Worthy Treasure

Sometimes I feel guilty on how I had been neglecting one of the greatest treasures lying uncared in my cupboard – The Holy Bible! As a Catholic, I have a tendency to take it for granted, and seldom turn to it for the much needed counsel, especially when I am frantically looking for a solution to problems which are hard to find. All I ever needed to do was open its pages and follow what I find therein. Familiarity breeds contempt, and that seems to fit perfectly to the way I had been handling the Word of God. I have heard stories of how people who had turned over a new leaf because of the life-giving words, but what have I done about it?

Every time now I turn the pages and read the words reverently, I know the words seem to have been addressed to me. Lovely life stories of virtuous and wicked narrated to me by a loving Father or Grand Mother to teach me the great cherished values; principles and precepts which can show me light in the midst of darkness, words of caution and admonition, when I let the reigns of life free without any control. The Holy Bible is capable of doing in my life a lot more than I can imagine or hope for.

Centuries of wisdom squeezed out and presented to me in a platter, and it is for me to take it or refuse it. If I have a deadly malady and know for sure a remedy, and when I am offered, could I refuse it? Mere knowledge of a remedy is not going to cure me from the malady, I need to accept the remedy and swallow the pill, which may be sweet or sour or bitter. The Word of God is not sweet all through; sometimes I know it is sure to probe deep into my soul, and many a secret thought may come out as a result, but that is part of the process of purification.

I am beginning to take seriously the role and function the Holy Bible plays in my life. I have begun to carry it when I am out, so that I would not need to fear anything, I could be sure that no evil would befall me. I am confident that “He” is there always at my side, and I have nothing to fear. I may never be able to sling biblical verses one after another, or give an exegesis of paragraphs lucidly and intelligently, but I know it is sure to touch my heart and affect me at sometime or other.

This is no magic book for me, where I would get what I am looking for, and relegate it to the cupboards after my work is done; I would like to take the Holy Bible as my talisman, which is there always with me, whether I am healthy or sick, whether it is sunny or raining, whether I am happy or sad. I can hear the words of the loving Father beckoning me, anytime I open its pages. What greater treasure could I desire then?

Letter from Beyond

Dear friend, you might not have expected me to write to you, just three days after my departure from the world, and even before my mortal body is laid to rest! I know my relatives and friends who have heard about my sudden departure could not believe that I had left unannounced. And tomorrow I would be watching with much pleasure and merriment what are you people talk about me; I know much of the words addressed to me or about me would be saturated with honey that it might not be worth eating. But I just want to assure you that I have no more anger on you, or any of our companions; after some years, I am peaceful, and can rest without disturbance. I have no breathing problem, and can drink water as much as I want, without calculating how much I drink. I am in a world so very different, and am happy I have come here.

It is true I loved to live a little longer; all those who would hear that I was just 57 would think that I had a premature death, and could have accomplished quite a lot, were I to live some twenty more years, to say the least. I had a lot of dreams, and only a small portion of them have been fulfilled, and I only wished to bring to fruition some more of them, but when the angels of death stood at my doorstep, how could I say no to them. They told me that my time had come, and I could not give them any excuse. I began to grumble to the Creator that it was unfair to take me at this early age, and that I wanted to spend some more years here on earth. He smiled at me and said that he could not see me suffer, and so decided to take the bitter pill of taking me from the world to his bosom.

Here in this world, I lack nothing, neither the things that were forbidden me there on earth, or the things which I could only imagine, and there is the love of the angels, saints, and some of them have been known to me, and some others had known me for some time. What a pleasant surprise for me to meet the people I least expected to be there, and some other people whom I thought of meeting here, but they were not present. I had decided not to venture into any other place as of now, and slowly may venture into other locations where human beings are placed… I don’t know where the hell is, and where the purgatory is; and what is strange, I don’t know where I am; there is nothing which can make me feel where I am at present.

There are many who are shedding bitter tears for me, and tomorrow many would shed tears for me, and I am not such a noble and saintly person to repeat the words of the Master, Weep not for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. You would remember that the Master addressed the women of Jerusalem and told them this piece of advice; but would that matter to you? My race is run, and now I am waiting for the reward. If many of you have to cover the 800 meters race, I have been given just the 100 meters race to complete. It was so nice of the warden to make people run the race according to their capacities and talents. I am happy that I did what I could, given my own limitation and weaknesses. But now I am in a world of absolute contentment; I am just as I am, and realize the beauty of my creation before God.

What could you do for me? Some think that I need their prayers, their abstinence, sacrifices, so that I can be promoted from purgatory to the heavenly peace. I am also aware that I have to wait for all my sins to be washed away before I can enjoy eternal peace. But I remember that I had spent part of my last couple of years in anticipation of my purgatory, and I had even told the Master that I was completing my purgatory and purificatory days, and so if ever there is going to be any punishment for my past sins, it is not going to be too harsh. Now, you may ask me, what I can do for you! Believe me I am in a place from where I can just read your minds, and know things which are not even thought of by you. But fear not, I am not going to supervise or moderate you; it is your life that you should concentrate on; and there may come a time when you could recall to mind my life in the world, and be thankful to God for creating and letting me taste life on earth. I am twice blessed for entering into the world… I know being human is very much being divine! I will continue to write to you when time permits. Your friend.