Why "Shiloam"

The thought of starting a blog came to my mind after recollecting that I had to do something to spread the word of God as a true christian, as each christian is responsible for living a life that Jesus taught us as well as to spread the Word of God inorder to save souls for the Kingdom of God. There are many good things that we come across in our daily lives, including a pleasant experience where we can experience the love of God, the good books that we read, the good messages influence us and the good thoughts that come into our minds. If we share these, the goodness and the effects of the message will multipy in many folds in our lives.
As the technologies for media and propaganda have developed a lot, it is possible for one to communicate effectively with the touch of a finger, the utilization of a blog was thought to be ideal and better to share the thoughts as well as to enable all the readers to contribute their valuable comments and reflections.
When looking for the name of the blog, after saying a prayer, opened the Holy Bible for an inspiration. The first word I saw was "Siloam" which means 'sent',as in John 9:6-7, 'After he said this, Jesus spat on the ground and made some mud with the spittle; He rubbed the mud on the man's eyes and told him, "Go and wash your face in the Pool of Siloam." (This means "Sent.") So the man went, washed his face, and came back seeing.'
These words influenced me, as I got it straight from the Bible. I knew this was the word I had to use for the name of the blog, but I wasn't certain that this name will impress many as it is not so popular as many other common names in the Bible. So, naming of the blog delayed for few more days and finally I realized that I had to use the same name as it was given to me by God. But somewhere in the process, while typing, the spelling came out to be 'Shiloam' rather than 'Siloam'. But I realize it only after few days. Now I am so contented to accept it as the plan of God.

As Jesus healed that blind man, lets also ask Jesus to heal our blindness of our innerselves, which is blinded in the worldly things and temptations and prevents us to see the realy beauty of the gift of God. Lets all try and achieve that freedom which is far away from the cravings for richness, wealths and pleasures of this life. The freedom that Christ gives us through the gift of His Holy Spirit. Lord Jesus, help us, guide us and use us as your instrumets of peace and love. Praise and glory to Lord Jesus Christ.

The Sacrament of Marriage

The sacrament of marriage creates the perfect conditions for the transmission of life, so that a new person may come into the world in an atmosphere of love and mutual respect.
God makes married couples His partners by enabling them to participate in the work of creation. Through marriage, the Holy Spirit enables the couples to build a family that is open to life and capable of withstanding the numerous and complex challenges of our time.

Prayer
Lord Jesus, we consecrate our marriage to you: our minds, our momories, our bodies, and souls. Teach us to love each other and our children with the love that flows from Your Merciful Heart. Lord Jesus Christ, grant us a pure heart modeled upon yours, that together we might perfect a love that is wise, generous, faithful and free from self-interest, a love that steadfastly upholds your laws and commandment. May daily family prayer, the rosary, the chaplet of Divine mercy, Holy Mass, and frequent reception of the Eucharist assist us in this endeavor. May we confess at once every sin through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Grant that we may continually draw on the graces, which you make available to us through the Sacrament of Marriage.
Lord Jesus, be master of our hearts. Teach us to control our sexual desires and feelings that our love for each other and our children may not be subject to our moods and emotional states. Rather, may our love be a continual expression of our care and solicitude for each other. Grant us the gift of pure conjugal love that we may give of ourselves generously. Cleanse our love of all selfishness that we may always forgive and pray for each other without nursing grudges. To remain pure in heart, we vow never to read, buy or look at pornographic materials. We pledge never to use contraceptives and always to be ready to accept every child that God may send us. Lord, help us to avoid everything that ensnares, enslaves or incites to evil.
Mary, our Mother, guide us in our journey of faith. Lead us to the very Source of Love - to Jesus, that we may trust and believe in Him alone. After the example of Blessed John Paul II, we entrust ourselves to you: Totus Tuus, Mary! To your immaculate Heart we confide ourselves totally, all that we are, every step we take and every minute of our lives. Amen.

Courtesy: Love One Another, www.loamagazine.org

For Married Couples

Treat yourselves and each other with respect.

Remind yourselves often what brought you together.

Give the highest priority to the tenderness, gentleness and kindness that your marriage deserves.

When frustration, difficulties and fear threaten your relationship, remember to focus on what is right between you, not only the part which seems wrong.

In this way you will ride out the storms when the clouds hide the face of the sun. And if each of you takes responsibility for the quality of your life together it will be marked by abundance and delight.

Taken and adopeted from Mathew 18

A Ladder to Heaven

Happy the man who places his trust in the Lord. (Psalm 39(40):4)
St. Rose of Lima said, 'apart from the cross there is no other ladder by which we may get to heaven.' St. Rose, as only saints can, captured succintly and beautifully how the cross of Jesus has been, from the very beginning, the heart of the gospel message. The apostles pointed consistently and persistently to the crucified Lord, to the One pierced for out iniquities. The crucifix is, if you like, the perfect aide-memoire - it reminds us that the cross, although truly a barbarous tool of execution, was transformed by the Lord into a sign of the greatest love, mercy and new life. We come to the cross to receive those gifts.

Lord Jesus, help us to boast only in your cross because by it you redeemed the world.
Lord we come to your cross to come closer to you. We seek the company of Mary who stood there with you whom you gave to us to be out Mother. Bless us on this journey of prayer. May the blood and water that flowed from your side refresh us in faith and love. Amen.

Courtesy - Walk with me. www.alivepublishing.co.uk

Quotes by Pope John Paul II

1."Marriage is an act of will that signifies and involves a mutual gift, which unites the spouses and binds them to their eventual souls, with whom they make up a sole family - a domestic church."
Pope John Paul II

2."The future starts today, not tomorrow."
Pope John Paul II

3.“Anything done for another is done for oneself.”
Pope John Paul II

4. “To maintain a joyful family requires much from both the parents and the children. Each member of the family has to become, in a special way, the servant of the others.”
Pope John Paul II

5. “Stupidity is also a gift of God, but one mustn't misuse it”
Pope John Paul II

Living in the Light

The man who lives by the truth comes into the light so that it may be plainly seen that what he does is done in God (John 3:21)

The light of Christ is what guides us each day.
The light was first shone into our souls at Baptism. The darknessof our fallen human nature was transformed by this great and powerful light, which burst from the darkest place of all: the tomb of the dead Jesus.
Now we try to walk by this light. The person of Jesus, and his Gospel, becomes our guiding light. Each step of the way we try to bring that light to bear onto what faces us, what we must do or say, how we are going to react.
This is a light of compassionate love, of clear-eyed justice and of forgiveness. It is indeed the light of light!


Courtesy: Walk with me, A lenten Journey of Prayer for 2012. www.alivepublishing.co.uk

The ABCs of the Crusade of Love

Respect Everyone - Christ resides in everyone. Be sensitive to others - they are your brothers and sisters.

Think well of of everyone - think ill of no one. Try to find something good even in the worst circumstances.

Always speak well of others - do not cast a slur on anyone. Repair any harm resulting from an uttered word. Do not provoke strife between people.

Speak to everyone in the language of love - Do not raise your voice. Do not swear. Do not vex others. Do not provoke tears. Reassure others. Show a kind heart.

Forgive everyone everything.do not hold grudges. Always be the first to extend your hand as a sign of reconciliation.

Act always to your neighbour's advantage. Do good things to others, as you would like them done to you. Never give a thought to what others owe you, but always to what you owe them.

Be actively compassionate in time of suffering. Be quick to offer consolation, counsel, assistance, kindness.

Work conscientiously - others benefit from the fruits of your labor, just as you benefit from the labor of others.

Be active in your community. Be open to the poor and the sick. Share your goods. Try to see the needs of those around you.

Pray for everyone, even your enemies.

Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski (1900 - 1981

This ia an endeavour to do something for the evangelisaton, for spreading the Word of God and accepting Jesus as my Lord and God.

My Lord and My God