TABORE PRARTHANALAYAM

About

Once, the renowned Bible scholar St. Jerome had a dream. God appeared to him and asked, "What will you give me?" Jerome responded promptly: "Everything I have, my riches, all my possessions, I offer to you." But God said, "This is not enough." Undeterred, Jerome continued, "I give my heart to you." Again, God replied, "That is not enough." Jerome persisted, offering his intellect, faculties, and abilities. Yet, once more, God said, "That is not enough." Puzzled, Jerome asked, "What shall I offer you?" God replied, "Your sin. You must give your sin to me. Then you will receive forgiveness." This is the essence of the experience at the Tabor Retreat Centre. Here, individuals come to meditate, confess, and relinquish all their sins, both big and small, to God. This transformative process often occurs within the confessionals, where the priest embodies Jesus himself. Many have departed from the Tabor Retreat Centre with newfound peace, having surrendered their sins during confession and restored their connection with God. During a retreat session, a preacher once queried the participants, "What do you dream about?" Responses varied from dreams of beloved individuals to aspirations involving cricket stars, actors, and actresses. Some expressed dreams of winning jackpots and attaining wealth, while others dreamed of indulging in pleasure-filled lives. However, the preacher then asked, "Do any of you dream of Jesus?" A few admitted, "Yes, I have dreamt of Jesus many times." This phenomenon underscores the transformative power of the Tabor Retreat Centre: by prioritizing adoration of Jesus in our hearts, we begin to encounter Him in our dreams. Thus, let us give Jesus the foremost place in our hearts. The narrative of Angel Gabriel appearing to Mary and proclaiming, "Hail Mary, Full of Grace," resonates deeply. St. Elizabeth, inspired by the Holy Spirit, affirmed Mary's blessedness among women and the holiness of the fruit of her womb. Mary, a humble girl from Nazareth, comprehended the profound significance of her role as the mother of the Saviour and the mother of God. Despite being the greatest creation in the world, she humbly acknowledged, "The mighty has done great things for me." This humility, exemplified by Mary, forms the cornerstone of spiritual life. Pride manifests differently in each individual. Some find pride in their possessions, others in high-salary jobs or successful children. Some take pride in their intellect or physical attributes. However, it is crucial to recognize that everything we possess is a gift from God—whether wealth, a comfortable home, fulfilling careers for our children, good health, or beauty. Like Mary, we should acknowledge with gratitude that "the mighty has done great things for me." Therefore, humility stands as the fundamental virtue of spiritual life; without it, one cannot acquire other virtues.