully dedicated to Him, and the result is eternal life. {Romans 6: 22}.

THE BLIND BARBER

2011-04-10T00:08:00.000-07:00

Benjamin was a popular barber. He was skilled and had many regular customers. During his work, he used to talk eloquently to entertain and enlighten his customers. One day an evangelist visited his saloon. While cutting the hair, the barber declared that he did not believe that God existed. The evangelist enquired about the reason for his argument. The barber described the pain, poverty and suffering that people had to endure, everywhere. He argued that if there was a God, who was loving and mighty, he should have removed such misery from society.

After his hair was cut, the evangelist came out of the barber-shop. In the street, he saw a mad man with long and dirty hair and an untrimmed, ugly beard. He returned to the saloon and told the barber, “Now I am sure that there are no barbers in this street.” “Why, why do you say that?” he enquired emphatically. Pointing to the mad man, the evangelist explained, “If there was a barber here, how could that man have such long and dirty hair and untrimmed ugly beard?”

The barber defended his position, “I am the best barber in this city. There are several barbers in the other streets. That man is mad and does not come to any one of us to have a hair-cut. It is not our fault.”

The preacher replied, “That is quite true. Just like the barbers, God also exists. The problem is that people like you never search for Him and refuse to meet Him and seek His blessings. That is why you find so many in sorrow and suffering.” The atheist could not argue further.

“Fools say to themselves, “There is no God” {Psalms 14: 1}.

“Ask, and you will receive; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you” {Matthew 7: 7}.

DETERMINATION TO AVOID TEMPTATION

2011-03-16T09:49:00.000-07:00

A boy in ancient India (4th century B.C.) was eager to study under a reputed teacher (Guru). He approached the Guru with a humble request to admit him as a student. The Guru examined the boy’s palm and declared that he had no line of education on his palm and hence he could not be expected to excel in education. The Guru rejected his request as the boy lacked the sign that he believed was the birth-mark of a successful student.

The boy was very determined to learn under the Guru. So he took a sharp knife and made a deep cut on his palm between his middle finger (Saturn) and ring finger (Apollo) where the ‘line of education’ (Vidya rekha) is found in some people. He went to the master and showed the scar on his palm. He requested the Guru to reconsider his decision as he has now made a line of education on his palm.

The wise master was impressed by the determination of the boy. He embraced the boy and enrolled him as a student immediately. The boy learned with exceptional brilliance and dedication and became a great scholar. The boy was Panini, who later systematized grammar in the Sanskrit language. His masterpiece is a major treatise entitled, ‘Ashtadhyayi’. His logical rules and techniques have influenced modern linguistics considerably. Thus Panini could challenge and change his fate by etching the mark on his palm by a painful cut.

Determination is essential for the successful execution of any decision. Saints had the determination to avoid even minor sins even if their action would cause pain or loss to them. Our confession becomes fruitful only if we have the determination to avoid the people, places, scenes, situations and circumstances that may tempt us to repeat the sinful actions. As the first step we may take bold decisions such as absolute determination not to tell even a minor lie, not to make a derogatory remark about any one and not to watch a sinful scene, picture or video. With the powerful grace of God we can march towards the higher levels of sanctity if we are determined to avoid all tempting situations. After praying to ‘Our Father’ to lead us not into temptations, we should not lead ourselves into temptations.

St. Paul advises, “Build up your strength in union with the Lord and by means of His mighty power. Put on all the armour that God gives you, so that you will be able to stand up against the Devil’s evil tricks” {Ephesians 6: 10, 11}.

A LIGHT FOR THE NIGHT

2011-01-14T20:29:00.000-08:00

A blind man went to visit his friend in the next village. It was night when he could return. His friend gave the blind man a lighted lamp as he said goodbye to him. Refusing to receive the lamp, the blind man said, “I don’t need this lamp, dear; I will use my stick to find my way. Nights and days are similar to me.” His friend said, “Keep it with you. It is not for you, but for others. If you carry this lighted lamp with you, others can see it. Then they will not collide with you.”

The blind man started his journey carrying the lighted lamp with him. On the way, there was a storm. He waited under a tree and resumed his journey after the storm. Suddenly a stranger coming in the opposite direction collided with him and both of them fell down on the ground. The blind man shouted angrily, “Couldn’t you see the lighted lamp in my hand, man? Are you blind?” The stranger replied, “I am not blind but your lamp was not burning.” “I am sorry, dear”, said the blind man. “I am blind and did not know that the flame was put off by the storm.”

We boast that we are the chosen children of God and that His grace will protect us from all evil. But the divine light shining in us gets extinguished by our sinful actions and then we may fall. Let us consciously guard the lamp of God shining in our hearts. It will illuminate us and enlighten everyone around us.

“O Lord, you give me light; you dispel my darkness” {Psalms 18: 28}.

“Your word is a lamp to guide me and a light for my path” {Psalms 119: 105}.

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world…whoever follows me will have the light of life and will never walk in darkness” {John 8: 12}.

“Your light must shine before people, so that they will see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven” {Matthew 5: 16}.

© 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 my web-site: http://www.moralstorieschristian.blogspot.com

WISDOM OF A WEALTHY MAN

2010-09-06T21:13:00.000-07:00

A well-known multimillionaire was travelling to a distant city. On the way, he approached a hotel to spend the night. The manager of the hotel easily recognized him and greeted him most heartily. He personally led the rich man to the most luxurious suite in the hotel and instructed the staff to provide all necessary amenities to the wealthy guest. While they were busily decorating the rooms and arranging more luxuries, he called the manager and said, “Sir, I don’t need such a luxurious room for a night’s stay. I need only an ordinary room.”

The manager was surprised to hear the unexpected request of his very wealthy guest. He told him, “But, Sir, Your son visits this hotel occasionally. He asks for the most expensive suite with all available amenities. I thought you too would appreciate the facilities available here.”

The rich man replied quite politely, “Please do not compare me with him. He is the son of a very wealthy man. But I am not.”

Later he told the manager that he came from a poor family and gradually became rich by his earnest and honest efforts, minimizing his expenses. Even after he became rich, he used to follow his principles and spend money very wisely, avoiding all unnecessary luxuries in life. A substantial portion of his income was regularly set apart for charity.

As he was not born rich, he was aware of the value of money. He believed that it was a sin to spend money for luxuries when millions were suffering from constant poverty and frequent starvation. Growing rich by rightful means and hard work is not sinful. But love of money and unwillingness to help the poor and needy around us using the money we received as God’s gift, are grave sins.

“Many people have been ruined because of money, brought face to face with disaster. Money is a trap for those who are fascinated by it, a trap that every fool falls into” {Sirach 31: 6, 7}.

“Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be satisfied with what you have” {Hebrews 13:5}.

“No one can be a slave of two masters; he will hate one and love the other; he will be loyal to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money” {Matthew 6: 24, Luke 16:13}.

© 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 my web-site: http://www.moralstorieschristian.blogspot.com

WORDS AS SWORDS

2010-08-28T02:53:00.000-07:00

A little boy was in the habit of using abusive words. His mother wanted to change his habit. She brought a hammer and a box of nails to the boy’s room and told him that she would hammer a nail to the door of his room every time he used an abusive word. The nailing continued everyday. Seeing the growing ugly sign on the freshly painted door, he gradually began to behave in a better manner. Later he stopped his bad habit altogether and proudly reported his decision to the mother. To encourage him, she told him, “Now, at the end of every day you complete without uttering even a single bad word, we will pull out one nail from the door.”

Gradually, all the nails were pulled out and the boy was delighted to display the door to his mother. Then the mother showed him the holes left in the door. She said, “Words are sharper than swords. Whenever you say an abusive word to another person, it leaves a scar in his mind and another one in your own mind like the nail-marks left in your door. It is better to avoid using bad words than repenting after repeating them.”

He understood her advice and followed it faithfully.

St. Paul advises, “Do not use harmful words, but only helpful words, the kind that build up and provide what is needed, so that what you say will do good to those who hear you” {Ephesians 4:29}. “No insults or obscene talk must ever come from your lips” {Colossians 3:8}.

St. James advises, “Every one must be quick to listen, but slow to speak and slow to become angry” {James 1: 19}. “Just think how large a forest can be set on fire by a tiny flame! And the tongue is like a fire” {James 3: 5, 6}.

“May my words and my thoughts be acceptable to you, O Lord, my refuge and my redeemer! {Psalms 19: 14}.
© 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 my web-site: http://www.moralstorieschristian.blogspot.com

GOD’S MYSTERIOUS MOVES

2010-05-10T07:29:00.000-07:00

William Cowper, British poet and Bible scholar (1731-1800) suffered from occasional bouts of deep depression and doubt. There is a legend about the last hymn composed by him. One night when he was in a dark mood of deep despair, he left his home, determined to end his life by jumping into the River Thames in England.

That night the city of London was covered with an unusually heavy fog and Mr. Cowper, who was searching to find the river, lost his way and wandered aimlessly. After a long while, he saw a distant light and proceeded towards it. He was surprised to reach the doorstep of a house. The light was burning brightly within the house and the front door was open as if to welcome the wandering William. He soon realized that it was his own home and that God had mercifully brought him back to safety. Entering his room he wrote the following words of the beautiful hymn in praise of the living Lord by whose loving grace he could return to his own residence.

God moves in a mysterious way

His wonders to perform;

He plants His footsteps in the sea

And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines

Of never failing skill

He treasures up His bright designs

And works His sovereign will.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;

The clouds ye so much dread

Are big with mercy and shall break

In blessings on your head

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,

But trust Him for His grace;

Behind a frowning providence

He hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast,

Unfolding every hour;

The bud may have a bitter taste,

But sweet will be the flower.

Blind unbelief is sure to err,

And scan His work in vain;

God is His own interpreter,

And He will make it plain.

(By William Cowper, ‘Light Shining out of Darkness’, Olney Hymns, published in 1779)

King David, in a prayer of Praise, sings, “In times of trouble He will shelter me; He will keep me safe in His Temple and make me secure on a high rock” {Psalms 27: 5}.

God said through Prophet Isaiah, “Can a woman forget her own baby and not love the child she bore? Even if a mother should forget her child, I will never forget you. Jerusalem, I can never forget you! I have written your name on the palms of my hands” {Isaiah 49: 15, 16}.

Our loving heavenly Father is ready to rescue us during times of despair and depression. He protects us in the shelter of His infinite love and kindly leads us to the place of safety and peace.

KNEE-MAIL

2010-03-31T03:29:00.000-07:00

A person was driving his ‘Model-T’ Ford car through a remote village in USA. He stopped it to take some refreshments from a wayside restaurant. Then he tried to start the car, but failed. He tried his best but could not identify the problem or solve it. As he remained worried and stranded in a strange place, another similar car came forward and stopped near his car. An elderly man alighted from the car and smiling softly, asked the person about his problem. Hearing that the car refused to start, the stranger told him, “Let me try. I have some experience in handling this model.” He examined the car, made some quick adjustments and started it. The car roared into life. The man thanked the helper and praised his skill. Then he asked his name. The stranger told him, “My name is Henry Ford. I am familiar with every part of this car as I was closely associated with every stage of its design, development and manufacture.” The man was surprised to find that the stranger was the great Henry Ford, who founded the Ford Motor Company in 1903.

Henry Ford (1863-1947), after innovative and extensive experiments had developed the Model T car in1908 as a simple, reliable and affordable car which was within the economic reach of the average American. By developing the concept of ‘assembly line’ in motor car manufacture, Ford could increase the efficiency of manufacture and decrease the cost of production. He lowered the price of the car and revolutionized the manufacture and use of cars in USA.

In the journey of life, we may encounter a variety of problems concerned with different facets of our life such as health, education, work, relations, family and finance. We often create unnecessary tension, anxiety and worry when we try to solve the problems by ourselves. Like the car- designer in the story, we have an expert creator, who knows everything about us and our life, our requirements, weaknesses and capabilities and so is able to solve any problem associated with our life. Let us have the humility to surrender ourselves before the omnipotent God. He is the loving Lord who has a definite plan for the welfare of each of us.

It is said that the shortest distance between a problem and its solution is the distance between our knees and the floor. The one who kneels to the Lord can face any problem with confidence. When prayers go up, blessings come down. Prayer should be the ‘steering wheel’ and not the ‘spare wheel’ in the vehicle of our life. God answers ‘KNEE-MAIL’ without fail.

The Lord has said, “By my great power and strength I created the world, mankind and all the animals that live on the earth {Jeremiah 27: 5}. David praises the creator, “Lord, you have made so many things! How wisely you made them all! The earth is filled with your creatures {Psalms 104:24}.

“The Lord says…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}.

“Happy are those who are humble; they will receive what God has promised!”{Matthew 5: 5}.

“Ask, and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you” {Matthew 7: Luke 11: 9}.

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}.

“Come near to God, and He will come near to you” {James 4:8}.

A CLOAK FOR CHRIST

2010-03-31T03:10:00.000-07:00

St. Martin of Tours (A.D. 316-397) was born as the son of a senior military officer of the Roman army. Attracted by the Christian doctrines, he went to the church as a candidate for baptism (catechumen) at the age of ten, even against the wishes of his pagan parents. At the age of fifteen he had to join the military.

On a bitterly cold winter day, he was passing through the city gates of Amiens. He saw a scantily dressed poor beggar, shivering in the snow storm. No one cared for him. Out of compassion, Martin cut his fine military cloak into two pieces with his sword. He gave one piece to the poor man who thankfully wrapped himself with it as a shawl. Martin covered himself with the other half.

That night, Martin had a dream. Jesus appeared before him, dressed in the half-cloak which he had gifted to the beggar. Jesus showed the mantle and said to the surrounding saints and angels “Martin, as yet only a catechumen, has covered me with this cloak.”

Martin remembered the words of Jesus: “I tell you, whenever you did this for one of the least important of these brothers of mine, you did this for me” {Matthew 25: 40}. He got baptized soon. He renounced the army and announced that he would be a soldier of Christ. He spent the rest of his life as a zealous missionary, preaching the word of God and suffering humiliation and punishment to uphold his faith. He lived as a monk and formed the first monastery in France. Later he was ordained as the Bishop of Tours. He led the fight against heresy. He is a patron saint of soldiers and of France. The piece of the cloak kept by him became a holy relic, known as ‘St. Martin’s cloak’.

The early Christians cared for everyone, especially the sick and needy and shared their assets equitably to benefit everyone {Acts 4: 32-37}.

“Suppose there are brothers or sisters who need clothes and don’t have enough to eat. What good is there in your saying to them, “God bless you! Keep warm and eat well!”- if you don’t give them the necessities of life? So it is with faith: if it is alone and includes no actions, then it is dead” {James 2: 15-17}.

St. John advises, “My children, our love should not be just words and talk; it must be true love, which shows itself in action” {1 John 3:18}. "If someone says he loves God, but hates his brother, he is a liar. For he cannot love God, whom he has not seen, if he does not love his brother, whom he has seen"{1 John 4: 20, 21}.

“Whenever you possibly can, do good to those who need it. Never tell your neighbour to wait until tomorrow if you can help him now” {Proverbs 3: 27}.

© 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 our web-site: http://www.moralstorieschristian.blogspot.com

A GLASS OF MILK

2010-03-01T04:01:00.000-08:00

A poor student was walking along a road, carrying a bundle of books, to his school. He was from a very poor family and his parents could not provide him even regular food. As he was already late, he was almost running. He was hungry and very weak. Suddenly he felt exhausted and fell down, scattering his books on the roadside. Seeing his fall, a lady rushed to the spot from her house. She helped the boy to get up, collected his books and carried him to her house. The boy was very weak and hungry, but he did not ask for food. He asked for a little water to drink. The lady sensed his state and offered him a glass of milk. The boy accepted it with gratitude and continued his journey to the school. The incident remained fresh in his mind.

Several years rolled by. The lady became old, sick and weak. She was admitted to the local hospital. As her condition became worse, she was shifted to a large medical institute in a distant city. The senior doctor, who was also the director of the institute, examined her. He diagnosed her disorder and performed an immediate surgery. She was carried to the best room in the hospital and provided expert medical care. The staff was always ready to offer all assistance and care. Within a month, she could regain her health fully. She was informed that she would be discharged the next day. She was worried about the bill as she was poor and could not afford to pay a large amount. She planned to sell her house to settle the bill. She enquired about the bill. The bill was presented to her. She examined it anxiously. On the top of the bill, there was a note signed by the director of the institute, “THE AMOUNT HAS BEEN PAID IN FULL BY A GLASS OF MILK.”

Slowly she recollected the incident when she gave a glass of milk to a poor, weak and hungry boy who fell down on the road near her residence. By this time, the director himself came to her room and she could recognize his face. He was the same boy whom she had helped with a glass of milk a long time ago. He had recognized her earlier and gratefully made elaborate arrangements for her treatment and paid the expenses from his own pocket, all for a glass of milk and tender care received in a crucial moment of his life, during his hard times, long before he became a distinguished doctor by his hard work and earnest efforts.

The road from Jerusalem to Jericho passes through our front. Let us behave like the Good Samaritan and be of help to any one in need.

“Give to the poor and you will never be in need” {Proverbs 28:27}.

“Be generous and share your food with the poor. You will be blessed for it” {Proverbs 22: 9}.

“Happy are those who are merciful to others; God will be merciful to them!” {Matthew 5: 7}.

“ I was hungry and you fed 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 took care of me, in prison and you visited me {Matthew 25:35, 36}

“”I tell you, whenever you did this for one of the least important of brothers of mine, you did it for me!” {Matthew 25: 40}.

For more moral stories, parables and anecdotes for students, catechists, teachers and preachers, kindly visit my web-site: http://www.moralstorieschristian.blogspot.com

A CRUEL CUSTOM

2010-01-19T08:27:00.000-08:00

A country had a cruel but compulsory custom. Every man who attains the age of seventy five years was to be sent to the forest where he would spend the remaining years of his life practicing renunciation of all pleasures and meditation to attain salvation. As the custom prevailed for centuries, no one dared to question it or disobey it. It was deemed to be a divine decision.

An old man celebrated his 75th birthday and tearfully bid farewell to his family. His eldest son accompanied him in the long and arduous journey to the forest. The old man carried a knife with him and he was carefully cutting down the thorny bushes on either side of the narrow path. Finally they reached the forest and while departing, the son asked him why he was cutting the thorns on the way. The loving father replied, “It was to make your return journey safe and comfortable.”

The son was deeply moved by the tender care his father was showing to him even when he was abandoning the old father in the forest to lead a painful life in a dangerous jungle with uncertain future. The incident opened his eyes. Returning home, he talked to his friends and relatives about the desperate plight of the old people they abandoned for the sake of complying with a cruel custom. Gradually, his mission found results. The people began to think about the cruelty of their traditional ritual. The matter was discussed in the king’s court and respecting the opinion of the majority, the king proclaimed that the custom shall not continue. He sent his troops to bring the abandoned old men back to their homes. The citizens gladly followed the army and they could trace many old men from different parts of the dense forest. But the loving old man could not be found anywhere. At last, his son spotted parts of his clothes near a cave. He rushed to examine the clothes but they were found to be stained with blood. It was obvious that the old man had fallen prey to some wild carnivore. The sad citizens returned to their country in silence, but enlightened in spirit.

God commanded, “Respect your father and your mother, so that you may live a long time in the land that I am giving you” {Exodus 20: 12}. This is a commandment written by God for man. This commandment is special in that it is associated with a reward.

St. Paul teaches, “Children, it is your Christian duty to obey your parents, for this is the right thing to do. ‘Respect your father and mother’ is the first commandment that has a promise added,’ so that all may go well with you, and you may live a long time in the land” {Ephesians 6:1-3}.

“God’s curse on anyone who dishonours his father or mother” {Deuteronomy 27:16}. “Any one who makes fun of his father or despises his mother in her old age ought to be eaten by vultures or have his eyes picked out by wild ravens” {Proverbs 30: 17}.

“Honour your father with all your heart, and never forget how your mother suffered when you were born. Remember that you owe your life to them. How can you ever repay them for all they have done for you?” {Sirach 7: 27, 28}.

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 my web-site: http://www.moralstorieschristian.blogspot.com

LOFTY LOVE

2010-01-04T21:29:00.000-08:00

There was a tree with several branches overhanging a pond. A flying crane landed on a branch with a thud. An ant was resting on the branch. In the jerk of the bird’s landing, the ant lost its grip and fell into the pond. Looking down, the crane saw the ant in the water, struggling for its life. The bird was kind and felt sorry for causing the ant’s fall. To save its life, the bird plucked a leaf from the tree and dropped it into the pond. It fell close to the ant. With much effort, the ant climbed on to the leaf and was driven ashore by the wind. It looked at the bird with gratitude. Suddenly he saw a hunter aiming his gun at the bird. The ant rushed to the hunter with all his might. Just as he pulled the trigger, the ant gave a sharp bite on his leg. He lost his aim. The bird, warned by the sound of the gunshot, flew away to a safer place.

The bird’s act of love was a compensation for causing the fall of the ant. The action of the ant exemplifies ‘reciprocal love’ or love for those who love and help us. Another form of love is ‘aesthetic love’ shown towards lovely objects like fragrant flowers, beautiful butterflies and smiling kids. ‘Selfish love’ is a false show of affection in anticipation of some material benefit.

Christian love or sacrificial love is different from and superior to all other forms of love. It is more extensive and extends even to our enemies and to those who cannot return our love. It has no limits or conditions.

Jesus taught us, "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}.

Jesus taught, “My commandment is this: love one another, just as I love you. The greatest love a person can have for his friends is to give his life for them” {John 15:12, 13}.

Christ on the Cross prayed for the cruel people who crucified Him. His outstretched hands on the Cross could embrace the entire human race. Lying on the Cross, He prayed, “Forgive them, Father! They don’t know what they are doing.” {Luke 23: 34}.

St. John reminds us, “My children, our love should not be just words and talk; it must be true love, which shows itself in action” {1 John 3:18}.

END OF ENVY

2009-08-26T05:10:00.000-07:00

Two beautiful fishes lived in a river. They used to boast about their beauty and were envious of each other. Often they quarrelled with each other, each one claiming to be more beautiful than the other.

One day while quarrelling as usual, they found a crocodile close to them and silently watching them. They did not know that it was patiently awaiting its prey. Assuming that it was appreciating their beauty, they sought its mediation to resolve their long-time dispute.

Which one of us is more beautiful, uncle? they asked the crocodile. The crooked crocodile stared at the pair and said, Both of you are beautiful. I will test it in detail and judge. So saying, it made a sudden movement and snatched them with its powerful jaws. While swallowing them gladly, it finalised the judgment: You are equally pretty and equally tasty too!

Peace of mind makes the body healthy, but jealousy is like a cancer {Proverbs 14: 30}.

Where there is jealousy and selfishness,there is also disorder and every kind of evil {James 3: 16}.

Whoever does not love does not know God, for GOD IS LOVE {1 John 4:8}.

Rid yourselves, then, of all evil; no more lying or hypocrisy or jealousy or insulting language. Be like new-born babies, always thirsty for the pure spiritual milk, so that by drinking it you may grow up and be saved {1 Peter 2:1,2}.

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

Wedding Passbook

2009-08-21T06:25:00.000-07:00

Monica married Nick this day. At the end of the wedding party, Monica's mother gave her a newly opened bank saving passbook with Rs.1000 deposit amount.

Mother: 'Monica, take this passbook. Keep it as a record of your marriage life. When there's something happy and memorable happened in your new life, put some money in. Write down what it's about next to the line. The more memorable the event is, the more money you can put in. I've done the first one for you today. Do the others with Nick.

When you look back after years, you can know how much happiness you've had.'

Monica shared this with Nick when getting home. They both thought it was a great idea and were anxious to know when the second deposit can be made. This was what they did after certain time:

* 7 Feb: Rs.100, first birthday celebration for Nick after marriage
* 1 Mar: Rs.300, salary raise for Monica
* 20 Mar: Rs.200, vacation trip to Bali
* 15 Apr: Rs.2000, Monica got pregnant
* 1 Jun: Rs.1000, Nick got promoted
* ..... And so on...

However, after years, they started fighting and arguing for trivial things. They didn't talk much. They regretted that they had married the nastiest people in the world.... No more love...Kind of typical nowadays, huh?

One day Monica talked to her Mother: 'Mom, we can't stand it anymore. We agree to divorce. I can't imagine how I decided to marry this guy!!!"

Mother: 'Sure, girl, that's no big deal. Just do whatever you want if you really can't stand it. But before that, do one thing first.

Remember the saving passbook I gave you on your wedding day? Take out all money and spend it first. You shouldn't keep any record of such a poor marriage.'

Monica thought it was true. So she went to the bank, waiting at the queue and planning to cancel the account. While she was waiting, she took a look at the passbook record. She looked, and looked, and looked. Then the memory of all the previous joy and happiness just came up her mind. Her eyes were then filled with tears. She left and went home.

When she was home, she handed the passbook to Nick, asked him to spend the money before getting divorce.

The next day, Nick gave the passbook back to Monica. She found a new deposit of Rs.5000. And a line next to the record: 'This is the day I notice how much I've loved you thru out all these years. How much happiness you've brought me.'

They hugged and cried, putting the passbook back to the safe. Do you know how much money they had saved when they retired? I did not ask. I believe the money did not matter any more after they had gone thru all the good years in their life.

"When you fall in any way, don't see the place where you fell instead see the place from where you slipped. Life is about correcting mistakes."

A RING FOR THE KING

2009-08-17T07:50:00.000-07:00

There are several legends about King David and his wise son, King Solomon. Different versions of the same folk tale are popular. In one of these stories, King David sees in a dream a magic ring, wearing which makes a hopeless man happy and a merry man worried.

The next morning, he summoned his goldsmith and ordered him to make such a ring for him to wear, as a cure for the frequent episodes of depression in his stressful life. The confused goldsmith went out worried about his fate if he failed to follow the kings order. On the way home, he met prince Solomon. Solomon asked him about his worry. He told about the kings strange order.

The wise prince consoled him and told him, It is easy. Make an ordinary golden ring for the king. Engrave the words, THIS TOO SHALL PASS on the ring and present it to the king. When he reads it in a depressed mood, he will become hopeful and happy, learning that his problems would pass away. Later, when he reads it in a merry mood, it will remind him that his pleasures are not permanent. It will enlighten him and remove his joy.

The old goldsmith fashioned the ring as suggested by the prince and presented it to the king. The king was pleased to read the meaningful message. He gave rich rewards to the goldsmith and praised the wisdom of the young prince.

King David wore the ring and after several years, gifted it to his heir, Solomon. King Solomon also preserved it as a treasure . It provided him inspiration and peace of mind both in prosperity and adversity.

The words on the ring could provide consolation to a depressed mind and enlightenment during moments of pride. The ring could make a sad person glad and a glad person sad.

Life is short and all worldly riches and luxury have to be left behind when we die. They give only a temporary joy. Sinful indulgence in worldly pleasures may lead to everlasting agony in a hell of horror.

If winter comes, can spring be far behind? There is an Easter following every Good Friday. Hope in the promises of Christ enable us to overcome periods of pain, poverty and adversity. Our ultimate goal is a close communion with our Creator in a heaven of happiness.

Be strong, be courageous, all you that hope in the LORD {Psalms 31: 24}

The Book of Revelation reveals the good news about The New Heaven and the New Earth: God Himself will be with them, and He will be their God. He will wipe away all tears from their eyes. There will be no more death, no more grief or crying or pain. The old things have disappeared {Revelation 21: 3, 4}.

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

A LOVELY LITTLE LILY

2009-08-12T08:15:00.000-07:00

A little lily plant developed pretty, white flowers with a fine fragrance. The fragrance reached a tall teak tree standing near the lily. The teak tree became envious of the lily as it could not produce such beautiful and fragrant flowers. The teak told the lily, Hey Lily, you are silly and too tiny. You are weak and fragile.But I am tall and strong. I can withstand heat, rain or storm. The lily was silent and continued to enrich the environment by its fine fragrance.

The next day, a team of wood-cutters reached that site. They cut down the branches of the teak tree and finally felled the whole tree. Then they carried it away, cut its timber into planks and blocks and built several pieces of furniture with its wood. The small lily stood there silently, worrying about the fate of the teak and spreading its fragrance all around.

A tiny fish was swimming silently across a lake. A larger carnivorous fish rushed to the spot and opened its large mouth to swallow the little fish. The tiny fish begged to let her free. But the large fish laughed at him and asked with anger and arrogance, How dare you talk to me? You are too small and silly. I am so strong and stout. I will finish you in a moment. But suddenly, a fisherman lowered his net from a boat. The large fish was caught in the net, entangled and entrapped in its meshes. The tiny fish easily escaped through a mesh of the net.

It is sometimes safer and sweeter to be small and insignificant. Ben Jonson (1572-1637), in his famous poem on true growth, comments on the contrasting characteristics of a little lily and a gigantic oak tree. He concludes,

A lily of a day
Is fairer far in May.
Although it fall and die that night,
It was the plant and flower of light.
In small proportions we just beauties see;
And in short measures life may perfect be.

Cain and Abel were the children of Adam and Eve with contradictory character. The life of the saintly Abel was short but sweet. The wicked Cain led a long but lamentable life {Genesis 4:1-16}..

Jesus loved children. When His disciples argued among themselves to decide who among them was the greatest, Jesus introduced a child and asked them to become like children. He said, I assure you that unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. The greatest in the kingdom of heaven is the one who humbles himself and becomes like the child. And whoever welcomes in my name one such child as this, welcomes me {Matthew 18:2-5}.

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

Who's Your Daddy?

2009-08-06T01:41:00.000-07:00

A seminary professor was vacationing with his wife in Gatlinburg, TN. One morning, they were eating breakfast at a little restaurant, hoping to enjoy a quiet, family meal. While they were waiting for their food, they noticed a distinguished looking, white-haired man moving from table to table, visiting with the guests. The professor leaned over and whispered to his wife, "I hope he doesn't come over here." But sure enough, the man did come over to their table.

"Where are you folks from?" he asked in a friendly voice. "Oklahoma," they answered. "Great to have you here in Tennessee," the stranger said. "What do you do for a living?" "I teach at a seminary," he replied. "Oh, so you teach preachers how to preach, do you? Well, I've got a really great story for you." And with that, the gentleman pulled up a chair and sat down at the table with the couple. The professor groaned and thought to himself, "Great... Just what I need... another preacher story!"

The man started, "See that mountain over there? (Pointing out the restaurant window). Not far from the base of that mountain, there was a boy born to an unwed mother. He had a hard time growing up, because every place he went, he was always asked the same question, 'Hey boy, who’s your daddy?' Whether he was at school, in the grocery store or drug store, people would ask the same question! 'Who's your daddy?' He would hide at recess and lunchtime from other students. He would avoid going in to stores because that question hurt him so bad. When he was about 12 years old, a new preacher came to his church. He would always go in late and slip out early to avoid hearing the question, 'Who's your daddy?' But one day, the new preacher said the benediction so fast he got caught and had to walk out with the crowd. Just about the time he got to the Back door, the new preacher, not knowing anything about him, put his hand on his shoulder and asked him, Son, who's your daddy? The whole church got deathly quiet. He could feel every eye in the church looking at him. Now everyone would finally know the answer to the question, 'Who's your daddy.'

This new preacher, though, sensed the situation around him & using discernment that only the Holy Spirit could give, said the following to that scared little boy..." Wait a minute!' he said. 'I know who you are. I see the family resemblance now. You are a child of God.' With that he patted the boy on his shoulder and said, Boy, you've got a great inheritance. Go and claim it. With that, the boy smiled for the first time in long time and walked out the door a changed person. He was never the same again. Whenever anybody asked him, 'Who's your Daddy?' he'd just tell them, 'I'm a Child of God.'"

The distinguished gentleman got up from the table and said, "Isn't that a great story" The professor responded that it really was a great story! As the man turned to leave, he said, "You know, if that new preacher hadn't told me that I was one of God's children, I probably never would have amounted to anything!" And he walked away.

The seminary professor and his wife were stunned. He called the waitress over & asked her, "Do you know who that man was who just left that was sitting at our table?" The waitress grinned and said, "Of course. Everybody here knows him. That's Ben Hooper. He's the former governor of Tennessee!"

CORRECT CONCEPTION

2009-07-24T04:50:00.000-07:00

George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950), the renowned Irish dramatist and prolific writer was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature in 1925. When he was at the peak of his career, a very beautiful and famous actress approached him with a proposal for their marriage. She suggested that they would be very lucky if they got a child with his brains and her beauty. Shaw, who was not particularly handsome, humorously asked her to consider the ridiculous situation of the child getting her brains and his beauty!

An Indian girl child got the idea from her father that good children are born to parents who pray to God for that gift. She prayed for years to get a good child. She gave birth to the greatest ascetic and philosopher of India, Swami Vivekananda.

There is a view that Cain was conceived in sin while Abel was conceived after the repentance of Adam and Eve. This was proposed to explain the contradictory behaviour of the two brothers.

Mother Teresa said that children are to be conceived in the mind long before conception in the womb. Hence even men can conceive children- in their mind. An adopted child later defined adoption as being born in your mothers mind though not conceived in her womb.

It is feared that children born to aged mothers may be defective. But the Bible lists mothers who conceived in their old age after long years of fervent prayer and delivered outstanding children. Abraham and Sarah, Elkanah and Hannah, St. Joachim and St. Anne and St. Zechariah and St. Elizabeth were parents whose prayers were answered by God and were blessed with exceptionally gifted children in their old age. Children are the lovely and living gifts of our loving God.

A saintly woman was praying to God for the gift of an effective remedy for the deadly disease, AIDS. In a vision she was told that God had sent the information for making the medicine through the brain of a gifted child, but the child was ruthlessly aborted by his cruel parents.

Life is a great gift of God and man has no right to end it by suicide or homicide. Abortion is early infanticide and euthanasia is another form of brutal murder. In these evil acts the victim is helpless and unable even to react.

Jesus taught his disciples, And whoever welcomes in my name one such child as this, welcomes me {Matthew 18: 5}.

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

INNOCENT INQUIRIES

2009-07-18T00:57:00.000-07:00

A child complained to his mother that he has severe stomach-ache. She told him, "It is because your belly is empty. Come and have some food." The child obeyed. The next day the mother had a heavy head ache. The child consoled her, saying innocently, "Mommy, it is because your head is empty!"

On another occasion, the curious child asked his mother, "Mommy, why are some of your hairs turning grey?" She tried to use this occasion to reform him. "It is because of you, dear. Every bad action of yours will turn one of my hairs grey!" The child replied innocently, "Now I know why your mother has only grey hairs on her head."

A catechist was explaining in his class the verse 9 from Psalm 51: "Cleanse me with hyssop, that I may be pure; wash me, make me whiter than snow." An inquisitive student asked him, "What is meant by the word, 'hyssop'?" The teacher thought for a moment but could not recollect it. But he was reluctant to expose his ignorance before his students. He posed to be a scholar and explained that hyssop was a type of 'soap' used by King David to cleanse his body. The students were satisfied. But later on, they would have understood what hyssop really is and then they would have mocked at their haughty teacher. The hyssop is a Biblical bushy plant, whose twigs were dipped in sacrificial blood or blessed water and sprinkled on people or door-posts as a Jewish religious ritual for purification.

Parents and teachers often forget that children have the right to learn the truth from them. Children may try to imitate their parents and teachers as the children appreciate, admire and adore them. Children should hear and learn only the truth from their elders. Teachers, preachers and catechists need the humility to admit their ignorance in a particular matter before their students instead of imparting incorrect information, pretending to be scholars.

A true Christian should not tell a lie even if telling the truth may cause loss, suffering or pain. We should not tell a lie even if telling the lie may give us money, power or pleasure. St. Paul advises, "No more lying, then! Everyone must tell the truth to his fellow-believer, because we are all members together in the body of Christ" {Ephesians 4: 25}.

Jesus said, "You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free"{John 8: 32}. "Just say 'yes' or 'no' anything else you say comes from the evil one {Matthew 5: 37}.

"You can be sure that on Judgement Day everyone will have to give account of every useless word he has ever spoken. Your words will be used to judge you to declare you either innocent or guilty" {Matthew 12: 36, 37}.

By: Dr. Resmy Susan Babu, M.D, Senior Resident in Medicine, Govt. Medical College, Kottayam, Kerala, India & 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

How our inner Ego sometimes misjudges a PERSON

2009-07-17T06:37:00.000-07:00

A lady in a faded grey dress and her husband, dressed in a home-spun suit walked in timidly without an appointment into the Harvard University President's outer office. The secretary could tell in a moment that such backwoods, country hicks had no business at Harvard and probably didn't even deserve to be in Harvard.

"We want to see the President "the man said softly.

"He'll be busy all day "the secretary snapped.

"We'll wait" the lady replied.

For hours the secretary ignored them, hoping that the couple would finally become discouraged and go away. They didn't and the secretary grew frustrated and finally decided to disturb the president..

"Maybe if you see them for a few minutes, they'll leave" she said to him. The President, stern faced and with dignity, strutted toward the couple.

The lady told him "We had a son who attended Harvard for one year. He loved Harvard. He was happy here. But about a year ago, he was accidentally killed. My husband and I would like to erect a memorial to him, somewhere on campus."

The president wasn't touched....He was shocked. "Madam "he said, gruffly, " we can't put up a statue for every person who attended Harvard and died. If we did, this place would look like a cemetery."

"Oh, no," the lady explained quickly” We don't want to erect a statue. We thought we would like to give a building to Harvard."

The president rolled his eyes. He glanced at the gingham dress and homespun suit, and then exclaimed, "A building! Do you have any earthly idea how much a building costs? We have over seven and a half million dollars in the physical buildings here at Harvard."

For a moment the lady was silent. The president was pleased. Maybe he could get rid of them now. The lady turned to her husband and said quietly, "Is that all it costs to start a university ? Why don't we just start our own?"

Her husband nodded. The president's face wilted in confusion and bewilderment. Mr. and Mrs. Leland Stanford got up and walked away, traveling to Palo Alto, California where they established the University that bears their name: -StanfordUniversity, a memorial to a son that Harvard no longer cared about.

Most of the timewe judge people by their outer appearance, which can be misleading. And in this impression, we tend to treat people badly by thinking they can do nothing for us. Thus we tend to lose our potential good friends, employees or customers.

Remember

In our Life, we seldom get people with whom we want to share & grow our thought process. But because of our inner EGO we miss them forever.

BOUNTEOUS BLESSINGS

2009-06-27T03:57:00.000-07:00

It was a Christmas Eve. A mother and her child were shopping in a large super market. There was a heavy rush of customers as the shop was to be closed on Christmas day. The shop was decorated beautifully. At the exit, a large bowl full of toffees was placed for the children. A stout gate-keeper was asking the children coming out of the store to have a handful each of the sweet toffees as Christmas gift.

When the mother and child came out, he politely asked the child to take the gift. But he stood still. The mother compelled him, but he was not willing to take it. Since more children were coming out, the gate-keeper took a handful of sweets from the bowl and put them into their carrier bag. The child was happy. When they were outside, the mother asked the child why he refused to take the toffees himself. He showed her his tiny hands and told innocently, My hands are small, Mommy; but the gate-keepers hands were so large in size. If I collect a handful, it will be too little. But he filled his large hand and gave me all of it. That was much more than what I could have collected! I was waiting for him to do it.

The childs attitude teaches us an important lesson about the abundance of Gods grace being bestowed upon us. What we acquire by our own efforts is too little compared to the infinite gifts of God. If we seek Gods grace, He will shower His gifts on us. Gods hands and mind are infinitely larger than ours. His gifts will be the best and most suitable for us and much more than what we can ask or think of {Ephesians 3:20}.

Jesus promised, Ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you {Matthew 7: 7, Luke 11: 9}. I have come in order that you might have life life in all its fullness {John 10: 10}.

He gives generously to the needy, and His kindness never fails {Psalms 112:9}.

But if any of you lacks wisdom, he should pray to God, who will give it to him; because God gives generously and graciously to all {James 1:5}.

And God is able to give you more than you need, so that you will always have all you need for yourselves and more than enough for every good cause {2 Corinthians 9: 8}.

And with all His abundant wealth through Christ Jesus, my God will supply all your needs {Philippians 4: 19}.

Let us praise God for His glorious grace, for the free gift He gave us in His dear Son! For by the sacrificial death of Christ we are set free, that is, our sins are forgiven. How great is the grace of God, which He gave to us in such large measure! {Ephesians 1:6-8}.

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 my web-site: http://www.moralstorieschristian.blogspot.com

What Exactly Is a Hero?

2009-06-25T07:32:00.000-07:00

Once, many years ago, I pulled a family out of a burning car somewhere in the middle of Wyoming. Last week I received a telephone call from a woman who could not stop crying as she told me that one of my stories had saved her son from committing suicide. In closing she called me a hero.

That got me to thinking about what a hero really is. Was I a hero because I pulled a family from a burning car? If so, how could I be a hero just because I wrote a story that saved someones life?

Today I decided to look up the word hero in the dictionary to see exactly what it meant.

It read A person who does something brave. As I read on, it also said A person who is good and noble. That statement impressed me more than did the part about being brave.

That got me to thinking about something very important. Say I was walking into the local Wal-Mart Store and I happened to open and hold the door for someone as a courtesy. As they passed me by, I say How are you today?

Most of the time that would be no big deal, but this time lets say it was for someone who is deeply depressed and near the end of the rope. That may have very well been the only kindness or courtesy shown to them in a very long time.

Having been near the end of my rope, after my marriage of twenty years ended, I was in such a condition. I was within hours of trying to get up enough nerve to end the pain and misery. When I returned home, someone had sent me a card in the mail which told me how much they appreciate me as a friend. That wonderful card probably saved my life. That person, without even knowing it, saved a life and became a hero.

I went on to write many stories which last week saved the life of a teenage boy. In turn that makes the person who sent me the card a double hero.

I suppose that is why I fight so hard to help the children now living in orphanages. Most children come out of these institutions with a very hard and vindictive attitude against the world. The gifts we send them let them know that they have not been forgotten. Hopefully, most of them will never hurt anyone because of the kindness shown to them by those of us who cared. If it works we will also become heroes.

Gee, who would have ever thought that anyone can become a hero, and possibly save a life, just by being kind and courteous to others? The best part of all is that becoming a hero is free to all who wish to wear such an honour.

By Roger Dean Kiser

God has instilled greatness within each of us that is meant to be used to bring glory and honour to His name. The gifts that we have been given may seem miniscule to us, but it can mean the world to someone in need of what we possess. We should never undervalue our gifts thinking that we are not special enough to touch someone else and encourage them to continue on.

God has us here for a special purpose that is meant to minister grace to those near to us to let them know that All will be well and nothing by any means shall be able to harm them. Believe in yourself this day and allow the Lord to use you to encourage and bless someone else that is in need of what only you can give. (Isaiah 54:17) (Philippians 2:13-15)

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that will show forth the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. -- 1 Peter 2:9

No Pain No Gain

2009-06-23T06:24:00.000-07:00

No Pain No Gain… Accept the Pain, Future will be Fruitful…

Don't feel the work you are doing is pain, because there will be always a reason for that pain or work.

So face the pain, for the pain you face, there will definitely be happiness ahead.

LOVE WITHOUT LIMITS

2009-06-19T07:36:00.000-07:00

St. Maximilian Kolbe (1894-1941) was a saintly Franciscan priest of Poland. He was arrested and imprisoned by Gestapo, the German secret police under the Nazi regime. Later he was shifted to the Nazi concentration camp of Auschwitz in Poland.

One day, one of the prisoners in the concentration camp was found to be missing. The authorities assumed that he had escaped, though later it was found that he had died by drowning in the camp latrine. It was ruled that instead of the missing prisoner, ten prisoners from the same barracks should be starved to death, to deter further attempts for escape. Of the ten prisoners selected to be killed, one was Franciszek Gajowniczek. Hearing the sentence of doom, he cried out desperately, Oh, my poor wife, my poor children! I shall never see them again. The prisoners present were in tears seeing this scene.

Hearing his cry in agony, Fr. Kolbe boldly stepped forward and said, I am a Catholic priest. Let me take his place. I am old. He has a wife and children.

The request of Fr. Kolbe to die instead of Franciszek was granted. The ten prisoners including Fr. Kolbe were shut in a closed chamber and left to die by starvation. Fr. Kolbe strengthened the prisoners and led them in prayer, rosary and singing of hymns. The prisoners died one after another by dehydration and starvation. Fr. Kolbe stayed alive, enlightening them by his words and prayer.

Finally, on 14th August, 1941, Fr. Kolbe was killed by injecting poisonous carbolic acid into the vein in his left hand. He readily raised his hand for receiving the deadly injection, with a prayer on his lips. The cell in which Fr. Kolbe was killed is now a shrine, a source of inspiration to innumerable pilgrims.

Franciszek Gajowniczek died at the age of 95 in 1995, 53 years after Fr. Kolbe saved him. He could witness the canonisation of Fr. Kolbe by Pope John Paul II on 10th October, 1982.

St. Maximilian Kolbe was a martyr of charity, a true follower of Jesus who taught and demonstrated the Gospel of love and sacrifice. Jesus said, My commandment is this: love one another, just as I love you. The greatest love a person can have for his friends is to give his life for them {John 15:12, 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

NICE NEIGHBOURS

2009-06-16T07:45:00.000-07:00

Miss. Maria was a poor, old woman staying alone in a cheap house in the outskirts of New York City. She subsisted on the meager pension granted by the Government to unemployed poor people.

She was kind and considerate to everyone. She was fond of children. They enjoyed her company and her nice words. She enlightened them by her wise words and interesting illustrations. She was loved by all her neighbours. They were willing to support her financially, but she thankfully refused all their offers. Still, they were waiting for a chance to help her.

On the first of a month, she returned home after collecting her regular pension. Later, she could not find the money in her house. She assumed that she had lost it on the way. She put up a notice on a board near her house stating that she had lost 100 dollars on the road and anyone who finds the money may kindly give it to her. She then went to the church and returned soon.

Reaching home, she was surprised to find several packets dropped into her house through an open window. She examined them and found that each contained exactly 100 dollars and a note that the money was picked up from the road. Obviously, these were the voluntary contributions of her loving neighbours, who were awaiting a chance to help her. She removed the notice soon, saying, "If it remains here, many more may find out the missing money!" Later, she could recover the missing money from her own house as it had been misplaced by her by mistake.

When we show kindness to others, others will shower it on us, especially when we are in need. But we must be kind to all, expecting nothing in return.

"Happy are those who are merciful to others; God will be merciful to them! {Matthew 5: 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

Non-Violence in Parenting

2009-06-10T03:41:00.000-07:00

Dr. Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and founder of the M.K. Gandhi Institute for Non-violence, in his June 9 lecture at the University of Puerto Rico, shared the following story as an example of "non-violence in parenting":

"I was 16 years old and living with my parents at the institute my grandfather had founded 18 miles outside of Durban, South Africa, in the middle of the sugar plantations. We were deep in the country and had no neighbours, so my two sisters and I would always look forward to going to town to visit friends or go to the movies.

One day, my father asked me to drive him to town for an all-day conference, and I jumped at the chance. Since I was going to town, my mother gave me a list of groceries she needed and, since I had all day in town, my father ask me to take care of several pending chores, such as getting the car serviced. When I dropped my father off that morning, he said, 'I will meet you here at 5:00 p.m., and we will go home together.'

After hurriedly completing my chores, I went straight to the nearest movie theatre. I got so engrossed in a John Wayne double-feature that I forgot the time. It was 5:30 before I remembered. By the time I ran to the garage and got the car and hurried to where my father was waiting for me, it was almost 6:00.

He anxiously asked me, 'Why were you late?' I was so ashamed of telling him I was watching a John Wayne western movie that I said, 'The car wasn't ready, so I had to wait,' not realizing that he had already called the garage. When he caught me in the lie, he said: 'There's something wrong in the way I brought you up that didn't give you the confidence to tell me the truth. In order to figure out where I went wrong with you, I'm going to walk home 18 miles and think about it.'

So, dressed in his suit and dress shoes, he began to walk home in the dark on mostly unpaved, unlit roads. I couldn't leave him, so for five-and-a-half hours I drove behind him, watching my father go through this agony for a stupid lie that I uttered.

I decided then and there that I was never going to lie again. I often think about that episode and wonder, if he had punished me the way we punish our children, whether I would have learned a lesson at all. I don't think so. I would have suffered the punishment and gone on doing the same thing. But this single non-violent action was so powerful that it is still as if it happened yesterday. That is the power of non-violence.

A PRINCIPLED PRESIDENT

2009-06-09T07:48:00.000-07:00

In the eighteenth century, in a stormy night, a huge tree got uprooted and fell across a busy road in Baltimore in the state of Maryland in the USA. A team of soldiers were deputed to clear the block. They cut the branches of the tree and tried their best to move the large log from the road. But they could not move it as it was very heavy. Their superior officer, a stout and strong man on horseback, was watching their work, giving strong directions and stern commands, without any physical participation in the work.

A passer-by on a white horse saw the scene. He asked the officer why he did not lend a helping hand to the sweating soldiers instead of giving loud oral orders. The officer replied in a rage, "I am the officer in command of this operation. I am their superior officer. It is below my dignity to work with them."

The traveller readily removed his hat and coat and joined the soldiers. Toiling together, after much effort, they could remove the log and clear the block on the road. While departing, the traveller told the officer, "When you have a difficult work, you can call me. I will come to help you." "Who are you?" asked the officer. "I am George Washington," replied the stranger as he speeded on his horse. The officer was struck with wonder and shame. The stranger was the President of the USA and the Commander-in-Chief of the US military.

George Washington (1732-1799) who commanded the American forces during the historic War of independence was the first President of the USA. He was a principled leader, a great statesman and a renowned philanthropist.

Kindness and compassionate love to all, especially to the poor and underprivileged, is the sign of genuine greatness and real leadership. A leader is one who knows the way, shows the way and goes the way. He should not be like passive sign boards which show the way silently, without active involvement in the movement.

Jesus taught His disciples, "The greatest one among you must be like the youngest, and the leader must be like the servant But I am among you as one who serves" {Luke 22: 26, 27}.

Jesus advised, "The greatest one among you must be your servant {Matthew 23: 11}. Jesus promised, "Everyone who makes himself great will be humbled, and everyone who humbles himself will be made great {Luke 14: 11, Luke 18:14}.

Humility is the greatest of graces.

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

A DARING DONATION

2009-06-04T06:13:00.000-07:00

An orphanage in a remote village in Vietnam was bombed in the Vietnam War. Many children were wounded and some died. The French missionaries who owned the orphanage and the vigilant villagers tried their best to rescue the children. But medical care was not available. Some of them ran to the neighbouring town and sent a message to the MASH (Mobile Army Surgical Hospital) Unit of the American military. The mobile medical unit rushed to the orphanage with a team of doctors, nurses and other staff and started their operation to save the wounded children. An eight year old little girl was badly wounded. She had lost a lot of blood and was in a very critical state. The only step to save her life was an immediate blood transfusion.

They examined her blood. It was of a very rare group. A donor with a compatible blood group was needed urgently. None of the members of the medical team or the staff of the orphanage or the available villagers had a matching blood group. They tested the blood of the children and identified a few little boys with the required blood group. As the members of the team were not proficient in the local language, they could not communicate with the boys clearly. They tried their best to request them to volunteer to donate blood to save the dying girl. One little boy stepped forward, ready to donate his blood. During the transfusion he started to sob and appeared to be mentally disturbed. The staff tried their best to console him.

Then a Vietnamese nurse arrived. She talked to the boy and enquired in the local language about the cause of his worry. She had a long conversation and hearing her words of assurance, the boy appeared to be remarkably relieved. His sobs were replaced by a smile. He was peaceful and jubilant. The nurse then explained the real situation. When the team requested his blood to save the girl, the poor boy had a major misunderstanding. He thought that they were demanding ALL the blood in his little body. He believed that when all his blood is drained, he would die. Still he was ready to offer his blood to save the girl. The barrier of language made the team unable to explain the details to him. The words of the local nurse consoled him considerably.

The American staff then inquired why the boy volunteered to donate his blood though he feared it would end his life. The Vietnamese nurse replied that she had asked the same question to the boy. His answer was, Because she is my friend!

Jesus taught, My commandment is this: love one another, just as I love you. The greatest love a person can have for his friends is to give his life for them {John 15:12, 13}.

St. John reminds us, My children, our love should not be just words and talk; it must be true love, which shows itself in action {1 John 3:18}.

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

Let Go...

2009-06-04T06:01:00.000-07:00

The following is a very meaningful story which is called "Let Go", and written by Dr. Billy Graham.

A little child was playing one day with a very valuable vase. He put his hand into it and could not withdraw it. His father too, tried his best, but all in vain. They were thinking of breaking the vase when the father said, "Now, my son, make one more try. Open your hand and hold your fingers out straight as you see me doing, and then pull."

To their astonishment the little fellow said, "O no, father. I couldn't put my fingers out like that, because if I did I would drop my penny."

Smile, if you will--but thousands of us are like that little boy, so busy holding on to the world's worthless penny that we cannot accept liberation. I beg you to drop the trifle in your heart. Surrender! Let go, and let God have His way in your life.

Chicken a la Carte

2009-05-29T00:43:00.001-07:00

Chicken a la Carte : Director: Ferdinand Dimadura Genre: Drama Produced In: 2005
Synopsis: This film is about the hunger and poverty brought about by Globalization. There are 10,000 people dying everyday due to hunger and malnutrition. This short film shows a forgotten portion of the society. The people who live on the refuse of men to survive. What is inspiring is the hope and spirituality that never left this people.

THE SILENCED BELL

2009-05-27T07:49:00.000-07:00

The poem, 'Curfew Must not Ring Tonight' by Rose Hartwick Thorpe written in 1867 is based on an incident during the reign of Oliver Cromwell (1599-1658) as 'Lord Protector' of England. It describes the deep love of Bessie, a young and beautiful girl, with the young soldier, Basil Underwood. The soldier was charged with a crime and imprisoned. He was tried, found guilty and condemned to be shot dead at the moment when the bell rings to signal the evening curfew.

The executioners were waiting to hear the curfew bell to carry out the execution. Exactly at the prescribed moment, the bell-ringer grabbed the large rope and pulled it with full force to sound the huge bell. The bell moved but there was no sound. He pulled several times but the bell was silent. Cromwell sent soldiers to investigate why the bell did not sound. They found that Bessie, the soldier's fiance had climbed to the top of the bell tower and tied herself to the huge clapper hanging in the heavy bell to prevent its striking against the bell. She was knocked back and forth and smashed between the bell and the clapper with every pull of the rope. Her head, hands and ribs were crushed. She was produced before Cromwell with a bruised and bleeding body. Cromwell was deeply impressed by her willingness to suffer for love. He appreciated her heroic and courageous action and immediately pardoned the prisoner. He said to the lady, "Your lover shall live because of your sacrifice. Curfew shall not ring tonight."

True love enables one to bear any injury or insult. St. Paul writes "I may be able to speak the languages of men and even of angels, but if I have no love, my speech is no more than a noisy gong or a clanging bell {1Corinthians 13: 1}. He adds, "Love never gives up; and its faith, hope and patience never fail" {1 Corinthians, 13: 7}.

Jesus demonstrated God's infinite love by suffering public humiliation, agonizing pain and death on the Cross at Calvary to save humanity from the clutches of sin.

Jesus taught "And now I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. If you have love for one another, then everyone will know that you are my disciples" {John 13: 34, 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

TRUTH TRIUMPHS

2009-05-26T07:50:00.000-07:00

The story, "God Sees the Truth, but Waits" by Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910) depicts the sufferings of a truthful merchant, Ivan Dmitrich Aksionov of the Russian City of Vladimir. He left his family on a business tour. On the way he shared an inn during night with a fellow merchant. He left the inn before dawn and continued his journey. He was chased and stopped by a police officer and two soldiers. They questioned him about his role in the murder of the merchant who shared the inn with him. Aksionov was innocent but the officials recovered a blood-stained knife from his bag. He was arrested, tried, convicted, scourged and deported as prisoner to Siberia where he had to do hard labour for twenty six years. He prayed fervently expecting mercy from God, who alone knew the truth. He was loved by his authorities and fellow-prisoners.

A new batch of convicts reached his prison. One of them was Makar Semyonich, a hardened criminal from Vladimir. From his talk, Aksionov learned that Semyonich was the criminal who had murdered the merchant, robbed him and hid the knife in Aksionov's bag. But Aksionov was not ready to take revenge. One day, he found that Semyonich was digging a tunnel under the wall of the prison to open a secret passage for his escape. The guards discovered the hole and questioned every prisoner. They questioned Aksionov, hoping that he would reveal the real culprit. But he did not reveal the matter. This saved Semyonich .That night, he knelt before Aksionov and sought his forgiveness, confessing his earlier crime for which the innocent Aksionov had to suffer for 26 years in prison.

Aksionov forgave and consoled the criminal saying, "God will forgive you!" The next day, Semyonich confessed his guilt to the authorities. Askionov was granted full pardon. He died in peace. Truth triumphed finally.

The story gives hope to innocent persons who are accused falsely. God will answer their prayers and finally give them relief, peace and joy. But God has His own plans about everybody. Our prayers may not be answered immediately. Criminals who conceal their crimes and pretend to be saints will be exposed and brought before the law one day. God has plans about every man.

"The Lord saysI 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

Perspectives

2009-05-19T00:49:00.000-07:00

One day a father and his rich family took his young son on a trip to the country with the firm purpose to show him how poor people can be. They spent a day and a night in the farm of a very poor family. When they got back from their trip the father asked his son,

"How was the trip?" Very good, Dad!" "Did you see how poor people can be?" the father asked. "Yeah!" "And what did you learn?"

The son answered, "I saw that we have a dog at home, and they have four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of the garden, they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lamps in the garden, they have the stars. Our patio reaches to the front yard, they have a whole horizon. When the little boy was finishing, his father was speechless.

His son added, "Thanks, Dad, for showing me how poor we are!" Isn't it true that it all depends on the way you look at things? If you have love, friends, family, health, good humor and a positive attitude toward life, you've got everything!

You can't buy any of these things. You can have all the material possessions you can imagine, provisions for the future, etc., but if you are poor of spirit, you have nothing!

A Little Boys Temper

2009-05-08T07:07:00.000-07:00

There once was a little boy who had a bad temper. His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the fence.

The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Over the next few weeks as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily, gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence. Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper.

The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone. The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. He said "you have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one."

You can put a knife in a man and draw it out. It won't matter how many times you say I'm sorry, the wound is still there.

Make sure you control your temper the next time you are tempted to say something you will regret later.

A HELPING HAND

2009-05-05T05:27:00.000-07:00

A father was working in his garden. His child was with him, trying his best to impress his father by performing minor works as directed by his father. The father saw a stone in the garden near his son and asked him to remove it. “We will plant a nice plant there instead”, he said. The child tried to move the stone but it did not move. He declared aloud that he could not move it. The father was at a distance and so he replied aloud, “Try again. Use all your means to remove it.” The child used all his might and still could not dislodge the stone. So he started to cry aloud. The father ran to him and pacified him.

“I told you to use all your means, didn’t I?" he asked. “Yes, I tried my best”, replied the crying child. “But you forgot about me, my dear. You could have sought my help. Why didn’t you include me in your ‘means’?” the child was enlightened. Working along with his father, he could easily move the large stone and plant a new plant in its place.

This happens to all of us. When we fail in an action, we feel depressed and dejected. We may forget God and His infinite strength. We must seek His help, always.

He is sure to help us, if our action suits His plan for us.

Without God, we are zeroes. With God, we are heroes.

God says,

“Do not be afraid- I am with you!

I am your God- let nothing terrify you!

I will make you strong and help you;

I will protect you and save you” {Isaiah 41: 10}.

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

CATS AND RATS

2009-05-05T05:18:00.000-07:00

Cats and rats are natural born enemies. Fight at first sight is the policy of most of the cats when they encounter rats. In stories, rats have tried to bell the cats but failed miserably. The rats have always failed in the fight against cats.

A group of rats held a serious discussion about their futile fights against cats. Lack of real leaders was suggested as the major reason for their constant failure. So the rats decided to form a strong army. The strongest warriors were selected and conferred the title of Generals. As a mark of distinction and identification, the Generals were crowned ceremoniously. Cracked shells of large nuts were stuck to the heads of the Generals using strong glue- the sticky gum of the jack fruit tree.

The crowned Generals were proud and glad. They gave commands to the ordinary warrior-rats and after several training sessions, organized their first major assault against the cats.

Filled with confidence in their new professional leadership, they marched forward to attack a group of cats resting nearby under the shade of a tree. The arrogant Generals adorned with the majestic crowns led the army. The cats instantly sprang upon the approaching rats and attacked them violently. The rats were scattered and ran in all directions. The frightened rats fled with full speed and quickly entered their narrow burrows to escape from the attacking cats. But the Generals who ran for their lives could not enter the narrow burrows. Their decorative crowns got stuck at the entrance and they were immobilized. All the Generals were killed and eaten by the rapidly advancing cats. The bulky crowns betrayed the boastful leaders and prevented their escape.

Jesus warned against the Teachers of the Law and the Pharisees who wore royal robes but were full of hypocrisy and sins. Do not imitate their actions, because they dont practice what they preachLook at the straps with scripture verses on them which they tie on their foreheads and arms, and notice how large they are! Notice also how long are the tassels on their cloaks!...The greatest one among you must be your servant. Whosoever makes himself great will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be made great {Matthew 23: 1-12}.

Watch out for the teachers of the Law, who like to walk around in their long robes and be greeted with respect in the market-place, who choose the reserved seats in the synagogues and the best places at feastsTheir punishment will be all the worse! {Mark 12: 38-40, Luke 20: 46, 47}.

Arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected {Proverbs 29: 23}. Happy are those who are humble; they will receive what God has promised!{Matthew 5: 5}.

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

Nick Vujicic, No Arms, No Legs, No Worries! Part 1 of 3

2009-04-28T07:32:00.001-07:00

Nick Vujicic, No Arms, No Legs, No Worries! Part 2 of 3

2009-04-28T07:31:00.000-07:00

Nick Vujicic, No Arms, No Legs, No Worries! Part 3

2009-04-28T07:26:00.000-07:00

Nick Vujicic Life Without Limbs

2009-04-28T07:18:00.000-07:00

A GREAT AND GENEROUS GIFT

2009-04-20T06:12:00.000-07:00

In 1971, a civil war erupted between the Eastern and western provinces of Pakistan. With the military involvement by India, it developed into an Indo-Pakistan war or Bangladesh Liberation war. Finally, East Pakistan was released as an independent nation, Bangladesh, with Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as its first prime minister.

During the war, more than ten million refugees fled East Pakistan across the border to India. India opened several large refugee camps along its border. The camps were crowded and the refugees were left jobless, far away from their native land. Though all possible measures were taken to provide essential facilities to them, many refugees were in constant poverty and frequent starvation.

The head of a family of five children was wandering in search of a job or some food to feed his family in the camp. They had been starving for several days and the children were dying of hunger. He could not find any job or food. Finally, he made a bold decision.

After sunset he returned to the camp and gave his wife a packet covered with leaves. He said in a tired voice, "This is all I could gather today. It is some meat for you. Cook it and eat. Feed our children well. I don't need it. Let me take some rest outside, in the open ground."

She quickly cooked the meat and fed the children. She ate some of it and laid the children to sleep. Then she came out, holding a lamp, to meet her husband. Seeing him lying in a pool of blood, she cried aloud and fainted. The other refugees rushed to the scene and found that he was dead. There were two large wounds on his thigh. They realized that he had cut off the flesh from his thighs and presented it to his wife and children as his last gift, as he failed to find any food for his starving family.

His sacrifice was an ex-pression of his abundant affection.

In the sacred sacrifice of Jesus we find a shower of infinite affection. He voluntarily sacrificed his life and shed even his last drop of blood to save us from sin and hell. He continues His holy sacrifice in the Eucharist, offering His body and blood to purify, redeem and strengthen us.

Jesus taught us, "The greatest love a person can have for his friends is to give his life for them" {John 15: 13}.

St. Paul advises, "Since you are God's dear children, you must try to be like him. Your life must be controlled by love, just as Christ loved us and gave his life for us as a sweet-smelling offering and sacrifice that pleases God" {Ephesians 5: 1, 2}.

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

ENJOY YOUR DAY!!!!

2009-03-31T03:09:00.000-07:00

A blind boy sat on the steps of a building with a hat by his feet. He held up a sign which said: 'I am blind, please help.' There were only a few coins in the hat.

A man was walking by. He took a few coins from his pocket and dropped them into the hat. He then took the sign, turned it around, and wrote some words. He put the sign back so that everyone who walked by would see the new words. Soon the hat began to fill up.

A lot more people were giving money to the blind boy. That afternoon the man who had changed the sign came to see how things were. The boy recognized his footsteps and asked, 'Were you the one who changed my sign this morning?

What did you write?' The man said, 'I only wrote the truth. I said what you said but in a
different way.' What he had written was: 'Today is a beautiful day and I cannot see it.'

Do you think the first sign and the second sign were saying the same thing?

Of course both signs told people the boy was blind. But the first sign simply said the boy was blind. The second sign told people they were so lucky that they were not blind. Should we be surprised that the second sign was more effective? Moral of the Story: Be thankful for what you have. Be creative. Be innovative. Think differently and positively.

The most beautiful thing is to see a person smiling…

And even more beautiful, knows that you are the reason behind it…

CEASELESS SEARCH

2009-03-24T07:18:00.000-07:00

An old man was reclining on an easy-chair. His grandson brought the news paper to him. Eager to read the news, he started to search for his spectacles. After a while the child asked what he was searching for. He replied that it was to find his spectacles. Laughing aloud, the child pointed to his face and said, "Grandpa, it is there-right on your face."

The old man realized that he was searching for his spectacles wearing them on his face.

On a dark night, a man was found to search for some article under the bright light of a street-lamp. Passers-by enquired about it. He replied that he was searching to find a lost needle. They gladly joined him in the search. After sometime they gave up the search as they could not find it. The man told them, "I was sure that you would not find them." They asked, "Why?" He replied, "That is because I lost the needle on the other side of the road." "But why did you search here, instead of searching on the other side?" they asked him. He replied calmly, "Simple. There is no light there. But here we have plenty of light." The people left the place cursing the crazy man.

Man is in continual search for many things- God, peace and joy. But he forgets to find them within him. Jesus taught, "The Kingdom of God is within you" {Luke 17: 21}.

Peace and joy are the results and reflections of a pure and innocent heart. "Happy are the pure in heart, they will see God!" {Matthew 5: 8}. Let us learn to listen to the whisper of our conscience. That is the word of God from within us.

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

THE DRIVER IS DEAD !

2009-03-13T05:52:00.001-07:00

A smart and active child was playing with a battery-operated toy car. It fell from his hands and stopped working. He took it to his father who was an engineer.

His father opened the car with a screwdriver to examine the trouble. The curious child was watching carefully. Suddenly he cried out in joy, "Daddy, I have found out why it doesn't work." He put his tiny fingers into the car's front seat and took out a dead fly. He declared aloud, "How can it work when the driver is dead?"

Actually, it was a wrong diagnosis. The father had found that the cells had been displaced by the fall. But he enjoyed the child's innocent comment. Later he repaired it and returned it to the child who resumed his play.

Whenever we encounter a failure or disaster in our life or career, we assign the responsibility to some other person. In some cases, the actual fault may be our own. But we attribute it to others or to 'ill-fate'.

Failures and negative incidents in life should be seen as part of God's plans for our ultimate welfare.

. God has definite and specific plans about every man.

"The Lord says 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}.

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

TEST BY TASTE

2009-02-26T06:51:00.000-08:00

A baby squirrel and her mother were seated on a branch of a tall tree near a cemetery. They saw a huge crowd of people in and around the cemetery. The dead body of a great leader was brought in a costly coffin in a decorated vehicle in an endless procession. Hundreds of cars followed the vehicle. Thousands of pretty wreaths were unloaded. The funeral was ceremonious. The Archbishop was the Chief Celebrant. Hundreds of priests and nuns and a multitude of political and religious leaders were present. After the funeral, a grand condolence meeting was held in the premises of the church nearby.

As the meeting was in progress, four people brought the dead body of a poor man to the cemetery. There was no vehicle or procession. The body was buried in a pit close to the place where the great man's body was buried.

The baby squirrel asked his mother, "We saw the funeral of two bodies. One was very showy. The other was very simple and silent. What is the difference between these two bodies?" The mother could not find any difference. But when the baby insisted, she decided to investigate it in detail. When everyone left the cemetery, they burrowed a small hole at the centre of the two pits to reach the bodies. Deep in the hole, they met a worm which survived on decayed dead bodies. The worm enquired about their action. They told that they were trying to study the difference between the two bodies buried in adjacent pits. The worm said, "I am an expert in examining dead bodies. Let me have a closer look. I will return soon and clarify your doubt." The worm went down into the pits, returned and declared, "I have tested the dead bodies thoroughly. There is no difference. They have the same taste!"

Diogenes was a great philosopher and a friend of Alexander, the Great. Once Alexander found Diogenes examining a large pile of bones. To Alexander's inquiry, Diogenes replied, "I am searching for the bones of your father, King Philip; but I cannot distinguish them from the bones of his slaves." Alexander learned a great truth from this action. Death is the universal equalizer. Everyone is equal before death as death comes to all - great and small {Job 3: 13-19}. At his deathbed, Alexander instructed his close associates to leave his hands hanging free on either side of the coffin during his royal funeral procession. That was to teach the world that he could carry nothing with him on his final journey.

"Don't be upset when a man becomes rich, when his wealth grows even greater; he cannot take it with him when he dies; his wealth will not go with him to the grave. Even if a man is satisfied with this life and is praised because he is successful, he will join all his ancestors in death, where the darkness lasts for ever. A man's greatness cannot save him from death; he will still die like the animals" {Psalm 49:16-20}.

"Provide for yourselves purses that don't wear out, and save your riches in heaven, where they will never decrease, because no thief can get to them and no moth can destroy them {Luke 12:33}.
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

A ROYAL REWARD

2009-02-06T20:49:00.000-08:00

Mr. George. C. Boldt reached USA as a poor immigrant from Europe. He did humble jobs in different hotels. In recognition of his honesty, hard work and dedication, he was raised to the level of manager in a hotel in Philadelphia.

On a cold, raining and stormy night, an enormously wealthy man, Mr. William Waldorf Astor visited the hotel with his wife and requested a room for the night. All the rooms in the hotel were already occupied. Mr. Boldt, who was very kind and considerate, did not have the mind to send them away in the stormy night to search for a room in another hotel. He offered them his own room in the hotel and spent the night in the office itself. The couple was immensely impressed by the managers compassionate concern for them.

The next morning, they thanked the manager most sincerely. While departing, Mr. Astor told him, You are the kind of manager who should be the boss of the best hotel in the USA. May be some day, I will build a hotel for you.

Mr. William Waldorf Astor (1848-1919), was a Senator and Statesman and the richest man in the USA. He later moved to England and was made a Baron in 1916 and a Viscount in 1917.

In 1893, he completed the construction of the grand, glamorous and splendid Waldorf Hotel in New York. He kept his promise to Mr. Boldt and invited him to New York. He appointed M. Boldt as the first manager of the grand new hotel. Mr. Boldt gladly accepted the offer and managed it most efficiently. Four years later, Mr. John Jacob Astor, the cousin of Mr. William Waldorf Astor erected the Astoria Hotel in the adjacent land and joined the two hotels as Waldorf-Astoria. Mr. Boldt managed the joint hotel excellently for several years and raised it to the level of the finest hotel in the world. It was world-renowned for the magnificent management and superb service.

God sees and values our actions, even the simplest and humblest of them. Every one who comes to us needs our care, concern and kindness. In the Parable of the Gold Coins, the king says to the faithful servant, You are a good servant! Since you were faithful in small matters, I will put you in charge of ten cities {Luke, 19: 17}.

Remember to welcome strangers in your homes. There were some who did that and welcomed angels without knowing it {Hebrews 13:2}.

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

St.Alphonsa : The Life and Message of the saint

2008-11-10T03:29:00.000-08:00

The newest Saint of India, Alphonsa, reveals that in the Cross the meaninglessness of suffering can give way to a profound experience of the love of God and neighbor in our daily lives. To read more visit: http://st-alphonsa.blogspot.com/

SILENT SUFFERING

2008-07-09T06:51:00.000-07:00

A saintly monk was leading a life of meditation near a village. The villagers used to give him food and respect his words of wisdom. One day the villagers rushed into his hermitage in a rage. They pushed a girl to his front and accused him of raping the girl as she had confessed before them that the monk was responsible for her pregnancy. He was innocent, but did not try to defend himself. He calmly asked them, "Is it so?" He readily agreed to support the girl in his hermitage. The villagers stopped feeding the sage and they started to ridicule him. To support him and the girl, the monk went to the forest and cut firewood. By selling the firewood, he could earn food for them. The girl delivered a baby and he supported them whole-heartedly.

Twelve years passed. Then, one day, the villagers came tearfully to the monk and begged his pardon for suspecting his sanctity. They had identified the culprit who had made the girl pregnant. He was now ready to accept the girl and child. The girl who was afraid of the miscreant had then told the name of the monk instead. The monk, without any excitement, repeated his earlier question "Is it so?" Then he entrusted the girl and the child to the villagers and silently resumed his meditation.

Silence is more powerful than argument. Jesus did not defend himself before the Priests, Pilate and Herod when the Jews accused him falsely. He silently suffered the Passion to redeem us from the clutches of sin.

Isaiah foretold the Passion of Christ in the words: "He was treated harshly, but endured it humbly; he never said a word. Like a lamb about to be slaughtered, like a sheep about to be sheared, he never said a word" {Isaiah 53:7}.

"When He was insulted, he did not answer back with an insult; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but placed His hopes in God, the righteous Judge" {1 Peter 2:23}.

Jesus taught us, "Happy are you when people insult you and persecute you and tell all kinds of evil lies against you because you are my followers. Be happy and glad, for a great reward is kept for you in heaven" {Matthew 4: 11, 12}.

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

LINCOLN AND LIBERATION

2008-07-09T06:49:00.000-07:00

Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865), the sixteenth President of U.S.A, was a great philanthropist and champion of human rights and dignity. His long struggle against slavery led to the amendment of the Constitution, abolishing slavery in the United States of America. He was assassinated in 1865.

There is a popular legend about his early days. Once, Abraham Lincoln happened to see a slave auction. He was disgusted by the sights and sounds of buying and selling of human beings in public. He saw a young woman displayed for sale as a slave. Her eyes were filled with contempt on everyone around her. She showed signs of the intense sufferings she encountered throughout her life. When the bidding began, Lincoln offered a bid for her. He countered others' bids with larger amounts until he won. He paid the auctioneer the money and took title to the young woman. She stared at her new master with hatred. She asked him what he was going to do with her. Lincoln told her, "I'm going to set you fully free. You can say and do whatever you want and go anywhere you wish to." She was hearing such kind words for the first time.
"Then I'm coming with you!" she said with a smile.

Man was under the slavery of sin. Jesus redeemed us and made us God's children {Galatians 4: 3-5}. Jesus provides true and complete liberation to man. St. Paul says, "Freedom is what we have - Christ has set us free! Stand, then, as free people, and do not allow yourselves to become slaves again" {Galatians 5:1}.

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

Why God allows pain and sufferings?

2008-06-24T01:20:00.000-07:00

A man went to a barbershop to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed. As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation.They talked about so many things and various subjects.When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said:"I don't believe that God exists."

"Why do you say that?" asked the customer. "Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn't exist.Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children? If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain. I can't imagine a loving God who would allow all of these things." The customer thought for a moment, but didn't respond because he didn't want to start an argument.The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop.

Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with long, stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed beard.He looked dirty and unkempt. The customer turned back and entered the barber shop again and he said to the barber:"You know what? Barbers do not exist.""How can you say that?" asked the surprised barber."I am here, and I am a barber. And I just worked on you!""No!" the customer exclaimed. "Barbers don't exist because if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man outside."

"Ah, but barbers DO exist! That's what happens when people do not come to me." "Exactly!" affirmed the customer. "That's the point! God, too, DOES exist! That's what happens when people do not go to Him and don't look to Him for help. That's why there's so much pain and suffering in the world."

The Refiner's Fire

2008-06-20T06:20:00.000-07:00

Malachi 3:3 says: “He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.”

This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God. One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study.

That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver.

As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.

The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says: "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined.

The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.

The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?"

He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's easy -- when I see my image in it."

If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has his eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.

How Much Does a Prayer Weigh

2008-05-29T01:30:00.000-07:00

Louise Redden, a poorly dressed lady with a look of defeat on her face, walked into a grocery store. She approached the owner of the store in a most humble manner and asked if he would let her charge a few groceries. She softly explained that her husband was very ill and unable to work. They had seven children and they needed food.

John Longhouse, the grocer, scoffed at her and requested that she leave his store. Visualizing the family needs, she said: "Please, sir! I will bring you the money just as soon as I can." John told her he could not give her credit, as she did not have a charge account at his store.

Standing beside the counter was a customer who overheard the conversation between the two. The customer walked forward and told the grocer that he would stand good for whatever she needed for her family.

The grocer said in a very reluctant voice, "Do you have a grocery list?" Louise replied, "Yes sir." "Okay" he said, "put your grocery list on the scales and whatever your grocery list weighs, I will give you that amount in groceries."

Louise hesitated a moment with a bowed head. Then she reached into her purse and took out a piece of paper and scribbled something on it. She then laid the piece of paper on the scale carefully with her head still bowed.

The eyes of the grocer and the customer showed amazement when the scale went down and stayed down. The grocer, staring at the scales, turned slowly to the customer and said begrudgingly, "I can't believe it." The customer smiled and the grocer started putting the groceries on the other side of the scales.

The scale did not balance so he continued to put more and more groceries on them until the scales would hold no more. The grocer stood there in utter disgust.

Finally, he grabbed the piece of paper from the scales and looked at it with greater amazement. It was not a grocery list. It was instead a prayer which said: "Dear Lord, you know my needs and I am leaving this in your hands."

The grocer gave her the groceries that he had gathered and stood in stunned silence. Louise thanked him and left the store. The customer handed a fifty-dollar bill to the grocer and said, "It was worth every penny of it."

It was sometime later that the grocer discovered the scales were broken; therefore, only God knows how much a prayer weighs.

The Donkey in the Well

2008-05-29T01:25:00.000-07:00

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do.yours too… Finally he decided since the animalwas old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway, it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey. So, the farmer invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed shovels, and began to shovel dirt into the well.

All the other farm animals were very upset about this, because the donkey was their friend. But they discovered there was nothing they could do to help him. At first, when the donkey realized what was happening, he cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement, he quieted down. A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well, and was astonished at what he saw.

With every shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off, and take a step up on the dirt as it piled up. As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well, and trotted off!

MORAL: Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. But each trouble can be a stepping stone. What happens to you isn't nearly as important as how you react to it. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not giving up! Shake it off, and take a step up!

Best Mum

2008-05-17T03:03:00.000-07:00

On Mother's Day, 2007, British national television ran an intriguing story. Peggy Bush's daughter had died, so Peggy absorbed the responsibility of caring for her daughter's three children while her son-in-law worked. Then, tragically, her son-in-law also died. With both parents gone, Peggy took her three grandchildren in and raised them as if they were her own.

In a world where wrong is glamorized and the lurid is presented as appealing, we seldom hear of the good things that happen. Yet this woman's love and sacrifice were recognized, acknowledged, and honored as the nation took note of her as Britain's "Best Mum" for 2007.

Most of the efforts, sacrifices, and ex-pressions of love our mothers have given us will not be the lead story on the news. Their recognition will be more personal. But what matters is not the scope of the appreciation but its genuineness.

On this special day, may we thank God for the mothers who have molded our hearts. As we honor them, we fulfill the truth of Proverbs 31:28, "Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her." — Bill Crowder

A Christian mother's love contains
A gospel all its own,
Because the King of love has found
Her heart an ample throne. — Crawford

True Trust

2008-05-17T02:59:00.000-07:00

Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. — John 9:3

If you didn't know him, you might think Nick Vujicic has everything going for him. Nick has never had a sore arm. He's never had knee problems. He's never smashed his finger in a door, stubbed his toe, or banged his shin against a table leg.

But that's because Nick doesn't have a shin. Or a toe. Or a finger. Or a knee. Or an arm. Nick was born with no arms and no legs. Before you begin to feel sorry for Nick, read his words. "God won't let anything happen to us in our life unless He has a good purpose for it all. I completely gave my life to Christ at the age of 15 after reading John 9. Jesus said that the reason the man was born blind was 'so that the works of God may be revealed through him.' ... I now see that glory revealed as He is using me just the way I am and in ways others can't be used." Nick travels the world to spread the gospel and love of Jesus.

Nick says, "If I can trust in God with my circumstances, then you can trust in God with your circumstances.... The greatest joy of all is having Jesus Christ in my life and living the godly purpose He has for me."

Can we say that? Can we look beyond our limitations and have the same trust in God that transformed a man with no arms or legs into a missionary for Jesus? — Dave Branon

Lord, shape my life as only You can,
Guiding each day by Your loving plan;
Take what You need and give what You will;
My life is Yours to use and to fill. — Branon

A Child's Wonder

2008-05-17T02:55:00.000-07:00

In 19th-century Scotland, a young mother observed her three-year-old son's inquisitive nature. It seemed he was curious about everything that moved or made a noise. James Clerk Maxwell would carry his boyhood wonder with him into a remarkable career in science. He went on to do groundbreaking work in electricity and magnetism. Years later, Albert Einstein would say of Maxwell's work that it was "the most fruitful that physics has experienced since the time of Newton."

From early childhood, religion touched all aspects of Maxwell's life. As a committed Christian, he prayed: "Teach us to study the works of Thy hands ... and strengthen our reason for Thy service." The boyhood cultivation of Maxwell's spiritual life and curiosity resulted in a lifetime of using science in service to the Creator.

The community of faith has always had the responsibility to nurture the talent of the younger generation and to orient their lives to the Lord, "that they may arise and declare [God's law] to their children, that they may set their hope in God" (Ps. 78:6-7).

Finding ways to encourage children's love for learning while establishing them in the faith is an important investment in the future. — Dennis Fisher

GOD'S GAZE

2008-05-09T05:01:00.001-07:00

A man was walking along a secluded road with his young son. On the way he found a golden chain lying on the road. He knew that it belonged to some earlier traveller but decided to steal it. He looked all around him to confirm that no one was watching his action. He picked up the precious chain and put it into his pocket. As they continued the journey the son asked him innocently, "Daddy, you looked all around you before picking up the chain. But why didn't you look upwards?" The innocent words of the child enlightened him. He realized that these words echoed the whisper of his conscience. He confessed, "I should have looked upwards - to heaven - and sought the will of God who was watching me. I have sinned." Transformed by his son's words, he entrusted the chain to the officer in the nearest police station.

The Bible reminds us, "The Lord sees everything you do. Wherever you go, he is watching" {Proverbs 5: 21}."The Lord sees what happens everywhere; He is watching us, whether we do good or evil" {Proverbs 15: 3}.

"He watches every step men take. There is no darkness dark enough to hide a sinner from God" {Job 34:21, 22}.

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

The Carpenter and the Little End Table

2008-05-06T06:13:00.000-07:00

Once there was a young carpenter. His father was a master craftsman and had taught him how to make the finest furniture in the country.

The young carpenter decided to create a small end table for his room. He worked for several days making every little detail just perfect. It was absolutely the most beautiful table he had ever seen and he loved it with all his heart.

And then one day while the young carpenter was away; a wealthy banker came to visit. When he saw the table he just had to have it.

“It is the most beautiful table I’ve ever seen,” said the banker. “What do you want for it? I’ll pay anything!”

The salesman at first was reluctant, but when he saw the banker counting out money, he quickly forgot how much the young carpenter loved the table.

“It is worth at least $500, probably more,” said the salesman.

“I’ll give you twice that,” said the banker. “Never in my life have I seen such perfection.”

The banker carefully carried the table out to his carriage and drove off into the dark night.

The next day the young carpenter returned to the workshop.

“Father, where is my table?” asked the young carpenter.

The two searched everywhere, but the table was gone. Soon, the salesman arrived.

“Do you know what happened to my son’s table?” asked the father.

A big smile came over the salesman’s face, “I sold it for $1,000!”

He saw the disappointment in his face, “Did I not do well?”

“You did,” said the father. “Do you know who purchased the table? I wish to purchase it back.”

The salesman thought for a moment. I don’t know his name. He said he was a banker, but I have never seen him around here.”

“Very good,” said the father. “Go on and watch the store. I’ll take care of everything.”

The father walked to the back where his son was waiting. He put his arm around his son.

“Don’t worry. We will find your table,” said the father. “Get focused on your work.”

Many years passed and the father never found the table. After his father’s death, the young carpenter took over the family business and it became a major enterprise, hiring hundreds of craftsmen. He became very wealthy and known throughout the world for his fine work and generosity.

But no matter what success he had, he could never forget his little end table.

After a long and happy life, the now old carpenter was enjoying his final years. His son now ran the business. The old carpenter enjoyed the simple things in life like spending time with his grandson.

One day the two were visiting a flea market checking out the merchandise. Off in the corner of a booth, covered in dust, the old carpenter saw something familiar.

“It just can’t be,” said the old carpenter as he carefully wiped the cobwebs and dust away.

Although missing a leg and neglected for years, the old carpenter instantly recognized his little end table.

“What is it grandpa?” asked his grandson.

“This is best piece I ever made,” said the old carpenter.

“That old thing?” asked his grandson.

The old carpenter turned to his grandson with a smile on his face and tears in his eyes, “I love this table dearly and have looked for it for many years. It is perfect in my eyes.”

The grandson was confused. All he saw was a broken piece of junk.

“Come back to my workshop and let me show you what love can do,” said the old carpenter.

For several days the old carpenter carefully worked on his end table. He removed all the scars and blemishes and fixed all the broken parts. With his grandson at his side, the two perfectly restored the end table.

“Its beautiful Grandpa!”

The old carpenter put his arm around his grandson and the two admired their work.

“Let’s take it inside,” said the old carpenter.

Several days later, the old carpenter had a big banquet at his house. All the guests gathered around the little end table and admired its beauty. The old carpenter’s grandson explained how they had taken a broken piece of junk and made this perfect little table.

“Its so beautiful. I must have it!” said one of the guests.

“I’ll pay whatever price you require,” said another.

Soon the guests were bidding against each other over the little end table.

The old carpenter raised his hand and a hush fell on the room.

“Friends, thank you for your kind offers and admiration. But this table is not for sale. It was lost and neglected for many years and I never stopped searching for it. Now that it is back where it belongs, I will never lose it again. I love this little end table and it will stay with me forever.”

And so the little end table stayed with the old carpenter. Each time someone inquired about it, the old carpenter would happily recount the story of the table that was lost, but later found. It was broken, but now it was again and forever perfect.

Heli, The Star of Bethlehem

2008-05-06T06:06:00.000-07:00

On the third day of creation, God said, “Let there be lights in the heavens.” And according to His Word, the sun, moon and all the stars were created in the sky.

God loved each star and would often invite them into His presence and listen to all that they had done.

And then one day, He sent out a proclamation commanding all the stars to appear before Him. He would then select one for a very important purpose.

With eagerness, all the stars gathered in His throne room.

As they waited for God, some of the stars saw Amanda, the smallest star in the galaxy.

“Surely you don’t think that God would select you?” said Tariq, one of the largest stars.

“What could you possibly have to offer God?” added Vega, another prominent star.

“I am here because it is God’s will,” said Amanda.

Amanda made her way to the back of the room to watch the presentations.

God entered the room and all the stars worshipped Him.

And God spoke,

“I am sending my son into the world. I will select one star to announce his arrival. The greatest among you will proclaim his birth to the world.”

There was plenty of excitement in the throne room as each imagined what it would be like to have this great honor. They each came forward and presented their qualifications to God.

“I give light and heat to 15 planets and 27 moons. I am one of the largest stars in the galaxy. I would be very proud to announce your Son’s birth,” said Tariq.

“Very impressive indeed,” said God.

“Humans know me as the North Star. I have guided many sailors to their destination and have been a constant beacon of light for all travelers. Who would be better to mark the birth of your son?” said Polaris.

“Well done,” said God.

“I am one of the brightest stars. My light is seen all over this great galaxy. I can think of nothing more wonderful than to share my light with the earth,” said Sirius.

“Good job,” said God.

From the greatest to the brightest, all the stars presented themselves to God. They all told Him all the wonderful things that they had accomplished.

“Is there anyone else?” asked God. null

“Just me Lord,” said Amanda.

She humbly approached the throne and bowed.

“No planets or moons revolve around me and I guide no sailors home. My much larger and brighter brothers hide my light. But I joyfully do your will to the best of my ability. I am what you say I am. I will be what you say I will be,” said Amanda.

She bowed and returned to her spot at the back of the room.

There was a great silence in the throne room as everyone considered Amanda’s words.

After a long pause, Astra, one of the wisest of the stars, came forward.

“Lord, I am not worthy of such a great honor. Please select another.”

With that she bowed and left the throne room.

One by one, each star came forward and said the same words until only Amanda remained.

“Lord, I don’t understand. Why did they all leave?” asked Amanda.

“They all came forward to announce their own power and ability. You were the only one that proclaimed faith in my ability. You truly are the greatest star.”

“Thank you Lord,” said Amanda.

“From now on you will be called Heli,” said God. “You will proclaim my glory in the night sky for all to see.”

“I will do everything you say,” said Heli.

Heli took her place in the night sky above Bethlehem. For many months, she was the brightest and most beautiful star the world had ever seen.

When her mission was complete, God gave her a very special place of honor in the night sky. On a clear night you can still see her. She is not the biggest or the brightest, but she is still there, faithfully obeying God.

She truly is the greatest star.

Heaven's Art Gallery

2008-05-06T05:58:00.000-07:00

One night I dreamed I was standing with Jesus in front of a beautiful museum in heaven.

“Let’s go inside,” said Jesus. “I want to show you something.”

Adorning the walls were paintings, all masterpieces. Jesus explained that each one represents one human life. Every painting in the museum was abounding with love, grace, peace and passion. I was overwhelmed with joy as I gazed at each one. They all moved me deeply and I was aware of everything lacking in my life.

I asked Jesus, “Who could paint such things of beauty? Did you or the angels make these? Surely, no human could create such perfection.”

Jesus smiled, “These were all created by God’s children.”

“But how?” I asked. “It just isn’t possible.”

“With God’s help, anything is possible,” said Jesus. “Ordinary people who submitted their will to me created them. Whenever a heart is truly given to me in every way, that person’s life will become a masterpiece. Pride, selfishness, fear, greed, doubt, and unbelief will corrupt their painting. But someone who loves me with all of his or her spirit, mind and body will live a life worthy of display.”

We walked around the gallery admiring all the lives portrayed. After a while, Jesus said that was all there was to see here.

But I protested, “Surely there is more to see Lord. For you’ve shown me only a few.”

Jesus said, “Yes, there is more.”

He led me to the back of the museum and out into a massive warehouse. Stacked on pallets and laying in heaps on the floor were millions of paintings. I looked at a few and was disappointed. They were so poorly done. Some were torn, some were patched, and still others lay unfinished.

“What is this Lord?” I asked. “Surely these don’t belong here?”

“Yes my son, they do,” said Jesus. “For each one represents a precious life in progress.”

“But they are such pitiful paintings. Hardly worthy of a museum like this,” I argued.

“Yes, you are correct they are not worthy,” explained Jesus. “But my Father is very patient. Each person’s life has a chance to become a masterpiece. All these people as long as they live, can still see their life displayed in heaven’s art gallery.”

“How can this be?” I asked. “Surely not through their own efforts.”

“No, they will never do it on their own. They need only ask me and I will help,” said Jesus.

I timidly asked, “What will happen if they never ask?”

We walked to the very back of the warehouse and Jesus opened the doors. Off in the distance I saw stacks and stacks of paintings burning in massive piles. I turned to Jesus and there were tears on his cheek.

“All these tried it on their own. Actors & athletes, businessmen & butchers, executives & educators, preachers & politicians, moms & dads, rich & poor, foolish & wise – they are all here. As long as people keep trying under their own strength they will never be good enough. And their canvas will be thrown into the fire – never to be admired. What a terrible waste,” sighed Jesus.

I wept with him. It was such a tragic site.

Jesus closed the doors and we walked back into the warehouse.

I asked, “Lord is there hope for me?”

Jesus smiled, “Yes! Follow me.”

We walked into a small room that was empty except for a blank canvas sitting on an easel.

“What is this?” I asked.

“This canvas represents your life after it has been washed cleaned with my blood,” said Jesus.

I marveled at how beautiful it was. There was not one blemish or imperfection anywhere on my canvas. Jesus handed me a brush and paint.

“Make it whatever you wish,” said Jesus

I stood there for several minutes imagining all the things I could paint. I soon realized that I could do nothing that would ever be good enough for heaven’s art gallery.

“Lord, I want to create a masterpiece, but I just can’t.”

Disappointed, I handed the brush back to Jesus, but he stopped me. Wrapping his hand around the brush in my hand and putting his arm around me he said,

“Let’s make it together.”

Twenty Dollars

2008-05-02T04:29:00.000-07:00

A well known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20 bill. In the room of 200, he asked. "Who would like this $20 bill?"

Hands started going up. He said, "I am going to give this $20 to one of you - but first, let me do this."

He proceeded to crumple the 20 dollar note up. He then asked. "Who still wants it?" Still the hands were up in the air.

"Well," he replied, "what if I do this?" He dropped it on theground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. He picked it up, now crumpled and dirty. "Now, who still wants it?"

Still the hands went into the air.

"My friends, you have all learned a very valuable lesson. Nomatter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth $20.Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We feel as though we are worthless; but no matter what happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value.

Dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased, you are stillpriceless to those who love you. The worth of our lives comes, not in what we do or who we know, but by ...WHO WE ARE.

You are special - don't ever forget it."

The Sands of Forgiveness

2008-05-02T04:26:00.001-07:00

A story tells that two friends were walking through the desert. During some point of the journey they had an argument, and one friend slapped the other one in the face.

The one who got slapped was hurt, but without saying anything, wrote in the sand:

TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SLAPPED ME IN THE FACE.

They kept on walking until they found an oasis, where they decided to take a bath. The one who had been slapped got stuck in the mire and started drowning, but the friend saved him.

After he recovered from the near drowning, he wrote on a stone:

TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SAVED MY LIFE.

The friend who had slapped and saved his best friend asked him, "After I hurt you, you wrote in the sand and now, you write on a stone, why?"

The other friend replied "When someone hurts us we should write it down in sand where winds of forgiveness can erase it away. But, when someone does something good for us, we must engrave it in stone where no wind can ever erase it."

LEARN TO WRITE YOUR HURTS IN THE SAND AND TO CARVE YOUR BENEFITS IN STONE.

A BOX OF KISSES

2008-05-02T04:19:00.000-07:00

The story goes that some time ago, a man punished his 3-year-old daughter for wasting a roll of gold wrapping paper. Money was tight and he became infuriated when the child tried to decorate a box to put under the Christmas tree.

Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift to her father the next morning and said, "This is for you, Daddy." He was embarrassed by his earlier overreaction, but his anger flared again when he found the box was empty.

He yelled at her, "Don't you know that when you give someone a present, there's supposed to be something inside it?"

The little girl looked up at him with tears in her eyes and said,"Oh, Daddy, it is not empty. I blew kisses into the box. All for you, Daddy."

The father was crushed. He put his arms around his little girl, and he begged for her forgiveness.

It is told that the man kept that gold box by his bed for years and whenever he was discouraged, he would take out an imaginary kiss and remember the love of the child who had put it there.
In a very real sense, each of us as humans have been given a gold container filled with unconditional love and kisses from our children, friends, family and God. There is no more precious possession anyone could hold.

INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE

2008-05-02T04:18:00.000-07:00

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

-- Reinhold Niebuhr

A WILD CHASE

2008-04-25T02:15:00.001-07:00

A lady sprinter of India won several prizes in racing competitions. She was very proud of her distinction in sports and believed that she was the fastest sprinter in her state. Once, while she was walking along a street, a thief snatched her golden necklace and ran away at full speed. She chased him and after much effort, approached him. Suddenly she was filled with the spirit of a sprinter in a tight race. She ran with all her might and easily overtook the thief but continued the race as if the finishing point was far away.

Later she realized the real situation and stopped. With a shock she turned back. But she could not trace the thief who had already escaped easily with the necklace through a different route.

The story illustrates the danger of getting intoxicated by unnecessary feelings of competition and envy. People often become crazy on seeing others in a better position or with better capabilities. Thoughtless efforts to surpass others may lead to loss and disaster. We must admit our limitations and respect others' achievements. That is the easy way to be healthy, happy and holy.

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

GOD'S PLANS

2008-04-23T04:55:00.000-07:00

A king had an earnest and honest minister. The king trusted him but disliked his frequent statement, "God gives everything for our own good."

Once they went together for hunting. While making a way through the forest by cutting the bushes with his sword, the king cut off the tip of his middle finger. They treated the wound using medicinal herbs and bandaged the wound to stop bleeding. As they finished the treatment, the minister made his usual remark, "God gives everything for our own good." The king was furious. "You are really cruel", he said, "I am in great pain and you say it is for good. You will say the same thing when I lose my head!" Filled with rage, he flung the minister into a dirty pit and raced off alone.

In the dense forest, the king was caught by a group of savages. They tied him up and carried him to their chieftain. They were celebrating a religious festival. They wanted to offer the king as a human sacrifice before their deity. As the rituals were progressing, the chief priest examined the 'offering' in detail and found out that the tip of his middle finger was missing. He declared that only perfect bodies without any defect would be acceptable as sacrifice before the deity. Hence the king was released. The king realized that the minister's statement was correct. So he returned to the pit and rescued the minister. The king narrated the events and apologized for his action. The minister repeated, "God gives everything for our own good."

The king asked for an explanation for this statement. The minister said, "If you had not put me in the pit, I would have been with you when the savages attacked and they would have sacrificed me instead of you!" The king now confessed with conviction, "You are correct. God gives everything for our own good."

God speaks through Jeremiah, "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

HANDSOME HANDS

2008-04-21T06:37:00.000-07:00

A young mother in India had a one-year-old baby. As she was employed as a teacher, a girl was hired to look after the baby during day time.

One evening, as she was approaching her house, she saw fire engines speeding towards her home. She ran to reach her house which was on fire. The girl was crying aloud that the baby was still in the cradle in the burning house. The fire broke out when she had gone out of the house leaving the sleeping baby for a while. As the fire was intense, the girl could not enter the house to rescue the child in time. The fire fighters were trying their best to put out the blaze.

Without waiting for even a moment, the mother rushed into the burning house and reached the cradle. She fought the fire around her with her bare hands. Holding the child close to her chest, she came out of the raging fire. The child had only minor injuries as she was rescued in time. But the mother suffered severe burns. Her hands were badly burnt and she was rushed to the hospital. She recovered after prolonged treatment in intense pain but retained wide white patches and permanent deformities on her hands. But she did not disclose the incident to her daughter even when she grew up to adolescence.

Then, one day the daughter told her mother, "Mommy, your hands are really ugly. I do not want to see them." The mother was shocked. She knew that it was time to reveal everything. She told her daughter, "Yes, my hands look ugly and repulsive. But once they were as beautiful as yours. If I had tried to protect their beauty, you would not have been alive today." She then narrated the whole story.

The daughter was totally upset. She cried and fell down, embracing the feet of her mother. She went on kissing her mother's hand and told in tears, "Mommy, you have the most handsome hands on earth. I failed to see their beauty. Forgive me." She never forgot that her life was a gift from her mother.

Jesus accepted the path of the Passion and sacrificed His life to save us from the clutches of sin and the fire of hell. Let us thank Him, praise Him, love Him and adore Him as our Saviour, Lord and God.

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

MAN AS MODEL

2008-04-18T23:03:00.000-07:00

A boy was bothering his mother by going on asking silly questions. To keep him busy for a while, she tore a page from a magazine bearing a map of the world. She tore it into several irregular pieces and asked him to arrange the pieces in perfect order. To her surprise, the boy finished the work very soon and returned to her to report his achievement. She examined the arrangement. It was perfect. "How could you do it so soon, my son?" she asked with wonder. "It was very easy, mother," He replied, "On the other side of the map, there was the figure of a man. I made it alright and set it upside down. The map was ready".

This incident teaches an important lesson. If every man corrects himself, the world becomes perfect. Personal transformation is the first step to social harmony and world peace.

Jesus came to change man. Thus He could transform the world and its history.

When Zacchaeus transformed himself and decided to compensate for his evil actions, Jesus declared, "Salvation has come to this house today" {Luke 19: 9}.

St. Paul advises us to renew ourselves {Ephesians 4: 22-24, Colossians 3: 9, 10}.

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

NASA proves that the BIBLE is True!!!

2008-04-07T01:45:00.000-07:00

NASA proves that the BIBLE is True!!!

For all you scientists out there and for all the students who have had ahard time convincing these people regarding the truth of the Bible here'ssomething that illustrates God's awesome creation and shows He is still in control.

Did you know that NASA's space programmers are busy proving that was hasbeen called 'myth' in the Bible is true? Mr. Harold Hill, President ofthe Curtis Engine Company in Baltimore, and a consultant in the spaceprogrammes, relates the following incident:

One of the most amazing things that God has for us today happenedrecently to our astronauts and space scientists at Green Belt, Maryland.They were checking out the positions of the sun, moon and planets out inspace where they would be 100, and 1000 years from now. We have to knowthis as we do not want a satellite to collide with any of these in itsorbits. We have to lay out the orbits in terms of the life of thesatellite and where the planets will be so the whole project will not bogdown. Computer measurements and data were run back and forth over thecenturies when suddenly it came to a halt, displaying a red signal, whichmeant that either there was something wrong with the information fed intoit or with the results as compared to the standards. They called in theservice department to check it out, and the technicians asked what was wrong.

The scientists had discovered that somewhere in space in elapsed time aday was missing. Nobody seemed able to come up with a solution to theproblem. Finally one of the team, a Christian, said: "You know, when Iwas still in Sunday School, they spoke about the sun standing still......."

While his colleagues didn't believe him, they did not have an answereither, so they said: "Show us." He got a Bible and opened it at thebook of Joshua where they found a pretty ridiculous statement for any onewith 'common sense'. There they read about the Lord saying to Joshua:"Fear them not, I have delivered them into thy hand; there shall not be aman of them stands before thee." (Joshua 10:8).

Joshua was concerned because the enemy had surrounded him, and ifdarkness fell, they would overpower him. So Joshua asked the Lord to makethe sun stand still! That's right "And the sun stood still and the moonstayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Isthis not written in the book of Ja'sher? So the sun stood still in themidst of heaven and hastened not to go down about a whole day." (Joshua10:13).

The astronauts and scientists said: "There is the missing day!" Theychecked the computers going back into the time it was written and foundit, but it was not close enough. The elapsed time that was missing backin Joshua's day was 23 hours and 20 minutes not a whole day. They readthe Bible again and there it was: "about (approximately) a day.." Theselittle words in the Bible were important, but they were still in trouble,because another 40 minutes were still unaccounted for, and this could mean trouble 1000 years from now. Forty minutes had to be found because it canbe multiplied many times over in orbits.

As the Christian employee thought about it, he remembered somewhere inthe Bible which said the sun went backwards. The scientists told him hewas out of his mind, but once again they opened the Book and read thesewords in 2 Kings.

Hezekiah, on his deathbed, was visited by the prophet, Isaiah, who toldhim he was not going to die. Hezekiah asked for some sign as proof.Isaiah said: "Shall the sun go forward ten degrees, or go back tendegrees?" And Hezekiah answered: "It is a light thing for the shadow togo down ten degrees; nay, but let the shadow return backwards tendegrees." And Isaiah the prophet cried unto the Lord, and He brought theshadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down in the dial ofAhaz." (2 Kings 20:9 11).

Ten degrees is exactly 40 minutes! Twenty-three hours and twenty minutesin Joshua, plus 40 minutes in 2 Kings accounted for the missing day inthe universe!!!

Isn't this amazing? Our God is rubbing their noses in His Truth!

LEATHER BOUND BIBLE

2008-04-05T01:33:00.000-07:00

A young man was getting ready to graduate from college. For many months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer's showroom, and knowing his father could well afford it, he told him that was all he wanted.

As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited signs that his father had purchased the car.

Finally, on the morning of his graduation, his father called him into his private study.

His father told him how proud he was to have such a fine son, and told him how much he loved him. He handed his son a beautiful wrapped gift box. Curious, but somewhat Disappointed, the young man opened the box and found a lovely, leather-bound Bible, with the young man's name embossed in gold.

Angrily, he raised his voice to his father and said, "With all your money you give me a Bible? and stormed out of the house, leaving the Bible.

Many years passed and the young man was very successful in business. He had a beautiful home and wonderful family, but realized his father was very old, and thought perhaps he should go to him. He had not seen him since that graduation day. Before he could make arrangements, he received a telegram telling him his father had passed away, and willed all of his possessions to his son. He needed to come home immediately and take care of things.

When he arrived at his father's house, sudden sadness and regret filled his heart. He began to search through his father's important papers and saw the still new Bible, just as he had left it years ago. With tears, he opened the Bible and began to turn the pages.

His father had carefully underlined a verse, Matt 7:11, "And if ye, being evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Heavenly father which is in heaven, give to those who ask Him?" As he read those words, a car key dropped from the back of the Bible. It had a tag with the dealer's name, the same dealer who had the sports car he had desired. On the tag was the date of his graduation, and the words...PAID IN FULL

How many times do we miss God's blessings because they are not packaged as we expected?

DEATH, THE FRIEND

2008-03-26T06:52:00.001-07:00

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

POWER OF PROVIDENCE

2008-03-26T06:51:00.001-07:00

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

EAGLETS' SCHOOL

2008-03-26T06:47:00.000-07:00

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

AN ELEGANT ESCAPE

2008-03-26T06:46:00.001-07:00

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

THE SEVENTH WORD FROM THE CROSS

2008-03-26T06:37:00.000-07:00

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

THE FOURTH WORD FROM THE CROSS

2008-03-19T06:34:00.000-07:00

"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

THE SIXTH WORD FROM THE CROSS

2008-03-19T06:33:00.000-07:00

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

THE FIFTH WORD FROM THE CROSS

2008-03-19T06:30:00.000-07:00

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

HOLY MARY, MOTHER OF GOD

2008-03-08T02:10:00.001-08:00

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

GOD'S GIFTS

2008-03-08T02:07:00.000-08:00

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

MICHELANGELO'S ANGEL

2008-03-08T02:05:00.000-08:00

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

FEAST AND FAST

2008-03-08T01:58:00.000-08:00

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

THE SACRED SACRIFICE ON THE HOLY CROSS

2008-03-07T04:40:00.000-08:00

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

THE SEVEN WORDS FROM THE CROSS

2008-03-07T04:38:00.000-08:00

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

THE FIRST WORD FROM THE CROSS

2008-03-07T04:34:00.000-08:00

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

THE SECOND WORD FROM THE CROSS

2008-03-07T04:30:00.001-08:00

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

THE THIRD WORD FROM THE CROSS

2008-03-07T04:27:00.000-08:00

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

PRACTISE BEFORE PREACHING

2008-02-27T04:20:00.000-08:00

A boy was diagnosed to be diabetic. The Doctor gave a strict instruction that he should not eat sweets or sugar. His mother tried to persuade the boy to stop the practice of eating sweets. But she failed. So she took the boy to a saintly priest who was respected and obeyed by all. She requested him, "My son is diabetic. Kindly instruct him to stop the dangerous habit of eating sweets and sugar." The priest asked her to return with the boy after two weeks and promised that then he would give the necessary instructions to the boy. The mother was surprised but followed the directions. She returned with the boy after two weeks. The priest issued a stern warning and the boy readily agreed to follow the order. Later, out of curiosity, the mother asked the priest why he did not give the instruction during their first visit. "That is simple", he said, "When you came to me on the first day, I myself was in the habit of eating sugar and sweets. Unless and until I change my habit and practice this myself, how can I ask another person to follow my instruction?"

The story reminds us that example is better than precept. An ideal leader is one who "knows the way, shows the way and goes the way." A preacher who has the habit of smoking does not have the authority or credibility to ask others to quit the habit.

Society needs credible leaders who practice what they preach.

St. Paul advises, "Put into practice what you learnt and received from me, both from my words and from my actions" {Philippians 4: 9}.

St. Paul says, "Imitate me, then, just as I imitate Christ" {1 Corinthians 11: 1}

Jesus said," I have set an example for you, so that you will do just what I have done for you" {John 13: 15}. Jesus warns against the teachers of the law and the Pharisees, "So you must obey and follow everything they tell you to do; do not, however, imitate their actions, because they don't practise what they preach {Matthew, 23: 3}.

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

A LOVING AND LOVELY GIFT

2008-02-27T04:14:00.001-08:00

It was Christmas Eve. A small girl came to a jeweller’s shop. She pointed to a fine necklace displayed in the shelf and said that she wanted to buy it. The jeweller asked whether she had the money to pay for it. “Yes, I have,” she said, laying a packet of small coins on his table. He noticed that it amounted to only about ten rupees whereas the necklace was valued at thirty thousand rupees. Out of curiosity, he asked her why she wanted the necklace. She told him that she wanted to give it as a Christmas gift to her loving sister, who is looking after her after the death of their parents. The coins were from her piggy bank, her collection since last Christmas. She had been watching this necklace in the showroom for several days and was eagerly awaiting Christmas to purchase and present it to her sister.

He was deeply moved by the admirable affection of the innocent infant. He readily packed the necklace and gave it to her in exchange for her coins. She jumped with joy and ran home. She presented the gift to her sister. The elder sister assumed that the girl had stolen the necklace and scolded her. She dragged the girl to the shop and asked whether the article was stolen from there. The jeweler told her that he had sold it to the girl ant that she had made full payment for it.

It is remarked that during that Christmas, Jesus was born in the lives of all the three persons- the loving girl, the merciful jeweller and the truthful sister.

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

THE UNSEEN SCENES

2008-02-27T04:11:00.001-08:00

Two patients in very serious condition were admitted to a room in a hospital. One patient was bedridden. The other one was in a better condition and could be held upright with external assistance. His bed was close to the only window in the room. Everyday he used to describe to his room-mate, the beauty of the world outside, as if he was observing the scenes through the window near his bed.

Enlightened by the encouraging words of his friend, the first man got better day by day. Inspired by his friend’s description, he wished to recover soon and longed to witness the beautiful world outside. One morning the doctors declared that the patient near the window was dead. His friend was in tears. Later he was shifted to the bed near the window. Eagerly he raised his head with great effort to enjoy the delightful scenery his friend had been describing. To his surprise, he found that a huge wall was obstructing his view through the window. He wondered how his friend was describing the outside world as if seen through that window. He asked the nurse and was stunned by the news that the dead patient was totally blind. He had been describing the delightful scenes using his imagination with the intention of encouraging his friend and instilling in him a desire to recover and live longer.

It is a great gift to be able to make others happy even when we are in great grief and pain. Sorrows appear to halve and happiness to double when we share our feelings with a friend. “Happy are those who are merciful to others; God will be merciful to them!” {Matthew 5: 7}. Jesus said, “And now I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. If you have love for one another, then everyone will know that you are my disciples” {John 13: 34, 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

MIGHTY MILO

2008-02-27T04:07:00.000-08:00

Milo of the ancient city of Kroton, a Greek colony of Southern Italy, was a legendary wrestler with extraordinary strength, who won the Olympic wrestling championship six times between the years 540 to 516 B.C.

While he was a boy, his father gifted a newborn bull calf to Milo. He used to lift up the calf in his arms and carry it on his back everyday. Since it grew up only gradually, Milo did not notice the change in its weight. He continued the exercise everyday and his strength grew along with his calf. He could easily lift it in his arms even when it grew into an adult bull. This enabled him to become an athlete of unparalleled strength and stamina.

The story of Milo's successful training teaches us a lesson in spiritual development. We can gain the power to resist great temptations if we practice resisting minor temptations of life regularly and constantly with the power of prayer and faith in God's infinite grace {Hebrews 4:15, 16}. God will grant us the strength to endure temptations {1 Corinthians 10: 13, 1 Peter 5: 8-10}. St. James advises, "Submit to God. Resist the Devil, and he will run away from you"{James 4:7}.

The pretty, smooth and round pebbles found near waterfalls are formed by years of slow, natural grinding and polishing. Similarly, our wilful and prayerful resistance to even minor temptations gradually reforms our character and leads to a life of spiritual strength and moral maturity.

St. Paul advises, "Finally, build up your strength in union with the Lord and by means of His mighty power. Put on all the armour that God gives you, so that you will be able to stand up against the Devil's evil tricks" {Ephesians 6: 10, 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

CHARITY AND CHASTITY

2008-02-12T03:29:00.000-08:00

A monk and his disciple reached a river bank. They had to cross it to reach their monastery. The river was full and the flow heavy. But they could walk across the river.

A young woman was on the bank. She had to cross the river but could not cross it alone. She sought the help of the monk. He immediately picked her up and carried her on his back, across the river. When they reached the other side of the river, he lowered her to the ground. She thanked him. They went in different directions.

The disciple was tremendously shocked to see the monk carry a woman on his back. He believed that it was against their vow of chastity to touch a woman. But he did not dare to question his teacher. He was constantly being disturbed by the incident and after three months, one day he asked the teacher why he had broken the vows of chastity and celibacy.

The monk laughed and remarked, "I carried her across the river and left her at the bank. You have been carrying that burden for three months!" Clearly the sage had kept his vow but the disciple had been breaking the vow of chastity in his mind all those days!

The story teaches that the merit of an action is determined by our attitude. The saintly and scholarly sage had done an act of charity without affecting his vow of chastity. We must do our duty without caring for reward or recognition or ridicule. It is said, "Do your duty. That is your beauty."

"Happy are those who are merciful to others; God will be merciful to them! Happy are the pure in heart; they will see God!" {Matthew 5: 7, 8}.

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

The Mouse Trap

2008-02-12T03:27:00.000-08:00

A mouse looked through the crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife open a package.

What food might this contain?" The mouse wondered - he was devastated to discover it was a mousetrap. Retreating to the farmyard, the mouse proclaimed the warning. There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!"

The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said, "Mr. Mouse, I can tell this is a grave concern to you, but it is of no consequence to me. I cannot be bothered by it."

The mouse turned to the pig and told him, "There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!" The pig sympathized, but said, "I am so very sorry, Mr. Mouse, but there is nothing I can do about it but pray. Be assured you are in my prayers."

The mouse turned to the cow and said "There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!" The cow said, "Wow, Mr. Mouse. I'm sorry for you, but it's no skin off my nose."

So, the mouse returned to the house, head down and dejected, to face the farmer's mousetrap alone.

That very night a sound was heard throughout the house -- like the sound of a mousetrap catching its prey. The farmer's wife rushed to see what was caught. In the darkness, she did not see it was a venomous snake whose tail the trap had caught. The snake bit the farmer's wife. The farmer rushed her to the hospital, and she returned home with a fever.

Everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup, so the farmer took his hatchet to the farmyard for the soup's main ingredient.

But his wife's sickness continued, so friends and neighbors came to sit with her around the clock. To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig.

The farmer's wife did not get well; she died. So many people came for her funeral; the farmer had the cow slaughtered to provide enough meat for all of them.

The mouse looked upon it all from his crack in the wall with great sadness.

The next time you hear someone is facing a problem and think it doesn't concern you, remember - when one of us is threatened, we are all at risk. We are all involved in this journey called life. We must keep an eye out for one another and make an extra effort to encourage and help one another.