Christian perspectives

Salesians donate medicine to cancer hospital

St. Joseph Vice Province Sri Lanka of the Salesian of Don Bosco Congregation donated Rs. 1.5 million worth drugs and injections for the use of children at the Cancer (Teaching) Hospital, Maharagama on April 7. The donation was accepted by Cancer Hospital Directress Dr. (Mrs) S. Yoganathan.

The medicine donated were sent by Dr. Giuseppe Navoni All Brescia Italy on the request of Don Bosco Congregation on behalf of the Hospital Authorities, at Maharagama.

Dr. Mrs Yoganathan said the Hospital appreciated very much the donation of medicine for the use of children in the hospital numbering 150 at the moment.

She said the numbers keep on adding and the humanitarian assistance of the public was most welcome as some of the drugs the doctors prescribe hard to be found in the hospital but were available in the open market. She noted that some of the drugs donated were very special and very much in need for treatment though expensive.

She was thankful to the Salesian Fathers for their concern of children. Ven. Kongodamulle Gnanasiri Thera said that he was happy to associate with Don Bosco Fathers for they have been helping children without any bias and despite baseless allegations levelled by some quarters of the society against the Catholic Church." I have known these priests for many years and have worked with them in all social issues.

I have not found any desire on their part, in performing their social duties as citizens and as Catholics concerned of the well being of this country and specially that of children our future", the Thera added.

Provincial Superior of Sri Lanka St. Joseph Province Fr. Anthony H.Pinto said this was the third donation made by the Don Bosco Salesian Members in Sri Lanka on request of the hospital authorities."

We had donated computers, printers and scanners to maintain data of the child-patients and then disposable needles. We are ready to donate whatever possible and it falls on the receiving institutions to create the atmosphere very fitting to receive such donations.

Rev. Bro. Grabriel Garniga who acted as the liasian officer in getting down the donation from Italy said the medicines were supplied on requests and the original drugs worth more than 10,000 EUROS were flown down to Sri Lanka after necessary consultations and clarification done between the doctors here and Italy.

He said the A.B.I. Organisation visited Sri Lanka three years ago and met the Cancer hospital authorities and continued providing the requirements made in writing in three stages. - E. Weerapperuma

Resurrection: Experience relevant at all times

Richard DWIGHT

There are Christians who by their own ways of thinking and understanding are lured to live with the belief, that The Resurrection is one which is confined to a specific period of time in history.

It is a failing on their part to refer to this unique event in a detached isolated manner, as a thing of the past that has lost its relevance for daily living. Such thinking may usually stem from superficial nominal Christians, who lack the faith to experience the hand of the risen Saviour upon their lives.

The pace at which we live today could also be another reason for this pattern of thinking.

There is so much to be got through before the day is out, that parents and elders have little or no time to bring up their children as promised in the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ. They have abdicated their responsibilities by delegating it to others. Regular family prayers and the committing to memory of Scripture passages are considered old-fashioned, out-of-date and things of the past. With tuition classes, elocution and music lessons, to name but a few, to cope with, worshipping on a Sunday as individuals or even together as a family has become a difficulty -o much so, that the young turn around and refer to Jesus as the Nazarene who lived 2000 years ago, and is no longer alive in our homes.

In the name of progress with the mass media, sophisticated communication and travel, nations have been drawn close together, too close in fact for comfort, where one views the other with fear and suspicion, with bitterness and prejudice, as a result of which meaningless wars and foolish acts of violence erupt overnight with little or no provocation. To be continued next week

Weekly devotions:

Far from within

Scripture verse: Mark 7: 21-23

Far from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly.

"All these evils came from inside and makes a man unclean."

These are words spoken by Jesus describing what you and I have within us!

Given the right situation you and I are capable of performing every action mentioned here.

I know it is disgusting, but that is how desperately unclean our hearts are - it becomes so important that the state of our hearts should be changed with the help of the Holy Spirit. God has to change us from within to have a fleshy heart with feelings and good nature. Our hearts can be hardened. We are a fallen race. Only Christ's redemptive nature can save us.

Being lent season, I am sure most of us are thinking and are aware of what the suffering of Christ was, to step down from glory, become a man, and willingly lay down His life as the Lamb of God, without defect or blemish. That was a crucial requirement, to fulfil this sacrifice, and as none of us held this qualification, being imperfect and of a lower nature, our Lord Jesus took upon Himself this great task. He bore a lot of insults, He was spat at, scourged, slapped and mocked, to mention a few terrible ordeals our Saviour had to face.

Saving the whole world from generation to generation was no easy matter, and thanks be to God, that Jesus willingly laid down His life for us, and bore our shame and iniquity so that those who believe in His death can be saved and have eternal life.

Once we believe in Him, His redemptive work does not stop there.

We are bought with a price - not with money or any such corruptible things, but by His precious blood, we therefore become His priceless possession in which He has invested, pretty highly too. Therefore, the process of reformation of our character begins, the purpose being that we reflect His character and His love in our lifestyle. This cannot be achieved overnight. Character building is a slow process. God has all the time and is very patient with us, and waits for us to surrender our bad habits, our awful nature step by step. It does not happen at the click of a mouse.

Speed, certainly does not seem to impress our Creator when it comes to character building, although He created the universe and all that is in it in six days. I suspect this process of dealing with our hearts is more precious to Him. Unlike us, who want to hurt and break hearts, without batting an eye-lid, He handles our hearts with precision and care. He like to take time over it. Character change in us is an essential product. God does this individually, painstakingly and it takes a life-time for each one of us. He knows the right pressure to apply at the right time. We may not agree with some of the methods He uses - but always remember, He is your maker and knows you well - much more than you do! We read of the arrogant, well educated, Pharisee - Saul of Tarsus, transformed and becoming Paul, the apostle. I can assure you that this work was not done overnight.

To start with God blinded him with his glory on his way to Damascus. This powerful Jew who went around murdering Christians for their faith, had to depend on people for the first time to be mobile and he had to wait patiently for Ananias, under God's instruction, to come to heal him. Then as he went about preaching, he was stoned, flogged, shipwrecked, imprisoned to mention a few adversities he faced. Yes, God's hammer and chisel were at work - chipping out the rough edges and shaping it up, so that in Christ's hands he looked good. The end result - Paul boldly pronounces.

'Paul an apostle of Christ Jesus, by the will of God (these words were penned by Paul in most of his letters). Yes, he was fully able to submit himself to the will of God.

So, let us not cringe and wriggle when God applies heat to reform us - but understand the reason - to burn away the fallen nature in us to change us to the glorious person that can be brought out because of what Christ has done for us.

Let me ask you a question: Prayer: Lord Jesus, let me humbly bow down in your presence and yield myself to your will as you transform my life. I am fully aware that the process can be painful, it might even bring me close to death until I yield to your nail pierced hands, my stubbornness and self oriented way of life, but I know with your strength I can do it Lord. Please have mercy upon me most merciful Master, I so want to be the best for you. You see me differently to what the world sees me or the way I see myself - I so long to be the person you want me to be.

I place my request at the foot of the cross, as I acknowledge the suffering you bore and the death you faced, to save me Lord Jesus. Amen. - Sunitha Sahayam

The man from Galilee

The frightening shrieks of a marauding crowd

Rent the air in all its severity

Foreboding, perhaps of a tragedy that was to unfold

But strange, as it may, made way for only cries and yells.

My work, as usual was hard today

And what I needed most was rest

Yet, this night seemed my moment of triumph

And giving up that thought,

I sauntered out.

Walking further down the road,

I saw the crowd

Turn hysterical, wilding clubs, swords and torches,

They were taking a prisoner I thought,

A pathetic sight indeed, it was.

Bound with chains and ropes,

With a heavy cross upon his shoulders,

The poor man could not trudge along.

Fell thrice, but rose up,

Appeared beaten before, while traces of blood

All over his body proved it all.

A crown of thorns embedded

into his head,

Saw blood trickling down his cheeks and face.

Suddenly, he cast a glance at me.

His looks spoke tenderly, pleading

And instantly my heart reached for his.

Jostling my way through

I was now by his side

And releasing him, I took upon myself

That heavy rugged cross of his,

He walked beside me staggering as he went.

Who are you and what have you done?

I asked him.

He looked at me,

a deep penetrating smile

Emanating from his lips,

a smile only a God can give.

"This is for you and for all mankind,

Since times then, now and till times

to come.

I came for this in fulfilment

of what has been told.

I stood aghast knowing not what he said.

Gently retrieving the cross from me

And placing it back on his shoulders

And with a final glance,

One interspersed with disillusion

and sadness

But with hope, he bid farewell.

I watched him slowly move away

Tracing my steps homeward,

I tried to bring myself to sleep,

But it did not come; sleep eluding me all the time.

"Mea culpa, mea culpa.........."

I said looking towards Heaven

- J.I. Rosairo