Reflections

  The Glorious Appearance of Christ and the Vigilant Disciples   B ible portion : 1 Peter  4:12-19 For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God; if it begins with us, what will be the end for those who do not obey the Gospel of God? (1 Pet  4:17 ) Devotion: There’s a whole list of characters in the Marvel comic-book universe who thought they were doing what was right. Take Magneto, an anti-hero in the X-Men series. A Holocaust survivor, he thought he was protecting mutant humans from oppression; yet he did terrible things to achieve his noble goal. So when the Apostle Peter wrote about the pending judgment, he pointed a quivering finger unabashedly at the Christian community.  Writing to a diaspora community, St. Peter writes of the need to continue to through suffering. Christianity is not a panacea for all life’s problems. He reminded readers to be faithful, explaining that their sufferings share in that of Christ’s, which ultimat...

  Glorious Appearance of Christ and the Vigilant Disciples My Good and Faithful People Bible portion : Mathew 24:42-51   "Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time?" Matthew 24:45 Devotion: "Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time?" Matthew  24:45 .Jesus asks a profound question about the qualities of a faithful and wise servant to his vigilant disciples. Exhorting us to assess how we can be trustworthy stewards of the responsibilities and blessings God has entrusted to us. Firstly, when we understand a faithful servant, we know they are reliable and dedicated, performing their duties with consistency and care. They are not swayed by changing circumstances or personal convenience but remain committed to their master's will. Similarly, in our ...

  The Glorious Appearance of Christ and the vigilant disciples   B ible portion :1 Thessalonians  4:13-1 Devotion: Have you eagerly awaited someone’s arrival? As children when our Appa had gone for a few days we would be waiting for his return.   Looking out of the window or waiting at the main entrance for him.  O what a joy it would be when we all were finally reunited.  Similarly, we ought to be looking forward to our LORD Jesus’ second coming.  Jesus Christ’s first coming was an historical event, His second coming will be a global event of utmost import.  Ever since Christ’s ascension His church have awaited His return. The believers in the early church looked forward to His coming while they waited many of the faithful died causing sorrow for those left behind.  In the first epistle to the Thessalonians which is considered the earliest of Paul’s epistles, Paul encourages them clarifying about the LORD’s return. A.  Good Knowled...

   The Glorious Appearance of Christ & the vigilant Disciples  Acts of the Apostles 1:6-11 Key Verse: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8, NRSV) Devotion: In litigation trials, witnesses are very important, and can affect the outcome of a case. What is the role of the witness? The main responsibility of the witness is to enumerate based on his or her experiences, knowledge, and/or what was seen or heard. Much trust is given to the power of memory, keeping in mind the perspective(s) of the witness, through the medium of storytelling. Hence, the role of the witness is vital for the smooth conduct of the trial. Christ assures the disciples of His presence by promising them the Holy  spirit (St.John  20:22 ), and reminding them that He is with them unto the end of ages (St. Matthew 28:20). In the post-resurrection time, we...

   The Glorious Appearance of Christ & the vigilant Disciples   B ible portion : Malachi  3:13-18 , 4:1-2 “On the day when I act,” says the Lord Almighty, “they will be my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as a father has compassion and spares his son who serves him. (v17)   Devotion: God calls one his treasured possession when they are obedient to the Law and committed to the Lord. The prophet challenged the people to be faithful to the Lord in their personal stewardship and obedience. This includes far more than bringing a simple tithe but a total commitment. Malachi criticizes the attitude of the people. 1.  They say insolent things  ( 3:13 ): The people criticized faith, because it was not what they expected. God says “You have spoken arrogantly against me”. They doubted about the validity of faith. They had false and selfish expectations. They thought that God owed them something. They expressed extensive impiety in their word...

  The Glorious Appearance of Christ and the vigilant disciples   B ible portion : Rev. 22: 1-21   Devotion: The Mar Thoma Church, during Holy Communion liturgy congregation, proclaims, "O Lord, we remember your death, we celebrate your resurrection, and we look forward to your second coming." Christ's return has been one of the most essential aspects of the Christian faith. The book of Revelation emphasizes that Jesus is coming soon and is ready with preparedness.  In Rev.22, three times, Jesus says, "I am coming soon!" (v.7,12,20). It indicates Jesus' second coming will be sure, as the scripture says repeatedly. How can we effectively prepare for the second coming of Christ? We can prepare for Christ's return by being resilient and reforming. One way to prepare for Christ's return is by cultivating resilience. Rev. 22:7 states, "Look, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll." This ver...

  Glorious Appearance of Christ and the Vigilant Disciples Bible portion : Mal 3:13=18,4:1-2 “They will be my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as a father has compassion and spares his son who serves him.” (Malachi 3:17b) Devotion: In today's world, many claim we don't need religion, church, or God, only to be good people. Many youths in our church wrestle with this idea, questioning the necessity of church and God if being good is enough. The Israelites in Malachi posed similar questions, noting that the wicked prosper while the faithful suffer. We echo these sentiments today. However, goodness without God is meaningless. In Malachi, God records a scroll of remembrance for those who fear and honor Him, highlighting that our words and actions matter. My brothers and sisters in Christ, it is very easy to be good in this world; it is very difficult, however, to give up everything for the sake of being good. True goodness, as demonstrated by Jesus Christ, involves sel...

  St Peter’s Day and St. Paul’s Day Bible portion: Luke 9:23-27 Key Verse: "Whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it." (Luke 9:24) Devotion: Jesus' words are stark and clear: following Him comes at a cost. We must deny ourselves, take up our cross, and lose our life for His sake. This is not a one-time decision but a daily commitment to surrender our will to His. Jesus' teachings are not always easy to follow; in fact, they often challenge us to the core. In Luke 9:23-27, Jesus presents us with a stark reality: following Him comes at a cost. Are we willing to pay the price?   Eric Liddell, a Scottish Olympic gold medalist and Christian missionary, exemplified this willingness to pay the price. He refused to compete on Sundays during the  1924 Paris Olympics, honoring the Bible's teaching that Sundays are set apart for God. Following Jesus means honoring Him and counting Him more precious than anything. This re...

  Discipleship: The Call to Bear the Cross   Bible portion :   2 Corinthians 6:1-10 As God’s co-workers, we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For he says,“In the time of my favor, I heard you and in the day of salvation, I helped you. I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation"  - 2 Corinthians 6: 1-2 Devotion: In 2 Corinthians 6: 1-2, Paul talks about the trials and tribulations faced in the service of God. Despite many obstacles - beatings, imprisonments, sleepless nights, hunger, and many more, Paul and his companions demonstrated unfaltering faith, showing us the power of God's grace at work. Their lives transformed suffering into testimony and endurance into victory. Paul's words tell us that as followers of Christ, we are called to be steadfast in our faith, even when faced with severe challenges. God's grace is not a passive gift; it is an active presence that empowers us to endure and shine his light even during th...

  Freedom in His Truth John 8:31-47   “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” John 8:31-32   Devotion In today’s world, we are constantly surrounded by temptation. To further his agenda of hatred and evil, the devil tries to separate us from our Father and from His truth. Satan cleverly plants seed of doubt in our minds, exploiting our deepest insecurities and preying on our vulnerabilities to make us feel anxious, alone, and confused about what’s true and what’s just devilish fallacy.   Luckily, to help us through the chaos, God provides us with His living word, a definitive guide to truth. The Bible intimately enables us to grow closer to Him and more deeply understand His power. The word of God acts as a shield, preparing us to fight against all the tribulations that inevitably arise. It serves as a foundation upon which we can and should build our thoughts, actions, and intentions. ...

  Discipleship: The Call to Bear the Cross   Bible portion:   Daniel  6:10-23    “…he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.”  (Daniel 6:10)      . Devotion From a captive to one of the most powerful people of the kingdom of Babylon. Daniel was neither a soldier nor a politician but a man who trusted God during every hurdle he came across. Daniel was one among four: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. They all had the aptitude for every kind of learning and had the ability to understand quickly like any other wise men. But they stood out from other wisemen with the deep love, trust and respect for God. This is the same among us too. The person next to us, a colleague or a relative might be a step ahead with the intellect or ability to think or move. But with a closer walk and respect to God, success will definitely follows us. Daniel lived as a wiseman under diff...

  Discipleship: The Call to Bear the Cross   Bible portion:   Isaiah  8:11-18   “He will be a holy place;  for both Israel and Judah he will be  a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.   And for the people of Jerusalem, he will be  a trap and a snare” Isa.8:14   Devotion   It is easy to become trapped in our anxious thoughts, but this is not what our God wants for us. Isaiah  8:11-18  describes how the people of Israel must let go of their fears of the unknowns around them and instead turn their gaze to the Lord and to only fear Him. This does not mean being afraid of Him, but humbly looking to Him with honor because we know He is the Sovereign Lord of all. Because of this, we rest in knowing “He will be a sanctuary” (v14). But, for those who don’t know Him, “He will be a trap and a snare”. This reality should pierce our hearts. As Christians, it is our responsibility to bear the cross a...

  The Love of God Bible Portion:  Luke 15: 11-32 "...while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him." (Luke 15:20) .  Devotion Scripture uses the word ‘lost’ to describe our spiritual condition. The parable in Luke 15: 11-32 is usually called ‘The Prodigal Son.’ However, we see that in this parable both the sons have become spiritually lost. The younger son lost in prodigal living, whereas the older son was lost in his own home, in his own self – righteousness. In both cases, we see the father’s grace towards both his lost sons. Jesus uses this parable to describe the love of God, our heavenly Father. The Pharisees and Scribes complained that Jesus was always with sinners. Their perception of God was wrong. So, Jesus taught that God valued the lost also and told them what God really was like. The actions of both sons are a canvas upon which Jesus painted the picture of ...

  Call and Commission to be Christ’s Disciples    Bible portion:   Acts  9:10–17      But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel.” (Acts  9:15 )      . Devotion Acts 9 begins with the conversion of Saul and continues with Ananias being appointed by God to help restore Saul’s sight. Ananias was told specifically by God in a vision that he must minister to Saul of Tarsus, to which Ananias raised an objection based on Saul’s reputation of doing evil to the saints. In v.15-16, the reply of the Lord to Ananias is stated explicitly – that Saul was to bear the Lord’s name before many people and that he would have to suffer for the Lord’s sake.   Saul is described as a “chosen instrument”, where the word “chosen” refers to God’s sovereign choosing and direction. By all human logic and sense, Saul is the least desirable and the ...

  Call and Commission to be Christ’s Disciples Bible Portion:  Matthew  4: 17-22 “At once they left their nets and followed him.” (Matthew 4:20) Devotion Jesus prayerfully handpicked his disciples, and told them to follow Him. He called them for permanent ministry. He inspired them to be fishers of men. He trained them for their new job. Simon Peter and Andrew were the sons of Jona. James and John were the sons of Zebedee and Salome and the cousins of Jesus. These four people were like us, just average, and not very brave. James and John were ambitious, quarrelsome sons of thunder. Peter was impulsive and was outspoken. Andrew was loyal and drew people to Jesus. Each person had their own individuality. Jesus created an orchestra out of their distinctiveness. All of them were friendly, passionate and enthusiastic about the Kingdom of God. They were able to leave their home and livelihood for a new cause, the Kingdom. They were uneducated fishermen by occupation. They were ...

  Call and Commission to be Christ’s Disciples Bible Portion:  2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God's glory. 2 Corinthians 4:6 Devotion Many people are scared of darkness and dark places. Darkness had a kind of ominous enveloping feeling and our overactive imagination would add fuel to the fire by replaying scenarios from the visuals we had from our audio-video engagements. However, we agree with the common notion that, ‘darkness is nothing but the mere absence of light.’ Often, we hear about spiritually being in the dark but what does it really mean and how can we find light? Spiritual darkness happens when a person lives apart from God or disconnects from Him. And how would we know if we are in spiritual darkness? Galatians  5: 22-23  outlines the fruits of the Spirit as love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and se...

  Call and Commission to be Christ’s Disciples Bible Portion:  Jeremiah 1:1-12 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born, I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:5) Devotion Jeremiah's call to be a prophet is a powerful testament to God's sovereignty and intimate knowledge of each individual. In this passage, we see the profound truth that God's plans for us are established even before we are born. Jeremiah 1:5 highlights God's intimate involvement in our lives from the beginning. He knows us thoroughly and has a purpose for each of us.  Realizing that our existence is not accidental but part of a divine plan is comforting. Jeremiah was called to a specific mission; likewise, each of us has a unique calling. Jeremiah's initial reaction is one of inadequacy and fear. He feels unprepared and too young for such a significant task. However, God reassures him that his perceived weaknesses are not obstacles to God...

  Call and Commission to be Christ’s Disciples   Bible portion:   Isaiah 56:1-8     " Maintain justice, and do what is right, for soon my salvation will come and my deliverance be revealed."     ( Isaiah 56:1)      . Devotion Once a famous Christian leader was asked a question "why did Jesus select Judas Iscariot? He replied, "I do not know; it is even more surprising that He did select me into His Service". Today's text from Prophet Isaiah shows us how God wants to treat everyone equally and be His disciple. God shifts focus from sin against Him to sin against the Vulnerable like the Gentiles, foreigners and Eunuchs. Here people are told to correct their life's perspective, which is a special concern of God. The perspective is to engage with justice through compassion. The justice and compassion which is extended to the people of Israel and Judah must be extended to others like gentiles, foreigners and Eunuchs. This right...

  Weakness in Strength Bible Portion: 2 Corinthians 11:23-33 “If I have to boast, I will boast of what pertains to my weakness.” (2 Corinthians 11:30) .  Devotion The Gospel of Jesus Christ is more than selling a product to someone. It's God’s great plan for bringing people into a vital living relationship with Him. It involves tremendous physical and mental hardships to the person delivering the Good News to the unreached around the globe. Paul reminds his critics at Corinth church who sometimes suspect his apostolic commission as a genuine Good News bearer. Paul emphasizes his task in an unusual way: 'by boasting in his weakness.' It's a paradox that anyone can boast in their weakness, in contrast to the world view of human strength and might in carrying out a task. Paul explains in detail of his physical and mental struggles he endured in bringing the Word to others (Verse 23-28) Paul primarily demonstrates his zeal of his commissioning as an apostle. Secondly, as a ...

  Integrity of Whole Creation in Christ   Bible portion: Eph 1:3-12.  V7-8 “In Him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us”. Devotion  Our topic, 'integrity of Whole Creation in Christ,' is deeply rooted in the Bible portion Eph 1:3-12. The term' integrity' is derived from the Latin word 'Integritas,' which means 'one or whole.' This concept is not just a mere idea but a divine desire for us to live in ways considered holy and blameless. It is beautifully illustrated in Paul's letter to Ephesians, particularly in verse 4, where he mentions how God chose us in him to be holy and blameless even before the foundation of the world was laid. This divine desire sets us apart from the rest of the world and fills us with awe and reverence.  God’s love for us is so immense that we are predestined for adoption to son ship through Christ. In Roman law, when someone was ad...

  Integrity of the Whole Creation in Christ   Bible portion:  St. John  3:16-21       V16-17 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but the world might be saved through Him.”      . Devotion The Gospel according to St. John infuses the emphasis on the personal nature of faith, and also illustrates the key values of Christian faith through salvation, eternal life, resurrection and Glory of Christ, that pervades over the whole Gospel. The bible portion describes the salvation narratives concise in a verse or two, however, not only merely about the individual salvation but reflects the broader theme of the integrity of the entire creation in Christ. Understanding this passage in its full context highlights the comprehensive scope of God’s redemptive work. The conversation with Nicodemus has op...