6 WAYS GIVING AWAY YOUR MONEY MAKES YOU PROSPEROUS Shalom tidingsA BI-MONTHLY CHRISTIAN MAGAZINE EATING BREAKFAST WITH JESUS BY JULIE MARTIN GOD How My Husband LEADS Handled My Past US ON A BY KATIE SCIBA December 2015/January 2016 $4.99 JOURNEY 01 OF JOY 725274 80718 5 FROM THE LATIN GOOD NEWS. B lessed Mother, Star of the New Evangelization, guide your children here on earth. Bring us closer to the heart of the Father. Help us to keep our eyes on your Son daily. Pray for us, dear Mother, that we remain on the path of holiness and gain the rewards of eternal life. Amen. EDITORIAL NOTE CHRISTMAS SANS GRIEVANCE ow do we usually celebrate Christmas? If we pass each Christmas with trees and lights, cookies, dinner, greetings cards, and the usual Christmas liturgy, what difference does HChristmas make in our lives? What special goodness do we experience? Do such things give us peace in our hearts and glory to God? No. We know that there was no room for Jesus to born in an inn, forcing the Blessed Mother to give birth to the Son of God in a manger reserved for animals. If Saint Joseph had been unable to find the manger, Jesus may have been birthed by the roadside! If it were any other woman, the same would have happened. I know of a few poor tribal women who gave birth to their children under the shade of trees. So, what is the difference between these situations? The significant thing to keep in mind is that the Blessed Mother accepted the manger with joy. She did not utter harsh words to her husband when he could not find a suitable place for the Divine child. Mary had assurance that it was the Son of God in her womb. Yet, when she only had a manger to give birth in, she did not doubt whether the message of the angel was right. Mary did not lament against God, asking, “What cruelty have You done to me? What wrong have I done that you torment me like this?” Moreover, she did not curse the inn-keepers who refused them room, nor Caesar, who called for the census. Even in the manger, the Blessed Mother was at peace. In joyfully allowing whatever God allowed for her, without questions, Mary experienced the peace which is bestowed on those whom He favors. How can we too acquire that peace? By avoiding grumbling about our life circumstances. Grumbling is not suitable for the children of God. God does not like this. In our lives, there may be many things which we do not like. But know this—they did not happen without God’s knowledge. There may be shortcomings in our families. Perhaps our parents, spouse, and children behave contrary to our plans. We may be dissatisfied with our jobs. There are people who hate their lives because they think they are not wealthy enough or beautiful enough. There are those who are unable to love because they feel they are too short, too tall, are dark-skinned, are fair-skinned, are the wrong gender, and much more. These are the grumblers and they will not find peace because they question God and His plan. Mary at the manger is indeed a model for all who doubt the love and wisdom of God in times of miseries and agonies. The ways of God are mysterious. Believe in Him even when you are unable to comprehend Him. That is a sign of good will—obedience to the will of God. Only such people can experience the peace of Christmas. This Christmas and New Year, let us give up our grievances and grumblings. Let us praise God by accepting everything from His hands. Surely Christ will be born in us. We will experience Christmas in a whole new way. I wish this blessedness to all the readers. Prayer Jesus, let us be transformed like You, who found joy in the will of the Father. Lord, we give up all our grievances about our families and the circumstances of our lives. Blessed Mother, who found peace even in a lowly manger, teach us to live without grievances against God. In all circumstances, let our hearts find peace in the presence of God. Amen. BENNY PUNNATHARA DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016 SHALOM TIDINGS 3 CONTENTS ENGAGE 5 A Priest Forgiven For An Abortion | FATHER STEPHEN IMBARRATO SAM GUZMAN 6 Tolkien Speaks: The Secrets to a Happy Marriage | PATRON, SHALOM MINISTRIES H.E. Baselios Cardinal Cleemis 8 What Can ‘Theology of the Body’ Teach Us About Major Archbishop-Catholicos of the Managing Stress? | DR. GREGORY POPCAK Syro-Malankara Catholic Church 11 How Do You Measure A Day? | MICHELLE FRITZ PATRONS Bishop Daniel E. Flores 13 Radioactive Spider Bite | JOE PHILIP Diocese of Brownsville 14 The Mass and the Four Most Important Lessons of Bishop Mar Jacob Angadiath Syro-Malabar Diocese, Chicago Childhood | DR. MICHAEL P. FOLEY Bishop Thomas Mar Eusebius, Syro-Malankara Exarchate, USA ENCOUNTER SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR 18 Eating Breakfast with Jesus | JULIE MARTIN Father (Dr.) Roy Palatty, C.M.I. CHRISTOPHER STEFANICK EDITOR-IN-CHIEF 20 Blessed Chiara Badano | Chevalier Benny Punnathara LUCIANO CORBO 22 A Spiritual Warrior’s Arsenal | CONTRIBUTING EDITOR 25 Cross Bearers Needed | BARBARA LISHKO Joe Philip SENIOR SUB-EDITOR Mary Job ENJOY EDITORIAL COUNCIL 28 How My Husband Handled My Past | KATIE SCIBA Joseph John Jinto Mathew 30 The Profound Dignity of Motherhood | JAMES M. LITTLETON DESIGN 33 6 Reasons Why Giving Away Your Money Mustard Tree (www.mustardtree.in) Makes You Prosperous | FATHER DWIGHT LONGENECKER SHALOM TIDINGS December 2015/January 2016 (ISSN 36 No One Is Perfect Until You Fall In Love With Them | JINTO MATHEW 2327-4549) is published every two months by Shalom Media USA Inc., 211 East Wisconsin Road, Edinburg, Texas RICH MAFFEO 78539. 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Permission is only deemed valid if approval is in writing. No 10 - B/17 00165 Rome, Italy POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Shalom Media USA Inc., 211 East Wisconsin Road, Edinburg, Texas 78539 Office: +39 333 2849 843 4 SHALOM TIDINGS DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016 THEA PRIEST FORGIVEN CHURCH FOR AN ABORTION IS MERCIFUL By Father Stephen Imbarrato write today as a priest who was guilty of an abortion decades ago. a priest?” Well, it is because the Church is, as it should be and No sooner had I heard about Pope Francis’ letter giving universal as Jesus is: merciful. Yes, the Church wanted to be sure that my Ifaculties to priests to absolve the sin of abortion and lift any former girlfriend and I were suffi ciently healed and that she was excommunication, did I fi nd myself being interviewed on the radio aware and approved of my becoming a priest. And yes, such and being asked curious questions about the Pope’s letter. a sin is an “impediment” to ordination as a priest, but, as with Is this a new teaching? Is the Church fi nally forgiving people who many circumstances within the Church, after due investigation, have been guilty of an abortion? Later in the day, I was able to read a dispensation can be obtained. I was a recipient of such a some of the media headlines and I understood why these questions dispensation. Likewise, a woman desiring to enter religious life as were being asked. A Yahoo headline, “Pope tells priests to pardon a nun could also receive similar mercy. This is only right and just. women who have had abortions.” MSNBC reported, “Pope says priests The Church is called to be merciful as Christ is merciful. These acts can allow this Catholic sin.” The general comments I heard from of great mercy in no way diminish the Church’s correct and moral people on and off social media could be summed up with, “How teaching that abortion is a very grievous sin.