IMITATING THE STARS

Hottest celebrities hit the red carpet. Page 3 headlines hit my eye. Flip over. Flip back. Stare. I saw that dress on someone recently. 

I recall three decades ago how Filmfare was the rage with me. I would read every single scandal and envy every single actress their lifestyle. From the dresses and matching accessories to the flashy cars and handsome young actor by the side, their lives seemed to be heaven on earth. 

Today, I am not so impressed. I have lived in the real world and I am content with my lifestyle. I wouldn't exchange my life for Deepika's or Scarlett's. I don't need a muscular Salman or the dashing Brad for company either. 

I am content with what I have. Two square meals on the table. A roof over my head. Clothes to wear. I'm queen of my home.

And I have JESUS.

With him comes the Father and the Holy Spirit.

And the star of them all.

MOTHER MARY.

My dearest friend and confidante. 

These are the stars I would like to imitate now. Read every story about them. Obey every word they say. 

The saints in heaven are also stars I would like to imitate. Each one is so beautiful with lives so committed to God. As I read their biographies, I am filled with admiration for their courage. 

Take St Lawrence, for example. I scream if a drop of hot oil splashes on me when I'm cooking. He was roasted on a gridiron.

Or St Augustine, for whose conversion his mother St Monica prayed for unceasingly for 17 years before he was finally converted. I pray for my sons daily like she did.

The saints are 

stars of the Catholic church. 

Our children should be imitating them, not the Hollywood, Bollywood, Kollywood or any other hedonistic lifestyles. 

When I see young men and women dress up like these characters, I wonder when will they realise how pretentious such people generally are. Sushant Singh Rajput showed us a glimpse of the horrors of the filmi world as did Sridevi. As did Robin Williams and Michael Jackson. 

Introduce your children to the stars that will guide them to heaven. Teach them the ways of the saints. Lead them to Mother Mary who will lead them in turn to her Beloved Son. And the Son who loves his Father will lead them to Him whose Word created the entire universe and whose Spirit was breathed into every living being. 

How awesome is that! In the light of this glorious splendour, the world with its hedonism, atheism, modernism and relativism will crawl back into the abyss from where it came.