Podcasts about JN

Don't Quit | വിട്ടുകൊടുക്കരുത് | Morning Glory 1829 | Br. Damien Antony | Malayalam Christian Messages

Low & Lifted | താഴ്ച്ചയാൽ ഉയർത്തപ്പെട്ടത് | Morning Glory 1828 | Br. Damien Antony | Malayalam Christian Messages

En el año 1701, los indios chiriguanos, del pueblo guaraní, navegaron el río Pilcomayo hasta llegar a la frontera del imperio de los incas. En el Valle de Salinas divisaron, maravillados, las primeras alturas de los Andes, y decidieron sentar bases. Un día aparecieron en su comarca, también después de mucho andar, los frailes franciscanos de Chuquisaca. En sus alforjas llevaban objetos extraños y fascinantes. Afortunadamente, no se hicieron rogar los mensajeros de Dios antes de abrir y mostrarles aquellos objetos. Más bien, aprovecharon el visible interés que manifestaron para comunicarles, por medio de intérpretes, que eran libros sagrados. Como aquellos indígenas nunca antes habían visto el papel, ni se les había ocurrido que lo necesitaban, no tenían en su propio idioma ninguna palabra para llamarlo. Así que cuando se enteraron de que el papel servía para enviar mensajes a los amigos que estaban lejos, decidieron ponerle por nombre «piel de Dios».1 El hecho de que los chiriguanos relacionaran el papel con la piel no tiene mayor importancia, pues desde tiempos antiguos hasta hoy se escribe y se forran libros en pergamino, que procede precisamente de la piel de animales. Pero es muy significativo que esa piel fuera la de Dios, y que la razón fuera que el papel sirve para enviar mensajes a los amigos que están lejos. Porque lo cierto es que Dios el Padre, desde el cielo lejano, envió a la tierra a su Hijo Jesucristo como su mensaje encarnado, forrado con piel humana,2 a fin de dar la vida por nosotros y así identificarse como el amigo que más nos ama. Antes de morir, Cristo dijo que «nadie tiene amor más grande que el dar la vida por sus amigos».3 Con eso nos dio a entender que su muerte serviría no sólo para salvarnos, sino también para demostrarnos que es nuestro mejor amigo. Lo que Dios espera de nosotros es que correspondamos al supremo amor de Cristo aceptando su oferta de amistad. No tenemos que hacer nada para merecerla, pero sí tenemos que aceptarla para que se haga realidad en nuestra vida. De nada nos sirve que Cristo haya dado la vida por nosotros si no le entregamos la nuestra a Él. ¿Por qué no le enviamos un mensaje de vuelta al que nos ofrece la mejor amistad del mundo? Digámosle: «Querido Señor Jesucristo, gracias por tu amor y tu amistad. Los acepto consciente de que no he hecho, ni jamás podré hacer, nada para merecerlos. Perdona todo pecado que he cometido y toda infidelidad pasada de la que sea culpable. Toma posesión completa de mi vida. Ayúdame a servirte de todo corazón y a ser fiel amigo tuyo hasta la muerte. Gracias porque, lejos de estar distante, has querido estar conmigo hasta el fin del mundo.4 Y gracias porque un día te limitaste a piel humana como la mía, para que la mía pueda un día ser glorificada como la tuya.» Carlos ReyUn Mensaje a la Concienciawww.conciencia.net 1 Eduardo Galeano, Memoria del fuego II: Las caras y las máscaras, 17a ed. (Madrid: Siglo XXI Editores, 1995), p. 4. 2 Jn 1:14 3 Jn 15:13 4 Mt 28:20

Bless The Lord | കർത്താവിനെ വാഴ്ത്തുക | Morning Glory 1827 | Br. Damien Antony | Malayalam Christian Messages

Join us for a conversation on EFS with Kyle Claunch, Associate Professor of Christian Theology at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.   Detailed Analytical Outline: "Everything You Need to Know About EFS and The Trinity | Kyle Claunch | #100" This outline structures the podcast episode chronologically by timestamp, providing a summary of content, key theological arguments, analytical insights (e.g., strengths of positions, biblical/theological connections, and implications for Trinitarian doctrine), and notable quotes. The discussion centers on Eternal Functional Submission (EFS, also termed Eternal Submission of the Son [ESS] or Eternal Relations of Authority and Submission [ERAS]), its biblical basis, critiques, and broader Trinitarian implications. Host Sean Demars interviews Kyle Claunch, a theologian offering a non-EFS perspective rooted in classical Trinitarianism (e.g., Augustine, Athanasius). The tone is conversational, humble, and worship-oriented, emphasizing the doctrine's gravity (per Augustine: "Nowhere else is a mistake more dangerous"). Introduction and Setup (00:10–01:48) Content Summary: Episode opens with music and host introduction. Sean Demars welcomes first-time guest Kyle Claunch (noting a prior unreleased recording). Light banter references mutual acquaintance Jim Hamilton (a repeat guest) and a breakfast discussion on Song of Solomon. Transition to topic: the Trinity, with humorous acknowledgment of its complexity. Key Points: Shoutout to Hamilton as the "three-timer" on the show; playful goal of featuring Kenwood elders repeatedly. Tease of future episodes on Song of Solomon, Ecclesiastes, Psalms. Analytical Insights: Establishes relational warmth and insider Reformed/Baptist context (e.g., Kenwood Baptist Church ties). Frames Trinity discussion as high-stakes yet accessible, aligning with podcast's "Room for Nuance" ethos—nuanced, non-polemical engagement. Implications: Builds trust for dense theology, reminding listeners of communal discipleship. Notable Quote: "Nothing better to talk about... Nowhere else is a mistake more dangerous, Augustine says about the doctrine of the trinity." (01:33) Opening Prayer (01:48–02:29) Content Summary: Claunch prays for accurate representation of God, protection from error, and edification of listeners (believers to worship, unbelievers to Christ). Key Points: Gratitude for knowing God as Father through Son by Spirit; plea for words and meditations to be acceptable (Psalm 19:14 echo). Analytical Insights: Models Trinitarian piety—prayer invokes all persons, underscoring episode's theme of relational unity over hierarchical submission. Strengthens devotional framing, countering potential abstraction in doctrine. Notable Quote: "May the saints who hear this be drawn to worship. May those that don't know you be drawn to want to know you through your son Jesus." (02:07–02:29) Interview Origin and Personal Context (02:29–04:18) Content Summary: Demars recounts how Hamilton recommended Claunch as a counterpoint to Owen Strawn's EFS views (from a prior episode on theological retrieval). Demars shares his wavering stance on EFS (initial acceptance, rejection, ambivalence—like amillennialism) and seeks Claunch's help to "land" biblically. Key Points: EFS as a debated topic in evangelical circles; Claunch's approach ties to retrieval. Demars' vulnerability: Desire for settled conviction on God's self-revelation. Analytical Insights: Highlights EFS debate's live-wire status in Reformed theology (post-2016 surge via Ware, Grudem). Demars' "help me land" plea humanizes the host, inviting listeners into personal theological pilgrimage. Implication: Doctrine as transformative, not merely academic—echoes Augustine's "discovery more advantageous" (later referenced). Notable Quote: "Part of this is really just being like dear brother Kyle help me like land where I need to land on this." (03:53) Defining EFS/ESS/ERAS (04:18–07:01) Content Summary: Claunch defines terms: EFS (eternal functional submission of Son/Spirit to Father per divine nature); ESS (eternal submission of Son); ERAS (eternal relations of authority/submission, per Ware). Contrasts with incarnational obedience (uncontroversial for creatures). Key Points: Eternal (contra-temporal, constitutive of God's life); not limited to human nature. Biblical focus on Son, but extends to Spirit; relations as "godness of God" (Father-Son-Spirit distinctions). Analytical Insights: Clarifies nomenclature's evolution (avoiding "subordinationism" heresy). Strength: Steel-mans EFS as biblically motivated, not cultural. Weakness: Risks blurring persons' equality if submission is essential. Connects to classical taxonomy (one essence, three persons via relations). Notable Quote: "This relation of authority and submission then is internal to the very life of God and as such is constitutive of what it means for God to be God." (06:36) Biblical Texts for EFS: Steel-Manning Arguments (07:01–14:34) Content Summary: Claunch lists key texts EFS advocates use, steel-manning sympathetically. John 6:38 (07:35): Son came "not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me"—roots in pre-incarnate motive. Sending Language (09:04): Father sends Son (never reverse); implies authority-obedience. Father-Son Names (09:43): Eternal sonship entails biblical patriarchal authority. 1 Cor 11:3 (10:04): "God [Father] is the head of Christ"—parallels man-woman headship (authority symbol). 1 Cor 15:24–28 (13:13): Future subjection of Son to Father ("eternity future" implies past). Key Points: EFS holders (e.g., Ware, Grudem—Claunch's friends/mentor) prioritize Scripture; not anti-Trinitarian. Analytical Insights: Effective charity—affirms motives (biblicism) while previewing critiques. Texts highlight economic Trinity (missions reveal immanent relations). Implication: If valid, EFS grounds complementarity in creation (e.g., gender roles via 1 Cor 11). But risks Arianism echoes if submission essentializes inequality. Notable Quote: "They believe this because they are convinced that this is what the Bible teaches... It's a genuine desire to believe what the Bible says." (14:15) Critiquing EFS Texts: Governing Principles (14:52–19:02) Content Summary: Claunch introduces "form of God/form of servant" rule (Augustine, Phil 2:6–8) and unity of God (one essence, attributes, acts). Applies to texts, emphasizing incarnation. John 6:38 (15:11): Incarnational (Son assumes human will to obey as Last Adam); "not my own will" implies distinct (human-divine) wills, not eternal submission. Compares to Gethsemane (Lk 22:42), Phil 2 (obedience as "became," not eternal), Heb 5:8 (learns obedience via suffering). Key Points: Obedience creaturely (Adam failed, Christ succeeds); EFS demands discrete divine wills, contradicting one will/power (inseparable operations). Analytical Insights: Augustinian rule shines—resolves tensions without modalism/Arianism. Strength: Harmonizes canon (analogy of Scripture). Implication: Protects active obedience's soteriological role (imputed righteousness). Weakness in EFS: Overlooks hypostatic union's permanence. Notable Quote: "Obedience is something he became, not something he was." (35:15) Inseparable Operations and Unity (19:02–28:18) Content Summary: One God = one almighty/omniscient/will (Athanasian Creed); external acts (ad extra) undivided (e.g., creation, resurrection appropriated to persons but shared). EFS's "distinct enactment" incoherent—submission requires discrete wills, implying polytheism. Submission entails disagreement possibility, undermining unity. Key Points: Appropriation (e.g., Father elects, but all persons do); one will upstream from texts. Analytical Insights: Core classical rebuttal—echoes Cappadocians vs. Arius (one ousia, three hypostases). Strength: Biblical (e.g., Jn 1 creation triad). Implication: Safeguards monotheism; critiques social Trinitarianism/EFS as quasi-polytheistic. Ties to procession (relations without hierarchy). Notable Quote: "If God's knowledge and mind understanding will is all one then the very idea... that you could have one divine person... have authority and the other... not have the same authority... Seems to be a category mistake." (24:41–25:14) Further Critiques: Sending, Headship, Future Submission (28:18–50:07) Content Summary: Sending (42:30): Not command (Aquinas/Augustine); missions reveal processions (eternal generation), not authority (analogical, e.g., adult "sending" without hierarchy). 1 Cor 11:3 (46:34): Incarnational (Christ as mediator); underdetermined text, informed by whole Scripture. 1 Cor 15 (48:10): Post-resurrection = ongoing hypostatic union (God-man forever submits as creature). Spirit's "Obedience" (49:26): No biblical texts; EFS extension illogical (Spirit unincarnate). Jn 16:13 ("not... on his own authority") mistranslates—Greek "from himself" denotes procession, not submission (parallels Jn 5:19–26 on Son's generation). Key Points: Obedience emphasis on Son's humanity for redemption; Spirit's mission unified (takes Father's/Son's). Analytical Insights: Devastating on Spirit—exposes EFS asymmetry. Strength: Exegetical precision (Greek apo heautou). Implication: EFS risks divinizing hierarchy over equality; retrieval favors Nicene grammar. Notable Quote: "There's not one single biblical text that uses the language of authority, submission, obedience in relation to the spirit." (50:07) Processions, Personhood, and Retrieval Tease (50:07–1:10:04) Content Summary: Persons = rational subsistences (Boethius); distinction via relations/processions (Father unbegotten, Son generated, Spirit spirated—not three wills/agents). Demars probes: Processions define persons (Son from Father, Spirit from both?). Claunch: Analogical, not creaturely autonomy. Teases retrieval discussion for future episode. Key Points: Creator-creature distinction; via eminentia/negativa for terms like "person." God unlike us—worship response to mystery. Analytical Insights: Clarifies hypostases vs. prosopa; counters social Trinitarianism. Strength: Humility amid density ("take your sandals off"). Implication: EFS confuses economic/immanent Trinity; retrieval recovers Nicene subtlety vs. modern individualism. Notable Quote: "The distinction is in the relation only... The ground of personhood is the divine nature." (1:03:07–1:03:32) Eschatological Reflection and Heaven (1:10:04–1:13:39) Content Summary: Demars: Perpetual learning in heaven? Claunch: Infinite expansion (Edwards' analogy—expanding vessel in God's love); Augustine: Laborious but advantageous pursuit. Key Points: Glorified knowledge joyful, finite yet ever-growing; press on (Hos 4:6). Analytical Insights: Pastoral pivot—doctrine doxological, not despairing. Ties to episode's awe: Trinity as eternal discovery. Notable Quote: "Nowhere else is a mistake more dangerous or the task more laborious or the discovery more advantageous." (1:13:11) Rapid-Fire Q&A (1:13:55–1:20:14) Content Summary: Fun segment: Favorites (24, Spurgeon/Piper sermons, Tolkien, It's a Wonderful Life, mountains, wine, licorice hate, fly, morning person, etc.). Ends with straw holes trick (one). Key Points: Reveals Claunch's tastes (e.g., Owen's works as "systematic theology," "Immortal, Invisible" hymn for funeral—mortality vs. God's eternity). Analytical Insights: Humanizes expert; hymn choice reinforces theme (Psalm 90 echo). Lightens load post-depth. Closing Prayer (1:20:14–1:21:04) Content Summary: Demars thanks God for Claunch's clarity; prays for his influence in church/academy. Key Points: Blessing for edification, glory. Analytical Insights: Bookends with prayer—Trinitarian focus implicit. Overall Analytical Themes: Claunch's non-EFS view upholds Nicene equality via processions/operations, critiquing EFS as well-intentioned but incoherent (risks subordinationism). Episode excels in balance: exegetical rigor, historical retrieval (Augustine/Aquinas/Owen), pastoral warmth. Implications: Bolsters complementarianism without Trinitarian cost; urges humility in mystery. Ideal for theology students/pastors navigating debates.  

Indulgences can sound like scorekeeping. They're not. Joe Rockey and Father Boniface Hicks unpack indulgences in plain relational terms: the Church's “treasury of merit” is like trusted relational credit you can lean on—the saints' friendship with God helping you deepen your own. We connect First Fridays/Saturdays, rosaries, Scripture, adoration, and pilgrim practices to one aim: better spiritual health, i.e., a stronger, freer relationship of trusting love with God.Key IdeasIndulgence = relational help, not a magic pass: you “tap” the Church's treasury of merit (the saints' lived friendship with God) through concrete practices.Always personal: you still act (prayer, Scripture, adoration, works of mercy); grace perfects, doesn't replace, effort.Apply to self or the dead: love shares its credit—our bonds in Christ extend beyond death.Keep the frame human: think “street cred” or a trainer's plan—habits that restore and strengthen relationship, not accounting tricks.Sin harms relationships; practices heal: less “temporal punishment” math, more repair, trust, and re-ordering of love.Helpful ParallelsTrainer plan → spiritual plan:30 min Scripture reading (indulgenced)Rosary in common30 min Eucharistic adorationStations of the CrossPilgrimage/holy door (in jubilee years)Works of mercy + usual conditions (state of grace, confession, Eucharist, prayer for the Pope's intentions)Scripture touchpoints“Whatever you bind on earth…” (Mt 16:19; 18:18)“The communion of saints” (cf. Heb 12:1; Eph 2:19)Reconciliation and restoration (Jn 20:21–23; 2 Cor 5:18–20)One-week Spiritual Health Tune-up (simple, doable)Pick one indulgenced practice above and do it twice.Go to confession (once).Add one concrete act of mercy (call, visit, forgive, give).Close each day with a 2-minute examen (gratitude → review → ask help for tomorrow).CTAIf this clarified indulgences, share the episode and leave a written review—helps others find us.TagsFather and Joe, Joe Rockey, Father Boniface Hicks, indulgence, treasury of merit, communion of saints, First Friday, First Saturday, adoration, rosary, Scripture, pilgrimage, spiritual health, confession, temporal punishment, works of mercy, Catholic podcast, practical spirituality, relationship with God

Growing Up | വളർന്നു വരിക | Morning Glory 1826 | Br. Damien Antony | Malayalam Christian Messages

Right Standing | ശരിയായ സ്ഥാനം | Morning Glory 1825 | Br. Damien Antony | Malayalam Daily Devotional

Friends of the Rosary,Today's Gospel (St. Matthew 4:12-23) presents Christ Jesus as the Light, fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy by dispelling the darkness of sin and freeing man from the obscurity in which he is enclosed.The light expresses God's involvement in human history as He manifests Himself as ‘The Light' that disperses the darkness.In God's light, everything assumes a new significance, bringing abundant joy and great rejoicing. The light is God's initiative, taking action towards a wounded humanity and performing His merciful love.This dynamic is expressed through Christ Jesus' call of the first Apostles.He invited them to abandon the nets in a sudden interruption in their lives and trust themselves totally to the Lord for a new ‘catch', a new definitive horizon. He chooses them with an unequivocal call, ‘Follow Me'.His call is a turning point in our lives.At the Last Supper, the end of His earthly life, Jesus reminds His disciples, "you did not choose me, no, I chose you." (Jn 15:16).We ask the Lord for the gift of a true conversion of our hearts, enabling us to receive Christ as the only Light to follow.Christ is the only one who dispels the darkness within and around us.Ave Maria!Come, Holy Spirit, come!To Jesus through Mary!Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.Please give us the grace to respond with joy!+ Mikel Amigot w/ María Blanca | RosaryNetwork.com, New YorkEnhance your faith with the new Holy Rosary University app:Apple iOS | New! Android Google Play• ⁠January 25, 2026, Today's Rosary on YouTube | Daily broadcast at 7:30 pm ET

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/012526.cfmFather Chris Alar, MIC addresses one of the deepest wounds of our time: division. Scripture asks plainly, “Is Christ divided?” (1 Cor 1:13; NABRE). The answer is no. Yet division arises when truth is rejected and replaced with opinion. Christ Himself warned that His coming would cause division—not because division is good, but because some would refuse the truth He reveals.Father Chris explains that unity is not built on compromise or competing viewpoints. True unity can exist only where truth is shared. Jesus declares, “I am the way and the truth and the life” (Jn 14:6; NABRE). When individuals or societies abandon objective truth, division becomes inevitable. Violence, confusion, and unrest are symptoms of a deeper problem: the refusal to stand on what is true.The Church, established by Christ and entrusted with His authority, exists precisely to safeguard and proclaim that truth. While her members can fail in their human weakness, the Church cannot err in her divine teaching when she definitively proclaims matters of faith and morals. As the Catechism teaches, “It is part of the Church's mission to pass moral judgments even in matters related to politics, whenever the fundamental rights of man or the salvation of souls require it” (Catechism of the Catholic Church 2246).Father Chris reminds us that division ends only when we surrender our will to God's will. The first commandment is not merely about avoiding false gods; it is about refusing to make ourselves the arbiter of truth. When we submit to Christ through the teaching of His Church, unity becomes possible—not a shallow peace, but a peace grounded in truth.This call is demanding, but it is also merciful. Truth is not meant to crush us; it is meant to free us. Only by standing together on the truth can the divisions of our world begin to heal.To deepen your understanding of how Christ guides His Church and communicates saving truth through the Sacraments, explore Understanding the Sacraments at ShopMercy.org. ★ Support this podcast ★

In our new afternoon service Pastor David teaches on the regulative principle of worship using selected scriptures and references to our church's confession [2LBC, ch. 22].» Definition of the Regulative Principle:The church must only do what God has commanded in His Word—nothing more and nothing less.» Scripture is sufficient:2 Timothy 3:16-17» Biblical Examples of Acceptable and Unacceptable Worship:Exodus 20:3-6Genesis 3:21, 4:5-7, Deuteronomy 12:29-32Leviticus 10:1-2, 2 Samuel 6:6-7Hebrews 12:28-29» New Covenant PracticeJohn 4:24,Acts 2:41-42, Hebrews 10:24-25» Defining Elements & Circumstances» Basic ElementsReading Scripture (Luke 4:16-19, Acts 15:21, 1 Tim. 4:13)Call to worship (Ps. 122:1, 95:1-3)Benediction (Num. 6:24-27, 2 Cor. 13:14)Preaching and teaching the Word (Acts 20:20, 27, Rom. 10:17, Eph. 4:11-14, 2 Tim. 4:1-2)Prayer (Acts 2:42, 12:5, 1 Cor. 11:3-5, 16, 14:14-19, 1 Timothy 2:1-2a)Congregational singing (Ps. 100:1-5, Matt. 26:30, 1 Cor. 14:15, 26, Eph. 5:18b-19, Col. 3:16)Baptism (Matt. 28:18-20)The Lord's Supper (Acts 20:7a, 1 Cor. 11:18, 26)» Other Elements *(may include)Offerings/Giving Financially to Support Ministry (Mal. 3:8-10, Mark 12:41-44, 1 Cor. 16:1-2, 2 Cor. 9:1-7)Confession of Sin & Assurance of Pardon (1 Jn. 1:9-10, 2:1-2)» Summary of distinctions:Exodus 3:5, Isaiah 6:3-5» Will-WorshipColossians 2:23 *(KJV)» Practical applications / Conclusion

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/012426.cfmFather Jason Lewis, MIC confronts a question that has echoed since the time of Christ: Who is Jesus, really? As the Gospel recounts, some of Jesus' own relatives believed He was “out of his mind,” while the scribes accused Him of acting by the power of evil. Yet Jesus' works—healing the sick, casting out demons, forgiving sins—force a decision that cannot be avoided.Father Jason draws on the classic trilemma, popularized by C.S. Lewis: Jesus can only be one of three things—lunatic, liar, or Lord. A mere “good moral teacher” is not an option. As Lewis argued, a man who claimed divine authority and spoke as Jesus did could not simply be misunderstood or exaggerated. Either His claims were false, making Him gravely deceptive or delusional, or they were true, demanding our faith and obedience. Scripture itself bears witness to this truth: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (Jn 1:1, 14; NABRE).The Church has always proclaimed this same confession of faith. Saint Peter declared, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Mt 16:16; NABRE), not by human reasoning alone, but by revelation from the Father. Father Jason reminds us that the fruit of Christ's life and teachings confirms this identity. Lies do not produce saints. Deception does not transform the world through sacrificial love, truth, and mercy across centuries.Because Jesus is Lord, He does more than teach—He gives Himself. In the Eucharist, entrusted to the Apostles and handed down through the priesthood, Christ remains truly present to nourish His people and draw them into divine life. This is the heart of the Gospel and the foundation of Christian faith.To grow deeper in your understanding of how Christ continues His saving work through the Sacraments, explore Understanding the Sacraments at ShopMercy.org. ★ Support this podcast ★

Fr. Eric Nicolai preached this meditation on retreat to priests at the Manoir de Beaujeu, in Coteau du lac, near Montreal, Canada.At his most urgent hour, when the apostles are on retreat with their Lord in the garden, a place far away from the hubbub of the crowds, the Lord lets go a searing complaint to his priests:“What! Could none of you stay awake with me one hour?” (Matt 26, 40) We have to stay awake with him in this retreat. The word hour is present 7 times in John. Fulton Sheen refers to each hour in detail. The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. (Jn 12, 23). The hour for us has now come to respond to his demands, to examine all the layers in which we can be his priests, and truly embrace our mission. Thumbnail: Andrea Mantegna, Christ in the Garden of Olives 1455, egg tempera, National Gallery, London.Music: Angelic, by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, with license.

God Will Provide | ദൈവം കരുതും | Morning Glory 1824 | Br. Damien Antony | Malayalam Daily Devotional

¿Puede darse el lujo de permanecer en la ignorancia en estos días dinámicos? Oramos que no, pues no sabemos con cuánto tiempo contamos antes del LLAMADO FINAL. Ha llegado el momento no sólo para el ARREBATAMIENTO o RAPTO de la IGLESIA, sino para la llegada del Anticristo. ¡Debe estar despierto, alerta, y PERMANECER en ÉL.1 Jn. 2:18-29 To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/276/29?v=20251111

Father Gabe Cillo, MIC, reflects on the witness of St. Marianne Cope, an immigrant and religious sister who did not hesitate when the call came to serve those suffering from leprosy on the island of Molokai, in Hawaii. While dozens of religious communities declined to send their members to serve, her community said yes. Saint Marianne went without fear, spending decades caring for the sick and dying, including St. Damien of Molokai in his final days. Her courage was not rooted in human strength, but in a supernatural certainty: Every person, especially the abandoned and suffering, bears the image and likeness of God.As death draws near, what remains essential becomes unmistakably clear. Father Gabe reminds us that in moments of illness, isolation, or approaching death, the soul longs for God with a new urgency. The Eucharist, a priestly blessing, and the presence of someone who comes “in the name of Jesus” are no longer small consolations; they are lifelines. Jesus tells us, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever” (Jn 6:51; NABRE).The saints understood this with great clarity. Saint Marianne Cope and St. Damien found their strength in the same source that sustains the Church today: the Most Blessed Sacrament. At the Last Supper, Christ entrusted Himself to the Apostles, commanding them, “Do this in memory of me,” handing on the gift of His Body and Blood through the priesthood across the ages. In the Eucharist, Christ remains truly present — Body, Blood, soul, and Divinity — faithful to His people until the end of Time.This living presence of Jesus is what steadies the heart when eternity comes into view. It is where the saints found courage, and where we, too, are invited to find our hope.To deepen your understanding of the Sacraments, explore Understanding the Sacraments at ShopMercy.org. ★ Support this podcast ★

¿Puede darse el lujo de permanecer en la ignorancia en estos días dinámicos? Oramos que no, pues no sabemos con cuánto tiempo contamos antes del LLAMADO FINAL. Ha llegado el momento no sólo para el ARREBATAMIENTO o RAPTO de la IGLESIA, sino para la llegada del Anticristo. ¡Debe estar despierto, alerta, y PERMANECER en ÉL.1 Jn. 2:18-29 To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.elsitiocristiano.com/donate/276/29

Born For This | അതിനായി ജനിച്ചവൻ | Morning Glory 1823 | Br. Damien Antony | Malayalam Daily Devotion

¿Puede darse el lujo de permanecer en la ignorancia en estos días dinámicos? Oramos que no, pues no sabemos con cuánto tiempo contamos antes del LLAMADO FINAL. Ha llegado el momento no sólo para el ARREBATAMIENTO o RAPTO de la IGLESIA, sino para la llegada del Anticristo. ¡Debe estar despierto, alerta, y PERMANECER en ÉL.1 Jn. 2:18-29 To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/276/29?v=20251111

As headlines stir anxiety about the possibility of global conflict, Fr. Matthew Tomeny,MIC, turns our attention to a war already raging — one that has claimed more innocentlives than any battlefield in history. While nations prepare for external enemies, theChurch is called to confront a deeper crisis: the systematic destruction ofhuman life in the womb.Scripture teaches that peace is never merely political. It is moral and spiritual, what St.Augustine called the “tranquility of order.” When life is no longer received as a gift,society drifts into darkness. Jesus warns us plainly that without Him, humanity remainslost, but with Him we find “the way, the truth, and the life” (Jn 14:6; NABRE). TheCatechism affirms that human life must be respected and protected absolutely from themoment of conception (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2270). This is not optionalteaching; it is foundational.Father Matthew explains that even where legal victories have been achieved, thedeeper battle continues in hearts and in culture. Laws alone cannot restore what hasbeen lost. A culture of life requires conversion, sacrifice, and reparation. Saint Faustinaunderstood this when she offered suffering for grave sins against life, appealing to theDivine Mercy to hold back judgment and bring repentance. Her Diary reveals that nosin, however grave, is greater than God's mercy when hearts turn back to Him (Diary ofSaint Maria Faustina Kowalska, 699).The call of the faithful is to pray, especially on days set aside by the bishops, for theprotection of unborn children. True peace will not come through fear or force, butthrough surrender — through trust in the mercy of God and a renewed commitment tochastity, responsibility, and reverence for life.Christ desires life, not death. When the Church proclaims this truth without compromise,she becomes a sign of hope in a world searching for peace.To deepen your understanding of Divine Mercy and reparation for sin, explore the Diaryof St. Faustina available at ShopMercy.org. ★ Support this podcast ★

¿Puede darse el lujo de permanecer en la ignorancia en estos días dinámicos? Oramos que no, pues no sabemos con cuánto tiempo contamos antes del LLAMADO FINAL. Ha llegado el momento no sólo para el ARREBATAMIENTO o RAPTO de la IGLESIA, sino para la llegada del Anticristo. ¡Debe estar despierto, alerta, y PERMANECER en ÉL.1 Jn. 2:18-29 To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.elsitiocristiano.com/donate/276/29

JAN. 14, 2026A prayer for God-confidence."I sought the Lord, and He...delivered me from all my fears." Ps 34:4 NKJVFather, I come boldly before Your throne of grace to obtain mercy and find grace for deliverance from emotional insecurity (see Heb 4:16).  Your Word says You will make all Your grace abound toward me so that I will always have all sufficiency in all things and abound in every good work (see 2Co 9:8). I cast down every thought of inadequacy and every imagination that rises up against what Your Word says about who I am and what I can do (see 2Co 10:5). I resist any anxiety over the possibility of losing a social, professional, or other position or a desired relationship. I know that no one can thwart Your purpose for my life. You, O Lord, have sealed my destiny (see Isa 14:27). “You guard all that is mine" (Ps 16:5 NLT). I know, according to Your Word, that You deliberately shaped me in the womb to be Your servant. Therefore, I rest, rejoice, and trust that I am designed for my destiny and perfect for my purpose (see Isa 49:5). Because of Your grace, I walk neither in self-doubt nor in self-confidence because I know that apart from You, I can do absolutely nothing (see Jn 15:5). Therefore, my eyes are on You alone to do exceedingly abundantly above all that I could ask or think according to Your power that works in me (see Eph 3:20). I thank You that You have heard me and delivered me from all my tears, and they no longer have any power over my life (see Ps 34:4). In the name of Jesus Christ I pray, amen.A prayer for God-confidence I rest, rejoice and trust.Share This DevotionalSend us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

Love Wins | സ്നേഹം വിജയിക്കുന്നു | Morning Glory 1822 | Br. Damien Antony | Malayalam Daily Devotion

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/012126.cfmMany people struggle with the Bible because they sense a tension between the Old Testament and the New. The God of the Old Testament is sometimes portrayed as harsh, violent, even distant, while the New Testament reveals mercy, healing, and love. Father Chris Alar, MIC addresses this confusion directly by reminding us of the question Christ Himself poses: “Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” (Mk 3:4; NABRE).Without Christ, humanity's vision is limited. In the Old Testament, death, war, and violence reflect a world still waiting for the full revelation of divine life. The Catechism teaches that God gradually prepared His people to receive the Gospel through salvation history, leading them step by step toward Christ (Catechism of the Catholic Church §122). The New Testament does not contradict the Old; it fulfills it.This contrast becomes striking when we consider Saint Agnes, whose feast the Church celebrates. Her very name echoes the Latin agnus, meaning lamb. Young, pure, and wholly given to Christ, she chose life in the fullest sense, even when it led to martyrdom. Her witness stands between death and life, between the violence of the world and the light of Christ. As Scripture proclaims, “I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly” (Jn 10:10; NABRE).The culture of death persists whenever Christ is rejected, whether in ancient persecution or modern disregard for human dignity. Yet Christ remains the Light of the world, drawing us from darkness into truth, from death into life. In Him alone do we find the way, the truth, and the life. ★ Support this podcast ★

Set Free | സ്വതന്ത്രമാക്കുക | Morning Glory 1821 | Br. Damien Antony | Malayalam Christian Messages

There is a place that God created where you can experience authentic love like nowhere else on earth. It's a place where loneliness is not welcome, and meaningful relationships abound. A community where people can be re-connected to their family. Sound like a place you want to go to? Join Chip and find out where this special place is.Until loneliness is understood, it overwhelmsLoneliness is MORE than being alone.Loneliness WEARS many masks.Loneliness is not a unique malady, but a UNIVERSAL REALITY.*Resource: Changes that Heal by Henry CloudYou don't have to be lonely, because:God CARES about your loneliness. -Gen 2:18Jesus UNDERSTANDS your loneliness. -Mark 15:34Jesus INVITES you into a relationship with Him. -Matt 11:28-30; Rev 3:20A relationship with Jesus means you ALWAYS belong to His family. -Rom 12:5; 1 Jn 1:1-4How can you experience authentic love and connection in God's family?By rethinking your view of the CHURCH.By revising your approach to RELATIONSHIPS.Realize your NEED.Move toward OTHERS.Be VULNERABLE.Challenge distorted THINKING.Take RISKS.Be EMPATHETIC -- listen, listen, listen!Trust GOD -- pray, pray, pray!Summary: To “lick loneliness,” you gotta BELONG!Informal steps + formal strategies = A “connected” community of love.Broadcast ResourceDownload MP3Message NotesAdditional Resource MentionsI Choose Love BookDaily Discipleship - Psalms of HopeConnect888-333-6003WebsiteChip Ingram AppInstagramFacebookTwitterPartner With UsDonate Online888-333-6003

Nathan risks everything to confront David with his sin, and the result is deep confession and repentance.  David is no longer hiding and manipulating.  How are we similarly called to speak truth into the lives around us? (2 Sam 12:1-13, Eph 4:32, I Peter 3:8-9, Jn 17:11, I Sam 13:4, Acts 13:22, Luke 5:31-32, 2 Sam 7:16, Prov 27:6, Matt 7:1, Matt 7:3-5, Matt 5:9, Matt 18:15, James 4:25-26, Prov 18:2, Jn 16:8, Gal 6:1, Matt 5:23-24, Rom 12:18, Heb 12:14)

One In Spirit | ആത്മാവിൽ മാത്രം | Morning Glory 1820 | Br. Damien Antony | Christian Devotional

What do you do when you're consumed with loneliness? How do you overcome those feelings of isolation? Chip begins this series with a message he calls, “How to Overcome Loneliness and Isolation.”Until loneliness is understood, it overwhelmsLoneliness is MORE than being alone.Loneliness WEARS many masks.Loneliness is not a unique malady, but a UNIVERSAL REALITY.*Resource: Changes that Heal by Henry CloudYou don't have to be lonely, because:God CARES about your loneliness. -Gen 2:18Jesus UNDERSTANDS your loneliness. -Mark 15:34Jesus INVITES you into a relationship with Him. -Matt 11:28-30; Rev 3:20A relationship with Jesus means you ALWAYS belong to His family. -Rom 12:5; 1 Jn 1:1-4How can you experience authentic love and connection in God's family?By rethinking your view of the CHURCH.By revising your approach to RELATIONSHIPS.Realize your NEED.Move toward OTHERS.Be VULNERABLE.Challenge distorted THINKING.Take RISKS.Be EMPATHETIC -- listen, listen, listen!Trust GOD -- pray, pray, pray!Summary: To “lick loneliness,” you gotta BELONG!Informal steps + formal strategies = A “connected” community of love.Broadcast ResourceDownload MP3Message NotesAdditional Resource MentionsI Choose Love BookDaily Discipleship - Psalms of HopeConnect888-333-6003WebsiteChip Ingram AppInstagramFacebookTwitterPartner With UsDonate Online888-333-6003

What do you do when you're consumed with loneliness? How do you overcome those feelings of isolation? Chip begins this series with a message he calls, “How to Overcome Loneliness and Isolation.”Until loneliness is understood, it overwhelmsLoneliness is MORE than being alone.Loneliness WEARS many masks.Loneliness is not a unique malady, but a UNIVERSAL REALITY.*Resource: Changes that Heal by Henry CloudYou don't have to be lonely, because:God CARES about your loneliness. -Gen 2:18Jesus UNDERSTANDS your loneliness. -Mark 15:34Jesus INVITES you into a relationship with Him. -Matt 11:28-30; Rev 3:20A relationship with Jesus means you ALWAYS belong to His family. -Rom 12:5; 1 Jn 1:1-4How can you experience authentic love and connection in God's family?By rethinking your view of the CHURCH.By revising your approach to RELATIONSHIPS.Realize your NEED.Move toward OTHERS.Be VULNERABLE.Challenge distorted THINKING.Take RISKS.Be EMPATHETIC -- listen, listen, listen!Trust GOD -- pray, pray, pray!Summary: To “lick loneliness,” you gotta BELONG!Informal steps + formal strategies = A “connected” community of love.Broadcast ResourceDownload MP3Message NotesAdditional Resource MentionsI Choose Love BookDaily Discipleship - Psalms of HopeConnect888-333-6003WebsiteChip Ingram AppInstagramFacebookTwitterPartner With UsDonate Online888-333-6003

God Of Small Things | ചെറിയ കാര്യങ്ങളുടെ ദൈവം | Morning Glory 1819 | Br. Damien Antony

Te compartimos la meditación del día tomada de Jn 1, 29-34.Para más recursos para encontrarte con Dios en la oración, visita nuestra página web www.meditaciondeldia.com, nuestra tienda www.meditaciondeldia.com/tienda/ o síguenos en Instagram @meditaciondeldia_ y compártenos tu opinión!Conviértete en donante de Meditación del Día en este enlace: https://bit.ly/DonarMdDMaría Reina de los Apóstoles, ¡enséñanos a orar!Este podcast es parte de JuanDiegoNetwork.com¡Gracias por escucharnos!

Jn 1,29-34.Al día siguiente, Juan vio acercarse a Jesús y dijo: "Este es el Cordero de Dios, que quita el pecado del mundo.A él me refería, cuando dije: Después de mí viene un hombre que me precede, porque existía antes que yo.Yo no lo conocía, pero he venido a bautizar con agua para que él fuera manifestado a Israel".Y Juan dio este testimonio: "He visto al Espíritu descender del cielo en forma de paloma y permanecer sobre él.Yo no lo conocía, pero el que me envió a bautizar con agua me dijo: 'Aquel sobre el que veas descender el Espíritu y permanecer sobre él, ese es el que bautiza en el Espíritu Santo'.Yo lo he visto y doy testimonio de que él es el Hijo de Dios".

" Voici l'Agneau de Dieu, qui enlève le péché du monde "Méditation de l'évangile (Jn 1, 29-34) par le père Michel QuesnelChant final : "Agnus Dei" par GloriousRetrouvez tous nos contenus, articles et épisodes sur rcf.frSi vous avez apprécié cet épisode, participez à sa production en soutenant RCF.Vous pouvez également laisser un commentaire ou une note afin de nous aider à le faire rayonner sur la plateforme.Retrouvez d'autres contenus de vie spirituelle ci-dessous :Halte spirituelle : https://audmns.com/pMJdJHhB. A. -BA du christianisme : https://audmns.com/oiwPyKoLe Saint du Jour : https://audmns.com/yFRfglMEnfin une Bonne Nouvelle : https://audmns.com/afqCkPVConnaître le judaïsme : https://audmns.com/VTjtdyaEnfin, n'hésitez pas à vous abonner pour ne manquer aucun nouvel épisode.À bientôt à l'écoute de RCF sur les ondes ou sur rcf.fr !Hébergé par Audiomeans. Visitez audiomeans.fr/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.

Enter Rest | സ്വസ്ഥതയിൽ പ്രവേശിക്കുക | Malayalam Christian Messages | Morning Glory 1818 | Br. Damien Antony

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/011626.cfmFather Chris Alar, MIC, draws us into the dramatic Gospel scene of the paralytic lowered before Jesus and reveals why this passage speaks so clearly of the Sacraments of the Church. What Jesus responds to first is not the man's condition, but faith — specifically, the faith of those carrying him. “When Jesus saw their faith” (Mk 2:5; NABRE), He forgives sins before He heals the body.This moment reveals something essential about Catholic belief. Faith is never completely private. We carry one another to Christ through intercessory prayer, just as parents bring children to Baptism and the Church brings sinners to Confession. The paralytic is helpless, yet forgiveness is granted because of the faith of others — an image that mirrors infant Baptism, where grace is given through the faith of parents and godparents. Sin is wiped away, not by personal achievement, but by Christ's mercy working through His Church.Jesus exposes the deeper paralysis beneath the physical one: sin. Before restoring strength to the man's limbs, He restores communion with God. This points directly to the Sacrament of Confession, where Christ continues His ministry of forgiveness through priests acting by His authority: “Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them” (Jn 20:23; NABRE). Forgiveness is not the end — it demands a response. Christ commands the man to rise. Mercy empowers transformation.Father Chris challenges us to ask: After Confession, do we stay down, or do we get up? Repentance is not merely sorrow; it is conversion, transformation. The mat that once held us becomes a witness to what God has healed. Christ frees us so that we may walk — changed, restored, and sent forth.To deepen your understanding of Confession and Baptism, explore Understanding the Sacraments at ShopMercy.org. ★ Support this podcast ★

വ്യക്തമായ ദർശനം | Clear Vision | Malayalam Christian Messages | Morning Glory 1817 | Br. Damien Antony

അഭിഷേക തൈലം | Anointing Oil | Malayalam Christian Messages | Morning Glory 1816 | Br. Damien Antony

Divine Shield | ദൈവിക പരിച | Malayalam Christian Messages | Morning Glory 1815 | Br. Damien Antony

This year we are responding to God calling us to expand our territory and take ground - not just around us, but within us. We're turning four as a church, and this feels like a holy growing-up season. It's a good time to be alive, to mature and step into all that God has for us. For us to do this we want to get more free.Freedom is not something we get apart from God - we get it when we step into truth, light and relationship with Him. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. - Jn 8:32Freedom in Jesus doesn't mean a pain-free life. It means a life no longer ruled by fear, shame, lies, or hidden places.If you're ready to go deeper, to heal, and to experience lasting freedom, this journey is for you.For more info, you can go to our website, check us out on Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube. If you would like to support STUDIO financially, you can do so here.Have a great week!

Now that the Hebrew people are free from slavery, they find themselves at the foot of Mt. Sinai, where God gives them the 10 commandments, and the law.  What purpose do these old rules have for Jesus followers? (Ex 20:19, Eph 2:6-10, I Jn 1:5, James 1:17, Matt 9:12, Matt 5:21-22, Matt 5:27-28, Gal 3:23-25, Rom 8:3, Matt 22:34-40, Jn 13:34-35, 2 Cor 5:17)

How to Move Forward in Life | മുന്നോട്ടു പോവുക | Malayalam Christian Messages | Morning Glory 1814 | Br. Damien Antony

Había que deslumbrar a todos los invitados a la gran fiesta que iba a celebrarse en el lago Titicaca. ¿Acaso no era eso lo que esperaban de uno de la talla de él? Por eso, con bastante anticipación, se había puesto a tejer la fina trama de un manto digno de su posición social. Sería un manto tan elegante que los mantos de sus pobres rivales parecerían paños de cocina. El zorro lo vio trabajando y no pudo contener las ganas de entrometerse. —¿Estás de mal humor? —le preguntó. —No me distraigas —le contestó secamente—. Estoy ocupado. —¿Para qué es eso? —insistió el zorro. Así que le tocó explicárselo. —¡Ah! —dijo el zorro, regodeándose con las palabras—. ¿Para la fiesta de esta noche? —¿Cómo que esta noche? —respondió incrédulo, pues nunca había sido bueno para calcular el tiempo—. ¡Y yo con mi manto a medio hacer! Mientras el zorro reía entre dientes y se alejaba, el descorazonado sastre resolvió que, de una manera u otra, terminaría su manto antes de la fiesta de esa noche. No había tiempo que perder, así que abandonó su acostumbrada delicadeza y empleó hilos más gruesos, y la trama, a todo tejer, le quedó más extendida. A eso se debe que el armadillo tenga caparazón de urdimbre apretada en el cuello y abierta en la espalda.1 Afortunadamente, a los armadillos de los mitos indígenas como éste les perdonamos sus malos cálculos. En cambio, no somos tan caritativos con los seres humanos. «Supongamos que alguno de ustedes quiere construir una torre — les contó Jesucristo a sus discípulos—. ¿Acaso no se sienta primero a calcular el costo, para ver si tiene suficiente dinero para terminarla? Si echa los cimientos y no puede terminarla, todos los que la vean comenzarán a burlarse de él, y dirán: “Este hombre ya no pudo terminar lo que comenzó a construir.”»2 Cristo empleó esa parábola para ilustrar lo que cuesta ser verdaderos discípulos suyos, pero también sirve para ilustrar la importancia de no descuidar a nuestros hijos. ¿Acaso no somos los padres de familia los responsables de la formación del carácter de ellos? ¿Y no son ellos nuestros bienes raíces más valiosos? ¿Cómo vamos a quedar si comenzamos esa formación y la malogramos «a medio hacer», como hizo el mitológico armadillo? Eso sucede cuando calculamos mal el tiempo que ellos requieren de nosotros para su buena formación. Si vamos a cumplir el encargo de San Pablo de criarlos con la disciplina y la instrucción que quiere el Señor,3 tendremos que dedicarles el tiempo que se merecen. Eso nos obligará a darles más prioridad de la acostumbrada en nuestro calendario, no sea que nos salgan con un carácter apretado en el cuello y abierto en la espalda. A Dios gracias que Él, como Padre nuestro, sí les dedica tiempo a sus hijos, y que si es costoso ser discípulo en calidad de hijo, será porque es tan valioso ser hijo del Padre celestial. Para llegar a serlo, no tenemos que hacer más que recibirlo y creer en el poder que tiene para hacernos hijos suyos.4 No calculemos mal. Hagámoslo hoy mismo, antes de la fiesta eterna en el cielo. Carlos ReyUn Mensaje a la Concienciawww.conciencia.net 1 Eduardo Galeano, Memoria del fuego I: Los nacimientos, 18a ed. (Madrid: Siglo XXI Editores, 1991), p. 27. 2 Lc 14:28-30 (NVI) 3 Ef 6:4 (DHH) 4 Jn 1:12

Hope Has A Name | പ്രത്യാശയ്ക്ക് ഒരു പേരുണ്ട് | Malayalam Christian Messages | Morning Glory 1813 | Br. Damien Antony

Te compartimos la meditación del día tomada de Jn 3, 22-30.Para más recursos para encontrarte con Dios en la oración, visita nuestra página web www.meditaciondeldia.com, nuestra tienda www.meditaciondeldia.com/tienda/ o síguenos en Instagram @meditaciondeldia_ y compártenos tu opinión!Conviértete en donante de Meditación del Día en este enlace: https://bit.ly/DonarMdDMaría Reina de los Apóstoles, ¡enséñanos a orar!Este podcast es parte de JuanDiegoNetwork.com¡Gracias por escucharnos!

സന്തോഷമെന്ന ആയുധം | The Weapon Of Joy | Malayalam Christian Messages | Morning Glory Podcast 1812 | Br. Damien Antony

ദൈവത്തിൻ്റെ ജി പി എസ് | God's GPS | Malayalam Christian Message | Morning Glory Podcast 1811 | Br. Damien Antony

"L'ami de l'époux est tout joyeux d'entendre la voix de l'époux" (Jn 3, 22-30)Méditation par le Père Jean-Paul CazesChant Final : "Ma Joie" de Ste Thérèse de LisieuxRetrouvez tous nos contenus, articles et épisodes sur rcf.frSi vous avez apprécié cet épisode, participez à sa production en soutenant RCF.Vous pouvez également laisser un commentaire ou une note afin de nous aider à le faire rayonner sur la plateforme.Retrouvez d'autres contenus de vie spirituelle ci-dessous :Halte spirituelle : https://audmns.com/pMJdJHhB. A. -BA du christianisme : https://audmns.com/oiwPyKoLe Saint du Jour : https://audmns.com/yFRfglMEnfin une Bonne Nouvelle : https://audmns.com/afqCkPVConnaître le judaïsme : https://audmns.com/VTjtdyaEnfin, n'hésitez pas à vous abonner pour ne manquer aucun nouvel épisode.À bientôt à l'écoute de RCF sur les ondes ou sur rcf.fr !Hébergé par Audiomeans. Visitez audiomeans.fr/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.

(Natalicio de Alfredo Espino) «Alfredo Edgardo Espino Najarro nació... el ocho de enero de 1900... en Ahuachapán, ciudad del occidente salvadoreño, [donde] pasó su niñez e hizo sus estudios primarios en escuelas de la localidad.... [Su] obra poética..., [Jícaras tristes, publicada] por primera vez en 1936, ocho años después de [su] muerte [prematura... llegaría a ser] lectura necesaria para los escolares urbanos y rurales»,1 afirma el prologuista Francisco Andrés Escobar. «No hay escuelita en El Salvador donde no se declamen sus poemas con halagadora complacencia»,2 dijo el poeta José Luis Silva. He aquí uno de esos bellos poemas de Espino acerca del campo salvadoreño que tanto amaba: Un día —¡primero Dios!— Has de quererme un poquito. Yo levantaré el ranchito en que vivamos los dos. ¿Qué más pedir? Con tu amor, mi rancho, un árbol, un perro, y enfrente el cielo y el cerro y el cafetalito en flor... Y entre aroma de saúcos, un zenzontle que cantara y una poza que copiara pajaritos y bejucos. Lo que los pobres queremos, lo que los pobres amamos, eso que tanto adoramos porque es lo que no tenemos... Con sólo eso, vida mía; con sólo eso: con mi verso, con tu beso, lo demás nos sobraría... Porque no hay nada mejor que un monte, un rancho, un lucero, cuando se tiene un «te quiero» y huele a sendas en flor...3 «Cuando al final de [su] vida... [Alfredo Espino] quiso afirmarse con independencia en el plano del amor... perdió la partida. Se enamoró de Blanca Vanegas... una muchacha de condición humilde. La madre del poeta... se opuso resueltamente al noviazgo y al matrimonio... por razones de orden social —diferencia de clases— o de orden emocional —[estaba] dispuesta a organizar los máximos y los mínimos detalles en la vida del hijo—.... Esto golpeó con fuerza al poeta»,4 comenta Escobar. No es de extrañar que Alfredo haya sufrido una gran desilusión debido a eso: admiraba la sencillez de la vida del campo, y en poemas como este, titulado «Un rancho y un lucero», lograba de manera envidiable ponerse en el lugar del modesto campesino que no concibe nada mejor en esta vida que la felicidad que produce el amor sin pretensiones. Menos mal que, a diferencia de la madre de Espino, el Padre celestial no se opuso a que su Hijo Jesucristo viniera al mundo para establecer una relación estrecha con todo el que quisiera ser hijo de Dios, cualquiera que fuera su condición social. Más bien, Dios envió a su único Hijo al mundo precisamente con ese fin. Y lo hizo por la misma razón que movió a Alfredo Espino: un «te quiero». Fue un amor tan profundo que lo llevó hasta la cruz a morir por nuestros pecados, a resucitar al tercer día, y a ascender al cielo, donde nos ha preparado una vivienda como ninguna otra, con un jardín como el del Edén que «huele a sendas en flor», en el que algún día podamos participar en la cena de las bodas del Cordero y vivir eternamente con ese Cordero de Dios, Jesucristo mismo, que es el brillante lucero de la mañana.5 Carlos ReyUn Mensaje a la Concienciawww.conciencia.net 1 Francisco Andrés Escobar, «Con el alma descalza»: Introducción a Jícaras tristes (Santa Tecla, El Salvador: Clásicos Roxsil, 2001), pp. 8,9,13,41. 2 José Luis Silva, Jícaras tristes (Santa Tecla, El Salvador: Clásicos Roxsil, 2001), contraportada. 3 Alfredo Espino, Jícaras tristes (Santa Tecla, El Salvador: Clásicos Roxsil, 2001), p. 75. 4 Escobar, pp. 19,20. 5 Jn 1:12; 3:16; 14:2-3; 1Co 15:3-4; 2Co 11:2; Ap 19:7,9; 22:16

Cuentan que trabajaba en la oficina de correos, y le tocaba procesar las cartas en las que no era legible la dirección escrita en el sobre. Un día se topó con una carta escrita con mano temblorosa, y que iba dirigida a Dios, pero no tenía dirección alguna. Como esa carta no se habría de entregar a nadie, decidió abrirla para ver de qué trataba. «Querido Dios —decía—: Soy una viuda de ochenta y cuatro años que vive de una pequeña pensión. Ayer alguien robó mi bolsa, que tenía diez mil pesos. Era lo que me quedaba de la quincena, y ahora voy a tener que esperar hasta mi próximo cheque. No sé qué hacer. »El próximo domingo es Navidad. Por eso invité a dos amigas mías a cenar; pero sin dinero, no tendré qué ofrecerles. No tengo comida ni para mí misma, ni tampoco tengo familia. ¡Eres todo lo que tengo, mi única esperanza! »¿Podrías ayudarme? ¡Por favor! »Atentamente, María.» Fue tal el efecto que hizo la carta en aquel empleado del correo que decidió mostrársela a sus compañeros de trabajo. Todos quedaron sorprendidos, y comenzaron a donar de lo que tenían en sus bolsillos y carteras. Al final de la tarde, habían aportado entre todos ocho mil ochocientos pesos. Así que los pusieron en un sobre, forrados de papel aluminio, y los enviaron a la dirección de María, la remitente. Esa tarde todos los empleados que habían participado en la colecta sintieron un rico calorcito en el ambiente y una sensación de satisfacción que no habían experimentado hacía mucho tiempo, de sólo pensar en lo que habían hecho por María y sus amigas. Algunos días después de la Navidad, llegó a la misma oficina de correos otra carta de María. La reconocieron de inmediato por la escritura y porque iba dirigida a Dios. Así que la abrieron, y todos, con mucha curiosidad, escucharon lo que decía: «Querido Dios: Con lágrimas en los ojos y con toda la gratitud de mi corazón te escribo estas líneas para decirte que hemos pasado, mis amigas y yo, una de las mejores Navidades de la vida, y todo por tu maravilloso regalo. »Debes saber que siempre hemos sido fieles a tu Palabra y hemos seguido todos tus mandamientos. Tal vez esa sea la razón de tu benevolencia con nosotras y en especial conmigo. ¡Gracias, Señor! »Por cierto, faltaban mil doscientos pesos, nada importante; ¡seguramente se los robaron esos ladrones del correo!» ¡Qué graciosa y a la vez injusta suposición la de aquella anciana! ¡Es el colmo que se imaginara que el dinero faltante se lo hubieran robado precisamente las personas que con tanta generosidad se habían esforzado por suplir lo que ella necesitaba para pasar la Navidad! Así lo juzgamos todos los que escuchamos la historia, y sin embargo con frecuencia somos culpables de lo mismo, aunque a la inversa. ¿Acaso no es eso lo que hacemos cuando culpamos a Dios de darnos una vida insoportable, siendo que Él ha hecho todo lo contrario? Él dio a su Hijo Jesucristo, quien entregó su vida misma para que cada uno de nosotros pueda disfrutar de vida plena y eterna.1 Más vale que nos aseguremos de reconocer debidamente ese incomparable acto de caridad divina. Carlos ReyUn Mensaje a la Concienciawww.conciencia.net 1 Jn 3:16; 10:10