The Great Lent – Day 4
“യഹോവ പിന്നെയും മോശയോട് അരുളിച്ചെയ്തത്: യിസ്രായേൽ മക്കൾക്ക് ഞാൻ കൊടുക്കുവാനിരിക്കുന്ന കനാൻ ദേശം ഒറ്റുനോക്കേണ്ടതിന് ആളുകളെ അയക്കുക…. അങ്ങനെ മോശ യഹോവയുടെ കല്പനപ്രകാരം പാരാൻ മരുഭൂമിയിൽ നിന്ന് അവരെ അയച്ചു. അവർ നാല്പതു ദിവസം കൊണ്ട് ദേശം ഒറ്റുനോക്കിക്കഴിഞ്ഞ് മടങ്ങീ വന്നു”. സംഖ്യാപുസ്തകം 13
The Great Lent – Day 40
Fortieth Friday
Lent is the time we are made into a new creation; a period of transformation. The lent started at the wedding house at Canna; with a transformation of the water to wine. Somewhat like what happened in the initial stages of creation. On the Second Sunday, the man with leprosy was healed. A body whose ability to sense external world was had been transformed into a holy body with sensing ability. On the Third Sunday, mobility is given to a paralyzed body. On forth Sunday, we are made to think with the clear and straight mind. The daughter of the Canaanite women is the perfect example for this. On the Fifth Sunday, all bends and cripples are made strait. On sixth Sunday, we read about giving light through sight. Scripture readings of the past six Sundays reminds us the importance of having a straight forward, dynamic, clear, non-bent and conscious vision prior to singing ‘Hosana’ and prior to taking part in Passover feast so that a resurrection in our lives is made possible!
See ourselves in comparison to the characters appeared in front of us in the last six weeks. When we do not react to positive changes happening around us, it shows the insensibility of our heart. Insensibility is closely associated with leprosy. If we do not intervene wholeheartedly in social matters, what is the use of that body to the society? It is no better than a paralyzed body! When an entire generation is lacking the responsiveness to the society they live in, can’t we call them insensible? They will be a cause of anxiety to their parents, as is the daughter of the Canaanite woman. Some of us are crippled, perhaps due to lack of proper comprehension and thus walk with a bent on our back. Till we can’t lift our face and look straight, our vision and perspective will be scrambled.
We are locked in the tombs of our own misinterpretations and misapprehension. You and I need a resurrection, for sure, even though our names are not ‘Lazarus’!
May God Bless You All!
Sakher Achen – from the book ‘Chakkum Charavum”
The Great Lent – Thursday of the Holy Week (Pessaha)
Day 46
There is a distinct interpretation of the Parable of the Good Samaritan by the prominent church father Mar Ivanios the Golden Mouthed. I am sure most of you are familiar with this parable; the story of a man who had been attacked on his way from Jarusalem to Jaricho by robbers and left alone half-dead, at a lonely place.(St. Luke 10:25-37). We have heard several interpretations of this parable, but Mar Ivanios’ explanation is very appealing. Let us learn his analogous explanation of this story to the life aspects of humans.
Jerusalem here represents the heavenly Jerusalem or Paradise; the place that comprise of serene nature and humans having pure will. In this Garden of Eden, Adam (humans) was made to wear clothes of glory and brightness. He owned a great treasure there that was the uninterrupted companionship with God. Eden is considered as a place of great virtue, derived from the obedience to God’s commands. One day, on his journey of life, by mistake the man diverted to the road to Jericho, which represents a lower place filled with his worldly needs and desires. Within no time, various types of anxieties (robbers) attacked him. Those robbers robbed his mind; they tore off his clothes of heavenly glory and hurt his soul. Life of wounded humankind was left alone on the pathway, unattended. None of the by passers gave him proper treatment or attended to his wounds, as it was the case of the hurt and helpless man in the parable. In the course of time Abraham, Moses, and Levite priests were passed by; everyone judged that lack of faith was the cause of this man’s troubles!
Finally, a person who did not belong to that place (the world) came that way. It was the Good Samaritan, our lord Jesus Christ. He went near the wounded man and attended him. He sat alongside the fallen mankind. He bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to a nearby inn and took care of him the whole night. Next day, before leaving, he gave the inn keeper two dinars (coins) and asked him to take care of the hurt person in his inn, till he “returns”.
The Inn here represents the Holy Church (Sabha). The holy body and blood of Christ (Eucharist) represent the two coins that the Good Samaritan gave to the Inn keeper, as a cost of redemption. The holy church has been entrusted with the responsibility to take care of us sinners till our lord returns! It is only through the experience the Holy Qurbana with the right preparations, our wounds of sins will be healed. Only through a life in the holy Church we obtain the redemption and eternal salvation. Not only on the Pessaha, but on every Qurbana, we should remember this fact my friend!
May God Bless You !
Fr. Zakharia Ninan (Sakher)
From the book ‘Chaakkum Chaaravum’
അതികാലത്ത് എഴുനേൽക്കുന്ന അമ്മമാരിലെ ചൈതന്യം ശ്രദ്ധിച്ചിട്ടുണ്ടോ? വൈകി എണീല്ക്കുന്നവരേക്കാൾ അതേറേയാണ്. വെളുപ്പിന് എഴുന്നേറ്റ്, കൈകൾ കൂട്ടിത്തിരുമ്മി മുഖത്തുവച്ച്, മുറ്റമടിച്ച്, അടുപ്പ് കത്തിച്ച് ആരംഭിക്കുന്നു. ഒരു ഹോമം വരെ അവിടെ നടക്കുന്നുണ്ട്; സ്വയം മറന്ന് മറ്റുള്ളവർക്കുവേണ്ടിയുള്ള വലിയ യത്നം തുടങ്ങുകയാണ്. അതിനെയാണല്ലോ ബലിയായിത്തീരൽ എന്നൊക്കെ വിളിക്കേണ്ടത്. നിസ്വാർത്ഥമായ ഇടപെടലുകൾ എത്രമേൽ ലാവണ്യമുള്ളവയാണ് !
