Lent Day 41: The temptation of fake profiles

St. Matthew 4: 1-11 narrates how the devil tries his best to tempt Jesus. After forty days of fasting, Jesus is tired, hungry and vulnerable. This is seen as the best time to make him succumb to the unreasonable requests of the devil. But Jesus does not give up. Even after a tiring fast his mind is clear and he knows exactly what he is doing. This lent, we also have to learn how to overcome temptations. 

As we live in a world which has been taken over by social media, temptations for us also come through and in such media. We get friend requests from fake profiles with nice and even tempting pictures. In a world of isolation, this is a temptation which is difficult to overcome for many. The same method is used for honey traps, where men are lured by tempting profiles into relationships with people who do not exist. This is used to extort money, steal secrets and sensitive information and blackmail people. 

Many people fall for such traps without realising what they are doing. The more tempting a profile picture is, the more we should distant ourself from it. In verses 5-7, the devil takes Jesus to the pinnacle of the temple. He is asked to jump as the angels of the Lord will bear him. But Jesus senses the fake nature of the words of the devil. 

We fall for fake profiles. We also fall for false requests, seeking of money and wrong information. The person on the other side is someone else and is offering something they don’t have. Yet, we don’t spend any time in thinking before accepting the request and replying to messages. This succumbing to temptation turns out to be a personal loss as there is loss of money, reputation and name. 

Lent is a good time to go through our friends list. How many in the list are actual friends? How many are fake and how many are cheating us? An audit during this time will be beneficial, to become sensible like Jesus, and to defend ourself against the temptation of fake profiles and fake requests. Such profiles will only promise and never deliver. We should rather take time to sift through the requests and accept the ones we know, which don’t have strange and beautiful pictures and which are not tempting and luring in any regard. Amen.

Lent Day 38: The immorality in seeking whatever we want

Prayers these days are becoming a want based asking to God. There are many who claim that they can bring God down, can get whatever someone wants and God is at their beck and call. The decency of prayer has been lost and aggressive prayers are being marketed as normal. Anything goes for prayer and right from childhood, children are taught to ask whatever they want. God has been reduced to a provider who provides whatever.

During lent, as we think about morals and values and what can be seen as morality, it would be good to audit and review our prayers and ways of praying. Have we crossed all limits and have we used our freedom with Jesus to ask whatever we want? Do we instead have the understanding to spend time in silence, conversing with God and letting God know of our pains and problems instead of asking for unrealistic and immoral things? Is it possible to go back to community-based prayers whereby a negotiation and dialogue happens, in which, the community uses its maturity to put forth prayers of needs instead of wants.  

In St. Mark10, verse 35, the brothers James and John put forward an unrealistic prayer to Jesus. They say, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” In a group of twelve, which again extended to a very big group of disciples from all walks of life, these two come up with a strange request. When thought about, it is an immoral request which reeks of individualism in the midst of the community of disciples. Upon further probing by Jesus, they make clear what they really want.

In the midst of poverty, hunger, sickness and injustice, the two disciples are thinking of power and glory. They ask for a strange request in verse 37, when they say, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” This is what is happening in today’s world too. In the midst of suffering, we are interested in power and positions. In no way are our requests going to help those who are suffering but we are obsessed with such immoral thoughts.

This lent, we should identify such immoral thoughts and prayer requests. Our quest for wealth, buildings, fame, money and success are a slap on the face of the poor and the hungry. It is so very important that we relook what immorality is. Are they individual bad habits or are they prayers which negate the health of the community and seek individual growth and wealth? As we close in on passion week, may this make us think, repent and change. Amen.

Lent Day 37: Execution of persecution

How many of us will choose to be and remain a Christian if we realise that we have to die for it? Not just die, but suffer in the meanest of ways and then die? How many will witness to Christ if we are sure we will be persecuted and the execution of the persecution will be a painful death? Did Jesus’ disciples believe that he would be killed despite being the miracle man and the one who brought others back from death? Will there be anyone left in the church if we have to die to gain membership?

These are difficult questions which aren’t asked anymore because it will lead to wholesale desertions and falling numbers. The word persecution itself is taboo and used as a decoration instead of a faith declaration. This is absolutely why Jesus’ disciples did not understand what he meant in St. Luke 18, verse 32 and 33, when he said, “For he will be delivered to the Gentiles, and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon; they will scourge him and kill him, and on the third day he will rise.”

Even though we talk about relinquishing food during lent, the intend is to relinquish our body and life. The reminder that we have to lose ourself to find it is also made in the same regard. When one is not concerned anymore about a disease or a problem, the intensity of the disease or problem itself decreases. We are usually unwilling to be subject to persecution because we have a lot to lose. The moment we forget profit and loss, we also forget pain.

Lent can be a pleasant and strengthening experience, the moment we take our mind off our assets and wealth. The body loses weight, the mind loses associations and the soul loses evil. Jesus didn’t seem to hate the fact that he would be persecuted and killed. He didn’t fear death and pain. The more he drew closer to death, the more he talked about it.

We hesitate to forgo food, forget not thinking about pain and death. Persecution is politicized and not looked forward to. We talk about the persecution of others, rather than offering ourselves for persecution. The execution usually never happens. This lent, may there be a turnaround, whereby we prepare for the execution of our persecution. Amen.

Lent Day 35: The worship of goodness and life

Why do we go to church? Why do we get together as a community? Why do we partake of communion and why do we listen to the word of God? Is it to adhere to certain time frames and rules? Is it to meet people and talk and share news? Or is it to pray for the well being of one another? If we do not get together for life and life in abundance, woe to us who get together at all!

It would do well for us if we tried to ask why certain people don’t come to church. It would benefit the church greatly, if we asked the youth why they are not so interested to come to the church. The answer to this would be that the church and the communities which constitute the church are not reflecting the community of Jesus. This means that we are not doing anything which has life in it, which supports life and which supports each other. Churches are turning out to be places of individual praise and groupism.

Jesus’ ministry was not like this. He would stretch his arms to the margins and touch the last and the least. He would reach out to the outcasts and those labelled as sinners. He would cast out demons, heal the sick and bring back the dead to life. That he sometimes did this on the Sabbath was natural, because crowds followed him wherever he went. He would go to the synagogue to teach and to discuss the scripture and many people said that they had never heard anyone speak like him.

Jesus stood for life and life in abundance. That was also why he healed and brought back people to life. Life, and not destruction was his agenda and calling. On the other hand, the others were there only to adhere to certain rules, only for the self and only for furthering their own groups and interests. Every healing that Jesus did on the Sabbath was a challenge to the people who were self-centered and group minded.

In St. Luke 6, verse 9, Jesus says, “I ask you, is it lawful on the sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?” He asked this question to all the scribes and Pharisees assembled there. They could not bear it that he was healing on the Sabbath and was bringing back people to life and to sanity. The conclusion of this is Jesus’ command to the man with the withered right hand. He tells him, “Stretch out your hand.” He does likewise and his hand was restored. This lent, we need to scrutinize our lives, communities, churches and worships. Are our get togethers life threatening or life giving? Can we become places which offer positive energy and positive thinking? Amen.  

Lent Day 28: “Something”

Old houses and elderly women in Kerala have something in common. They are hospitable. Of course, if they know you. When one visits, the grandmother or old lady of the house will insist on making coffee or tea and giving some home made snack. Even if the other younger inmates of the house ask instead of forcing us to eat, the elderly ones will insist and even force. They will then say, “Have something to eat.” The something may not be much but it is a ritual which is never forgotten and always insisted upon. Visiting houses will always leave this after taste in one’s mouth. An after taste of love and hospitality. 

In St. Luke 9: 13, Jesus tells his disciples, “You give them something to eat.” The something in this case is 5 loaves and two fish and this was to be for 5,000 men. The practical disciples want Jesus to send away the people who were listening to him. But on the other hand, he is talking about a something. Christian spirituality and belief is always about this something. Nothing fancy, nothing huge but somehow miraculously enough to get our things done. 

The houses with grandmothers are also like this. The others are on the verge of embarrassment but still the elderly people will insist on giving something. This something is not planned and not prepared in advance. It may be so small in quantity and yet enough for those consuming it. Snacks are kept and the elderly women will ask for new stocks of snacks, home made or bought, even though there is no information of any visits to be made and visitors to be hosted. 

Something is an important word. It feeds those who are hungry, is a symbol of compassion and love and brings people together. Something is also an insistence of doing good, taking risks and dreaming of success. Something can also mean different things depending on the usage. It is interesting that Christian hospitality can be achieved with something, with uncertainty and with no planning. Coming to think of it, we don’t need much resources to accomplish a task and do something good. We only need ‘something.’ Amen.

Lent Day 27: House wives are not free helps

Women’s Day is celebrated today in many parts of the world and it is a time to recognise the hard work of women in our society, community and family. One day does not suggest that we should not recognise women on other days. Flimsy arguments that Men’s day is not celebrated also cannot hold ground. As far as the church is concerned it is a day to look at how the church has failed women. How it has not recognised women, given them their due in church and how they are devalued, insulted and made fun of inside churches. Churches have to take responsibility for the way women have been treated in society and lent is a time to repent for the shortcomings committed. 

In St. Luke 17: 7-10, Jesus makes reference to servants and how they are expected to do their work without expecting rewards, as it is after all their job and responsibility. The passage can be misinterpreted to mean that the social order of owners and servants can be maintained and continued because Jesus gives his agreement. But it can also be interpreted in the right way to suggest that Jesus means that all of us are servants of the Lord and the work we do is our responsibility. Jesus calls us to be faithful and sincere in our work and not to expect rewards while doing them because then God’s reward will not be ours. So instead of thinking that Jesus supports the oppressor, one should see it as how Jesus acknowledges the oppressed. 

Women do so many chores in the house. Society sees it as an expectation that they have to fulfil. Those not working and those working are expected to do house work. This is work which is not paid for, thanked, and even acknowledged. It is free work and it is expected of women. Men rarely contribute and when they do, the others join hands to discredit them. This expectation is a great burden on women and those who don’t take up work are dependent on their husband for money for their own needs and for needs of the house. Men usually keep accounts of the money they give to their wife or mother but never keep accounts of the work done and the sacrifices made. 

Jesus talks of a recognition and not omission of those working. They are seen as God’s workers who will be honoured and rewarded. They are also seen as faithful and praise worthy. A seat of honour is given to them and recognition is also theirs. Jesus’ use of the parable or example is to talk about those who serve God without expecting anything in return and for them rewards are already assured. 

Women working at home should be recognised for the work they do. There is no need for them to bow their heads when they say they are taking care of things at home. Rather, the home is running and the family is in order only because of them. The marriage, the family, the children are all being run by this one woman at home. She has the right to the entire income of the house and she has to decide how the money needs to be spent. That she does not seek her rights and her money is because of her decency and her commitment to the relationship and family. 

Men have to try and run a house. It is a mix of several jobs put together. It starts early in the morning and goes on till midnight. The house comes to a stand still without the woman of the house and everyone takes her role for granted. Men will find it difficult to do this even for a week forget a month. But then they will be asking for their reward and for recognition. That is when Jesus comes in and says that this work is one which gets no recognition. He of course does not mean it to discredit anyone. 

This women’s day, it is necessary for men, the society and church to understand the struggles of women. And the house is one of the spaces of immense struggles. Women need to be honoured, respected and rewarded for their work. This is only in a worldly manner. Spiritually, there is no doubt that women will be rewarded for their hard work and sacrifices. Happy women’s day. Amen.

Lent Day 26: Welcome back dear prodigals

We love to talk in terms of binaries and like the ‘us’ and ‘them’ usage in society, community and church. That is how we also come to usages like prodigal, the one who has gone astray and the like. Even though one of the meanings is reckless, I think it also means the one who has thought differently and done things which have ruffled quite a few feathers in the family and community. Another usage could also be the odd one out. Prodigals need not always be the one who has committed a mistake, but the one who has chosen to take a risk and stand against the usual doings of society. 

Latest interpretations do choose to use different usages than prodigal son. A younger son, the returning son, the different son. Repentance is a key element in the story in St. Luke 15. But this can also be seen differently. Even though the son appears to have repented the response of the Father is not suspicious and judgmental but welcoming. In verse 20 we read, “But while he was still at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.” 

Every house and community has a so called prodigal son or daughter. Someone who has decided to chase their dream, do things differently and show courage in treading into unknown territories. They have perhaps upset others, made people talk about them and even create stories about them and chosen to go against the established values of the family and community. We should be careful when we say that the younger son repented and came back. It does not mean that he feels that everything he did was wrong, his family was always right and so he is now at the mercy of his father and family. 

It can mean that everyone appreciates support for chasing their dream. Some things can go wrong in between as they can for anyone and anything. But then trying again is no harm and accomplishing dreams also means failing many times before being successful. The younger son had failed but that does not mean that he was completely wrong and had given up. He comes back to be in the comfort of and to get the support of his father and family. 

We need to do the same with our children. They should be given the freedom to dream, to differ and to go their way. Differing is not a crime and not the end of the road. Rather, it is a right that everyone has. It does not suggest a cutting of ties and a negation of family. The Supreme Court in India today, in one of its judgments said that everyone has a right to dissent and every criticism is not an offence. 

Many have left the church citing differences, disagreements and conflicts. But they would also like to come back to their church from where they would like care, compassion and love. We must run to welcome them like the Father welcomes the returning son. The same should be at home too. Many children have left their homes due to many reasons. Their return should be a celebration and they should be welcomed back with warmth and love. 

It is obvious that those who are here will argue that they have to be given precedence for having stayed back and showed loyalty. But that does not mean anything. If anyone stayed back, it was perhaps their inability to leave, to voice their dissent and to follow their dream. Faithfulness to a family, community or church is not through presence and obedience but through dissent and disobedience. It does not suggest mutiny but difference of opinion while maintaining the love and care for one another. This lent, let us try to welcome back those who left. Welcome them back to our heart, home, community and church. Amen.

Lent Day 25: Mid Lent- The cross of dignity, love and hope

Everyone goes to church to feel at peace and to set down the burdens one feels. The church community can become a great place if people greet, meet and speak with care and compassion. But that is easier said than done. Which could be the reason why people feel more comfortable to go to church when there is no service and crowd. It may be to escape the intrusive gaze of someone standing near. I have seen so many people sitting in church, at peace and looking happy. Some also stare at a picture, an icon and have a silent conversation with God. It also challenges priests to work on their ministry and dealings with those who come to church. 

A church always needs to provide hope to the priest and the people. Anyone who walks in with drooped shoulders should go out head up and confident. St. John 3: 14-15 says, “ And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the son of man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.” Today is mid lent, the 25th day of lent, in some of the traditions. The challenge of lent is that there are some who faithfully observe lent but then fall into the trap of pride and the feeling that the observers of lent are better than the others. We also have those who haven’t observed lent and feel that it means they won’t be accepted by God. When for one group mid lent means that they have accomplished something, for the other group it means that they are out of the picture and are sinners who won’t qualify for the grace and mercy of God. 

Today in some traditions, a cross is mounted on a stand which signifies the bronze snake mounted on a pole by Moses and the mounting of Jesus Christ our Lord as hope and liberation for all of us. We can either look at the cross with guilt and pain that we have let down Jesus or we can look at the cross with hope, with courage and a mind which says that we won’t give up no matter what. People are encouraged to kiss the cross as soon as they enter the church. As we pay homage and bow with humility it is also a strengthening of our mind and body. There needs to be a communication with the cross and a belief that the cross will not let us down, because it stands for our Lord Jesus. Even on the cross, Jesus will not let us down, because he is the resurrected Lord, the chief priest and prince of peace. 

Churches have symbols and icons which take us closer to God. At no point should we worship the particular picture or icon but worship the God that it points to. The cross in church points to our Lord who gave up his life on the cross for us. It is at the same time heart breaking and heartening that someone gave up his life for us. Would anyone give up their life and dreams for us? Even our parents, siblings, partner, children, friends, family? Perhaps they will do it but there will be a limit to it. But Christ’s love is limitless. 

Who would accept us as we are? Without our money, family name, fame? Who would love us to the point of bringing us to tears and a complete turn around? We should rely on the cross and also lead our family, friends and children to the cross. We won’t be able to love others unconditionally because we are always weighed down by culture, expectations and fear. The cross mounted in church today is beyond all this, because it showcases our Lord Jesus, who treats us with dignity, showers us with unconditional love and offers us limitless hope. Amen.

Lent Day 21: The Great Feast

Having a reading of the feeding of the four thousand is intriguing during lent. There is so much talk of depriving oneself of food, fasting and observing lent that we forget about feeding the people. The disciples were not interested in feeding the crowd or they thought that it would be difficult to embark on something like that. The miracle was not just feeding the four thousand and even more with seven loaves and a few fish, but being sure that it was indeed possible.

In our culture we take many things for granted. We do not want to do a certain thing because it is difficult and calls for a little effort. The disciples had to think of the seven loaves and the little fish, they also had to figure out how to divide this little food. So, the solution for them was to let the people go. Churches and communities are also like this. They will think that the people who come will fend for themselves and go back from church and eat from their home. All this because, arranging snacks or food is an effort and is hard work.

This is also why many government institutions don’t have basic facilities. There won’t be drinking water, proper toilets, canteens and the like because the idea is that the public will fend for themselves and there is no need to provide these essential and basic facilities. Jesus thinks differently. Even though he didn’t have to give food, he thinks about it. He looks at fulfilling the basic human needs of those who came to listen to him. Even though they came out of their own wish, Jesus feels it is essential to provide for them.

In St. Mark 8: 6 it is said that, he takes the loaves “and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and they set them before the crowd.” There is a great feast that Jesus initiates and calls us to initiate too. The coming together of a crowd also calls for their wellbeing and offering them food. Churches have to take this up with or without lent. Lent is a good time to think about this and start food programmes. It should not be limited to our church and community but to all who come. The Sikh gurudwaras with their Langars (community kitchen) are a beautiful example of this in today’s world. Christians cannot do without feasting. But feasting as excessive happiness should not just be the meaning we get. It is rather a meal given in a crowd which makes them justly happy and therefore in a festive mood.

Food also has a holiness aspect to it. It should not be wasted and disrespected. It becomes another sharing and fellowship. Food is indeed the way to the heart. We have a responsibility to serve food as it is an effort to alleviate hunger. Many in the crowd and in our church and community may not have the luxury of food. It is our way of life which makes us think the contrary. Many who come to churches may have fasted and are not necessarily going back to an assured plate of food. Jesus thought practically and was concerned about the people who did not have an idea about whether they would eat or not.

The Great Fast and Great Lent should go along with the Great Feast. A fast and lent without the feasting and the fellowship is far from the teaching of Jesus. Many poor people observe lent and such lents are much more difficult than observed by others. It is the responsibility of the haves to then provide to the have nots, just like Jesus did. May this lent remind us of this feasting, a feast and feasting for the poor and needy. Amen.

Lent Day 20: Knowing God enough to not ask

How easy is it to ask something to a loved one? Even though many think it is easy, that is not the case. We will be reluctant on two counts. One, we won’t ask because we don’t want to trouble them. Two, we won’t ask because we know that they are not in a position to give. Contrary to what we think, the more we love a person, the less we would want to ask. We also care a lot about the person close to us that we always want the best for them and we also wouldn’t want them being troubled by anyone else as well.

St. Mark 11: 24 reveals a difficult verse for us. It says, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” The problem with this verse is the problem of expectation. Since there is a promise in the prayer, when someone prays and still does not get an answer, it can be felt and argued that the priest or person praying does not have the gift to pray, ask and receive. Since Jesus’ words are very assuring the prayer is as good as being answered.   

There are two kinds of children. The ones who will keep asking even though they know that their parents either do not want to buy them something or have other pressing concerns and the ones who understand the situation their parents are in and are therefore very empathetic and understanding in their approach. Lent is a time for developing this understanding. Being a child of God does not just mean that all our prayers will be answered. A child should have the maturity to know what and when to ask. Some children gain this maturity at a young age and take up the responsibility of the house along with this.

We can ask for something and relentless asking will also lead to God accepting. But during lent, if we consider ourselves part of God’s plan for the kingdom of God, we will become part of God’s solution for the world. We will brainstorm along with God, provide food for the hungry on behalf of God and worry about the world along side God. Lent is a time to develop a spiritual maturity which will take us to higher heights of renunciation which will mean being closer to God than we ever were. Amen.

 

 

Lent Day 19: Lent as a time of multiplying

What would we like to be in life? Would we want to be a source of healing through our prayers and compassion? Or would we want to be a poison, which spoils everything? Everything is looked upon negatively and those who think in terms of poison would want to poison even the minds of people by sowing seeds of doubt and anger in young and old minds. Poison has its effectiveness. The only problem is that it negates and devalues human life.

Leaven is not like that. It transforms the rest of the flour, almost miraculously. Being leaven in society means that we would sacrifice for the good of society. We would want to provide, add, multiply and value human life. The leavened bread used for communion is a sign of the positive element of community and human life. Communion should lead to life and life in abundance. The very reason for Holy Communion in society should be to be a source of life, miracles, healing, love and compassion.

In St. Luke 13: 21, Jesus speaks of comparing the kingdom of God to something. He says, “It is like leaven which a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.” Communion is an act of healing and blessing. Lent is also an act of healing and blessing. Our fasting and lent should be a blessing to our family, community and more so to our society. There should be a multiplication of everything. A multiplication of love, a multiplication of food, a multiplication of compassion, a multiplication of giving and a multiplication of goodness.

The concept of communion and sharing is to break. During lent, we should first of all be the leaven which transforms. We should then break the bread that we are and share. Once in a house, the mother cooked two rotis each for her three children. But that day the middle child was still hungry. He could have grabbed the roti of the third child but he did not. The elder son then divides his remaining roti into two pieces and gives to his younger brother. In the house, the mother is the leaven and the son is the breaker of bread. Till the bread is broken and the food is shared, we will think of the division of the rotis as a just process. So, no one need give to the other because everyone has got two rotis. But hunger creates a problem which is then solved by the division of roti or bread by the elder child.

This lent, let us be the leaven and the breaker of bread. Everyone can take up one role and be a blessing in society. Lent is indeed a time to be broken and to break. May the breaking of bread in our houses and families provide for those who are hungry. Amen.

Lent Day 18: Being Christ ready

One can never be fully ready. Whenever we plan a trip or a vacation, something or the other will always come in between. But if we go without much planning and thought, we will usually be able to pull it off. Making time for friends and family is also better done when unplanned. We are all so busy that plans are difficult to make. Unplanned meetings, travel and conversations are also exciting and make us very happy. We can also try to link the words ‘unplanned’ and ‘ready’.

St. Luke 12: 37 says, “Blessed are the servants whom the master finds awake when he comes; truly, I say to you, he will gird himself and have them sit at table, and he will come and serve them.” Jesus asks us to be ready at all times. If we plan it, we can obviously be well prepared. We will be at our best behaviour and will even put on an act. So, the real us will only be visible when the master comes unprepared.

It is like having guests at home. When we know someone is coming, we will have everything ready. But when guests come unaware, we will be in complete disarray. This can be handled in two ways. One, when we know and are prepared, the visit will be okay for us. But what if we do not know? Can we think of another level of preparation and readiness? That is the one mentioned at the beginning. When we are prepared to do things at short notice with people we love and respect.

This lent can be one such journey. It should not matter to us, when our Lord will come, because we are prepared every minute to receive him. It is not the condition and neatness of our house but the condition of our life, heart and soul which should matter. Everything and anything we do should be something we can also do in the presence of the Lord. That way we have nothing to hide and nothing to be scared of.

People have become so busy that they don’t get time to visit each other anymore. We also don’t feel the need of hosting anyone. The feeling of community and the culture of welcoming has been lost upon us. There are times when we get into the hospitality mood but that is only when we are forced to host someone.

A life in Christ should make us ready for anything at any time. Ready to travel, ready to host, ready to laugh, ready to cry, ready to give, ready to receive, ready to leave and ready to take. Lent should make us that much more ready. Our master will come soon. Let us be Christ ready. Amen.

 

Lent Day 17: Lent as a time to recognise and congratulate

I have heard many people either refer to themselves as self-made or say that someone else is self-made. I do understand the emotion behind this and the fact that some people have worked very hard to come up in life. They haven’t had God fathers’ or sponsors making sure that they would have an easy ride. Such people have also sacrificed a lot of things to reach where they are and their life is a true inspiration for many.

But on the other hand, even though hard work matters, there are several other factors which lead to success. In St. Mark 4: 3-8, Jesus narrates the parable of the sower. He says, “Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it had not much soil, and immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil; and when the sun rose it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away. Other seed fell among thorns and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. And other seeds fell into good soil and brought forth grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.”

The parable is explained by Jesus as how different people respond to the word of God. The successful ones are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit. But I would like to look at this passage as how a community plays an important role in the moulding of an individual. Even though the hard work and consistency of an individual are important, the role played by the community, by a certain environment and people are equally important. When the own family of a person does not help, other friends or total strangers become family. When a community does not encourage one of their own, other people group together to become a positive community. And when all factors turn negative, God by God’s self will provide in miraculous ways.

Sometimes our society becomes too individualistic both ways. Those who are ambitious in a nice way feel it is better to be on their own, albeit with support they would like to or not like to acknowledge. On the other hand, the community isolates someone who is successful but not adhering to the so-called values of a community. This then leads to the creation of the self-made man or woman.

As Christians observing lent, we should understand the value and importance of community. Community should not be to claim superiority but to help each other in times of need and be happy for the success accomplished or efforts taken. A community should also own each other and be happy for the success of the other. There are so many among us who are successful business people, scientists, researchers, teachers, doctors, nurses, pilots, cabin crew, staff in various government institutions and private companies, small and big merchants, entrepreneurs, actors, singers, dancers, cinema makers, producers, owners of manufacturing sector companies, medical companies and hospitals, guides, environmentalists, counsellors, priests, adventurers, bloggers and vloggers, writers, speakers, defence related staff, soldiers, leaders, politicians, bureaucrats, promoters of schools and colleges, wild life enthusiasts, innovators, builders of various kinds, women taking care of houses, students, protestors, drivers, union leaders, farmers, architects and engineers, managers, hoteliers, cooks, accountants, chartered accountants, bankers, church and religious leaders, and government servants who are successful and even the best in their field. As a community we should recognise them because their success is our joy and we may have done something, however small for them, and in return their growth is a matter of joy for us. We should be transformed into the good soil that Jesus talks about which then ensures good crop. Amen.

Lent Day 14: Discerning Jesus of Nazareth

The church starts and ends prayers in the name of the Holy Trinity, The Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The collegiality of the three persons, the love of the three persons and the unity of the three persons with mutuality and respect is also a reason for praying in the name of the Holy Trinity. But for people who have simple faith, invoking the name of the Jesus is a normal way of calling upon God. People from other religions also find it easy to understand about and to invoke the name of Jesus. But for all who invoke and call and believe, do we understand who and what Jesus is?

All four gospels in the bible tried to put across the nature of the person of Christ. That he was son of God, that he was the Messiah and that he was Jesus of Nazareth. Many of the stories and narratives are modelled around this. What his disciples saw in him, what the people saw in him. St. Peter identifies him as the Messiah and this is recognised by Jesus. Whenever people are in trouble, when they get up, sit, wake up, eat and sleep, their devotion to God is expressed in a single word as Jesus.

But the gospels bring out another essence of this. Jesus’ enemies and the evil spirits, recognise and acknowledge him as Jesus of Nazareth and the Messiah. Even when the Pharisees and the Sadducees question him, his roots, his beginnings, his teachings and his words, the evil spirits clearly recognise, respect, fear and speak about him. Jesus is well respected even among his enemies and among his biggest enemies. Even when those who are supposed to recognise him and acknowledge him refuse to do so, the people filled by evil spirits call out his name in awe.

St. Mark 1: 24 says, “and he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” According to the gospel, this is said by a man with an unclean spirit. There is fear among and respect even among those who didn’t have to mind who Jesus was. But that is not there among his own people and among those who claimed to be religious.

This I fear is the same thing happening now. Jesus is respected more among non-Christians and is seen as a nice person even among those with no faith. But what about Christians themselves? Our acts, our practices and our behaviour suggest that we do not recognise Jesus at all. We do not fear his power, do not accept his name and significance and do not worship him as the son of God. There is no Jesus in our life as a matter of faith. We may use his name for our own benefit but are not willing to listen to him, give him credit for the good things that happen and call upon him with faith and sincerity.

This lent, we can make use of the Jesus prayer which was very common in the early church. People repeated many times, “Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.” Lent should be a time when we recognise God and God’s son Jesus. It is also a recognition of his life, passion, death and resurrection. This entire lent is actually about that. A lent without Jesus is no lent at all. As we observe lent, may we undergo a Jesus experience, a Jesus sensibility and a Jesus wisdom. Otherwise even the walls and the spirits will confess and say that Jesus Christ is Lord. Amen.   

Lent Day 13: Jesus’ cheeky gospel

Today’s thought continues with the other teachings of Jesus to stay away from power, money and authority. In St. Matthew 5: 38-39 he goes a step further by saying, “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth’. But I say to you, do not resist one who is evil. But if any one strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.” Could it be true that Jesus tries to steer clear from the Old Testament teaching that one has to hit back, an eye for an eye!? Or is he trying to be funny, sarcastic or subtly question the hopeless system which can never offer justice to anyone?

Even though it is so difficult to comprehend, Jesus means exactly what he says. Perhaps it is even more difficult to listen to this than the other teachings. How on earth can we forgive our enemy and allow them to hurt us repeatedly, with no reaction from our side? Jesus is trying something intense here and challenging us to observe a lent, which is much beyond diet restrictions. We can restrict and even go without food but forgetting the hurt and abuse of an enemy is next to impossible. And yet we are called to do just that.

We are asked to not react. There are times when we also realise that a problem can be solved if we don’t react, if we take a walk, if we remain silent and if we choose to become strong by appearing weak. Showing our other cheek also allows us to think, to analyse, to weigh the situation and to decide whether a reaction is worth it. There is a call to give. But give not to our family, church or community but to someone who is our enemy and works against us.

This is another characteristic of a Christian which unfortunately does not exist much anymore. Was Jesus just trying to be different, unique and shocking or did he have a method behind this madness. A ritualistic way of giving hands and seeking reconciliation would be for one person to say, “Forgive me a sinner” and for the other to reply, “God forgives and so do I.” The people then switch sides and say the opposite as well. When someone seeks forgiveness, it is for some wrong that they have already committed. Our response would be “God forgives and so do I.” We would ideally not hit the person and then say, “I forgive you.”

During lent, our effort for reconciliation can only have the reply which God suggests. It is to show our other cheek. Showing our other cheek does not only suggest to be hit on that too, but to have a cheek to cheek show of reconciliation and love. Jesus is suggesting a natural Christ like or Christian response to hatred and conflict. Our response should always be towards reconciliation and not revenge. It does not matter what another person does. Our only response is forgiveness and reconciliation.

This lent, let us challenge ourselves to say “I forgive you and I love you” to someone who has hurt us. This is exactly what Jesus does when we hurt him. He shows his other cheek, to love, to accept and to care. The crowds flocked to see Jesus exactly because of this. May we also get this craziness and cheekiness to confuse and distract people so much that they respond positively to our overtures of friendship and love. Amen.

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Lent Day 12: Making money spiritual

One of the most difficult things in Christian faith is with regard to money, making of money and spending money. Jesus didn’t show any inclination towards money and towards making of money. His teachings were more in the direction of equality and justice and business was not a concern for him at all. Perhaps we can interpret some of his teachings to bring out some management principles, but not with regard to income generation. The early church was also least concerned with money and instead preached and practiced community living and sharing of resources. But things have changed now. We are all in need of money for practical reasons. So, it is imperative for us to understand what the bible says about money and the creation of wealth.

St. Luke 16:13 says, “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” The teaching is quite clear and yet needs some exploration. Mammon can be seen in different ways. Some church fathers saw it as evil and therefore something to keep a distance from. Others interpreted it as money or wealth and therefore said that we cannot serve God and money at the same time.

So, is it bad to do business and to work? We can’t say that at this point because it will lead to the collapse of the markets and economy. It will also lead to the compromising of jobs which in turn will put a burden on several families. So, working and doing business is fine as people will have the satisfaction for working for their bread/food. But it becomes problematic when people use their money to sway the decision making or the policies of the church, when money is used for purchasing seats, power and authority.

Everyone is equal in the church. Whether one is a business person, working professional, executive, doctor, lawyer, medical worker, small scale trader or daily wage worker, everyone is the same. Everyone is the same before the Lord’s table because the Holy body and Holy blood of our Lord cannot be purchased and bought. Repentance and humility are the only ways of approaching the table and approaching our Lord. But unfortunately, this is not the case in several churches and Christian communities. Money speaks, money matters and money sways.

Lent should be a time to correct this. Money should become spiritual, prayerful and helpful. Money gets value only when used to help the poor and needy and feed the hungry. Till then it is only paper. Many people ask for prayers before starting a shop, starting a business or project and starting a job. But that should also extend to the money and income already at hand. We should pray for the thinking, responsibility and social concern to make best use of the money we have.

I am not just talking about tithes and help for the church but how we can be of help to each other. It can also go on to having a fund for medical emergencies to which everyone contributes according to their ability and from which those having medical emergencies can take from. It is not to say that those who are rich should not have luxuries and buy what they want. But to say that money can only be related to God if it helps God’s people. Without this it is only mammon. And mammon could mean money or even evil.

Money can lead us in two directions. It can make us evil by making us think that money is the ultimate and only thing in life. Or, it can make us good by thinking that money is only a piece of paper which we need but which does not control our life. This lent, shall we pray over our businesses, jobs, shops, work and savings, income, investments, profits and salaries so that we put it to good use and make it spiritual, instead of evil and individualistic. Amen.

 

Lent Day 10: Remembering the sacrifices of our forefathers and foremothers and the working class of the church

The Christian community should be seen as a giving community. It is not just the money or donation one gives but the effort one puts in to make the community one which forgives, understands, helps and loves. If it is true to say that time is money, someone who gives their time for the church is of immense value to the church. When we love and give, there will be a limit up to which others can take it. After that it will have to come back. It is not just to say that we have to do good if good has to come back to us but to say, if we water our plants they will grow and bloom but we don’t have to water them too much.

The church and Christian community is now plagued with the problem of having people who will always make others think that they will give. The rich are cleverer in this than others. The leadership will be behind the rich with great expectations but the middle class and ordinary people will be the ones who actually help the community. While one group does things or promises to do things with the expectation of gaining positions, power and authority, the other group does things and helps out because it is the right thing to do. They are usually not found hobnobbing with the leadership and do not have dreams of being in power.

There are other ordinary people who help with their time and labour. People who help in cooking food, doing arrangements in church, helping to serve food, cleaning up after everything and not minding to get their clothes dirty in church. They try to work hard and give their time for the benefit and welfare of the community. There are also people who help with paper work, accounts, coordination and meetings. Others who pick and drop children to Sunday school and youth programmes and offer their vehicles, services and time for the church. They may not always be visible inside the church but will make sure that church programmes are successful.

St. Luke 6: 38 says, “give, and it will be given to you; in good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For the measure you give will be the measure you get back.” Jesus here is very clear about the reward that is awaiting people who give their best for the benefit of the community. And yet good is not just done expecting good in return, but that is a natural consequence of good actions.

The problem today in all churches is that the ordinary people are ignored and posts and chairs are given to the rich and powerful. The poor man’s (sic) church has now become the rich man’s church. It is natural that the younger generations of several families have undergone an upward social mobility by way of better education and business acumen. But that does not mean that the nature of the church has to change to an exclusive club of people who want the ordinary people only to fill the church but not for decision making and any kind of recognition.

The churches have to take care of the proletariat, the working class, the one’s who work very hard to help their church and community. Without them the numbers of the church will come down drastically and will affect the very nature and survival of the church. In Kerala there is the interpretation of two political dispensations. One is a cadre party where workers do the work and the other is the party where everyone is a leader and there is no one to do the work finally. This lent, may we recognise the hard work of our forefathers and foremothers, who kept away rice, vegetables and fruits for the church and brought it so that it would be auctioned or exchanged to take care of the needs of the church. Shall we also remember the people who walked to church, built the church by offering their labour because they did not have the money to give. May we also remember the women and men who set aside coins like the poor widow and gave it to the church so that the church as we see it today would go on uninterrupted. Amen.

Lent Day 9: Our churches should not be profitable institutions

Many churches these days are trying to be professional in their approach and running. Some even appoint professionals to run churches. Many are even asked to advise priests on what to say and do. It is like the professional election strategists who advise political parties on how to run their campaign, how to select candidates for the elections and what manifestos to concentrate upon. Even though knowing the pulse of people and realising their needs is important, running a church like a business is fraught with danger.

Many churches do not like giving refreshments to their own people, don’t help the poor and don’t believe in giving but only in receiving. They would also like to have a profit at the end of the year. But are churches supposed to be like this or do they exist solely for the purpose of helping the poor and needy and taking care of the spiritual needs of their community? The business model is then also extended to church institutions like schools and hospitals. I will concentrate on churches for now.

St. Luke 6: 33-34 says, “And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again.” The essence of these verses is a reminder from Jesus that we have to be good and do good to others, irrespective of the response and without expecting anything in return. How many churches are following this advice and model?

Churches these days are looking into the feasibility of prayers, worships and perhaps even miracles. What will we get seems to be the query before we offer a service. What will we get if we give food, what will we get if the church is open for service, what will we get if the church offers spiritual services? So much that the offertory has become a part of every service. Whether we offer anything or not, we would like to get money from people.

This lent, we should rethink what we are doing. Can we offer something without expecting anything in return? Can we stop discussing profits and huge bank balances? Can we end questions of feasibility before giving food to the poor? There are many orphanages and old age homes which do not know where the money will come from for the next meal! And yet, it comes, because of God’s grace and because God makes people act. Christian faith has always run with hope and not with financial planning, feasibility studies and reports.

If we continue with this trend, we will not be far from the day when we will be advised to close our churches and institutions because they are not economically viable. We cannot do sensible charity and community formation. Because there is nothing sensible about our faith. We have a Lord who told us to show our other cheek when someone slaps us on one, to forgive when someone has to pay us and to not ask someone who has taken money from us. There is nothing sensible about this. A negation of this will lead to a negation of the very words of Jesus. May our lent offer us insights to fight the greed of churches, priests and lay leaders to make the church a profitable enterprise rather than a compassionate space which reflects God’s love. Amen.

Lent Day 8: Clean and pure as the antithesis of Lent

St. Luke 5: 12-13 showcases a man full of leprosy who asks Jesus to make him clean. Jesus responds positively and touches him and says “be clean.” I wonder how a man full of leprosy manages to get near to Jesus and the crowd he is addressing. It either happened by mistake, or the person managed to sneak in, or Jesus went to the place he stayed. Because people with leprosy were asked to stay away from others and were also asked not to touch anyone. There is a stigma of presence, touch and disease. However, the person gets close to Jesus.

Jesus’ miracle is special because he doesn’t just say “be clean” but he stretches out his hand, touches him and says, be clean. The element of acceptance, overcoming of the stigma of disease and the diseased and the move to break the rule of not touching by doing that itself comes out clearly in this passage. While we concentrate on the miracle and the curing of the person, there is much more in this passage than meets the eye.

Today, leprosy is curable and leper colonies and absolute stigma is not there anymore. But disease itself still has a stigma. People are reluctant to discuss their sickness and disease and reluctant to ask for prayers because they are judged. Others weave theories of why someone fell sick and the theories themselves are judgmental. Instead of holding people close and telling them that God loves them, we push them away and hope we never get the sickness. Skin diseases and diseases whereby the face is affected, hair loss happens, people lose weight and look different are still handled with discomfort.

Jesus only repeats what the person asks for. The person affected by leprosy asks to be made clean and Jesus answers in the affirmative. But the person does not ask Jesus to touch him. He is repeating what society would have told him. “You are not clean. So, stay away.” He then requests Jesus to make him clean. Jesus does not disappoint him but then adds the main thing, which is touch. The people did not want to touch the person and Jesus touches him. This is the essence of the miracle. It is not that Jesus made him clean but that Jesus touched him.

During lent, we are asked to purify ourselves and to make ourselves clean. These usages are dangerous and an antithesis to lent and the kingdom of God. Even today, people belonging to lower castes and women as a whole are kept away from churches and the altar. The idea behind it is purity and cleanness or shall we say, the notion of lack of purity and cleanness. Many women do not come to church or even if they come, do not come forward for communion or blessing, if they have their menstruation (menstrual cycle or period). Women are also kept away from the holy of holies due to this concept of impurity.

It is sad that the very own sons of such women argue for exclusion of their own mother because of this notion of impurity. Lent should be a time when we shed the impure and unjust thoughts in our mind and not in our body. It is a time when the church and the church community should be open and accepting to everyone. No one should be kept out on the basis of such wrong thoughts of impurity, disease and stigmas. Amen.    

(Photo credit: artofendingstigma.com)

 

Lent Day 6: A reconciliatory demand towards repentance, justice and peace

Apart from lent and fasting, the most significant Christian form of proclamation of faith is the Holy Communion. The body and blood of our Lord binds us together, gives us hope and eternal life. St. Matthew 5: 23-24 says “So if you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” It talks about reconciliation, so much that, one has to stop what is being done and make an effort at reconciliation.

Bishop Oscar Romero and now St. Oscar Romero, was the archbishop of El Salvador, when he was shot at and killed on March 24, 1980, while standing behind the altar in church, preparing the gifts of the offertory. After becoming the archbishop, he became a vociferous opponent of the unjust regime which was repressing and killing the poor and the peasants. Any voice against the regime was silenced with brutal force.

St. Oscar Romero’s final two sermons are noteworthy. On the evening before his death, he preached reconciliation to the soldiers who were being used by the regime. But this was not a reconciliation whereby the church was folding before the powers of the day, but was the reconciliation asking the soldiers to repent and change. He said “I want to make a special appeal to soldiers, national guardsmen, and policemen; each of you is one of us. The peasants you kill are your own brothers and sisters. When you hear a man telling you to kill, remember God’s words, ‘thou shalt not kill.’ No soldier is obliged to obey a law contrary to the law of God. In the name of God, in the name of our tormented people, I beseech you, I implore you; in the name of God, I command you to stop the repression.”

On the day of his death he preached, “May this body immolated and this blood sacrificed for humans nourish us also, so that we may give our body and our blood to suffering and to pain- like Christ, not for self, but to impart notions of justice and peace to our people.” St. Oscar Romero talks of a reconciliation where he calls the soldiers and others to stop killing their brothers and sisters, their country men and women. It is a call to reconciliation by listening to God’s voice and God’s call to stop the repression against God’s people. He also makes a call to be nourished by the body and blood of Christ and to then give up our life for the justice and peace of our people.

Lent is not just a time to be quiet, meditative and obedient to the powers of the day. Lent is a time to make a call for repentance. That then leads to reconciliation. The body and blood of Christ that we partake of also gives us the strength to further and fight for this call for repentance-based reconciliation. To be shot at near the altar of the Lord was perhaps the biggest acceptance of the success of the fight that St. Oscar Romero was leading.

May lent remind us of the blood shed by martyrs like St. Oscar Romero. Let us pray that this shedding of blood changes our notion of reconciliation from one of bending before authority to asking those listening to authority to reform and change. Amen.