LOFTY LOVE

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}.

© 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

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INNOCENT INQUIRIES

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

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NICE NEIGHBOURS

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

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A Little Boys Temper

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.

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CATS AND RATS

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

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CEASELESS SEARCH

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

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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

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SILENT SUFFERING

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

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A Child's Wonder

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

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