By Fr. Antony Christy, SDB-
Miriam, whom we refer to here, is a relatively less known and highly confused with character in the Bible first of all because there are quite a few with that name! Though not known by this name, Miriam, the elder sister of Moses stands out as a Youth Icon, the greatest of her acts being instrumental in getting the infant Moses, nursed by its own mother.
Miriam seems to have been already 12-years old when Moses was born. She proved herself a compassionate sibling, a caring sister, staying close to her mom in her efforts to safeguard the child from its imminent death. And when an alternate plan was devised she was again an integral part of it. It was not just the mother’s plan but the plan of salvation, the salvation that the Lord of history was preparing for the people of God.
Two things shine in the personality of Miriam: her sincere love for her little brother and her significant role in materialising the plan of God. Her love for her brother was seen in the fact that she did not leave after the child was left to float on the river…she stood to watch till it would reach a safe haven! It was because she stood there, she was able to intervene for good, when it was possible. How blessed it is to stand by when your brothers and sisters are at bay. Her cooperation with God’s plan, even without her knowing was so crucial in history. She became an instrument in the hands of God. Miriam proves an example and a challenge for the young today.
Our society filled with troubles and crises, is longing to taste true happiness and serenity. God can use anyone as an instrument to achieve this well being for the struggling masses. How divine it would prove if every young person is open, pliable and eager to cooperate with the plan of God and be at the service of one’s brothers and sisters!
So, my young friend…
– have you realised that you too have a role within the plan of God?
– do you have the necessary disposition to do what God expects from you?
YOU CAT
EXPERIENCING THE HOLY SPIRIT: The Spirit and the Catholic Experience (Questions 113 -144) We have reached the end of the part one: WHAT WE BELIEVE. The section here begins with a clarity on the Holy Spirit and moves over to expound the catholic elements of the Christian belief. The Holy Spirit is God, just as the Father and the Son and they are Three in One – One God in three persons.
The Spirit makes known the Father in our hearts. Only through the Spirit can one know Christ and experience him as such. Holy Spirit is an experience – the people of faith have experienced the Spirit as a healing ointment, living water, raging storm or flaming fire. Jesus himself presented the Holy Spirit as the counselor, comforter, teacher of truth.
The Church continues this experience offering the Spirit to her children through imposition of hands and anointing with oil. It is this Holy Spirit who makes the Church come alive – in history and today. The Pentecost experience (pentecost means the fiftieth day after Christ’s ascension) which gave birth to the Church, continues even today, making the children of God unite as People of God.
The Holy Spirit forms the Church, reminds the Church of her mission, sends people in mission, strengthens them with gifts and builds a deep communion. The Spirit has worked in the prophets of God, in Mary the chosen instrument of God, in Jesus the anointed Son of God, in the apostles and in the saints, making the presence of the Spirit a daily experience. As the quiet guest of our soul, the Spirit relates us to God, helps us to pray and challenges us to be there for each other!
– How close do you feel to the Spirit of the Lord in your daily experience?
KNOW YOUR CHURCH:
Is the Church the ultimate end towards which we work as Christians?
In all that we do, we are tending to and striving to build up the Church – would that be the right thing to say, as Catholic Christians? You feel like giving an emphatic YES as an answer? But the answer is a gentle NO! Yes, the Church is the ‘Body of Christ’, ‘the Bride of Christ’, ‘the Temple of the Holy Spirit’ but it is not an end in itself.
The Church is at the service of the Kingdom of God/Reign of God. Seek first the Reign of God, the rest will be given unto you said Jesus and his whole life was an arduous effort at building this Reign of God. He did whatever the Father willed that he did, and that was just a planting of the Reign of God – it has begun, but not grown to the full yet; it has germinated but not put out its entire branches.
When Jesus knew he had done his part and wished that his friends, the apostles do their part, he formed them in a community – that is what we call the Church! The Church is an interim arrangement that Jesus has willed that every person called in the name of Jesus, comes together in the Spirit of love and communion and makes present the reign of God here and now. In that manner, the Church is called and envisioned to be a bit of heaven here on earth, the foretaste of the Reign of God that is yet to come. Church is fully aware that she is at the service of the Reign of God.
DO CAT
BIO-ETHICS – THE RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF A HUMAN PERSON IN A COMMUNITY (Digression*-Questions 61-83) If Human persons are so infinitely valuable, can they do whatever they want be justified? Human Persons do not exist alone, they live in a community. And hence there are rights and duties that ensure the dignity and inviolability of all. A Digression* here finds itself in place here calling our attention to issues on Bio-ethics. It is seen within the framework of the inviolable personal dignity of every human person, that life is sacred.
Life has to be vehemently upheld specially at the most vulnerable stages of human life – at its beginning and at its end, where the concerned person is not able make free and right choices. Issues like the value of life of an unborn, an elderly, a sick person have to be dealt with utmost respect and sacredness. Issues like making life conceive outside the body, removal of an embryo with possibilities of handicap or diseases, determining when a life should be born and when a person terminate one’s own life for reasons like pain and sickness – are tendencies to take life for granted. Life cannot be considered a personal property or owned by its parents or guardians.
Life belongs to God and God alone can determine it. “You shall not kill” applies to one’s own life too. For a Christian, life is a gift and dying is step to its final maturity. Life is sacred and life is divine.
[*’Digression’ are certain parts of the DOCAT that have a special information to provide. As we know Do Cat is an anthology of the Social Doctrine of the Church. But there are certain pertinent issues that are discussed apart based on the teachings of the Church thus far, and this part is named ‘Digression’ to differentiate from the normal flow].
– How convinced are you about inviolability and sacrality of Life?
Fr Antony Christy is a Salesian Priest from 2005, who has a Masters in Philosophy (specialisation in Religion) and a Masters in Theology (Specialisation in Catechetics). He is currently pursuing his doctoral research in Theology at Salesian Pontifical University, Rome. Walking with the Young towards a World of Peace and Dialogue is the passion that fires him on.
Holy Spirit is an experience! speaks volume..
very meaningful and thought provoking Icon is
Miriam..Thanks Rev.Fr. Antony Christy SDB.