Gods Own Words

Speaking the Language without the Word, “I”

Benny Nalkara, CMI “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). This spontaneous response made by John the Baptist when he was told that even his disciples began to go after Jesus, can be considered as one of the most beautiful statements of the entire New Testament. Speaking the language without the word, “I” […]

All Against One…

Jacob Chanikuzhy It is possible that a parent feels special love for one of the children; but it is prudence not to make any conspicuous show of it. Jacob, however, showed his special affection for Joseph by making a multicolour garment for him. Without doubt, all other sons of Joseph became envious of him and […]

The Josephine Justice Act

Benny Nalkara, CMI The Just Man (hodikaios) has become almost like a synonym for St Joseph, the foster father of Jesus. The same virtue is attributed to Jesus in the Gospels (Mt 27:19; Lk 23:47). “Because Joseph, her husband was a just man” (Mt 1:19)! That’s the unique and remarkable statement about the personality of […]

A Disastrous Outing

Jacob Chanikuzhy “Dinah was so beautiful that she was hidden in a box and was carried by Jacob’s servants lest Esau see and wish to marry her,” reads a Jewish story. Dinah was just a curious teenager when Jacob’s family settled in Shechem. As the only daughter of Jacob and the only sister of her […]

The Immanuel Assurance

Benny Nalkara, CMI It is not only a matter of literary interest alone, but also a matter of theological significance that the Gospel of Matthew begins and ends with the Immanuel Assurance. “Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Immanuel,” which means, God with us (Mt 1:23). […]

A God who Hesitates to Conquer…

Jacob Chanikuzhy The Jews never eat of the sinew that joins the thigh and the hip of any animal. They have a story to tell behind this dietary rule – the story of Jacob’s wrestling with God (Genesis 32). Through a dietary practice they have memorialized an event that happened in the life of their […]

Are you a King?

Benny Nalkara, CMI Jesus of Nazareth never claimed to be a king. He was called so by Pontius Pilate before His crucifixion and death. During the trials Pilate describes Jesus as the king of Jews. He asked Him at face: “Are you the King of the Jews?” (Jn 18:33). Since Jesus said that His kingship […]

Matriarchs of Israel

Jacob Chanikuzhy Jacob deceived his family twice. When he was discovered to be a cheat, he had to leave his ancestral home and the promised land for his uncle Laban’s home in Haran. In his uncle’s home he worked just like any labourer. In the meantime Jacob grew so fond of Rachel, the daughter of […]

Eviction-facing Indian Catholics to fight Muslim charity’s claims

Goans oppose tourism project near 16th century basilica