Inspiration

Can you believe that her catechism children made a satanic sacrifice of an elderly nun? It did not occur in ancient times, but during our days.

Maria Laura was born as Teresina Elsa Mainetti on August 20, 1939, in the small town of Villatico, Lecco, North Italy. She was the tenth  child of Stefno Mainetti and Marcellina Gusmeroli. Her mother died twelve days after her birth. So her father married another woman to care for his children.

After her schooling in the Instituto Magistrale of the Sisters of the Cross in Parma, the 18 years old Mainetti joined their Religious Congregation. On her religious profession day on August 15, 1959, she took the name Maria Laura. She always remembered a priest  who advised her when she joined, “You must do something wonderful for others.”

When she pronounced her final  vows on August 24, 1964, she wrote in her diary, “Here I am… The joy of my service every instant in conformity with Your Divine Will. Daughter of the Cross means that the Cross is my mother. Not the wooden cross that you see hanging on the wall. But I am the bride, daughter, and sister of Jesus.”

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A frog  in  the well lectured the sun one day

“Let me explain to you  our  universe”,

Asserted  the frog, “ The universe is only water

Frogs and fish, crabs and some moss.”

The sun retorted, “What you know is so little

Of the vast, immense, splendid  universe,

Come out , I will show you lush forests,

Majestic mountains, planets  and galaxies.”

The  frog insisted, “Show me proof of your fantasies,

Maybe at most there are a few stars in the night sky.”

The sun pitied the ignorant frog, “ Your vision is confined

To  the tiny little circle of the well, you must come out.”

Now Humans tell  God, “Give us proof you exist

You are someone’s  invention to keep us in submission;

You are no creator, the universe self-evolved

Give us scientific evidence for your existence.”

The All wise creator  spoke kindly to humans

“You  are frogs in the well and hemmed in

By your  environment and sense experiences;

You are  circumscribed by time and space.

Do you want to know me? Jump out

Of your  well you, hare-brained humans,

Can you cram my billions of  tetra bytes

Data into  your low capacity  pen drive?”

Matthew Adukanil SDB

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Life- invigorating, God-gifted fresh air

Lung- ravaging , choking cigarette fumes;

Pot- belly- inflating sedentary life style

Sturdy  feet that daily  tread many a mile.

Life richly engendering rain and sun

Health- wrecking smoke and pollutants;

Life-renewing , ever freshwater rivers

Disease and death peddling city gutters.

New throbbing life- creating conjugal love

Budding life callously nipping abortionists;

Lawn grass coolly showering  water sprinklers

Smashing, flattening, remorseless bulldozers.

Care- dispensing angelic nurses’ hands

Ravaging, ravishing  child abusers;

Consecrated religious  uplifting  the poor

Grabbing, greed-driven  business houses.

Brother/Sisterhood, harmony promoting  gurus

Hatred, venom spewing, rabid god- men;

Peace-loving, serenely living small nations

Arrogant, bullying power- crazy war lords.

Life’s battle is between makers and wreckers

Rally  with  the makers, shun  the wreckers.

Matthew Adukanil SDB

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Ms. Raynah Braganza Passanha has extensive experience as a Volunteer Trainer in Catechesis and Gender Concerns. She has achieved great academic success, earning Gold medals from the University of Bombay at both B.Ed and M.Ed levels. Her work for women’s rights and empowerment has been tireless, both nationally and internationally. In her responses to Janina Gomes’ questions, she shares the depth of her involvement and inspires others to make a similar commitment.

Why do you think it is important to observe International Women’s Day?

The mindset of Indians is still predominantly patriarchal, whether it is in society and its institutions, or in the Church. Sadly, education, media, religion, culture and the general environment reinforce patriarchal ways of thinking and result in even the so-called educated people living by gender stereotypes.

To bring about any kind of change, it is not enough only to observe International Women’s Day. We should use every opportunity available to help people think critically, about this denial of dignity and rights through gender discrimination. Only when mindsets change, can behavior change! Some days that offer us this: Girl Child Day with the Church of India (September 8^th), with the country (January 24^th– National Girl Child Day) and with the world (October 11^th– International Girl Child Day).

We should also observe days dedicated to the elimination of violence against women, girls and other vulnerable groups during the 16 days of activism between November 25^th and December 10^th  and on February 14^th, which is celebrated internationally as 1 Billion Rising ( a global campaign and the biggest mass action for ending violence against women and girls, which was started in 2013).

These efforts could be ramped up to a much larger scale to publicly highlight issues relating to women, girls and other marginalized groups within the Church and society. It is these initiatives which create awareness, that will challenge us to change the way we think and the choices we make.

We need to be multi-pronged in our efforts to bring about change. Our educational institutions, formation centres for religious and clergy at all levels, training for catechists, catechesis or faith formation for children, youth, and adult faithful should all be avenues through which we make conscious efforts to include gender sensitization. Our efforts need to be directed to all genders, of all ages, through all possible ways, if we are serious about our commitment to the vision and mission of Christ.

Who do you feel is responsible for taking action on women’s issues?

Beginning with me, everyone is responsible to reflect on the inequality and injustice that women face. In particular, every Christian must be challenged to bring about a world where all created by God are respected, where the dignity of people is upheld and their rights are defended. It is a shame that Christians can claim to follow Jesus and discriminate on the basis of gender, sexual persuasion, community, language, creed and caste. We need to reflect together, think critically, challenge ourselves, as well as advocate and lobby along with secular groups for change to happen in the different institutions of society.

What do you think can be done to address gender stereotypes?

We can begin within our homes by fostering and upholding the values we teach and practice. We must challenge our leaders, clergy and catechists, when gender stereotypes are reinforced using scripture, by organizing non-threatening liturgical services, where scripture is reflected upon with a feminist understanding. Our educational institutions must make a special effort to address these issues. We have to use multi-pronged approaches directed at leadership at different levels, and also at children, young adults and adults.

Where do you think the most significant challenges to your work will occur?

Most challenges occur from women themselves who, secure in their comfort zone of existing structures, even if they are patriarchal, resist challenging the inequality they face at home or even in Church and work places. Fear of reprisal, alienation, negative reactions from authorities in their families, communities and the church, a lack of adequate support structures to give them the confidence to continue with their struggle, all lead to women choosing to fall in line with the ‘as it was in the beginning is now’ culture – a culture of apathy, fear, silence!

How can we help in meeting the challenges that will arise in achieving gender equality?

My focus is on awareness creation through scriptural reflections, liturgical celebrations, challenging clergy, religious and the laity whenever there is obvious discrimination on the basis of language, job division, exclusion or the demeaning of women and their contribution. I use my voice and my writings as major tools in this task.

Tell us something about your work with domestic workers in Hongkong and India

I worked with the Asian Migrant Centre that reached out to domestic workers mainly from the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, India and Nepal. I learnt a lot here as I learned about para-legal assistance to workers and helped them take their cases of grievance to the labour department and courts, provided them counselling services and helped with research, documentation and publication.

Tell us also about your work with factory workers in Sri Lanka and abused women in Pune

 In Sri Lanka, I visited the women factory workers in their camps to listen to their stories, and provide accompaniment and counselling. I began studying the faith through Maryvale in Birmingham and started teaching the faith in the parish, school and Vicariate.  My take on the faith has always had a leaning on the social justice angle.

 With women in Pune, since I was made diocesan chairperson, I have conducted awareness sessions, liturgical and para-liturgical services on feast days and girl child days. Unfortunately, women are more inclined to prayer services and religious rituals, and fear having their long held understanding of the role of women in the family and church, as supposedly dictated by scripture, being challenged. With my team, we have conducted sessions for the priests of the diocese on the gender policy of the Church in India, on domestic violence and on several other gender related topics. Abused women are listened to, accompanied as they deal with their situation and when necessary, directed to legal help.

How far do you think your sessions for religious congregations, seminarians, youth, catechists and teachers have changed perceptions and created awareness among these groups of people?

This is a tough thing to measure. However, in my endeavour to challenge ideas held and look at them critically, to look at scripture with a non-traditional,. feminist lens, has impacted people who were open. Unfortunately, having no resources from the diocese and having to rely solely on my own resources, has been a stumbling block. People are now slowly getting more open to being challenged to think differently. The fact that this endeavour is more sporadic rather than continual and regular, makes it doubly difficult, but I guess that is the journey. We have a long, long way to go and if religious congregations were more open to sharing their spaces, trained personnel and if they would reach out to women, I think much more can be achieved.

As Chairperson of the Pune Diocesan Commission for Women and National Convenor of the Indian Christian Women’s Movement, what has been the main thrust of your activities and is there anything you would like to add?

Violence in all its avatars and the understanding of the scriptures and the teachings of our faith are what I focus on, to highlight gender inequality and how it contradicts the very mandate of our faith. If we as women can change our way of thinking, we can bring about a change in our families, communities, society and the world at large. Fear of thinking differently about faith matters is one of the main causes of resistance I encounter, besides suspicion of secular women’s groups. But change comes slowly, One person at a time, if necessary.

Ms Raynah Braganza Passanha

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Fr Gregory Arockiam SVD is at heart a missionary who has made the spirituality of Jesus very tangible and real in his own life.  A committed priest and ardent in his following of the Divine Word, spiritual direction comes naturally to him as you will see reading through the lines of this life giving interview.  Through his compassion and intent listening he has brought solace in the lives of many a troubled soul.  His responses to Janina Gomes’ questions generate warmth in our hearts.

1. You joined the Society of the Divine Word (SVD) at a very early age when you were just about 14 years old. How did you become aware of your calling?

My vocational journey to religious life and priesthood was a slow and gradual process of growth and self-transformation that  has made me what I am today. At every stage of my formation, the formators and my companions have shaped my vocation and mission. At this moment, I am very grateful to my first Rector Fr. Karl Ritz, SVD, a German missionary, who saw my talents and potential and empowered me to live a life of radical dedication and missionary commitment.

2. You have an elder brother who is a diocesan priest in Tamil Nadu. Are you from a very religious family and have you had a religious upbringing?

I thank God for my late parents, for their life of prayer and discipline. My father was a very generous and spiritual person, who instilled in us a life of prayer at home. My elder brother, Fr. Arul Arockiam, a diocesan priest of the diocese of Palayamkottai, has been my role model and Mentor. He has a heart for the poor and needy. There was also a good atmosphere of family prayer and piety at home.

3. You have had an all-round education and formation, with a degree in Maths, study of Philosophy and Theology, at Jnana Deepa in Pune, and training in counseling in Australia. Is it because your superiors were prescient about your potential and talents?

Yes, I am very grateful to my Congregation, the Society of the Divine Word, and to all my Superiors both in Papua New Guinea (P.N.G) and in India who offered me many opportunities to equip myself for the various ministries, and  helped me make a significant contribution as a pastor, formator, counselor and spiritual guide. I am also grateful to many others, who placed their trust and confidence in me and my abilities.

4. You spent 18 years of your life as a missionary in Papua New Guinea. What were your experiences of mission life there and can you recall and narrate any interesting incidents relating to this mission?

My eighteen eventful years in Papua New Guinea as a Divine Word Missionary living in an international and intercultural community, are still the best years of my religious and missionary life,  meeting all the challenges posed by a new culture and setting. I had to learn a new language and unlearn many things, in order to adjust to a new way of life. I was greatly enriched by living among 250 SVD priests and brothers in one single province, and it has made a big difference to my life. I have been amazed by some of the extraordinary missionaries who have generously made a great contribution to the life and mission of the people. One among them is the late Archbishop Leo Arkfeld, SVD, who was fondly called “the flying Bishop”. He was a pilot and he flew his own small plane to reach his people and fellow missionaries.

The first ten years of my life as a grass roots bush missionary were a challenge and I consider this phase of my life as the best part of my missionary life. I admire my fellow missionaries who have taught me a very valuable lesson by their dedication and hard work, in building a viable local church by promoting local vocations and empowering the laity in the life and mission of the church. Papua New Guinea has the first local Cardinal now. It is a dynamic local church and we – the SVD missionaries and Holy Spirit Sisters – have continued to serve them during the past 126 years. I wish to salute my fellow missionaries who continue the mission with great dedication, despite the many struggles and challenges.

5. You have combined pastoral work with administration and counseling activities at different stages of your life. Has it made you a more compassionate human being?

When I look back with gratitude, I realize that I am still growing to be a more compassionate person, aware of my strengths and limitations. I am fully aware that I am a “Wounded Healer” and a person on a lifetime inner journey of healing and self-transformation. It is an unending journey of compassion, sensitivity, and care. As I move to the wisdom years of my life, my fond wish and prayer is that I radiate ever more God’s love in a new and creative way.

6. When you worked as Asst. Parish Priest in Sacred Heart Church in Andheri, did you find it a dynamic parish with lay people playing an active participatory role in Parish activities?

Yes, it is very true. When I returned to India in September 2000, I was assigned to a multicultural parish in Andheri East, Mumbai, where the laity  took a very active part. A significant moment in the Archdiocese of Mumbai was the Archdiocesan Synod in January 2001. It offered a vision and mission statement, for the renewal of parishes. Today in Sacred Heart Church Parish, 36 Small Christian Communities are active and empowering the laity with their formation and empowerment programs. The parish has become a vibrant parish with many cells and Associations, with a vision, mission and an action plan. The parishioners are very generous and actively participate in many activities.

7. You were Asst. Director of Atma Darshan for a few years, known to be a leading centre of spirituality and counseling. Did you do administrative work there, or were you also actively involved in counseling?

There was minimum administrative work and more time for counseling, retreats, and psycho-spiritual seminars for priests, religious, and laity. I was busy with Guided Retreats for religious and priests. Besides, I was a student Counselor in St. Arnold’s School, on the same Andheri campus.  I also used to go out to preach retreats for Diocesan priests and religious men and women all over India. We today have an active SVD Lay Partners Group both in Mumbai and now in Pune known as Disciples of the Divine Word (D.D.W) and I am their Spiritual Director. I guide the group and we reach out to the less privileged through our “Feed the Hungry” Programs. All these ministries have reshaped my worldview and enlarged my horizon.

8. You have been a formator of SVDs and have undertaken retreats and spiritual direction for the religious and lay people. Do you feel a lacuna in these areas and how important are these for the future and growth of the church?

Today religious and priestly formation is an integral and holistic experience. The fourfold aspects of formation are human, intellectual, spiritual, and pastoral. That is the ideal, but the reality is very different. I have spent half of my priestly life as a formator in two countries and two cultures. There are many challenges, and the motivation for formation is often a mixed one. Today the Indian church has become a mission-sending church and consequently, our formation should be shaped by those global and local realities. We need priests who have had a deep mystical experience of God and our lifestyle and ministry should be ever new and creative. Our formation should empower many to be prophets and to be the voice of the voiceless and the people on the periphery.

9. You are known to be a very understanding counselor in giving spiritual guidance, do you see this as the fruit of your long and comprehensive training for the role?

Thank you for your very affirming words. Besides the long years of formation and special studies,  my ministry is shaped by many experiences of my priestly life and supported by a life of prayer and a contemplative lifestyle. I also seek personally, counseling and spiritual direction and guidance, as I accompany others humbly in their sacred inner walk. I am also convinced that I need to become a more mellowed channel of God’s grace and compassion. My wish and prayer is to be ever a humble minister to the ministers.

10. Is there anything you would like to add?

For me, life is a gift and blessing. As a religious missionary, I experience even more the joy of living, with a very simple lifestyle. Our next SVD General Chapter in 2024 has the following theme: “You are the light of the World: Faithful and Creative Disciples in a Wounded World.” As I look at the sunset years of my life, my wish for all priests, religious and young people in formation is that they be ever more faithful and creative disciples in a post-Covid world.

Fr Gregory Arockiam SVD

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(This is the personal response of Sr Benny to the questions that were part of the Cover Story of the October issue which could not be published then due to lack of space)

We are in an age of great hope and a lot of despair, where we talk of love and practice indifference. We acknowledge that we are stewards of our planet and yet act as owners. Yes, we live in the best of times. It is time to make our dreams a reality. It is time to take a stand and make a difference in our own life and the lives of others.

People who made a difference in my life:

I would like to share with you a few people who have made a difference in my life. Of course, the first place goes to my parents and family. Secondly, I salute my Congregation and remain grateful to it for helping me become what I am today. Beside these, I like to mention four people who greatly influenced to colour and nurture my life.

Fr Rocha Rosario SJ, the former Provincial of Goa Province, who was my B.Th. guide. He is no more now. When I had gone to his residence and requested him to be my paper guide, he thought for a while and said these words, ‘Benny, I am happy to guide you, but I am going to squeeze you thoroughly—and he did. That moment I was scared, but now, when I look back, this ‘squeezing’ has had a lot of impact on me.

Sr Jyothi Pinto BS was vice-president of the Women’s Section of National CRI and president of  the Institute Mater Dei, Goa. She is a visionary, with a  daring risk-taking spirit which I liked most. She told me one day, ‘Benny, we women religious, should be convinced of our worth of being women and be able to stand on our own feet.’ She reawakened the worth of my womanhood and today I do the same for my formees.

Sr Matilda Monteiro SCCG was the Dean of Studies for three years in the Institute of Mater Dei, Goa. She is a good administrator, a firm, and courageous religious Sister. I learnt, from her, the art of simplicity and transparency in words and actions.

Fr Joe Mannath SDB was the director of Don Bosco Renewal Centre, Bangalore. I did my Formators’ and Spiritual Direction Courses under him. I learnt from him to create a family spirit in my community and grow in freedom with responsibility.

I cherish and admire these great people who had interest and love towards me. These and many more people have influenced me and made a difference in my life.

The difference I made:

Trusting in my abilities, my authorities have appointed me as formator at my young age. I have been a formator now for fifteen years. What I feel is deep satisfaction and joy to see my formees growing in their own way. A few of them have told me: ‘Your life of simplicity, commitment and thoughtfulness inspired us most.’ Others said, ‘You loved us equally according to our needs.’ Some said, ‘We were rather afraid of you because of your discipline and strictness at times, but now we understand why you were behind us most of the time.’ I don’t expect anything in life because I am convinced of my religious call and my mission entrusted to me.

How can we make a difference?

Having shared my own experiences, I question, what is the relevance of our life as religious and priests in today’s world as a whole?

All of us are aware of the dearth in vocations to priesthood and religious life. Why? Are we vibrant in our dealing with others, in our mission field? Are we focused? These questions disturb me every now and then. The following are my own reflections on what I think we need to do better.

Spiritual growth: Do we know who Jesus is? We know about Jesus through books, homilies, etc., but have we really experienced Jesus?  I think our life would be different only when we experience Jesus in our day-to-day life. Then we will treat everyone equally.

Examined life: Socrates, the great philosopher, says, ‘An unexamined life is not worth living.’  We live as if nothing has happened to us. At times we may not even realize that our conscience is dead. Just as a seed needs soil, sunlight and water for its germination, human life needs introspection and examination for its growth. Daily examination of consciousness is a must. An understanding of the experiences gained in life each day at any particular time enriches one’s engagement with the self and the universe.

Goal-oriented life: ‘Life can be pulled by goals just as surely as it can be pushed by drives,’ says Victor E. Frankl, a psychologist who learnt from his terrible sufferings in a Nazi concentration camp, and wrote movingly about the meaning of life. Being goal-oriented means being motivated by a clear vision, mission, goal and aspiration. Once we are focused on our goals, we find meaning in life and our life becomes more attractive and vibrant.

Life witness: ‘Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated,’ says the Chinese wise man Confucius. We make our life too complicated by not always being aware of our religious call. We teach, preach, do social work so on and so forth. All these become only a duty and responsibility if there is no real love and religious spirit. Let us not make our life complicated and be a counter-witness to others, but live a truly simple life according to the Gospel.

Other-centredness: It is said, ‘Don’t be self-centred; instead, be a centre of love, kindness and support for others.’ We need to come out from a three-lettered word called EGO to an eight-lettered word called HUMILITY in order to become a person of love, compassion and honesty.

Freedom with responsibility: ‘Freedom is not only a gift, but a summons to personal responsibility,’ says Pope Benedict XVI. Freedom without responsibility can be chaotic. When we are responsible, we can enhance ourselves and others through our freedom.

We, religious and priests, need to teach much more by our witness than by our words, much more by our life than by our lessons, much more by our person than by our plans.

“God has not called me to be successful. He has called me to be faithful” (Mother Teresa). Therefore, we need to “Try not to become a person of success, but rather try to become a person of value” (Albert Einstein).

Sr Benny da Cunha UFS

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The experienced customs officer based in New Delhi and elsewhere, had got to know many people very well. People of all sorts—honest, mediocre, corrupt, crooked. He had seen influential people go after bribes on a huge scale, smuggle gold and other valuables, expect gifts before they did their duty. Corruption seemed to be the order of the day. The normal assumption in the country seemed to be that, if you wanted to get something done, and done quickly, you had to bribe—or use other crooked ways.

So, he could not at first figure out this Defense officer who would not bribe or accept bribes, who would not make money by smuggling, who would not expect, nor accept, gifts from favour-seekers.

The customs officer was a Sikh. The defense officer was a Catholic from South India. The former observed the latter carefully. He noticed more and more admirable traits in the man. He did not look for compliments. He lived honestly, by his salary. He did not seek, nor get, freebies for anything he did.

They became closer. Admiration led to deep friendship. One day, the customs officer told the defense officer, “I have been observing you for years. When I paid you a compliment for something, you often gave the credit to someone else. What if I tell you this: You are the finest human being I have ever come across.”

I knew this defense officer very well. What the customs officer told him is something I myself would say about him. He died years ago, but his memory still inspires me—and many others who knew him well.

When he was the officer in charge of recruiting for the army and navy in the Northeastern States, he noticed that some who worked under him were dishonest. They wanted to get bribes, and used tricks for that. Young men from far away hill sides would come to be recruited. The lower-level office staff working under the honest officer would not tell them what documents were missing in their application, and make them go home and come back again and again—which at times meant walking for days. The crooks in the office did this—unless the applicant bribed them.

When the honest officer came to know this, he put this notice on the board: “If you are asked to come back more than once, report to me.” With that one notice, the disinformation and bribe-seeking of the lower staff stopped.

When he was headmaster of the Sainik School in Andhra, he found that most of the boys came from villages, and needed to be coached to get selected for NDA. He told them that they could come to his residence at five in the morning. He would spend the next few hours coaching them. He wife would make breakfast for the boys. They did this free—not for any payment. No wonder, years later, when two young officers saw their former headmaster and wife walking on a road, they prostrated before them out of respect. He told them, “Get up! Your uniforms will get dirty.” Their reply, “Sir, we can wash our uniforms, but when will we get a chance like this to see you?”

Many of them not only became smart and capable officers, but also picked up his values of integrity, respect for all and sincere hard work.

They belonged to different religions, the majority being Hindus. He was a Catholic. They treated one another like brothers. Religion never became a point of division or rivalry.

Who are the finest human beings you have known?

What will those who know you best say about you?

Will your children, or students or formees or parishioners say about you, “He/she is the finest human being I have ever met”?

Or at least that you were/are an excellent human being.

If not, what is the whole point of joining special groups, spending long years and much money on so-called formation and having special robes and titles?

May you and I at least try to be like the finest human beings we have known.

Fr Joe Mannath SDB

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RELIGIOUS LIFE TODAY

“With Jesus we find again the courage to carry on and the strength to remain firm.  The encounter with the Lord is the source.  It is important then to return to the source: to retrace in our mind the decisive moments of encounter with him, to renew our first love, perhaps writing down our love story with the Lord.  This would be good for our consecrated life, so that it does not become a time that passes by, but rather a time of encounter.” (Pope Francis)

“Consecrated life is not about survival, it is not about preparing ourselves for dying well: this is the temptation of our days, in the face of declining vocations.  No, it is not about survival, but new life

“Life with God is not immunity from difficulties, but peace within difficulties. (C. S. Lewis)

“Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” ..

“An ounce of patience is worth more than a tonne of preaching.” .

“The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the virtue of the strong.”

• “Love is the strongest force the world possesses.”

“Power is of two kinds. One is obtained by the fear of punishment and the other by acts of love. Power based on love is a thousand times more effective and permanent then the one derived from fear of punishment.

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“Be the reason someone smiles. Be the reason someone feels loved and believes in the goodness in people.”

“The main thing in life is not to be afraid of being human.”

“Compassion means full immersion in the condition of being human.”

“You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.”
― Mahatma Gandhi

“Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive.” ― Dalai Lama

“The next evolutionary step for humankind is to move from human to kind.” ― Anonymous

“There surely is in human nature an inherent propensity to extract all the good out of all the evil.”
― Benjamin Haydon

“If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.”
― Mother Teresa

The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.
― Ralph Waldo Emerson

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 Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One who is leading. – Oswald Chambers

God is looking for willing hearts… God has no favorites. You do not have to be special, but you have to be available.

– Winkie Pratney

 Wicked men obey from fear; good men, from love.

– Augustine

Taking up my “cross” means a life voluntarily surrendered to God.

– A. W. Pink

Wherever you are, be all there. Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God.

– Jim Ellio

 The will of God for your life is simply that you submit yourself to Him each day and say, “Father, Your will for today is mine. Your pleasure for today is mine. Your work for today is mine. I trust You to be God. You lead me today and I will follow.”

– Kay Arthu

Maturity comes from obedience, not necessarily from age.

– Leonard Ravenhil

 Nine-tenths of the difficulties are overcome when our hearts are ready to do the Lord’s will, whatever it may be. When one is truly in this state, it is usually but a little way to the knowledge of what His will is.

– George Mueller

 It is Christ who is to be exalted, not our feelings. We will know Him by obedience, not by emotions. Our love will be shown by obedience, not by how good we feel about God at a given moment. “And love means following the commands of God.” “Do you love Me?” Jesus asked Peter. “Feed My lambs.” He was not asking, “How do you feel about Me?” for love is not a feeling. He was asking for action.

– Elisabeth Elliot

 A ton of prayer will not produce what an ounce of obedience will.

– Ed Cole

I’m not perfect in my walk but I want to do the right thing.

– Kirk Cameron

 You cannot obey God without your obedience spilling out in a blessing to all those around you.

– Adrian Rogers

Joy, not grit, is the hallmark of holy obedience. We need to be light-hearted in what we do to avoid taking ourselves too seriously. It is a cheerful revolt against self and pride.

– Richard J. Foster

 If you look up into His face and say, “Yes, Lord, whatever it costs,” at that moment He’ll flood your Life with His presence and power.

– Alan Redpath

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