The Journey 192: Winning is all about attachments (Rev. Dr. Joe Joseph Kuruvilla)

Read: Mathew 15:21-28



William Sisters have done it again. On July 7th, 2012, both the William sisters; Serena and Venus won the Wimbledon titles. Serena had the unique honour of winning two Wimbledon titles on the same day. Serena had won the singles title in the earlier part of the day, while later both Serena and Venus teamed up to win the doubles title too. Here are two sisters whose life story is that of winning through commitment and also through the strong bond that they share with each other and with the family. In fact one of the hallmarks of their life is the way they have moulded their life, away from the pulls and pressures of this world. The homeschooling community always highlights their achievements since both Serena and Venus chose to do the alternative form of education in their life. But it is the role of the parents Richard Williams and Oracene Prince who are credited for the achievements of the William sisters. Both the parents wanted their daughters to focus on their passion for tennis. For this reason they were homeschooled by their parents and the tennis training also began early in life. The winning of the Wimbledon title this year is very special of Serena. In a news report in the DNA, Serena thanked her family for helping her to go through all the medical ordeals that she had faced. Serena recently survived a blood clot issue and also severe lung problems and later she tragically cut her foot that left her convalescing at home . Serena admits that these experiences have transformed her life. She is a committed Jehovah witness and she proudly says that God and tennis are her priorities. Here is one lady who combines faith, determination and commitment to achieve her dreams even when odds are stacked against her. Here is one lady who chose to stick on to family relationship than holding on to anything else in life. I think the life story of the William sisters teaches us many valuable lessons in life.


This week we are meditating on the theme “ Transformation in the life of the sick and the suffering”. The portion that we shall use for our meditation is from Mathew 15: 21– 28. Here is an incident where Jesus is amazed not only at the faith of a mother but also to the extent of humbling down that she could do so that her daughter could be healed. The story is about a Canaanite woman whose daughter is sick. When she seeks the help of Jesus in healing her daughter, she faces lot of opposition first from the disciples and then later a barrage of question from the Lord himself, which seems to be very hostile, but the lady calmly responds to Jesus Christ, fully humbling herself. For the lady what was important was her daughter, what was important for her was her relationship with her child. To get healing for her daughter she stuck on to her, even in the darkest and desperate situations of her life. It is this attachment and her commitment to the mother– daughter relationship, that Jesus valued. Faith here is exhibited through holding on to a relationship even when the going was tough. It is this aspect that Jesus praised her and thus healing of the daughter. What we need today is the example of this Canaanite woman and the William sisters to hold on to our relationships, even when there are crisis in family and health. Holding on helps us to be strengthened and thus paving way for healing and wholeness.


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