By the Grace of God: An Autobiography, Fr. Tom Uzhunnalil, Kristu Jyoti Publications; Rs. 130, Pages 160
On March 4, 2016, a group of terrorists barged into a care-home for the destitute run by Catholic nuns in the poverty-stricken, war-torn Middle East country of Yemen. They shot 16 people, including four nuns and several locals dead, and kidnapped a Catholic priest from India. This book, the autobiography of Fr. Tom Uzhunnalil, recounts the milestone achievements and experiences of his life, culminating in captivity for 557 days after that ill-fated day.
Explaining why he chose to relate his experience, Fr. Tom says: “The purpose of chronicling my experiences is in no way to create an impression that I am a saint or superhero. In fact more than anyone else, I can testify that I am far from all that. But I felt strongly impelled to write of my experience under the protection and mercy of God, especially during the time that I was in captivity.”
Fr. Tom’s narrative is a record of how he brought faith to bear on the many challenges and obstacles he faced in life. It is a testament of the mysterious ways in which God works his wonders to perform. As he says, “Looking through the past years right from my childhood up to the present moment, I could find my God walking with me, taking care of me, not only in moments of joy but also in the most difficult situations of life. Even when there seemed no hope, He filled me with hope and courage. At times, when my prayers were seemingly unanswered, He held me close to Him… While He gave me trials on one side, He strengthened me with graces on the other. I knew that the Lord would act in His own time...”
Born in rural Kerala into the home of a pious Catholic farmer, the author describes his early life within a loving family and dedicated teachers who instilled faith in him and shaped him from a young age to devote his life to God. We learn about the process of his induction into the clergy, about his career as a servant of God in different parts of India, and in institutions serving those whom Christ described as “the least among us”.
A major turning point in Fr. Tom’s life came when he was posted to Yemen, where he served members of the country’s minuscule Catholic population and also in homes for the destitute run by Mother Teresa’s Sisters of Charity. We get a glimpse of the challenges confronting volunteers and peacekeepers in civil wars. The narrative then moves to the tragic events of March 4, when a group of terrorists stormed the centre run by the Sisters in Aden and, after killing several people, kidnapped Fr. Tom.
How did this padre survive that harrowing time, for some 18 months? Only by the grace of God, he believes. Fr. Tom recounts how effectively divine intervention helped him to carry on his mission without losing hope. “My abduction, I believe, was transformed by my life of prayer,” he says. “I really never felt despair during these moments. I lived one day at a time. Thus, I never felt that the ordeal was unbearable. The Lord was helping me moment by moment. It was all in His plan. I knew for sure that the prayers of several were backing me up. After my release, I learned that several thousands of people across the world prayed and made sacrifices for my sake.”
Fr. Tom’s description of his days in captivity, the process that led to his release and eventual return to India are a major component of this book. What is especially noteworthy in this regard are some profound spiritual lessons that he offers, based on his own experience.
• “Each one of us has a mission to accomplish. I have a mission and that is to serve the Lord till the end, even at the cost of my life.”
• “It does not matter how and where I die. What matters is what I live, serve and die for.”
• “My mission now may be to witness to the truth that the Lord God is one who hears and answers our prayers.”
• “Ensuring the right alignment between our plans and God’s will for us is very important to be fulfilled in life. It calls for constant self-examination. ‘What does God want me to do in this given situation’ is a question that all of us must constantly answer in our conscience.”
This is a real life story of challenge, response and faith told by a remarkable individual, and an inspiration to readers to become better human beings.
Roshan Shah