DEARLY BELOVED IN CHRIST
VICAR’S MESSAGE
Greetings, beloved brothers and sisters, in the grace of our Lord and Redeemer, Jesus Christ.
It brings me immense joy and privilege to be counted among the congregation of St. Mark’s Mar Thoma church, where we unite in worship and service to our Lord, with unity of purpose and spirit. The advent of Covid-19 has profoundly altered our perspectives, particularly in matters of spirituality. The scriptures remind us that spirituality is an ongoing journey of reconciliation and renewal in our relationship with the Divine. In today’s fast-paced world, this essential aspect of Christian life often gets overshadowed. However, nurturing a spiritual life entails approaching God with contrite hearts, grounded in faith and prayer, and fostering a sense of community, which lies at the core of Christianity.
Faith is the foundation of Christian life in which we depend on God rather than our own abilities. Hebrews 11:6 says that without faith it is impossible to please God as it is the binding factor that draws us closer to Him. Faith also gives us the fortitude to face any adversity and to trust Him, despite what challenges lay ahead. For any successful relationship, communication is key and in spiritual life, prayer is the communicating tool between God and man. As the famous hymn by Joseph M. Scriven goes, no matter the trial or temptation, discouragement or loss, no matter how trivial the situation we should take it to the Lord in prayer.
Lastly dear brothers and sisters, let us not forget the most important part of Christian spirituality, which is the community. In this age of technological advancements where human interactions are limited or nil, it is significant to uplift and uphold our church community. It is our responsibility to continually encourage each other, help those who are in pain and understand the spiritual requirements of the members of our community and pray for them. For through this we can spread God’s love and His gospel in the hearts of many. Let us ignite our spiritual fire and keep it burning that it may provide warmth to many lives.
Let the grace of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ be with you all.
Rev. Prem T. Mathew
Phone: (813) 952-6218
Email: stmarksmtctampavicar@gmail.com