MEMORIAL DAY OF SAM PHILIP PARAKAMANNIL

The greatest tragedy of human life is death. The unexpected and sudden death of a beloved teenager or an adult is still more tragic. There are thousands of parents, wives, husbands, brothers, sisters and children who have lost their beloved one in war, accident, murder, or through terrible diseases. An affectionate and compassionate heart cannot forget the fallen one. Somebody once said “no one is dead as long as he or she is remembered by someone.”

Although 4 years have passed now since my younger brother Sam Philip died on 18th December, 2005 due to a sudden heart attack, I have spent almost everyday in sadness and sorrow of his departure. As Elisha became sick, Jehoash king of Israel went down and wept for him and Jesus wept the death of Lazarus, I too, very often weep on my brother’s sudden demise.

Dear Sam, although physically you are not with us, you are very much alive in our hearts. Nobody can forget your simplicity, humility and truthfulness. I am sure that God is pleased with you. David said to God “surely you desire integrity in the inner self” (Psalm 51:6). You were an active member of the Greater Washington Mar Thoma Church, where you worked as a trustee and accountant. Even now, when I attend church, I always think of you brother.

Dear Sam, I remember when you were here you used to call me to know our welfare. I long and wait to hear your calm and sweet telephone call filled with loving inquiries about us and others, which felt so assuring to me in this stressful foreign land life. So, Sam would you please call me again and inquire about our well being from your comfortable dwelling place?

What is Life?
It is tears!
Yes it begins and ends with tears!
Solomon said “for man certainly does not know his time.” Yes it is very true that there is no guaranteed period for human life on earth.David prayed “LORD reveal to me the end of my life and the number of my days. Let me know how transitory I am. You indeed have made my days short in length and my life span as nothing in your sight. Certainly, man walks about like a mere shadow.”

Our beautiful body is perishable clay, any time it will break away but our soul is everlasting. “For we know that if our earthly house, a tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens”
(2 Corinthians5:1). Now let me quote a beautiful passage from Percy B Shelley’s Adona:
“Life like a dome of many- colored glass stains the white radiance of eternity until death tramples it.” Sooner or later death and grief will come to every one as I mentioned above. The only hope for mankind is eternity. Aristotle wrote “let us live as if we were immortal.” Eternity is the greatest assurance from eternal God.

In John 11:25 we read this: Jesus said to her “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me, even if he dies, will live. Every one who lives and believes in me will never die - ever. Do you believe this?” In this humble memorial message for Sam, I emphasize and ask all our new world readers. Do you and your beloved want to live an eternal life after death? Or will you perish?This is the most important question. Our tearful tribute to Mr. Sam Philip Parakamannil!

By

Thomas Philip Parakamannil
and Sorrowful family
(The members of New World family join the sorrowful families of  Mr.Sam Philip and all of the families of his brothers and sisters to express our deep sympathy. We pray to God Almighty for all the blesssings upon all of them) New World Editorial Board