Author: Editor, Kingdom Revelator

Christian Living 

Don’t bury your Talents

I ’m pretty sure that we all have talents but the question is whether we use them to glorify God. I’d like to start with a story from the Gospel of Matthew 25:14-30. A man left his talents (his wealth) with his servants and went away for a while. One of the servants buried his talents in the ground, while the others used theirs wisely and made more money to give to the master on his return. When he came back, the servant who had not used his talents had them taken off him and they were given to the others. Although the parable is about money it can also apply to the talents and abilities that God has given to each of us and shows how we can use them to glorify God and store up treasure for ourselves in Heaven. Our friends may say to us, use your talents to become famous or to make lots of money but as faithful Christians we should learn to accept that every talent and gift that we have is a gift given to us by God.

Every Talent can be used for God’s Glory

There are many different talents; they could be in the field of music, art, writing, speaking, sport and many other areas, too numerous to list, but each one can be used for God’s purposes. If you are a musical person, then play Christian music or maybe write worship songs. If you are an artist, draw every picture for God’s glory. In this way we can use our talents to worship and adore Him. “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone” (1 Corinthians 12:4-6). St Paul tells us that whatever we do for God, our actions are all given and activated by the same Holy Spirit. Therefore we should use them in the Spirit, for the Spirit.

Never be Jealous of Other’s Talents

Paul writes in Romans 12:6, “We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us.” We should never be jealous of the gifts that someone else has. Instead we should try to develop what we have to a greater degree, thereby giving God more glory. In the Gospel story, those who invested their talents wisely were praised as good and faithful servants and received even more. And so when we use our talents for God; we will receive even more gifts from Him. Remember to use your talents for God’s Glory!

 

Written by Austin Sabu

Evangelisation 

Proclaiming the Word of God

One day, a boy brought a magazine with some rude pictures to school. Soon, a group of boys had gathered round him to look at it. “What’s going on?” wondered Dominic, and he, too, went to look. Just one peek was enough for him. He grabbed the magazine and tore it to pieces. “Poor us!” he cried, “Did God give us eyes to look at such things as this? Aren’t you ashamed?” “Oh, we were just looking at these pictures for the fun of it,” said one boy. “Sure, for fun,” answered Dominic, “and at the same time preparing yourselves to go to hell!” “Oh, what’s so wrong about looking at these pictures anyway?” another boy demanded. Dominic had his answer ready. “If you don’t see anything wrong,” he said sadly, “this is even worse. It means that you’re used to looking at shameful things!”

To Evangelise We Need to Know the Difference Between Good and Evil.

Dominic was proclaiming the word of God to these boys. He was a pupil of Don Bosco and one day Father Bosco gave a homily on saints and afterwards Dominic went to him and said he would like to become a saint! Don Bosco suggested that he try to be holy by doing his school work well, by helping others and by being a true friend. Dominic’s loving care for his friends became his mission.

Dominic had the gift of evangelisation This is what our Lord did most of the time as it says in Luke 4:18: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor; he has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives, recovery of sight to the blind and to let the oppressed go free.”

To evangelize we need to know the difference between good and evil. Dominic knew the difference so that when the boy brought in the shameful pictures he could warn him about the damage that he was doing and saved the boy from committing a greater sin.

The Good News

The Bible is the most powerful tool we have to help us to proclaim the word of God. It gives us the word of life and is no ordinary book but the Good News. I like to think of the Bible as Jesus, helping me and instructing me. We should also respect the Bible. With it we can proclaim the Word of God by retelling the stories and parables and using Bible verses which we have memorised or written down on slips of paper to remind ourselves. It is also a source of great comfort and strength in difficult times.

Reading the Bible

If you are not used to reading the Bible then start with one of the Gospels, perhaps the Gospel of Mark which tells the story of Jesus, his life, death and resurrection. Sit down somewhere quietly and start by praying to the Holy Spirit for guidance then just start reading slowly. You may want to stop after a few verses and sit silently for a while allowing the words to speak to your heart or you may find that you want to read on and follow the story. Be guided by the Holy Spirit and try to read the Bible regularly. Find a good time that suits you, when you can be alone to pray and read. God will bless you abundantly through your reading and he will equip you to proclaim the Word of God.

‘Holy Spirit come and guide me as I read your Holy Word, I open my heart to you now. Speak to me and reveal yourself to me through these Scriptures and help me always to speak your words and to do your will. Amen.’

 

Written by Christo Nobi

Life 

KIDS FOR Retreats Retreats KINGDOM RETREATS

“Christ wants to go many places in the world and to enter many hearts through you.” – saint pope john paul II

 

Kids for Kingdom (KFK) is the name of the Sehion Youth and Children’s ministry teams. KFK aims to give young people a systematic formation in the theology, spirituality and practical techniques of evangelization through the Holy Spirit. During the retreats there is an opportunity to meet and make new friends and many young people experience a life-changing conversion which gives them a passion and zeal to evangelise. Those who have heard the good news become heralds of the good news.

During the retreats there is an opportunity to experience:

1. POWERFUL PRAISE AND WORSHIP

Our own anointed and talented music ministers lead the group to a heavenly experience and everyone receives a beautiful anointing through these sessions.

2. DYNAMIC ORTHODOX PREACHING AND TEACHING SESSIONS

Through powerful preaching and teaching on subjects such as the Holy Spirit, Holiness, Jesus and Culture the group come to understand the need to lead a holy life and the importance of having the Holy Spirit active in their lives.

3. SACRED DRAMAS, ACTION SONGS, GROUP ACTIVITIES

There is also time for fellowship when the group are encouraged to use their talents with all kinds of media support to receive a powerful anointing.

4. ADORATION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT

Adoration is the most beautiful time of prayer where the young people encounter Jesus in a very special way.

5. WORKSHOPS ON GIFTS AND CHARISMS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

During this workshop, by the mercy of God, the majority of people receive the gifts and charisms of the Holy Spirit and there are also mighty deliverances and healings.

Written by Aneeshya Johny

Life 

SCHOOLS OF EVANGELISATION

“Praise the Lord!! The Southampton SOE was a turning point in my life. It was a great opportunity to get to know God closer. It was such a good experience. I was brought up as a Catholic but I didn’t have a great relationship with God. I had been on different retreats but they didn’t make any difference.

When I first went to the Second Saturday Convention I heard a lot of teenagers talking about their experience at the SOE and how God had changed their lives. It was a great inspiration for me and my friends. By the time I went to the SOE in the summer holiday I had a real thirst for God, I wanted to experience him and to get closer to him. In the spiritual sharing session, I was touched to the heart when I realised for the first time how much God loves me. He had been carrying me on his shoulders all these years but I didn’t realise it.

During Adoration I felt really disturbed and couldn’t pray so I went and sat next to one of the ministry members. She placed her hands on my shoulder and suddenly I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit. I started crying, I didn’t even know why. It was at that time that Jesus took away my hardness of heart and gave me a new heart to love him more. “The old has gone and the new has come”.

Now my joy in the Lord is the greatest joy I have ever experienced in my life. These few words are not enough to explain the love of our God. Thank you Jesus. Praise you Jesus.”

Written by Aneeshya Johny

Vocation 

Called to the Priesthood

As a young man, Fr. Jason Smith loved watching sport. He considered ice hockey to be divinely inspired. He thought that it was a sign of God’s love for us. But it’s what happened after one particular game that took him by surprise and led him to realise that God was calling him to become a priest.

 

I Missed Sunday Mass

During my first year at college I often went to the rink at the University of Minnesota with my friends to watch the Ice Hockey games. One Saturday after a great win for my team and a long celebration, I returned home in the small hours of the morning, too tired to get out of bed until Sunday afternoon. Stumbling downstairs for something to eat, I found my Dad sitting at the kitchen table, reading the paper. Opening the fridge, I heard from over my shoulder: “Jason, did you go to Mass this morning?” I swallowed hard. I hadn’t. Quickly I tried to think up the perfect excuse. None came. Trying to hide behind the refrigerator door, I quipped “No, I didn’t go”. Without looking up Dad replied solemnly, “Go tomorrow then.”

An Attractive Girl passed Me a Note

It was my first Monday morning Mass ever. I was struck by how quiet the Church was, and how empty. I sat about halfway up and waited. Little by little, people began to filter in. Then I noticed an attractive girl sitting a few pews behind me. Seeing her I thought, “How is it that I find a girl like this now and not last Saturday evening? It must be God’s providence!” I decided that the sign of peace was the perfect time to introduce myself. When the moment came I turned around and, to my surprise, she passed me a note. I put it in my pocket pretending that it happened all the time.

Invited to a Prayer Group

When I got home I took the note out of my pocket and opened it wondering what she had written. It read something like this: “It’s good to see someone young attending daily Mass. You must really love your faith! I want to let you know about a group of young people who pray and study scripture on Wednesday evenings. If you would like to come, here is my number.” I decided I could find time in my packed schedule to go.

True Devotion to Mary

That’s when it occurred to me that I hadn’t seriously looked into my Catholic faith since my Confirmation. What would I say? What would I pray? Where was my Rosary? I found it stuffed in the bottom dresser drawer along with a pamphlet of prayers. As to what I would say, I went to my Dad’s study and checked out his library. It had books on music, history, politics but the largest section was on religion. I found one book called, “True Devotion to Mary”. It seemed like a good place to start since it was short.

My first Encounter with a Saint

I never read beyond the introduction, but the book changed my life. It explained how St Louis de Montfort, a priest who tirelessly preached the Gospel and underwent extraordinary trials, spread devotion to Mary throughout France. It was my first encounter with the life of a saint. I marvelled how someone could dedicate himself entirely to Christ, even to the point of heroism. It was then that I renewed the resolution I had made two years earlier to pray and sincerely live my faith.

The Priesthood Entered my Mind

A few months later I went on a retreat with the youth group. It was the first time the priesthood entered my mind. At a Mass, during the consecration, as I gazed at the elevated host, I thought to myself —in words that were my own, but which carried a resonance I will never forget— ‘if there is one thing I should do, it’s that’. It was the defining moment of my calling. I was taken entirely by surprise. I knew I had to look into the priesthood, but I didn’t know how or where to start.

To cut a long story short, the same girl who gave me the note in church then gave me a brochure on the Legionaries of Christ. It had testimonies of the young men who had entered the year before. I read it and was convinced. I called and asked for an application and shortly afterwards I went to the Seminary and started training for the priesthood. My younger brother followed the next year

Called by His Grace

Since my ordination the years have passed by like a whirlwind. There is much more I could write, but the essential is simple: Christ crossed my path, called, and by his grace — definitely not my own strength— I found the courage to drop everything and follow him. I have never looked back.

I can hardly believe I have arrived at the foot of the altar. It seems almost a dream; that I’ll wake up, finding myself back in college, late for a hockey game. But it’s true. God’s plans are far beyond, and far better, than our own.

 

Written by Fr. Jason Smith

Uncategorised 

God’s Unconditional Love

“I asked Jesus, ‘How much do you love me? And Jesus said, ‘This much.’ Then he stretched out his arms and died.”

In my life, the deepest love I’ve ever experienced is God’s love. By having an intimate relationship with God, I’ve realised that no one matter how difficult a situation may be, with God’s love and guidance, I can overcome anything. Every day, God’s love is very evident in all parts of my life and I know that as long as God is with me, there is nothing I need to be afraid of.

Jesus Loves Us

It is hard for us to understand or appreciate how much God loves us. Our love is often selfish and demanding, whereas God’s love is always for our good and compassionate. He proved his unconditional love for us by sending his only son, Jesus Christ, into the world to be sacrificed in order to save us from sin.

Whenever we are tempted to think that nobody loves us or cares for us, we must remember that Jesus bore the shame and suffering on the cross because he loved us. We were so precious in his eyes that he gave up his own life so that we may live. Even if you were the only person alive, Jesus would have died on the cross for you because each one us is very special to him.

We don’t Deserve It

“God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) Even when we turn against God, he is still willing to reveal his bountiful love to us. One of the best things about God’s love is that it is given to us at times when we don’t deserve it. Even when we fail to repay his love, he does not stop showering us with his blessings.

In other words, his love is unconditional, unlike ours. We have a tendency to show more love to those who obviously love us and less love to those who don’t; but this is not what Jesus wants us to do. “You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbour and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” (Matthew 5:43-45)

We Can Surrender Our Whole Life to Him

Jesus wants us to show his love to everyone through our works of charity and by spreading the good news of his never-ending love to all humanity through evangelisation. We should acknowledge and thank God for his love and we can repay him by surrendering our whole life to him. May the Holy Spirit inspire us to dwell in God’s abundant love and share this love with everyone that we meet.

Written by Rosemary Joy

The Sacraments 

Breaking Down the Barrier

Jesus Rejoices Over Every Sinner Who Repents

One day, while sitting in front of the Blessed Sacrament in Adoration, in my mind I saw a picture of myself and then I saw Jesus rejoicing over me. I was wondering why Jesus was so happy and then I realised that it was because I had just been to Confession. Luke 15:10 says, “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Jesus showed me that, along with the angels, he also rejoices over a sinner who repents. He dances with great joy when we confess with real repentance. He tells everyone in heaven that his child is back to holiness. His child has become a saint again! He is so happy when we confess and he declares that happiness around heaven. How great is that?

He showed me how we can see with the eyes of faith, what happens in heaven, when we repent of our sins and ask for forgiveness in the Sacrament of Confession. Jesus says to the angels, ‘Yes, my child has come back. I knew that they would come back one day. Now let us celebrate their return.’

A Grand Festival in Heaven

He celebrates our repentance with a grand festival in heaven. Just think about it, do we want to see Jesus rejoice over us? If we resolve to confess regularly, we will see him rejoicing. Even though we may only commit little sins, these spoil our innocent hearts and we need the healing touch of the Sacrament. If we clean our hearts regularly for Jesus, he can live within us. He cannot live anywhere that is spoiled by sin. When I had this experience, I cried out with joy. The best thing that we can do in this life is to make our God happy.

Persevere and Don’t Give Up

Will Jesus give up on us if we sin? No. Jesus wants us to persevere and not give up fighting. We all are soldiers in the army of Jesus and the duty of soldiers is to fight. When a little baby learns to walk, even though he keeps falling down, he never gives up but gets up and tries again. That is what God wants to see from all of us.

This does not mean that Confession is a licence to sin. Jesus gives us the grace through the Sacrament to defeat sin, and after our Confession we must use this grace to strengthen us for the fight. There are other sources of grace that will help us: Regular Scripture reading, personal prayer, fasting once a week, attending Holy Mass every day if possible, regular confessions and spending time before the Blessed Sacrament.

Jesus Gives us the Grace

These will all help us and make us stronger to fight and defeat the devil when he comes to attack our weaknesses. Don’t forget that Jesus knows the struggles that we go through, when we fight and when we fall, because he knows that we are weak.

My advice to everyone is to repent of your sins, no matter how big or small they are. Repent and receive God’s forgiveness and grace. Remember that Jesus is rejoicing in heaven because of your Confession and don’t forget that we can resist temptations and avoid sin. We can do it because Jesus gives us the grace to do it. Praise be to God!

“The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17″

Written by Dona Solichan

Editorial 

June 2014 – Editorial

My dear children in Jesus Christ, This is my first letter from Sehion Ministries; I am sending it to you with a jubilant heart as a gift to my UK children for the month of June.

When God called me to start Sehion Ministries, I discovered that the Lord loves children. Whenever I pray for a child, I see that they are blessed abundantly and graciously by the Lord.

The Gospel of St Matthew 19:13-14 says “Little children were being brought to Jesus in order that he might lay his hands on them and pray for them. The disciples spoke sternly to those who brought them; but Jesus said, Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them.” In those days, thousands of years ago simple people knew that their children needed God’s blessing; they brought them to Jesus so that he could pray for them. The disciples discouraged them, but Jesus wanted the children to come to him and told the disciples not to stop them. In this passage Jesus shows us that children need God’s blessings

Dear children, you need Jesus’ blessings. Christopher, a young man from Cochin in Kerala, scored a high grade in his final exams but he could not get a good job. This is his story. “I am Christopher Joseph and in 2012 I passed my B Tech exams with high marks. In May I started looking for a job but over the next six months I failed to get one. Then in December I went to a Retreat organized by Sehion Ministries and the very next day I got an invitation to attend an interview at a technology park. By the grace of God I was offered the job, started work the following Monday and I am still working there. Thanks be to God.”

Everything for our good is by the grace and mercy of God. The following words of God confirm it; “His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the speed of a runner”. (Psalm 147:10) “The war horse is a vain hope for victory, and by its great might it cannot save. Truly the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love”. (Psalm 33:17-18)

My dear children I appeal to you all, do not miss your family prayers, if your family do not pray together regularly then please try to start today, this very day. Also if you don’t go regularly to Mass in your parish, please start going to Sunday Mass without fail. Another way to get nearer to Jesus and get his blessing is to read the word of God daily, read a Bible passage personally and meditate over it for a few minutes. Again, it will be a real blessing if you can go to a residential retreat for young people or any retreats that may be conducted in your parish

I bless you all in the name of Jesus from Sehion Ministries Central Office and I hold a long cherished desire and prayer in my heart that you may all become saints and witness to Jesus Christ, where ever you are.

May the Lord our God bless all children. Amen

Written by Fr Xavier Khan Vattayil

director of the sehion retreat centre, kerala, india

Life 

In the footsteps of St. Thomas

Growing up in India, Prince knew the story of St. Thomas and how he had doubted the disciples when they told him that Jesus had risen from the dead. It wasn’t until Thomas had touched the wounds of Jesus that his eyes were opened and he believed. Little did Prince realise that a similar experience would change his life forever.

He put his hands into the wounds of Jesus

I have always admired St. Thomas who was one of the disciples of Jesus. Although he doubted that Jesus had risen from the dead, he went on to experience the unconditional love of God by that ‘touch of faith’ when he put his hands into the wounds of the risen Christ. This had an amazing impact on him. He was so inspired to evangelise that he took the Good News all the way to India, where I come from. The Indian Church can be traced right back to St Thomas.

My ‘Doubting Thomas’ Faith

I was brought up as a good Catholic boy by my very devout parents and my faith was based on what they taught me. My first real experience of God’s power was at a retreat when I was fifteen years old. I would say that my faith was like Doubting Thomas’s at the time. Many people were testifying to being healed and receiving miraculous cures but I was sceptical and always tried to work out the scientific reality behind what I thought of as these ‘magic shows’.

I didn’t realise, or was not ready to accept, that God’s amazing power was behind all these miracles. I suspected that they might be actors put there by the leaders to trick us and to prove their point. However, I was always keen to listen to spiritual talks, to learn more about the Gospel stories and hear about the personal faith experiences of others.

I wanted to get closer to God

I nevertheless wondered why I didn’t have any of the experiences that others claimed to have, even though I had tried to fast and pray during the retreat. I wanted to get closer to God, but nothing seemed to be happening for me. On the third day, while sitting in front of the Blessed Sacrament in Adoration, I pleaded with Jesus to show me his presence or give me some powerful experience so that I could also be motivated to show others his presence and love. But that night, I didn’t get any answer from God.

‘I need a powerful experience from you today!’

The next day, the Gospel at Mass was from Matthew 17: 20, where Jesus says ‘If you have just a little faith, even the size of a mustard seed, then you can ask this mountain to go and fall into the sea and it will.’ This Gospel line struck me powerfully, as if God was answering my prayers from the night before. That night during Adoration the priests were sprinkling holy water on all the people gathered in the hall. I prayed to Jesus, ‘I need a powerful experience from you today, please, Lord.’ I cried for the first time while praying and suddenly the words of the Gospel struck me again as if someone was whispering it to my heart. I suddenly realized that it was Jesus. I knew at that moment that Jesus was present and active and had heard my prayer.

I Reached Out My Fingers

Then I saw a priest coming towards me sprinkling holy water. I could see that people in front of me were receiving an anointing and blessing and I desperately hoped that I would receive some of this anointing. I waited for the water to fall on me, but nothing happened. Not losing faith, this time my prayer was more sincere and from my heart, I bowed down fully on the floor eagerly awaiting God with my eyes closed.

Then suddenly a voice came from inside my heart: ‘Open your eyes.’ So I opened them and I saw two drops of holy water on the floor in front of me. Something inside me was telling me to touch those little drops. I reached out the fingers of my right hand and slowly moved towards the drops. I was reaching out with a firm faith that something would happen to me now for definite.

I remembered the story of Thomas who reached out to touch the wounds of Jesus, (John 20: 24-29) and I reached out with the hope of that woman who touched Jesus’s cloak and was healed (Mark 5: 25-34). These two Gospel passages were burning in my heart as I eagerly focused on Jesus with my body, mind and soul. Then without hesitation, I touched the drops and to my surprise (it was a terrific shock), I experienced something like electric pulses passing through my fingers. I could feel the pulses travelling to my heart first, then radiating to everywhere else in my body like a little shock wave. I thought ‘Wow! God is here!’

A wonderful joy radiates in my soul

I thanked and praised God for giving me such an amazing experience of his mercy. I glorified and praised him along with the crowd for his answer to my humble prayer. Then, while I was praising him another strange thing happened. I started talking in funny words. It was the gift of tongues!

From that moment on, a wonderful joy radiates in my soul whenever I talk about the Word of God and spiritual things. Since that retreat I have had a great desire to bring more people to Jesus by evangelising, and I believe that it is my lifelong mission to let others know about Jesus Christ as the only saviour and redeemer for the forgiveness of our sins. Ever since then, to live for Christ has been the greatest desire in my heart, because he knows me and he loves me, even though I am a sinner. That’s his unconditional love!

Written by Prince Paulose