LEAD ALL TO JESUS AND JESUS TO ALL

Hymn of Holy Spirit

“Lead all to Jesus and Jesus to all.” was the slogan of Bl. Rani Maria. In her
primary life she brought everyone to Jesus and in her apostolic life she presented Jesus to
everyone. As a mystical prophet, she presented the voice of God to the people and in
turn carried the needs of the people to the Lord. When she went to the people, she shared
the Good News of Jesus in very attractive and relevant ways. She was courageous
enough to face all kinds of difficulties and problems. An analysis of her composed
prayers in the diary shows that she was a Christ centered person. She would rather pray
for the grace to proclaim the Gospel, to be anointed with the baptism of the Spirit to bring
all to Jesus. She did not wait for the favorable opportunity to proclaim the Gospel, rather
like the apostles of Jesus; she sought the people with whom she could share. She had the
prophetic courage to reach out to the unknown remote villages in search of the poor to
proclaim the Good News. She wanted to bring to Jesus not only the poor and the
afflicted, rather the sinners and the persecutors. She asked for the grace to care everyone
and lead all to Jesus including the sinners and the enemies. In her prayer we do see her
earnest desire to bring the sinners and the enemies to Jesus. “You were a friend of
sinners and publicans. Let us not condemn or abandon anyone rather care for all that we
may win over everyone for you.” She loved Jesus wholeheartedly and wanted to
everybody into his loving embrace.

In the book of a “Martyr for Justice” Fr. Mathew Vattakuzy V.C. says, “At
Odgadi there were a few Christian families settled down even before the mission station
was started. Sr. Rani Maria helped them grow in Christian faith by regularly visiting them
and teaching them catechism. Many Adivasis and Harijans were attracted to Christianity
by her sincere concern and love for them, effective development activities, selfless work
for the people etc. Many of them of their own, used to come for Sunday mass and
prayers. They were happy to participate in the Mass and Easter celebrations”.

Bl. Rani Maria was a person of prayer. I have seen that very often her, after
tiresome village visits and long hours of discussions in the village meetings, spending
hours in the chapel praying. I believe that she was praying also for the people for whom
she was working. She was always punctual in joining the community prayers. She had
certain convictions and on the basis of the same she lived and worked. Criticism,
discouragement, or threat did not prevent her from living her convictions and to translate
her vision into action.

Bl. Rani Maria was a selfless, sincere, hardworking, and dedicated bride of Christ.
She was a committed missionary. She tried to impart the Christ experience to the people
with whom she came into contact through her deeds and words. Though she is no more
she is living in the hearts of many who have experienced the fruit of her service.

Readings: John 2:1-11, 2Tim 1

Reflections

During the wedding in Cana, Mother Mary was there serving and helping the
family in their needs. JESUS and His disciples where also invited. On the third day
Mother Mary noticed that their wine is over. She leads the family and servants to JESUS
and Mother Mary herself requests JESUS to help them. The request of Mother Mary is so
influential that Jesus in spite of His excuses meet the needs of the family and thus all
experience the wonders and blessings in their lives. When we compare this incident with
Bl. Rani Maria’s life, we see her in the position of Mother Mary leading people to JESUS
interceding for them and JESUS to all.

Exhortation

“Dear sisters consider your call. Your primary duty is to proclaim the Word of
God, Do not reduce the missionary work to charitable service, But of life witness.” In the
book “A martyr for truth and Justice” Sr Bincy Therese says, “Following the footsteps of
JESUS Bl. Rani Maria went in search of the lost sheep from flock. When she saw the
poor and weak, the illiterate and the voiceless who are oppressed by the sharp thorns and
strong bushes in the society, she had begun to melt and urged herself to commit her life to
uplift them. Without putting the hands in the thorns how to serve the entangled sheep in
the thorns! It was a great venture for Bl.Rani Maria to fight against the thorns of the
unjust structure of the society, the deep rooted blind belief system and the oppressed
customs and traditions in the society. Leaving all the security in the mighty hands of God,
she plunged into their life situations and identified with them by visiting them frequently
and even staying with them day and night. She felt at home with everyone. By seeing the
ray of Hope in her they could share their sorrows and happiness and discuss their family
problems and difficulties. By knowing the pulse and heart beatings of the poor she could
not remain silent. Her love towards them pushed her to seek earnestly all the conceivable
ways, to knock insistently at all the possible doors and to ask persistently from all the
humanitarian organizations. She become aware that men and women, young and old are
in need of liberation. She was not satisfied by giving timely consolation through the
distribution of food, cloth, and shelter. She wanted to work at the root level and make
them self sufficient.”

Bishop of Satna Mar. Abrahm Mattam says, “Bl. Rani Maria did not come all the
way from Kerala merely as a social worker. I have a number of times discussed with her
the work that being done in the villages. It was the love of Christ that brought her to the
mission. She wanted others also to know Christ, to love Him and to share His blessings.”

Evaluation

What is my role in leading people to my Jesus?

What is my conviction and motivation to lead people to Jesus?
How deep is my relation with Jesus in Eucharist that leads me to His people?

Intercessory Prayer

Concluding Prayer

Most Holy Spirit, help us to radiate the light in the encircling gloom and lead
people to you. Grant that we may be inspired by the faith of our baptism, nourished by
the Eucharist and renewed in the grace of Pentecost, so as to live in word and deed
always and everywhere and give us the grace to proclaim the Gospel as faithful witnesses
of Christ and of the His Divine heart.