Accept your sufferings willingly

In celebrating the Golden Jubilee of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, participants were urged to accept their sufferings willingly instead of mumbling, complaining and grieving in their sorrow.

Fr Thomas Bobby Emprayil, VC explained that such negativity would open the door to despair and would, ultimately, destroy a person.

Fr Bobby, from India, preached at a two-day rally at Majodi Centre, Sept 16-17.

Fr Bobby also shared many testimonies on the willingness to accept suffering, transforming sufferings by joining themselves to the sufferings of Christ for the souls in purgatory, for family members and for people who are suffering.

Participants were also advised to make reparation for personal sins and the sins of their families.

He said, “Rejoice always, pray unceasingly and give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus … I rejoice in my suffering for you as I am suffering in my own body to make up for what is lacking in the the Church, his body.”

These two verses resonated in Fr Bobby’s sessions.

Fr Bobby shared extensively from his experiences of growing up in abject poverty in rural India. He saw his own suffering of living with an alcoholic dependent father as a preparation for his ministry to thousands of people who flock to his retreat centre in Assam, India.

He said many were set free from their bondage to alcohol.

He said, when we praise and thank God for our sufferings and pains, God is enthroned in the praises of his people, and where God is, there is fullness of joy.

He added, “Our sorrow and pain can be applied to help others suffering from similar problems in their lives and also for the souls in purgatory.”

Christians do not live only for the present; they live for eternity, so they have to offer a wider vision of life for the rest of humanity, said Fr Bobby.

He said that Charismatics are doing a good job of creating a greater awareness of the Holy Spirit working in people.
Fr Bobby then led the prayer for the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. The powerful presence of God could be felt as he prayed in tongues.

The outpouring of God’s love was followed by the laying of hands for healing.

In his opening remarks, Bishop Bernard Paul shared his concern that the Charismatic renewal in the diocese had stagnated.

He challenged the leaders of the renewal to step up their commitment, not be dependent on speakers from outside the diocese and to be more evangelising in their approach.

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online