Confession is not the 'Dry-Cleaners'

Confessing our sins isn't a 'mechanical' procedure like getting a stain removed but rather a joyful embrace from God, who forgives everything from a heart that's repentant.

There is no sin which the Lord would not pardon. He forgives everything. If we go to confession repentant, He will forgive everything.

St. Paul also speaks of God's mercy, saying that God will be merciful toward His people's injustices and will "remember their sins no more."

God always forgives every sin without exception whenever someone asks for pardon, noting that Jesus came in order to make a pact with humanity and the foundation of this pact is the forgiveness of our sins.

God always forgives us. He never tires of this. It is we who get tired of asking for forgiveness, but He does not tire of pardoning us.

He recalled how when Peter in the Gospel asks Jesus how often we should forgive others, Jesus responds by saying, "Not seven times: Seventy times by seven," or, "Namely always."

This is how God forgives, even if a person has lived their entire life committing many sins and terrible acts, if they repentantly ask for forgiveness the Lord will immediately pardon them.

How doubts can often arise in a person's heart as to how far and how much God is willing to forgive. We do not have to worry because Christ has already paid the price of sin on our behalf.

Athough there are many who might say, "I don't go to confession because I have committed so many really bad sins, so many that I can't be pardoned" No, this is not true. God forgives everything.

Oftentimes God does not even let us finish speaking, noting that as soon as we begin to ask for pardon, God lets us feel that joy of forgiveness before us have even finished confessing.

God rejoices whenever a person asks for forgiveness and erases our sins fron his memory. God does this, because what is important for Him is that we encounter Him,because going to confession is not a judgement, but rather a meeting point with God.

Confessions often seem like a procedure, a formality. Everything is mechanical! No! Where's the meeting in this? Noting that confession is instead an encounter with the Lord who pardons us, hugs us and rejoices.

To go to confession is not like going to the dry cleaners to get a stain removed. No! It's about going to meet with our Father who pardons us, who forgives us and who rejoices.

The Last Supper

On that dark and sorrowful night
When Judas and his friends arose
To seize the Son of God with all their might
Jesus was captured and betrayed by His foes.

When the sorrowful moment come to pass
The bread He took and it He did break
Nourished by Jesus' preserving grace
His body was broken for our sake

We see Jesus' bruised flesh in this bread
And in the wine we see His blood
Here Jesus proves His dying love
Body slain and bathed with His own blood

Jesus had true compassion being a God
As a Saviour, He very well knew
That the price of pardon was His blood
He was so pitiful that never did He withdrew

Here we see and feel the mercy of Jesus
With true compassion His love for us rolls
Peace and pardon was bought with His flesh and blood
It's a food for all sinners and all dying souls.

Creation is A Sign of Hope

Creation has often suffered because of humanity's sins and failings, stressing that we must take care of it because as Christians, we see signs of hope in Christ's Resurrection in nature everyday.

We are still struggling with the consequences of our sin and everything around us still bears the mark of our efforts, of our shortcomings, our closures.

At the same time, however, we know that they are saved by the Lord and already we are given to contemplate and anticipate in ourselves and in the world around us signs of the Resurrection, Easter, which operates a new creation.

God has entrusted creation to us as a gift that can draw us closer to Him, even if our selfishness and sin has contributed to its destruction. Creation is a wonderful gift that God has placed in our hands that we may enter into a relationship with Him and we can recognize the imprint of His loving plan, the achievement of which we are all called to work toward together, day after day. But when we get caught up in our selfishness, we ruin even the most beautiful things entrusted to us and so it happened for creation.

With the tragic experience of sin, broken fellowship with God, we have broken the original communion with everything around us and we ended up corrupting creation, thus making it a slave, submissive to our frailty.

We see the consequence of this before us every day, pointing to water as an example. Water is beautiful, water is important, water is life, yet we have helped to destroy creation by contaminating water. But the Lord does not leave us alone. All creation is groaning in labour pains even until now.

If we pay attention to creation and to ourselves, we will see that we are all groaning, just like a woman experiencing labour pains, and this is because the Holy Spirit is working within us.

These groans are the cries of those who suffer, who are waiting for the recreation of the world. Because we live in the world, we see signs of evil, selfishness and sin both in ourselves and in what surround us. But at the same time, as Christians we also have learned to see the world through the eyes of Easter, with the eyes of the Risen Christ.

That is why this is a time of waiting, a time of longing: we have hope in our knowledge that the Lord wants to permanently heal our wounded hearts with His Mercy and in this way, regenerate a new world and a new humanity, finally reconciled in His Love.

We can often be tempted by pesimism, by disappointment. However, we find solace the Holy Spirit, breath of our hope, which keeps alive the groaning and the expectation of our hearts.

Dengue Prevention

Use preventative measures to eliminate the breeding grounds of dengue mosquitoes, aedes eagypti.
According to a report published by Dr. Prasheela Samaraweera, Sri Lanka had more than 9.000 cases of dengue this year of which 50% were from the Western Province. He is responsible for drafting a bill called the Dengue Prevention Act which has been sent to the Attorney General for review and approval.

Precautions

Dengue as well as Malaria, filarial diseases, yellow fever and chikungunya are spread by mosquitoes. This year about 59 victims of dengue in Sri Lanka died. If a family member has very high fever and intense headache for more than two days accompanied by muscle and joint pains you must suspect dengue fever and seek immediate medical help. If the person develops a rash in addition to the above symptoms, the victim may be coming in for haemorrhagic shock syndrome where the platelet count drops to critical levels. If the victim passes blood in the urine or when vomiting she/he may be going into shock. At this stage she/he needs immediate, expert medical attention.

A family member with high fever should be treated with antipyretic drugs such as paracetamol (Panadol). Never use aspirin or ibuprofen (Brufen, Motrin, Naproxen) for dengue fever because these medications can exacerbate internal bleeding. Use water, fruit juice or any other soft drinks to hydrate the victim. Diarrhea and vomiting are more unfortunate symptoms of this condition. If the victim cannot retain water she/he has to be hydrated with intravenous fluids under medical supervision.

Prevention is the best cure for dengue or any other mosquito-borne diseases. Using mosquito repellants such as coils, sprays, applications and using protective measures such as mosquito nets and wire screening for windows will repell mosquitoes. They can breed in as little as one square inch of standing water which means there are numerous places around the home which can support their procreation. Such breeding grounds for mosquitoes as coconut shells, tins, plastic cups and containers, discarded tyres or any other receptacle that can contain water have to be drained or eliminated. Check your gutters and drains for stagnant water. Go round the house and check for any place where water can collect and get rid of these receptacles. The only place that the mosquito can breed is in water.

During the day they like to rest in tall grass or among shrubs in a moist, shady environment. Keeping the grass and shrubs short will deprive them of a resting place during the day. Rake up any fallen leaves. An overturned leaf can hold enough water to support mosquito eggs and also a place for them to wait out the day. The mosquito that spreads dengue is not very active during the day. They can enter homes around 5.30 PM and in the morning. It is advisable to keep your doors and windows closed during these times. Mosquitoes are also attracted by bright colours. It is advisable to wear white or light-colored clothes in order not to attract their attention.

Most of the treatments for dengue have been tested and approved by the stipulated medical and government bodies that regulate treatment. They do strict tests using approved research methods such as double-blind studies. There is no direct treatment to irradicate the dengue virus. Using vaccine to prevent this disease is still in the experimental stages.

The following treatment is still in an experimental stage and must not be taken as the sole treatment for dengue fever. The people who advocate this simple herbal treatment have lots of faith in it. I would advise you to use this as an adjunct or in addition to conventional dengue treatment. Raw juice from the green papaya leaf seems to have helped a few dengue victims to get their temperature and blood platelet count to normal. The advocates of this treatment say not to boil the leaves, but to squeeze the juice off the leaves and give about two teaspoons of it once a day. The juice must come from raw, (not very tender or not very mature) green papaya leaves. This should be given once a day till the fever subsides and the blood platelet count gets back to normal. I caution again that this is an experimental treatment and is not scientifically tested and proved as a cure for dengue. It is advisable to use this with the other conventional treatments.

Herbal Repellant

Mosquito repellants such ad coils, sprays and oils are effective in warding off these lethal insects from human habitation. There is an additional herbal repellant that could be used to ward off these lethal insects. It is green betel leaves (bulath). Put four to five betel leaves in a blender and blend them adding an adequate amount of water to make them mushy. Pour the mixture into an open plate and keep it exposed in areas like living rooms or bedrooms where mosquitoes gather to feed on human blood. Users swear as to the effectiveness of this herbal mosquito repellant. The paste could be re-used for three to four days as long as it is kept moist by adding water.

Mosquitoes find it very difficult to fly in places where there is breeze or wind. If you have outings in breezy spots such as sea beaches they find it difficul to fly. This also supports the idea of using devices such as electric fans  in places where people congregate. Since mosquitoes tend to fly low, it is advisable to direct the air-flow from the fans to areas just above the floor.

World Health Organisation statistics show that about 25.000 deaths occur annually due to dengue fever. There is no vaccine or direct cure for the dengue virus. Health care workers can only treat the symptoms of the disease. 50% of the Dengue cases in Sri Lanka occur in the Western Province. This is the price we pay for the readily available water resources this area enjoys in comparison to other parts of the country. Fortunately this lethal disease can be prevented by taking common-sense preventative measures that are mentioned above. Until the experts find a vaccine against dengue and discover a cure to this virus, it is advisable for us to take steps to eliminate the breeding grounds of mosquitoes that cause this disease.

Helminthiasis (worm infestation)

Worm infections are found worldwide, although in warmer moister areas, especially where standards of hygiene are low, the prevalence is greater. In such areas infection with more than one variety is the rule. One billion children in the world are said to be affected. It is commoner in children than in adults because they tend to live closely with nature and with their pets. Worm infections are not necessarily confined to the tropical poor countries and the increase of travel and refugee movements in recent years has led to an increasing awareness in the industrialized world of the dangers of 'imported' diseases.

Worm infections differ in most cases from other micro-organisms in that the clinical effects exhibited by the host are mostly related to the worm load carried and the latter in turn is usually related to the degree of infection. The following principles are utilized either alone or in combination depending on the species to control worm infection.
1.Treatment of infected persons
2. Control of animal reservoirs
3. Hygiene, which includes education and provision of adequate and acceptable toilet facilities
4. Control of carriers
5. The wearing of shoes where infection occurs from the soil through the skin
6. Instruction in food preparation and cooking
7. Improved personal hygiene.

Round Worm (Ascariasis)

It thrives in moist climate and condition of over-crowding. They live in the small intestine. The gravid female lays 200,000 eggs a day and the newly excreted eggs remain dormant out of the body for a long period. If conditions are favourable they develop into an infective stage in two weeks in which condition they remain viable for months or years. The hosts of these worms are humans.

In 80% of cases, the only manifestation in man is asymptomatic passage of eggs and adult worms in the stool. Symptoms are due to invasion of larvae, presence of a large adult worm load or migration of adult worm from the normal habitat. The initial migration into the lungs causes a dry persistent cough, with tweezing and breathlessness. There may be fever with abdominal pain and urticarial rashes. Presence of a few worms in the infestine of a child does not produce symptoms in a child.

A large worm load will take away the nutrition from the child and also digestion and absorption of sugar. In a heavy infection the mass of worms can be felt to the hand can cause intestinal obstruction.

Hook Worm (Necator Americamus)

Hook worm sucks blood from the intestinal wall and is a very common cause of anaemia. The worm lives in the intestine and lays eggs which are excreted in damp shady conditions and hatch out in about two days, liberating the larva. The larva penetrates the skin and enters the instestine after traversing through the lungs. There may be abdominal discomfort especially after meals, loss of apppetite, debility and tiredness. The children are stunted, mal nourished and anaemic.

Thread Worm (Enterobius)

It is common in highly populated areas, institutional groups and members of the same family. The absence of developmental stage outside man favours reinfection and transmission from child to child. Thread worm generally causes no symptoms it produces characteristic scratching or the perianal area due to the migration of worms from the intestine where eggs are deposited. Hands are contaminated by scratching the perianal area and by contact with soiled underclothing, night clothing and bedding.

Infection is also acquired by inhalation of dust containing the eggs. The child is restless, nightmares, grinding of teeth and perhaps bed wetting occur. In about 20% of girls vulval irritation and vaginal discharge occurs. Nail biting, nose picking, masturbation and other behavioural changes have been wrongly attributed to thread worm infection. In general treatment for most cases is unnecessary especially as re-infection inevitably occur. However if treatment is given the whole family should be treated.

Whip Worm (Trichuris Trichiura)

The infection is often asymptomatic but should not be underrated as a disease in humans. Heavy infection can cause abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea may occur with pain around the anal orifice. Excessive loads can cause anaemia and weight loss. Prolapse of the rectum is a well known complication.

Filariasis (Wuchereria Bancrofti and Brugia Malyi)

It is transmitted by a mosquito. First infection may occur in children but the full clinical picture takes many years to develop. As with other filarial diseases, the early phase may be entirely asymptomatic or associated with alergic manifestations. The commonest manifestation is the acute and recurring inflammation of lymph nodes and their vessels where the lymphatic fluid flows usually in the groin where the vessels are thickened and cord like. The lymph nodes are painful. It is associated with fever, malaise, nausea and headache. The attacks which subside after several days have a variable periodicity of weeks or months, gradually becoming less severe, often persisting of residual swellings under the skin. Fluid may collect in the abdomen. Large lower limbs like elephant legs are now rarely seen.

Tropical Eosinophilia Syndrome

In some patients, an abnormal response to Wuchereria Bancrofti infections results with a clinical picture reflecting a spesific allergic sensitization to filarial worms. These patients present symptoms of a cough, asthma like symptoms, respiratory distress and eosinphil count 3000/ cu.mm or greater with X-ray changes in the lung.

Melioidosis

It is an infection by a bacteria now been recognised in our country which can have serious consequences. This is an organism found in the soil and surface water, is widely distributed. Infection follows inhalation or direct inoculation. Most of the patients have predisposing disease like diabetes. It may be sudden or a long drawn out illness. The most serious form is a generalized disease with multiple abscesses that is frequently fatal.

Amoebiasis

This is caused by a ptotozoan. It is transmitted by contaminated food or water. Or spread directly by person to person contact. Many carry it without symptoms. The usual course is a long drawn out illness with mild intermittent diarrhea and abdominal discomfort. It may progress to bloody diarrhoea and accompanied with headache, nausea. The liver can get affected with tender swollen liver with high fever and toxicity.

Be Merciful as the Father is Merciful

In this era of selfishness, grees and wickedness and an era where even one time vocations like medicine we see the plunder of unsuspecting patients.

Jesus Christ in the all important Sermon on the Mount says, "Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect." Some translations refer to it as, "Be holy." What does it mean to be perfect or holy as our heavenly Father is holy? Different people or scholars may give different interpretations but often the correct one comes from Jesus Christ Himself.

He says; "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbour and hate your enemy'. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you only love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Matthew 5: 43 - 48).

St. Luke in his Gospel puts it more precisely. He says, "Be merciful as your heavenly Father is merciful" (Luke 6 : 36). It is mercy that is the measure of our perfection or holiness.

To err is human, to forgive divine. That is why the Lord Jesus told St. Peter that he must be ready to forgive not just seven times a day but even 70 times seven. Every time we forgive we become more like God. Therefore when we forgive 70 times seven we are transformed that much to the image and likeness of God.

Jesus Christ also tells us that even in situations of evil and injustice, when we are merciful and forgiving God takes control of that situation and brings about justice according to His will and for the common good of all.

The Bible also assures us, "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness" (Lamentations 3 : 22 - 23).

As we experience the amazing grace, unconditional love and the infinite mercy of God we need to seek the power of the Holy Spirit to give this love, forgiveness and mercy to others in an unlimited ways. Then we will be transformed to be more in the image and the likeness of God. Others also will be transformed, beginning in the family and neighbourhood, the church and the workplace and elsewhere. So let us be merciful as our heavenly Father is merciful.

Jesus also brings to fulfillment the Old Testament writer's interpretation on retributive justice and transforms it into God's restorative justice. One of the latest and best examples of this was South Africa's Truth Commission inspired by the legendary Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. In one of the most inspiring and powerful cases before the truth commission we heard the amazing story of a black mother whose husband and only son were killed by a white supremacist soldier.

When the case came up the soldier confessed and the commission asked the heart-broken mother whether she was ready to forgive. The mother said yes but with two conditions. One was that the soldier should show her where her husband and only son were dumped so that she could take the bodies and give them a descent burial. The second condition amazing. She said she would like to be the foster mother of the soldier who had killed her son. The soldier was stunned and fainted in the dock. Amid pin drop silence the people in the court, responded by singing, 'amazing grace'.

Indeed it was an amazing moment of God's love and mercy working through a grieving mother. This is the perfection and holiness that God calls us to. When we cooperate with God, miracles, signs and wonders will take place.

New Study on Drug in Adolescence

Drug use in adolescence is often linked to later substance-abuse problems, but a new study suggests that a key risk factor is a combination of weak working memory and difficulties with impulse control.

The risk factors predispose to progressive drug use in younger years and subsequent dependence, report researchers at three institutions in a paper placed online February 16 by the journal Addiction. The study focused on alcohol, marijuana and tobacco use, the most commonly used drugs by adolescents.

For young people with difficulties in impulse control, intervention programmes that focus on simply stopping early drug use don't go far enough.

There is some effect that was carried through the early progression in drug use. It is a risk factor. The underlying weakness in working memory and impulse control continues to pose a risk for later substance use disorders.

Working memory refers to the ability to concentrate on a task without being easily distracted. Youth with weak working memory tend to have problems controlling their impulses and thus appear to be at greater risk of continuing drug use.

The findings emerged from a final assessment of 387 young people, ages 18 - 20, who were recruited as 10 - 12 years old in 2004 for a long-term study by the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania in collaboration with the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

In a paper published in 2015 in the journal Development and Psychopathology, how adolescents with stronger working memory were better equipped to escape progression into heavy use following initial experimentation.

Unanswered in earlier work was whether it was specific forms of early use that predict later substance abuse. People really had not focused on the heterogeneity of drug-use patterns. Some youth can start early and experiment but not progress while others experiment and progress into heavier drug use.

Analyzing multiple waves of data from early to late adolescence, the researchers found that experimenting with drugs at an early age wasn't a key factor in predicting later substance use disorders. It was the progression in drug use along with weakness in working memory and impulse control difficulties that predicted substance use disorders at later ages.

The researchers also reported that underlying weaknesses in working memory and impulse control continue to pose a risk for later substance use disorders, apart from early drug use progression.

Substance use disorders are a major public health concern. The onset of substance use happens during adolescence. There is a lot of research that links early onset of use to later substance use disorders. Our study advances the field by showing that just addressing early use is not going to solve the problem.

Drug prevention strategy in the schools typically focuses on middle school when early drug use tends to take place and assumes that any drug use at all is a problem. This study suggests that prevention needs to be more nuanced. The risk depends on whether drug use is likely to progress. Interventions that strengthen working memory and cognitive processing related to inhibiting impulsive responses need to be developed to help adolescents better navigate drug-related temptations.