Pentecost ABC

************
Back Posts:
Pentecost 2013: http://www.tkayala.com/2013/05/pentecost-2013-homilies-and-stories.html
Water, Fire, Wind Symbols: http://www.tkayala.com/2013/05/holy-spirit-3-symbols-video.html
Fr. Tony Kadavil's Collection: http://www.tkayala.com/2012/05/pentecost-may-21-homily.html
***********
Starters:
The Church on Fire 

Two persons were talking together before a large church which was being destroyed by fire. The first man spoke in a voice which could be heard above the voice of the firemen: "This is the first time I ever saw you at church." To this the second responded: "This is the first time I ever saw the church on fire." There are many prophets of doom saying that the age of the Christian Church is over - that it has lost its zeal! We're taking a beating right now in this country and around the world. Our theology is being questioned. Everyone is writing a critical book against the organized church. We have had to take some unpopular stands on social issues. Magazines are attacking the ministry, and it isn't the thing to do anymore to join the church. John Kelman said, however, "God pity the nation or city whose factory smokestacks rise higher than her church spires."  

Why Belong To The Church?, anthology, CSS Publishing Company, Inc.

Up in the Mountains - No Posts for 12 days

I was up in Shillong, Northeast of India, a 3-hr flight from Bangalore and 3-hr jeep trip up the mountains through winding roads and terraced hills that takes you to the other side of Bangladesh closer to Burma and China, among six states of India with Mongolian race people.

Ten days without internet and telephone and with incessant power cuts. The only sounds were that of the jungle. The contemplative Benedictines looked after us well. The Holy Cross  and RNDM nuns were there for a Psycho-spiritual retreat, of the type I have been directing since over 25 years. most of the sisters came from tribal or indigenous backgrounds.

The bells at the Benedictine convent Bell Tower start chiming from 4:30 am, when it is quite bright in that area as India keeps one time zone.

That explains the silence in these pages.

Tony Kayala, c.s.c.

Ascension 2017

************
From Fr. Tony Kadavil’s Collection of Stories: 

1: The disciples who completed Puccini’s opera Turandot.   

The Italian composer Giacomo Puccini wrote La Boheme, Madama Butterfly and Tosca.  It was during his battle with terminal cancer in 1922 that he began to write Turandot, which many now consider his best work. He worked on the score day and night, despite his friends' advice to rest, and to save his energy. When his sickness worsened, Puccini said to his disciples, "'If I don't finish Turandot, I want you to finish it." He died in 1924, leaving the work unfinished. His disciples gathered all that was written of Turandot, studied it in great detail, and then proceeded to write the remainder of the opera. The world premier was performed in La Scala Opera House in Milan in 1926, and Toscanini, Puccini’s favorite student, conducted it. The opera went beautifully, until Toscanini came to the end of the part written by Puccini. He stopped the music, put down the baton, turned to the audience, and announced, "Thus far the master wrote, but he died." There was a long pause; no one moved. Then Toscanini picked up the baton, turned to the audience and, with tears in his eyes, announced, "But his disciples finished his work." The opera closed to thunderous applause, and to a permanent place in the annals of great works. Jesus instructs us in his Ascension message to finish his work of saving mankind by proclaiming His good news by words and deeds. 

Easter 6th Sunday A - Liturgical Prayers

Greeting (See the Gospel)

“I will not leave you orphans,” says Jesus,
“but my Father will give you
the Spirit of truth.”
May the Spirit of our Lord be always with you.
Introduction by the Celebrant (Two Options)

A.  If You Love Me… The Spirit Will Come
We are Christians, people who follow Christ. What makes us sure that we really love him? Jesus tells us today: “If you love me you will keep my commandments.” And we know that his commandment is: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and your neighbor as yourself. Today Jesus promises us the Holy Spirit, who will make us see what we have to do to love God and our neighbor and who will give us the strength to do so. Let us ask Jesus present here to give us this Spirit of insight and strength.

Easter 6A: Love and Communion in the Spirit

Gospel Text : John 14:15-21



In the Footprints of Loneliness, the Servant of God Catherine DeHueck Doherty (d. 1985) wrote: 

Loneliness is a terrible thing, and we must do something about it.  It is here that tenderness, gentleness, and understanding helps us to live…  Gentleness and tenderness assuage loneliness and make it possible to disappear…Tenderness is the ability to be present, extending the warmth of my heart to your heart.

The Tiger and the Monk - Thailand

Intelligent and Calm Elephants and Calm Man of Steel