Glory kills while cross saves- a Palm Sunday message.

[stephen goswami]

Glory kills while cross saves- a Palm Sunday message.

My friend Badal Mondal’s suicide haunts me still now. He was a catholic priest of about 37 year’s age. His catholic parents sent him to the catholic boarding school where everyday and night prayers, rosary, mass was compulsory. Graduating from the school he was sent for nine years seminary training. His parents and priest guardians wanted him to be a priest revered by all. To make him Christ-like was the last thing in their minds as they also avoided that.
After graduating successfully from the seminary he was consecrated. I also had read on that seminary with him.
Starting as an assistant priest he became a parish priest. People fell at his feet thinking him as another Christ. He had vehicles and servants. His regularly and devotedly offered mass, benedictions etc and conducted his priestly duties. But his heart was at unrest. He drove recklessly. I questioned him why? He said I want to die as I have no jest for living.
At last he succeeded not only killing himself but some others too by a collision. Many priests do like that by rash driving, heavy drinking, overeating etc.
It took some years for me to understand it. Church organizations have sprung up advertising the message of Christ to claim the glory of the risen Christ. They ultimately end up by establishing organized priesthood to be the head of the society. without following they proclaim the Christian message that self-sacrificing love saves. But their rituals and gospel proclamation can’t save. The religious pride fuelled by people’s reverence destroys them. Only humble love gives integrity to soul and gives the jest for life. Pride destroys love disintegrating the soul. So sins get upper hand. Peace is lost and soul seeks death as internal turmoil makes hell inside.

But a few souls as me trying to put gospel in action are humbled by people clamoring for worldly things. Christ was so humbled by people clamoring for his execution who only the previous day had worshipped him as messiah. That acceptance of cross resurrected him in Divine Love. So I was rejected by the Catholic Church for following Christ and was saved as that and other humiliations brought me near Divine Love. So I do Christ’s work without any worldly support for 40 years. Christ’s support is enough for me.

[Pilgrim]

First I doubt the veracity of your story. Secondly it has nothing to do with Palm Sunday grace or glory, it has only to do with you stroking your own pet ideas and ego. Your use of a mans tragic death un such a non compassionate way is the antethesis of the "salvation" you talk about. On second thought, if that's the way you understand and practice grace then I don't think you understand what grace or salvation is

All in all your post fails.

[stephen goswami]

First I doubt the veracity of your story. Secondly it has nothing to do with Palm Sunday grace or glory, it has only to do with you stroking your own pet ideas and ego. Your use of a mans tragic death un such a non compassionate way is the antethesis of the "salvation" you talk about. On second thought, if that's the way you understand and practice grace then I don't think you understand what grace or salvation is

All in all your post fails.

Dear brother,
You are free to doubt about the truth. But on it depended my spiritual life and death. I have taken the right decision. We must have compassion upon every suicide killer as Christ had. But when he and the prophets proclaimed the truth vilification and persecution followed. Pharisees were also suicide killers who dragged their whole nation to suicide by attacking Romans rejecting Jesus and his message violently. Grace can do nothing when one rejects it. So Christ said dance with joy when you suffer because of me. So I must. Love

[Pilgrim]

I have no doubt about the truth per se. What I doubt are your proclamations which seem to be more the product of self righteousness than of the Gospel or of Christ's presence.

BTW, it is doubtful whether or not the people who welcomed Christ in to the city were the same people calling for his execution given the logistics of location.

[stephen goswami]

I have no doubt about the truth per se. What I doubt are your proclamations which seem to be more the product of self righteousness than of the Gospel or of Christ's presence.


BTW, it is doubtful whether or not the people who welcomed Christ in to the city were the same people calling for his execution given the logistics of location.

When one takes a path thinking and proclaiming it as right, it is not self-righteousness. No one walks a path thinking and saying it wrong.
Jerusalem was a small city.

[Pilgrim]

I wasn't talking about the size of the city. And yes, when one does as you say, it can indeed be the result of self righteousness. The fact that you think that somehow your understanding is special and unique to you and that you have some unique claim to the Truth(tm) and that any disagreement with you is somehow a fault of misunderstanding or lack of faith on the part of the other should be a red flag to you. It's like you never even consider that you just might be wrong. And that's arrogance. And the Gospel and grace and salvation are not about arrogance.

[humanevitae]

Glory kills while cross saves- a Palm Sunday message.

My friend Badal Mondal’s suicide haunts me still now. He was a catholic priest of about 37 year’s age. His catholic parents sent him to the catholic boarding school where everyday and night prayers, rosary, mass was compulsory. Graduating from the school he was sent for nine years seminary training. His parents and priest guardians wanted him to be a priest revered by all. To make him Christ-like was the last thing in their minds as they also avoided that.
After graduating successfully from the seminary he was consecrated. I also had read on that seminary with him.
Starting as an assistant priest he became a parish priest. People fell at his feet thinking him as another Christ. He had vehicles and servants. His regularly and devotedly offered mass, benedictions etc and conducted his priestly duties. But his heart was at unrest. He drove recklessly. I questioned him why? He said I want to die as I have no jest for living.
At last he succeeded not only killing himself but some others too by a collision. Many priests do like that by rash driving, heavy drinking, overeating etc.
It took some years for me to understand it. Church organizations have sprung up advertising the message of Christ to claim the glory of the risen Christ. They ultimately end up by establishing organized priesthood to be the head of the society. without following they proclaim the Christian message that self-sacrificing love saves. But their rituals and gospel proclamation can’t save. The religious pride fuelled by people’s reverence destroys them. Only humble love gives integrity to soul and gives the jest for life. Pride destroys love disintegrating the soul. So sins get upper hand. Peace is lost and soul seeks death as internal turmoil makes hell inside.

But a few souls as me trying to put gospel in action are humbled by people clamoring for worldly things. Christ was so humbled by people clamoring for his execution who only the previous day had worshipped him as messiah. That acceptance of cross resurrected him in Divine Love. So I was rejected by the Catholic Church for following Christ and was saved as that and other humiliations brought me near Divine Love. So I do Christ’s work without any worldly support for 40 years. Christ’s support is enough for me.

I think you are way off base. If you really wanted to know why your friend was so unhappy, check into his private life, not his religious beliefs.

[stephen goswami]

I wasn't talking about the size of the city. And yes, when one does as you say, it can indeed be the result of self righteousness. The fact that you think that somehow your understanding is special and unique to you and that you have some unique claim to the Truth™ and that any disagreement with you is somehow a fault of misunderstanding or lack of faith on the part of the other should be a red flag to you. It's like you never even consider that you just might be wrong. And that's arrogance. And the Gospel and grace and salvation are not about arrogance.

So everyone who follows the dictate of his conscience is arrogant! Certainly I have changed course after a red flag many times in my life, considering myself off course. See my life history. But I must not be fickle at every red flag.
Not only Badal similar incidents have happened to many catholic priests. No need to research their private life.
Your background and our nonviolent Hindu background are very different. So even if u call me self-righteous it will be much differing. Only by fruit it will be proved in God’s time, not by arguments

[The Remonstrant]

I think you are way off base. If you really wanted to know why your friend was so unhappy, check into his private life, not his religious beliefs.

Likely it is was both, I'd say.

[footwasher]

Having travelled extensively in India, I can tell you that the life of a non-nominal Christian is very lonely. What Stephen is doing is asking for affirmation on a widely viewed Christian forum in the US, in the hope that understanding viewers will offer encouragement. For that, said viewers should understand the ground situation in India. The Catholic Church is not monolithic across the globe: its status in the third world is close to fiefdom.

Last visit, a sister told me she was threatened with ex-communication for Bible study.

I stand with Stephen in this regard: he is always in my prayers.

[stephen goswami]

I think you are way off base. If you really wanted to know why your friend was so unhappy, check into his private life, not his religious beliefs.

If his faith can’t straighten his private life then that faith is futile and useless

[Pilgrim]

So everyone who follows the dictate of his conscience is arrogant!

Don;t be deliberately dishonest. You know that's not what I said. You are arrogant because you assume that you alone own the truth(tm).

Certainly I have changed course after a red flag many times in my life, considering myself off course. See my life history. But I must not be fickle at every red flag.

Not only Badal similar incidents have happened to many catholic priests. No need to research their private life.

I've seen no evidence in any thing you've presented here that you've ever considered or admited to being wrong on anything. That's arrogance.

Your background and our nonviolent Hindu background are very different. So even if u call me self-righteous it will be much differing. Only by fruit it will be proved in God’s time, not by arguments

[/quote] Hindu non violent? Hardly. Don't try to re write history man. Even recent history shows that even Hindus can do violence to people they disagree with. BTW, you don't know my back ground.

[footwasher]

Don;t be deliberately dishonest. You know that's not what I said. You are arrogant because you assume that you alone own the truth™.

The sense I get is that he feels he owns the truth compared to the Catholic priest. His fault is being a member of a large, worldwide club...

I've seen no evidence in any thing you've presented here that you've ever considered or admited to being wrong on anything. That's arrogance.

Why would a person ever post something he feels doubtful about? On the other hand if you are led to truth, its good to share it. Is not God's word like a fire, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart? (Jeremiah 23:29, Hebrews 4:12 ).

Hindu non violent? Hardly. Don't try to re write history man. Even recent history shows that even Hindus can do violence to people they disagree with. BTW, you don't know my back ground.

The difference is when I'm Stateside, I don't know when someone is going to pull a gun, at no perceptible (to me, at least) sign of provocation. In India, violence erupts after a LOT of provocation...

[stephen goswami]

Don;t be deliberately dishonest. You know that's not what I said. You are arrogant because you assume that you alone own the truth™.

There may be many people who knows this truth, but no person is totally alike in thought and presentation.

I've seen no evidence in any thing you've presented here that you've ever considered or admited to being wrong on anything. That's arrogance.

certainly I confess being proud. I always pray to be delivered from it. but it is long process extending to eternity. But should I write after each article that i am wrong ,or should sit dumb until my pride is gone? Or should i agree with all contradictory ideas including yours?

Hindu non violent? Hardly. Don't try to re write history man. Even recent history shows that even Hindus can do violence to people they disagree with. BTW, you don't know my back ground.[/quote]

Hindus may punish but hesitate to kill. They believe that they will be punished in latter rebirth.

[Pilgrim]

Nice of you to admit taht after every article you've written a "i'm wrong" would be appropriate. Now we're getting somewhere.