Review by Sr. Dr. Teresa Joseph, FMA –
By The Grace of God – An Autobiography, Fr. Tom Uzhunnalil, SDB
Published by Kristu Jyoti Publications
Number of Pages – 160
Price Rs. 130
“By the Grace of God” indeed is a faith-filled recounting of 557 days of Terrorist Captivity in War-Torn Yemen. Just as the Psalms are the God experience of the people of Israel, “By the Grace of God” undoubtedly is the God experience of Fr. Tom as he affirms that he has to bear witness to how God has been amazingly kind to him, keeping him fit, protecting him in lonesome captivity and in His own time guaranteeing his release. It is truly surprising to perceive that gracious spirit of gratitude that wells up in Fr. Tom as he rightly affirms: “I believe and consider my safe release as the result of the intense prayers of all of you.”
Fr. Joyce Thonikuzhiyil, SDB the Provincial, Salesian Province of Bangalore couldn’t find another better title for his Foreword to the book than: A Moving Testimonial of Faith and a Timely Reminder on the Power of Prayer.
As we read through the pages of the ten chapters of this volume, somehow or the other we become aware of how the loving hands of God has been guiding Tom right from his childhood, providing him added strength and grace each time he had to take a major decision to be ever at the service of God’s people. The book challenges us to go much beyond the written words and to enter into a dynamic dialogue with Fr. Tom and to pierce intensely into his life and mission. There is a dramatic interchange of the divine and the human: humanely speaking Fr. Tom emerges as a delicate, simple, and committed Priest. A faith-filled glance puts us in touch with the real Fr. Tom a man of God with praiseworthy inner strength, a total gift from God our loving Father.
Great things happen when the human and the divine meet in an ever committed and fresh response to God embracing the mission of Jesus Christ day after day. Yes, the miracle just happens and it continues to occur even in War-Torn Yemen. You and I have every reason to ask how crazy Fr. Tom was to return to war-torn Yemen? Certain craziness is essential part of those who have fallen in love with Jesus. Fr. Tom was passionately in love with Jesus and lovingly close to the people entrusted to his pastoral care. “Being the only Catholic priest in Yemen with a religious visa, he felt duty-bound to be with his faithful in their hour of crisis.” Fr. Tom’s autobiography “By the Grace of God” prompts every reader to sing with gusto: Have Thine own way Lord…
What happened to our Prayer? What happened to all our fasting, prayer and almsgiving? To find adequate answers to these ever relevant questions, we need to patiently contemplate the release of Fr. Tom and how the entire scene has unfurled.
The leaders of the Church, our Country and many other persons did play their role extremely well and The Missionaries of Charity and the members of the Salesian Family went out of their way to get Fr. Tom back. The whole world in silence, in patience and in suffering was very much united in prayer and in spirit with Tom. No wonder Tom could express it so poignantly: By the Grace of God and thanks to the intense prayer… How convincing are his words: “After I was released and reached home safe, I realized that my mission is to be a witness to the fact that THE LORD ALIVE HEARS OUR PRAYERS AND THAT HE WOULD SURELY ANSWER THEM IN HIS OWN GOOD TIME. I realize that I am a living proof that our God still loves us and cares for us… ”
Hurry! Pick up the book By the Grace of God and read it in the company of the Holy Spirit, then look for miracles to happen in and around you. Gently dance into the spirit of prayer, praise and thanks for just as in the case of Fr. Tom, the Almighty is doing great things for you and me.