Reflections

The Foreigner, Widow and Orphan Leviticus 25:35 - 46 If any of your kin fall into difficulty and become dependent on you, you shall support them; they shall live with you as though resident aliens (Lev 25:35).     The caption which implies a God with partiality, quite understandably, may not find favour with some of the readers since we have minds conditioned by the traditional idea about a God who is impartial - a God who doesn't take sides. We have been taught for long that taking sides is evil and hence cannot fit into the nature of a 'Just God'. We need to understand two things here. (1) Impartiality is not a virtue by itself. On the contrary, it can turn evil since one can become absolutely ineffective and useless if one fails to take a stand where required. Taking stand obviously suggests taking sides - you are 'for' somethi...

Recognize the Differently Abled Psalms 111 Lord, have mercy (Kyrie Eleison) on my son (Psalms 115:15).   A man brings his differently abled son to the One who has the power to deliver him. The Contemporary English Version says the child had "a bad case of epilepsy". What is important is that Jesus accepted the father's faith on behalf of his son and healed the child. Many differently abled people are unable to coherently argue their case or even offer a proper prayer. A key mission of the church is to intercede for others before God. In the corporate worship of most Eastern churches the congregational response to intercessory prayers is  Kyrie Eleison  (Lord, have mercy). When we are face to face with God Almighty, our only role is to plead for mercy, on us, our dear ones, the church, and the universe at large. Intercession is not a passive process but should lead us to decisive intervention, on behalf of the differently abled. In Mark 2:1-12 we read of the friends ...

From weakness to Discipleship 2 Cor 12:1-10 Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, I am strong (2 Cor  12:10 ). Salvation is process not a point. It is an experience through which we are to progress every day. It is this experience that we are to be in constantly to be called a disciple. It has to be a parameter through which we measure the relation with the one who has commissioned us. 1. Discipleship - Affirmation of Faith in Crisis:  There are certain barriers which limit us from being good disciples and by large the growth into salvation. These barriers in themselves cannot be categorized as good or bad. It is often our response and the motif of responses that makes it so. They are always present around us and we progress our lives through them. St. Paul here refers to a crisis he has in his personal life a physical ailment. In spite of which he is committed to serv...

God who Listens Mark 10:46-52 Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me! (Mark 10: 47). What kind of Encounter might that have been! The son of Timaeus meeting the son of David. The 'blind' son of Timaeus peered through the veil of blindness and 'saw' in Jesus, the 'son' of David. He saw something that everyone overlooked. He saw a new dream, a new hope. Hence the address, "Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me". Why call Jesus, the 'son of David?' The idea of Son of David is related with messianic rule, the promised deliverer, the ruler who would rule in Justice and peace. Jesus' healing ministry revealed the abundance of God's love and grace. So this 'blind' son of Timaeus, saw in Jesus, the promised Messiah, from the lineage of David, the only hope for establishment of justice and peace; the kingdom of Heaven upon the earth. This son of Timaeus by his faith, by his foresight, by his personal experience dreamed of a radica...

Joel Year — A Protective Circle Leviticus 25:8-19 In this year of Jubilee everyone is to return to his own property (Lev 25:13).     Today's Bible portion is one of the most important passages in the book of Leviticus. The Lord instructs Moses at the Mount Sinai what he needs to speak to the Israelites as they were going to occupy the Promised Land. These are the instructions given to them in order to keep the time and space pure and holy. Throughout history God instructs the Israelites and when we meditate on them, we see that all the instructions are the plans and dreams of our Almighty God. Thus the year of Jubilee can be seen as a vision of hope for the entire created order and a mission for the whole human race. 1. Jubilee Year- A Year of Protection and Responsibility:  When we read this text, the recurring question that comes to our mind is, what relevance does Jubilee year has for us today? When God called Moses, He said 'I have seen their misery, I have hear...

Woe unto Those who Persecute the Poor Micah 2:1-10 Alas for those who devise wickedness and evil deeds on their beds!  (v la). Consumeristic culture makes one operate in a planned and calculative nature with an aim for competing, in order to achieve pleasure, power and profit. The Prophet Micah in this text preaches powerfully against the dishonest ways of plundering and accumulation by the powerful at the expense of the poor and powerless. 1. Just God who Warns and Acts against Injustice:  Prophet Micah makes a forceful case for a Just God who is active in the world to thwart all injustice. Those upon whom the woe is pronounced are described here as lying awake on their beds at night thinking about corrupt schemes for increasing their own resources at the expense of others especially the poor and the less powerful. Innocent people are being exploited by the powerful and the rich. They became the prey to the covetousness of the greedy people. Micah proclaims the God's wo...

Prophetic Voice for the Persecuted Isaiah 1:10-20 Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your doings from before my eyes;cease to do evil,learn to do good;seek justice,rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow (Isaiah 1:16,17). The prophet Isaiah ministered to Israel at a time when society was marked by oppression of the poor, perversion of justice and peace, and idolatry. Though the people were offering sacrifices for forgiveness of sins, there was no true feeling of repentance and transformation. Isaiah's message reminds the people of God that repentance and sanctification are necessary for a true relationship with God. That transformation should enable the believer to pursue good, understand the needs of others, and to respond creatively and positively. We are living in a world where acts of intolera...