On July 6, 2008 Jeevan Dham completed its 17 precious years in the service of the poor, the needy, the sick, the dejected, and the spiritually hungry and thirsty. Those who yearn spiritually for a True, living God and thirst for His Divine Word experience and witness physical and spiritual healing besides, His living presence, mercy, love and peace which transform and renew their character, vision and life. Another reason for celebration was the commemoration of 22 years of Eucharistic service being held in the house.
To celebrate this joyous occasion, the Archbishop of the Delhi Archdiocese, Most Rev. Vincent M. Concessao was invited to offer a Thanksgiving Mass for JEEVAN DHAM. By 5:30 p.m., a big crowd from far and near gathered to participate in the Sunday Mass who by their presence increased the joy on this occasion manifold. The Archbishop arrived at 6:00 p.m. and was welcomed with a garland and rose petal showers accompanied by a beautiful welcome dance on the entrance hymn. Other priests from different parishes in Agra, Gurgaon, Delhi and Faridabad joined His Grace for the celebration. The ten concelebrants including our Parish priest Rev. Fr. Johnson Kizhakkeveetil - Rev. Fr. Jose Maliekal (Vicar General of Agra Archdiocese), Rev. Fr. George Panakal, Rev. Fr. Paresh Parmar (Ahmedabad diocese), Rev. Fr. Thomas Chambakatt, Rev. Fr. Anthony Francis, Rev. Fr. Albert Francis, Rev. Fr. Tomy Urumbumkuzhy, Rev. Fr. Bipin Ekka, and Rev. Fr. Valerian Baretto- gathered around the altar well-decorated with flowers along with the Archbishop for the Holy Mass.
His Grace gave a thought-provoking and enriching homily, giving suitable true-life examples, emphasizing on the words of Jesus (from the Gospel of St. Matthew 11:25-30), his humble and gentle nature and His love for each one of us. Jesus thanked the Almighty God, His Heavenly Father, for choosing the humble, down-to-earth and innocent children rather than the wise, the powerful, and the conceited to reveal, through the Holy Spirit, the truths and the mysteries of His Kingdom. His Grace disclosed that these truths when enlightened to others may change their life, their future and their destination. God can choose anyone for His work, anytime and anywhere, irrelevant of one's profession, family background, age, caste, social status, personal strengths or weaknesses et al. The role of the chosen person may be of a prophet, a mediator, a messenger, a disciple or a humble servant just like we read in the Holy Bible the call of Abraham, Moses, all other prophets and in the New Testament the call of the disciples of Jesus. Of these chosen men, some were illiterate farmers, some were shepherds, some fishermen, some tax-collectors and so on. But all of them left their profession for God and His people, gradually adapted their life in obedience to the Word of God and later, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, spread this message/Word of God with zeal fearlessly. Most of them, inspired by the love and mercy of God/Christ, even gave up their lives in the work being assigned to them. This is the essence of the religion of Christianity which everyone has to understand deeply.
He clearly stated that faith is a free gift of God, not a result of our merits or hard work. This faith is in addition to the other free gifts that we get from God in our parents, our capabilities to listen, speak, understand, walk, observe, taste et al, the gifts we get in our friends, relatives, neighbours, miracles and healings in our life and so on which we take for granted and never thank God for them. But when we believe in God and think that every single thing or gift comes from Him for our growth, hope and well-being because God is love and He loves each one of us, then we get the gift of humility and gentleness naturally. Very often, we need to sit back and think upon the number of people who have worked for the food we take, the vehicles we drive, the gadgets we use, the things we have in our house, the facilities we enjoy and so on, and give the credit of obtaining these gifts to God (whose plans are there behind every gift, behind everything's existence and creation) and not to ourselves. This point of view will help us remain humble and grateful to God, stay joyful and contented. Humility is the virtue seen in its fullness in Jesus Christ. Jesus, true God and true man, through his Word, Works and Life, demonstrated His humility and love when he dealt with sinners, spoke with the disciples, the poor, the sick, the lepers and the unlettered. His Grace added that we should be always thankful to God for whatever we are and for whatever graces we have obtained from Him. God's plans are always for our good and are well above our plans. He can turn what we think as evil, painful or destructive into a graceful, blissful and holy thing, a difficulty or sickness into a thing for His glory. Hence, we should look beyond all our ailments and afflictions with the eyes of strong faith and use them as an opportunity to seek God's message for us, to experience His love and mercy, to thank Him and to preach his Good News. God speaks to us, this way, not only through His Divine Word in the Bible, but more effectively through our day-to-day experiences, struggles and events. Thus, by keeping an optimistic and humble attitude with firm faith, inspired by the love of Christ, we would readily give ourselves in brotherly love and service, in obedience to God's commands thus making us His beloved children.
His Grace concluded his homily with a small prayer for the family of JEEVAN DHAM which has been working for so many years in the service of the Lord. He thanked the Lord for the gift of a blessed organization like this, for the chosen family of JEEVAN DHAM, for the graces and blessings, spiritual and physical healings which lakhs of people have experienced through them. He prayed that God may shower His choicest blessings on this family, may He make their ministry more powerful; may He strengthen them, purify them, humble them and give them all the necessary graces which He wishes to give it to His believers through them. And due to His Divine Providence, may they be generous in their love and service to others when they receive gifts in abundance. Therefore, it becomes a responsibility of those who have experienced the true joy, peace and love of God, whose lives have been transformed, who have received some or the other blessing/favour through JEEVAN DHAM, to spread the message of truth, love and peace, becoming the witnesses of Jesus and offering themselves in the service of others selflessly.
The hymns sung during the Mass - the new entrance hymn based on the beatitudes, the acclamation, the offertory hymn and the communion hymn - all made exclusively for this occasion at JEEVAN DHAM, sung by the lively choir with the accompaniment of a fresh, vibrant and rich music from a new YAMAHA keyboard brought a jubilant and spirit-filled atmosphere among the people. Our Parish priest, Rev. Fr. Johnson gave the word of thanks to all on behalf of Jeevan Dham. Soon after the Mass, the Special 17th anniversary cake was cut by the members of the Jeevan Dham family. All praised God joyfully with hands in hands. The Archbishop happily gave his blessings to all the people present. Later, the concelebrants, along with the Archbishop and the sisters (who came from different convents in Faridabad, Delhi and Gurgaon) joined for table fellowship while cakes and laddoos were distributed to the people.
Previously, that day morning at St. Anthony's School, Sec-9 Faridabad during the Sunday prayer service, the Vicar-General of the Agra Archdiocese, Rev. Fr. Jose Maliekal, who came along with few sisters from Agra, gave the word of thanks and praise for receiving all the blessings and healings from the almighty God especially through Jeevan Dham. Buns were distributed in plenty to all the believers who attended the prayer service that day.
We, at Jeevan Dham, too are thankful to the almighty God for all the favours, including the cool and pleasant weather with little showers, which we received from His providence that day. We pray that more and more people may join us in prayer as the round-the-clock (24hr.) adoration has been going on daily for the past 5 years through God's grace and mercy. PRAISE THE LORD! Let us worship the Lord our God along with the angels, saints and the heavenly creatures, singing - “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honour and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.” (Revelation 7:12).