imagE-nation

As we are on the threshold of another Independence Day Celebration of our nation, let us thank God for the mercies that the Almighty has bestowed upon us as a republic, throughout last year.

On July 15, 2010, while re-affirming India’s growing economic strength, the Indian government brought out a symbol for Indian Rupee that would reflect and capture the Indian ethos and culture. The symbol is a combination of alphabet ‘R’ in English and ‘र’ of Devanagari script. It is announced that this symbol would soon be introduced on computer keyboards and banknotes in India. It is expected to take a year or two for it to be fully implemented. However, experts opine that implementing a new currency symbol can be a costly enterprise. For example, when the euro was introduced in 1999, it cost Europe's biggest companies more than $50bn to update their computer systems to tackle the changeover.

Nevertheless, the ethos this symbol represents, should urge us towards a ‘psychological changeover’ in terms of our patriotic and social responsibilities. In the new symbol, the parallel lines on top (with white space between them) make an allusion to the tricolor Indian flag depicting a sign of equality which symbolizes the nation's desire to reduce economic disparity. As patriotic Indians, let us be reminded of our commitment towards safeguarding the sovereignty of our nation. Any thought or word or action that impairs the secular, democratic and socialistic fabric of our nation, be it terrorism, religious fundamentalism, cultural nationalism or extreme regionalism, ought to be avoided at any cost. Moreover, as responsible citizens, it is also our duty to foster equality and justice, fighting against all agents of discrimination and disparity. We must channelize all our efforts towards the goal of taking the country to a higher level of all- round national development. We cannot recline till we accomplish our goal which is not at all possible as long as the gap between the ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots’ continues to increase. Such ‘psychological changeovers’, or transformation, to be precise, need not be expensive or costly but definitely precious and valuable.

Nonetheless, as Christians, our responsibility and commitment do not end in our earnest patriotism; rather it extends to our loyalty to the Kingdom of God. When Pharisees asked Jesus if it was lawful for Jews to pay taxes to Rome, He held up a coin and asked whose image was on it, and the Pharisees replied that it was Caesar's image. Then Jesus said, “Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s” (Matthew 22:21). Jesus tells them to give to Caesar that which is due to Caesar and give to God what is due to God. What is due to Caesar is the coin upon which his image is engraved; similarly what is due to God is we ourselves, who are created in His own image. Yes, we are His Currency. God Himself is the monitory authority; exchange rate is His own life and the monitory policy is not one of accumulation, rather sharing. And our currency symbol is Cross, the mark of divine love.

Let us give to God what is due to Him and our nation what is due to her. Let us commit ourselves for the cause of the CROSS and uphold the ethos that the new Rupee symbol represents. Let us revere and worship our Lord who gave His life for us; let us also remember and respect our foreparents who gave their lives for our nation.

refRAIN

In my mind, day was breaking

And around, it was raining.

In my mind, night was falling

And within, it was raining.

IX-892 : I AM CRASHED!!!

For many, it is just another morning, but for me it is the morning that I was waiting for the past three years. It was a love at first sight in 2007 when we met for the first time in my house and a week after that first meeting, we got married. But the joy of living together lasted just for two days since he had to rush back to Dubai on an emergency call from his company. Though our life together lasted only 48 hours, I can tell you that he is the gem of a person. There is not a day or night that has passed without us calling each other. Not a moment in my life I have lived without remembering him. Not only his photograph that lies beneath my pillow tells the depth of my love, but also his love that is filled in my heart and spread through my blood. Yes, and the one whom I loved most in my life…he is coming this morning.

*** *** *** ***

My parents and his parents have gone to collect him, but I have not. I wanted to make everything perfect here at home to welcome him.

“My beloved is all radiant and ruddy, distinguished among ten thousand.

His head is the finest gold; His locks are wavy,

Black as a raven.

His eyes are like doves, besides springs of water,

Bathed in milk, fitly set.

His cheeks are like beds of spices, Yielding fragrance,

His lips are lilies, distilling liquid myrrh.

His arms are rounded gold, set with jewels

His body is ivory work, encrusted with sapphires.

His legs are alabaster columns, set upon bases of gold

His appearance is like Lebanon, choice as the cedars.

His speech is most sweet, and he is altogether desirable.

This is my beloved and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.”

What more do I want in my life but to see him face to face for one more time and to hug him and tell him…O! dear, it is for you…for you alone that I was waiting!

*** *** *** ***

Yes, it is all set to welcome him. I think I can relax now for a while as I wait to see him. Let me watch TV for sometime as I keep my ears sharp to hear the voice of our car. But to my shock…

BREAKING NEWS

“An Air India Express aircraft IX-892, carrying more than 160 people, crashed off Bajpe airport near Mangalore. The flight from Dubai overshot the table-top runway at the Mangalore airport this morning and crashed into thick vegetation in the valley below, killing 158 persons on board. Eight passengers had a miraculous escape.

The aircraft overshot the touchdown area of the runway and crossed the spillover area of 90 metres before it crashed into the forest. One of its wings hit the concrete localiser instrument, a navigation aid at the end of the spillover area, and fell down. The plane broke into two after the crash and fire broke out in the fuselage.”

*** *** *** ***

Oh! God…"May the day of my birth perish, and the night it was said, 'A baby is born!'

That day--may it turn to darkness; may God above not care about it; may no light shine upon it.

May that night be barren; may no shout of joy be heard in it.

May those who curse days curse that day, those who are ready to rouse Leviathan.

"Why did I not perish at birth, and die as I came from the womb?

ASCENSION: AN ASSENT TOWARDS MISSION

Ascension stands not as an end to Christ’s mission but in continuity with His mission to be continued through the Church, His body. In other words, Ascension reminds us not only of the event of Jesus ascending into the heaven, but also a call for us, His disciples, to descend down to the valley to bear witness.Hence, as a church, let us not waste time looking intently up into the sky in awe. Rather, let us hurriedly walk down to the valley and work toward the extension of His Kingdom as a servant community, for the same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back soon in the same way we have seen Him go into heaven.

MARKS OF LOVE

I asked Lord, “ Lord, do you love me more than these?”

He said, “Yes son, you know that I love you.”

I said, “ Lord, grant me the car ‘Maybach’ , 5.5-litre, V-12, twin-turbo engine with a five-speed automatic transmission, which is capable of producing 550 bhp power and has a top speed of 250 km/h..”

A second time I asked Him, “Lord, do you love me?”

He said, “Yes son, you know that I love you.”

I said, “ Lord, grant me an amazing mansion brimming with grand hallways and ballrooms, an indoor squash court, a bowling alley, helipads, a 50-seat cinema, a garage giving space for eight limousines and then a heated marble driveway to add to the splendid glamour..”

I asked him for the third time, “Lord, do you love me?”

My Lord, did not utter a word, but showed His wounded hands and pierced side.

I replied, “LORD, I NEED NOTHING BUT YOU.”

THE HILL BETWEEN TWO GARDENS

In the beginning, it was in the garden of pleasure, that death was born, when the first Adam yielded to it.

Centuries later, in the garden of sepulcher, death died and was buried, when the second Adam conquered it.

In the beginning, in the garden of pleasure, it was a woman who ushered in the death as it entered into the world.

Centuries later, in the garden of sepulcher, it was a woman who first witnessed death making its way out.

In the beginning, in the garden of pleasure, when death temporarily conquered life, the immortal came in search of the mortals, and the latter was hiding.

Centuries later, in the garden of sepulcher, when life conquered death, the immortal was sought by the mortals who could no more hide themselves.

In the beginning, the garden of pleasure turned out to be a garden of sepulcher.

Centuries later the garden of sepulcher turned out to be a garden of pleasure.

What that transformed the garden of pleasure into the garden of sepulcher was nothing but disobedience to the Father and selfish love.

What that transformed the garden of sepulcher into the garden of pleasure was nothing but obedience to the Father and selfless love.

Where there is obedience and love to the point of ‘death at the Cross’, life blossoms.

The distance from the garden of sepulcher to the garden of pleasure is just a hill away…the hill of CALVARY… the hill of obedience and selfless love.

YES, the Hill of Calvary is not a FATE or an OPTION but an OPPURTUNITY and IMPERATIVE to transform our ‘gardens of sepulchers’ into ‘gardens of pleasures’.

'SPIRITUAL FRONTAGES'

“Housed in a converted church, this restaurant and bar has stained glass windows, timber paneled walls and wrought-iron grills. The chef serves up classic European comfort food with a twist, like mac and cheese with black truffles. Count your blessings!”

Last month, as I was reading through the ‘Appetite The Buzz’ column of Tiger Airways Magazine’s Jan-Feb 2010, I was thoroughly shocked to read the above lines about the ‘White Rabbit Restaurant’ in Singapore.

The White Rabbit Restaurant, for me, stands as a symbol of our own so called spirituality. That which appears to be a church is a bar and that, which is promised as a blessing, is merely an extensive and expensive dinner. Aren’t we Christians too, who often tend to wear spiritual facades, like this church converted White Rabbit Restaurant? I do feel what we often appear to be are not what we really are and what we often promise to give are never what we ought to. It is high time that we realize that our spirituality is jeopardized as we have become mere ‘spiritual frontages’. Therefore, as against what we hear time and again from the pulpit to go out into the ‘world’ preaching gospel and converting individuals and communities, I do feel, the religious concern of our time should be positioned more upon our own re-conversion.

What that makes a church is not its architecture or its ecclesial paraphernalia, rather the spiritual attitude of the members, the Body of Christ. Lent, the season we spend more and more time in the presence of God speaking to Him and listening to Him, is an appropriate time to recommit our lives towards this purpose. However, the issue here is neither the quantity nor quality of time that we spend in the presence of God. Rather, I feel it is our quality as people of God that matters.

It is important at this point to examine what is it that which stops us from living as real disciples of Christ instead of mere appearances of the same. In other words, why do we choose to be Christians with no genuineness? When I asked this question to myself, I heard an inner voice asking me a counter question, “What is it that which encourages you to be an appearance than a real Christian?” The only answer that I could find was ‘Judas’ Attitude’, the mind-set of Judas who appeared to be a disciple but who in reality was a betrayer. By ‘Judas’ Attitude’, what I mean is the driving force within us which urges us to protect our selfish interests even at the cost of crucifying God’s purpose for our lives.

Often, we are possessed with our selfish interests to earn, to grow and to prosper as individuals, as families and communities. We believe these are the things that make us accepted in the society. And hence, we invest our wealth, health and time more toward that course. At the same time, we also know that it is essential to be associated with the church life and present ourselves as holy and devoted to God, to be integrated and accepted as part of her. It is in this process of composing ourselves in a manner that we would be accepted and respected both in the world and church, that we become mere ‘Spiritual Frontages.’ To achieve this goal, we do not even bother to understand God’s purpose for our lives, same as Judas who lived and walked with Jesus for forty two months as part of his discipleship, never ever trying to recognize the purpose for his life.

Lest we not turn to Him, we would continue to be like the White Rabbit Restaurant that just APPEARS to be a church, but which in reality is a restaurant and bar that offers wrong promises of blessings.

A FEW NEWS REPORTS

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Terror_recession_become_themes_of_Xmas_sermons/rssarticleshow/3888572.cms

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Chennai/Carbon-fast-on-as-Lent-goes-green/articleshow/4273666.cms

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Priests-log-on-to-stay-in-touch-with-congregation/articleshow/4821104.cms

http://lite.epaper.timesofindia.com/mobile.aspx?article=yes&pageid=4&edlabel=TOICH&mydateHid=26-7-2009&pubname=Times%20of%20India%20-%20Chennai%20-%20Front%20Page&edname=&articleid=Ar00406&publabel=TOI

Disappointment Vs. Hope

Disappointment fills our minds when our wills are not accomplished. But hope fills our minds when we wait for God’s will to be accomplished.

Disappointment fills our minds when we feel everything has gone out of our control. But hope fills our minds when we realize nothing has gone out of God’s control. It is not just that He is still in control; but that He is always in control.

Disappointment fills our minds when we are forced to take a path which we never knew and which we never wanted to take. But hope fills our minds when we realize that no path is unknown to Him. The One who has called us will not leave us in the middle of our journey.

FASTING: Lenten Reflections

Lent, which begins with Ash Wednesday and ends with Easter has 47 days but the seven Sundays including Easter that occur during Lent are not counted as part of the 40 days of Lent. In line with the church tradition, it will be fitting if we could use this as a period of penitential prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.

Fasting, which is one of the features of Lenten period, is often misunderstood for its purpose and process.

Firstly, it is often misunderstood as a tool to manipulate the will of God. I myself have had ample experiences where we have been ‘challenged’ to fast and pray as a family to accomplish our wishes and dreams. What one needs to understand here is that fasting is not a means to win God’s audience and change His mind. God is always ready to speak to us and to help us in His time in His way. Rather, fasting should be understood as a way to humble and tune ourselves to God’s wavelength in order to hear from him and effectively walk with him. In other words, what is intended through fasting is not the repentance (change of mind) of God but of us who fast and pray.

Secondly, it is often misunderstood as a magic to accomplish prosperity. We often see and hear many who fast and pray to make life a bed of roses. There may be many around us who believe that one could enter and live in ‘comfort zones’ through fasting. However, Jesus’ life disproves this (mis)understanding as we see in Matt. 4: 1-11, Mk. 1: 12-13 and Lk. 4: 1-13. Jesus, through the power of fasting, conquers the temptation to avoid the way of the Cross and walk the way of glory. Hence, the occasion of fasting should be realized as a period to gain power to face the challenges of human life and courage to carry the cross, if it is God’s will.

Thirdly, it is often misunderstood as a time to ‘torture’ oneself. Often we find people who fast abstaining from food and other physical pleasures. Such actions, many a time, become very ritualistic, since the spiritual significance of such observances is ignored; it results in sheer self inflictions. Bible, in general and Jesus in particular, condemns and corrects such outward expressions of self torturing without inward spiritual thrust. For ex., Prophet Joel urges the community to rend their hearts and not garments, emphasizing the importance of inward renewal than outward ritual (Joel 2:12-13). Jesus says, “When you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Matt. 6:17-18.

Let me conclude by quoting prophet Isaiah’s words concerning fasting, found in the book of Isaiah 58: 5-7. He strongly denounces our familiar understanding of fasting when he says, “Is such the fast that I choose, a day to humble oneself? Is it to bow down the head like a bulrush, and to lie in sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this a fast, a day acceptable to the LORD?” Further, he announces the fasting that pleases God. He says, “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin?”

FAITHEOLOGICAL PRAYERS!

I have always believed that the best theological prayer is 'LET THY WILL BE DONE.'

I have always prayed so.

Even at the death-bed of my mother I have prayed the same.

But today,

When I saw my AMAN..lying there in the ventilator...

I just stood beside his bed...

Did not utter a word aloud...

But, in my mind...I was praying louder than ever...

"God, forgive me if my prayer is not theological. But I pray that you give back my AMAN. AMEN."

And, after two hours I heard, he was removed from the ventilator and was breathing for himself.

Then, I thought,

"God, may be you want the prayers of your children not just to be THEOLOGICAL but 'FAITHEOLOGICAL'. "

'DISTANCES'

YESTERDAY

I EXPERIENCED THE 'DISTANCE' OF SOLITUDE AMIDST FELLOWSHIP...

When I felt loneliness amidst everyone.

THEN,

I INTIATED THE 'DISTANCE' OF FELLOWSHIP AMIDST SOLITUDE ...

When I Prayed to God and thus had a fellowship with Him.

NOW,

I EXPERIENCE THE 'DISTANCE OF NON-DISTANCE'...

Yes, though we are distances away, I can feel Him close to my heart. He is not just WITH me but WITHIN me. How close!!!

ARE WE WHAT WE ARE?

Today’s world seems to believe that the more hypocritical you are; the more successful you are. While many tend to appear good, genuine and trustworthy before us, we often try to prove ourselves before them that we love, care and respect them. But when it comes to real life situations are we really what we appear to be or should we conclude as Iago says in Shakespeare’s Othello, “I am not what I am”?

And, for me, hypocrisy is nothing but the distance between our ‘being’ and ‘doing’; the greater the distance, the higher the vice.

Hypocrisy is definitely a close ally of individualism and therefore destroys community life. I do believe that the greatest enemy of community life is not ‘sincere enemies’ but ‘insincere friends’.

It is high time that we ask to ourselves, how much genuine are we? Are our expressions true? Do we smile to others outwardly while we smile at others inwardly? Are we two-faced? Do our ‘doings’ reflect our ‘beings’? In short, ARE WE WHAT WE ARE?

A PERSONAL PRAYER BEFORE PREPARING SERMON

Lord,

Let me be proud to preach Your Word,

But,

Let me not preach Your Word with pride. AMEN.

A PRAYER TO LIVE TRUE RELIGION

LORD,

WHERE THERE ARE MANY WHO BELIEVE IN THE RELIGION OF LETTERS - OF DOS AND DONTS...

WHERE THERE ARE MANY WHO BELIEVE IN THE RELIGION OF SYMBOLS - OF SIGNS AND WONDERS...

HELP US TO LIVE A RELIGION OF LOVE.

LORD,

WHERE THERE ARE MANY WHO BELIEVE IN THE RELIGION OF VIOLENCE - OF VENGENCE AND RETALIATION...

WHERE THERE ARE MANY WHO BELIEVE IN THE RELIGION OF STATUS - OF POWER AND AUTHORITY...

HELP US TO LIVE A RELIGION OF SERVITUDE.

LORD,

WHERE THERE ARE MANY WHO BELIEVE IN THE RELIGION OF PROSPERITY - OF BLESSINGS AND RICHES...

WHERE THERE ARE MANY WHO BELIEVE IN THE RELIGION OF NARCISSM - OF SELFISHNESS AND SELF RIGHTEOUSNESS..

HELP US TO LIVE A RELIGION OF SACRIFICE.

WE PRAY THIS IN THE NAME OF JESUS, THE CHRIST, WHO TAUGHT US WHAT IS IT TO LIVE A RELIGION OF LOVE, SERVITUDE AND SACRIFICE. AMEN.

Freedom To Move Or Freedom To Be ‘Moved’???

On the night of 14/15^th August 1947, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru addressed the Constituent Assembly of India,

“Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially. At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance. It is fitting that at this solemn moment we take the pledge of dedication to the service of India and her people and to the still larger cause of humanity.”

Yes, it is 62 Years since we have awakened to life and FREEDOM…since we have stepped out from the old to the new… since we have pledged towards the service of humanity.

But the question is how far we have used this freedom. Indeed a much more pertinent question is how well we have understood the meaning of freedom. Is freedom for us just the liberty or privilege to move around freely? Or does freedom mean much more than movement?

What we forget here is the fact that 62 years ago, what we attained was not just the freedom to move, but also the freedom to be ‘moved’. Each time that we pledge, ‘All Indians are my brothers and sisters,’ it is a commitment to bear it upon our shoulders to save one life...save ones life...not because the one who needs our help and care could be our brother or sister...but because he/she IS our brother/sister.

It is about this freedom that our Lord Jesus taught us through His life and mission. He was not just a man who moved around the streets of Palestine, rather, someone who was moved at the sight of the deceased, ostracized and pulverized in the society. In fact, He had a kind of kindness that enabled him always to try to do something that would be part of the answer and not part of the problem. This kindness is one of the most creative and powerful things that any of us can do for another human being. It is not just confined to the first century, it’s not just something that happened long ago, rather every one of us has within our reach this ability to show kindness and mercy to other people.

Yes, we have the ‘FREEDOM TO BE MOVED’ and it is fitting that at this solemn moment we take the pledge of RE-DEDICATION to the service of India and her people and to the still larger cause of humanity… to be compassionate and no more be (e)motionless at the sight of violation of human rights.

HAPPY INDEPENDANCE DAY!!!

LET US NOT BE {E}MOTIONLESS...

In VANITHA (July 15-31), a fortnightly magazine, published from Kottayam, Kerala, India, i read about a celebrity by name MALIKA who 'risks' herself to save the lives of many caught in road accidents. What that really urges her to take this 'risk' is her own bitter experience of the loss of her father in a road accident. Her father would have been saved if at least one person who passed besides him had the kindness to take him to the hospital on time. But they all preferred to be part of a busy moving but 'motionless' crowd. Had the crowd, at least one of them, transcended their/his/her 'motion' to be 'motionless' he would have been saved.

Often we tend to be passive observers in such cases of accidents. In this busy world, for us, such cases of accidents are just part of a 'landscape'... and we opt to be 'motionless' or to be accurate, 'emotionless'.

No...

Next time we see an accident...we should not remain '(e)motionless'. Let us stop moving and 'be moved'. Let us bear it upon our shoulders to save one life...save ones life...not because the one who lies there could be our brother or sister..but because he/she who lies there IS our brother/sister.

Lord! Thank You for this day...BUT WHY?

I celebrate my birthday

Not just because I got one more year...

Not just because I am not sure whether I would have another one ...

Not just because I want to be loved and greeted by all for one more time ...

But,

BECAUSE I WANT TO CELEBRATE MY LIFE WITH ITS JOYS AND SORROWS

To say 'thank-you' to God for all the comforts...

To say 'thank-you' to God for all the pains...

To say 'thank-you' to God for all my dreams that are accomplished and unaccomplished...

To say 'thank-you' to God for all that I am and all that I am not today...

To say 'thank-you' to God for all that I have and all that I do not have...

To say 'thank-you' to God for all that He has taken away from me...

Yes,

To celebrate this life with all its thicks and thins which is a gift from Him.

LORD! THANK YOU SOOOOOOOO MUCH. AMEN!!!

FACE JESUS' FACE ON FACES FACING OUR FACES

We seem to be concerned more about 'discovering' the faces of Jesus on the walls of the churches and to convert them into pilgrim centres...of course we are profited by this.

But, we fail to see the face of Jesus, which is reflected, not upon these dead walls, but upon the tortured faces of millions around us.

Why? Have we lost our focus?

Or do we overlook this fact because we know that it would cost us rather than profiting us?

Let us remember what Jesus said...

Jesus said "Whatever you do unto the least of my brothers and sisters, you do unto me"

So, let us face Jesus' face upon those faces facing our faces.....

KNOWLEDGE, TRUTH & FALSE

True knowledge is the knowledge of Truth. But false knowledge isn't the knowledge of false, rather, truth that appears to be truth, but not.