Br. Liju Thomas, Ahmedabad Diocese
( STOTS, Nagpur )
Year 2020, we began with a new hope, opportunities, expected many good things to come across our journey. But all of a sudden we are robbed off… Since last three to four months, there was a drastic change across the world… and the change was of utter destruction, devastation, everything was turned upside down by the new Virus…. The COVID19… We are in darkness, have lost our way and to some extent our hope also…. So my dear friends, it’s time to get back on track… it’s time to eradicate these dark energies and for that we need to seek the divine light.
Let us contemplate on the following Bible Verse, amidst this tragic situation…
Psalms 27:1(a)
“The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? (NRSV)
This Psalm is a Triumphant Song of Confidence, composed by King David. During this pandemic situation many have already lost their lives, many are facing different problems related with employment, education, food, and so on… Many of us have lost our hope and confidence… Here we can contemplate, when King David through his personal experience utters the divine truth.
v.1 (a) - “ The Lord is my Light” – LORD is the proper name of the God of Israel- YAHWEH
In the Holy Scriptures we can see many references with regard to Light.
Isaiah 60:1: “Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.” (NRSV)
In the New Testament, in the “I am sayings” by Christ, he tells, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” (St. Jn 8:12)
Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Son is the Light who came to this world to enlighten us. Light enables our path to be clear, and if there are any stumbling blocks in our way we can overcome it. But the incarnated Light, Jesus Christ, helps us to introspect, and transform ourselves as the “light of the world.” (St. Mtt 5:14). And that is why we sing a hymn in our Holy Liturgy about this very clearly before the Public Celebration of the Holy Qurbana:
“By Thy light we see the light,
Jesus, full of light;
Thou, True Light, dost give the light
To Thy creatures all.
Lighten us with Thy bright light
Thou, the Father’s light divine.” (Velivu Niranjoreesho…)
When we are going through this situation of darkness, where everything is not going well, as King David said we should also boldly say, “The Lord is my Light”; not only we should say this, but also walk through path shown to us by Christ himself, who is the divine light, who came to this world to destroy the darkness.
v.1 (a) “ The Lord is my salvation”- Salvation is necessary when someone is in trouble. It primarily means deliverance, rescue, safety etc.
The mission of Christ was to save the whole creation from the bondages of sin and grant us eternal life through his death and resurrection. Salvation is given to the whole creation. In Eastern Orthodox Understanding, Salvation is a gift from God to the human beings. And to be saved, human beings must work together with God, which is called doctrine of “synergy”(working together of God’s grace and a person’s will) , which helps us to completely surrender ourselves and get conformed with, being united to the divine. And, so, Salvation is an ongoing, continuous and a working together process.
We human beings are vulnerable creatures, we tend to fall into sinfulness, but when we walk in the divine light, we will be saved from unseen enemies and troublesome situations that come in our lives. When we are in trouble, or producing the fruits of flesh, it is paramount that someone should save us from all these. And it is Christ himself.
v.1 (a) “Whom shall I Fear?”- King David asks questions and it’s very relevant in present situation also.
Romans 8:31: “If God is for us, who is against us?” (NRSV)
As, human beings we may come across many problems, we may have to face severe atrocities, we may pass across valleys of darkness, during all these situations, we must think what should be our stand.
In the present context, the whole humankind is under the clutches of this deadly pandemic, how should we face it? We should not lose hope, but rather should be courageous. Let us illumine our minds and hearts with the Divine Word of God, through which we will receive the divine light, so that we may overcome this present situation of darkness that, has affected the whole humankind.
“Continual reflection on the Scriptures is light for the soul.” - ST. ISAAC THE SYRIAN
Having Hope in Christ, Let us walk in the light of Christ, and surely he would deliver us from this pandemic situation. Let’s hope in him, pray for all those who are suffering from this deadly disease, for all those who are working day and night to fight against this pandemic, especially doctors, nurses, frontline workers, paramedics, police guards etc… Let me conclude with a Bible Verse… May God Bless Us All…
Ps 27:14: “Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!” (NRSV)
( STOTS, Nagpur )
Year 2020, we began with a new hope, opportunities, expected many good things to come across our journey. But all of a sudden we are robbed off… Since last three to four months, there was a drastic change across the world… and the change was of utter destruction, devastation, everything was turned upside down by the new Virus…. The COVID19… We are in darkness, have lost our way and to some extent our hope also…. So my dear friends, it’s time to get back on track… it’s time to eradicate these dark energies and for that we need to seek the divine light.
Let us contemplate on the following Bible Verse, amidst this tragic situation…
Psalms 27:1(a)
“The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? (NRSV)
This Psalm is a Triumphant Song of Confidence, composed by King David. During this pandemic situation many have already lost their lives, many are facing different problems related with employment, education, food, and so on… Many of us have lost our hope and confidence… Here we can contemplate, when King David through his personal experience utters the divine truth.
v.1 (a) - “ The Lord is my Light” – LORD is the proper name of the God of Israel- YAHWEH
In the Holy Scriptures we can see many references with regard to Light.
Isaiah 60:1: “Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.” (NRSV)
In the New Testament, in the “I am sayings” by Christ, he tells, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” (St. Jn 8:12)
Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Son is the Light who came to this world to enlighten us. Light enables our path to be clear, and if there are any stumbling blocks in our way we can overcome it. But the incarnated Light, Jesus Christ, helps us to introspect, and transform ourselves as the “light of the world.” (St. Mtt 5:14). And that is why we sing a hymn in our Holy Liturgy about this very clearly before the Public Celebration of the Holy Qurbana:
“By Thy light we see the light,
Jesus, full of light;
Thou, True Light, dost give the light
To Thy creatures all.
Lighten us with Thy bright light
Thou, the Father’s light divine.” (Velivu Niranjoreesho…)
When we are going through this situation of darkness, where everything is not going well, as King David said we should also boldly say, “The Lord is my Light”; not only we should say this, but also walk through path shown to us by Christ himself, who is the divine light, who came to this world to destroy the darkness.
v.1 (a) “ The Lord is my salvation”- Salvation is necessary when someone is in trouble. It primarily means deliverance, rescue, safety etc.
The mission of Christ was to save the whole creation from the bondages of sin and grant us eternal life through his death and resurrection. Salvation is given to the whole creation. In Eastern Orthodox Understanding, Salvation is a gift from God to the human beings. And to be saved, human beings must work together with God, which is called doctrine of “synergy”(working together of God’s grace and a person’s will) , which helps us to completely surrender ourselves and get conformed with, being united to the divine. And, so, Salvation is an ongoing, continuous and a working together process.
We human beings are vulnerable creatures, we tend to fall into sinfulness, but when we walk in the divine light, we will be saved from unseen enemies and troublesome situations that come in our lives. When we are in trouble, or producing the fruits of flesh, it is paramount that someone should save us from all these. And it is Christ himself.
v.1 (a) “Whom shall I Fear?”- King David asks questions and it’s very relevant in present situation also.
Romans 8:31: “If God is for us, who is against us?” (NRSV)
As, human beings we may come across many problems, we may have to face severe atrocities, we may pass across valleys of darkness, during all these situations, we must think what should be our stand.
In the present context, the whole humankind is under the clutches of this deadly pandemic, how should we face it? We should not lose hope, but rather should be courageous. Let us illumine our minds and hearts with the Divine Word of God, through which we will receive the divine light, so that we may overcome this present situation of darkness that, has affected the whole humankind.
“Continual reflection on the Scriptures is light for the soul.” - ST. ISAAC THE SYRIAN
Having Hope in Christ, Let us walk in the light of Christ, and surely he would deliver us from this pandemic situation. Let’s hope in him, pray for all those who are suffering from this deadly disease, for all those who are working day and night to fight against this pandemic, especially doctors, nurses, frontline workers, paramedics, police guards etc… Let me conclude with a Bible Verse… May God Bless Us All…
Ps 27:14: “Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!” (NRSV)
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