God has created us in his own image, and has put a desire within us to know Him, to love Him, and to be with Him for ever. That desire is the compass in my heart.
God who has put the compass in my heart has not given me a roadmap. Roadmap is something I create through the choices I make in my life.
True happiness consists in aligning my roadmap to the compass of my heart!
Spirituality
Sermon for 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year A Homily: Loaves & Fish
“And they all ate and were satisfied” (Mt 14:20)
One of my academic interests is to examine the psychological impact of Christian contemplative practice on people. A pattern emerges from the formal interviews that I have conducted, and the informal conversation that I have had. The participants speak of what I call, ‘a 3D spirituality,’ there is an upward movement of the heart towards God, there is an inward movement towards the self, and there is an outward movement towards others. This is something I strive for in my own personal life, and I offer opportunity for people to experience through my own ministry. These days I add a fourth dimension to this, inspired by the spirit of the Laudato Si’: the outward journey is also towards the rest of creation!
3D Spirituality. In the gospel […]
Jesus Experience: the Book
Jesus Experience: The Core of Christian Life Journey
by Sahaya G. Selvam, sdb
Mumbai: St Pauls, 2011 (151pp; Rs.90; $6.95)
Born out of personal experience and reflection, the book can be a valuable guide to anyone who seriously desires a God-experience. For a Christian, the experience of God through an encounter with Jesus is a journey that is marked by different milestones. The author traces some of the patterns that emerge in the gospel narratives of the encounter between Jesus and different people like the Magi, the first disciples, Zacchaeus, the Samaritan woman, and the disciples on the road to Emmaus.
At least seven steps are discernible in these encounters: the beginning of the journey as a result of the awareness of an inner thirst (or desire for God), the recognition of the pointers on the way, the search that takes us along meandering paths, the timely invitation from God/Jesus, the peak of the journey […]
Beyond the Ordinary
Beyond the Ordinary: The Spiritual Journey of a Missionary. ISBN: 9966-08-127-5; Nairobi: PaulinesAfrica, 2006.
This book is a moving example of a popular autobiographical literary genre: the personal spiritual journey. It is also an example of African narrative theology. The author describes Beyond the Ordinary as “reminiscences of my spiritual journey” inEast Africaover a period of 12 years (1992 to 2004). He says: “The collection [of reflections and stories] simply commemorates the spiritual lessons that I have learnt as an expatriate missionary in East Africa.”
Sahaya G. Selvam describes African Safari as “reminiscences of my spiritual journey” inEast Africa over a period of 12 years (1992 to 2004). He says: “The collection [of reflections and stories] simply commemorates the spiritual lessons that I have learnt as an expatriate missionary […]
Psycho-spiritual reflections on later years of life – 3
Arrivals & Departures:
Handling socio-emotional situations towards altruism
In traditional societies, due perhaps to restricted physical movement, older people generally reduce their circle of acquaintances. They live in familiar set ups, with familiar people. They hardly meet new people. This makes their life less interesting perhaps, but in terms of socio-emotional aspects their situation is understandably less complex.
The beginning of later years is often marked by an experience of arrivals and departures in relationships. If the later years begin at the time of retirement, this stage is marked by an experience of saying good-bye to friends and colleagues at the place of work. At this stage many retired people may become members of church based groups or other interest groups, where they are exposed to new acquaintances. In the developed world, due to easy access to transport, (and thanks to the freedom pass for the senior citizens!), elderly people might travel more, […]