Seventh Sunday of Great Lent (Palm Sunday)

Hosanna!!! A king on a donkey’s back

Fr. Dr. Joshi Varghese, Bhilai

(Diocesan Education Officer & PRO, Calcutta Diocese)

Evening: St. Mt 21: 1 – 17, Morning: St. Lk 19 : 28 – 44 , Before Holy Qurbana: Gen 49: 8- 15, 1 Sam  2:18 -26, 16 : 1, Daniel 1: 16 – 20,  Micah 4:1 -5, I Kings 3: 4 – 14,  Zephaniah 3: 11 -20, Jeremiah30: 18-22  Holy Qurbana: I John 5 : 1 -12, Romans8 : 18 -25 OR Eph 6 : 1-24

St. John 12: 12-19, St. Luke19: 28-40, St. Mark 11: 1-11, St. Matthew 21:1-11

All the four Evangelists describe the ‘triumphal entry’ of Jesus into Jerusalem. The event is commemorated as Palm Sunday around the globe.

a. Unquestioning submission

“If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it’ (Lk 19:31).

Biblical scholars continue to debate on whether Jesus had given prior instructions to the owners of the colt used during the triumphal entry to Jerusalem and of the room prepared for the last Supper  or it was divinely predestined. The instruction to fetch the colt was short and simple; 'tell him that the Lord needs it'. The more surprising factor is that the owner allowed the disciples to take the colt without further questioning. It was a vivid example of complete submission of God's will without any hesitation. 

There would be occasions similar to this in our life; when someone dear to us is lost or something precious is taken away we remain perplexed. Sometimes we go to denial mode and say 'No, this can't happen to me'. Otherwise we might show our resentment against God with the statement 'Why me?' When we are specially chosen for blessings we take it for granted and even forget to be grateful to God. But when some calamity or untoward incidents occur, we get angry at God or try to argue with God. We are to be reminded that when life poses unanswered questions, the probable answer would be ‘the Lord needs it'. An unquestioning submission to the will of God shall help us to accept our life with a smile even when it surprises us with its challenges and success.

b. The Christ’s Colt

The choices of Christ were always unique. An ordinary girl of Nazareth, a countryside , was chosen as His would be mother; manger as his birthplace; lower class people – mainly fisher folk- as His disciples; the social outcasts- tax collectors and harlots- as His friends, a donkey to ride; ‘hired out’ upper room for the Last Supper; and a borrowed tomb for ‘the sleep’. There’s a pattern in His choices; He always looked out for the last, the least and the lost. He used the lowly as His mighty instruments. It should be a motivation to those who feel lost out or dejected that they still can be instruments of God. Our lack of wealth, health, intellect or status doesn’t matter for God; what matters is whether we are ready to wholeheartedly obey God. A horse is definitely considered superior to a donkey. But it was the lowly donkey that got the privilege to carry the Creator on its back.  

           The call of discipleship is a call to be a fool/ donkey for Christ. St. Paul says “We are fools for the sake of Christ (1 Cor 4:10). It was the ‘foolishness’ of the Apostles and Fathers that helped the Gospel to spread around the globe. They rejoiced for “they were counted worthy to suffer dishonour for the name” (Acts 5:41). The role of the Holy Fools of Russian Orthodox Church in revitalizing the Church, from time to time is noteworthy. God can take our humble, yet dedicated offerings, be it our nothingness or our littleness and turn it into abundance as the five loaves were multiplied to feed the thousands. As depicted by G. K. Chesterton in the poem ‘The Donkey’, we might be considered as the “tattered outlaw of the earth” and forced to ‘starve and scourge’ but there can be ‘one far fierce hour and sweet’. At the same time I should always remember that the “shout about my ears, and palms before my feet” are for Him and not for me. St. Paul wrote letters which were ‘weighty and strong’, yet it was considered that his ‘bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible’ (2 Cor 10:10). The role of the colt in the triumphal entry of Jesus shall encourage us to submit ourselves, with all our weakness and strength, as humble instruments of God.

c. Leader on horse Vs. Leader on Colt

 “Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter Jerusalem! Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey” (Zech 9:9).

The choice of donkey to travel upon for the ‘triumphal entry’ of Jesus was conspicuous due to its irony as Kings were always depicted riding the best horse available. Horse symbolises the authority and might of a king. During the time of Jesus, the Jewish expectation of Messiah was coloured with the political overtones of a strong authoritative figure who would liberate the people from the clutches of the Roman Empire. This Jewish expectation could have been best fulfilled by a Messiah riding a muscular horse than a colt.

Jesus had earlier warned the disciples about the authoritarian leadership of ‘the rulers of the Gentiles” who ‘lord it over them’. He had rightly pointed out that ‘their great ones were tyrants over them’, but the leadership of the Son of Man would be different as He ‘came not to be served but to serve (Mt 20:25-28). One of the main temptations of a Christian leader is to wield authority. Church history is replete with obnoxious examples of power wielding church leaders in spite of Jesus' exhortation for a Shepherd leadership (Jn 10:11). The Clergy (as well as the lay leaders of the Church) need to remind themselves that they are called to be shepherds and not masters. Pope Francis has rightly said that a priest “is not a boss to be feared by his flock, but a shepherd who walks alongside them and calls them by name. For the flock he is a shepherd, not an inspector, and he devotes himself to the mission not fifty or sixty percent, but with all he has…. Harshness is foreign to him, because he is a shepherd after the meek heart of God. Not only does he keep his doors open, but he also goes to seek out those who no longer wish to enter them.”

Conclusion

           Palm Sunday opens the door to Holy week, where we are called to focus on the passion of Christ. Let us fix our gaze on the cross and wholeheartedly submit ourselves to His will. Let this also be a time to introspect our relationships and authorities so that we may avoid even the tinge of authoritarianism from us.

NO PAIN,NO PALM; NO THORNS,NO THRONE;NO GALL,NO GLORY;NO CROSS,NO CROWN.

Sixth Sunday of Great Lent (Blind)

The journey of a blind to new vision   

         

Fr. Dr. Joshi Varghese, Bhilai

(Diocesan Education Officer & PRO, Calcutta Diocese)

Evening: St. Mark 10 : 46 – 52, Morning: St. Matthew 9 : 27-31, Before Holy Qurbana: Deut 25: 13- 16 & 26:1 – 13, Job 42: 1-10 Malachi 3:7-12 Holy Qurbana: I Pet 4: 12-19 II Cor 9 : 6-15 OR Eph 5 : 1-14

 

St. John 9: 1-41

One whole chapter of St. John is dedicated to the healing of a man who was blind from his birth. Though the other three gospel writers have mentioned about healing of the blind- healing of Bartimaeus ( Mk 10:46ff) / two blind men near Jericho ( Mt 20:29 ff , Lk 18:35 ff) – St. John had elaborated this unique event.

a. Be part of the solution not the problem

“His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” (Jn9:2).

​As the disciples travelled along with Jesus, they came across a blind man. They were travelling with their Master and like any other good student trying to impress their teacher; they tried to gain some ‘practical knowledge’. They came across a subject of study – a theological issue of sickness. It appears that they wanted to ponder over the theological aspects of suffering and sickness. They were very eager to know the cause of sickness. In their eagerness to unravel the age old mystery of suffering they forgot about the man and his real suffering. Once a building was on fire and as the people ran to put out the fire, there was one person who was trying to figure out what might have caused the fire. Instead of helping others to extinguish the fire, he was pondering how it might have started. 

When we come across people in need or problematic situations how do we respond? Do we only just comment without trying to resolve it? Do our words/ deeds aggravate the situation? Or could we do our bit to resolve the problem. If we are not able to resolve it can we at least point towards Him who could handle the situation?  

 

b. Beyond human comprehension

“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him” (Jn 9:4).

Human mind, from age immemorial, has been grappling with the questions, ‘Why good people suffer?’ and ‘What causes sickness?. Illness was mainly viewed as wrath of God; punishment for the sins committed by the person or someone related to the person.  It was believed that ‘the children would be punished for the iniquity of parents, to the third and the fourth generation’ (Exodus 20:5, 34:7 & Numbers 14:18). The forty years of wilderness journey is also attributed to the sin of the ancestors (Num 14: 33). This belief is seen in the prophets also ( Jer32:18).  By the time of Prophet Ezekiel this belief was put on the backburner and the prophet directed that it is wrong to claim that “the parents have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge”? (Ezk 18:2). He emphatically stated that “it is only the person who sins that shall die” (Ezk 18:4).  

Jesus is opening a new dimension to the entire discourse. Though some diseases can be traced to sin (eg. Healing of the crippled -Lk 13: 10-17; paralytic - Mk 2: 1-12), it would be a folly to view all sick as sinners. We would not be able to comprehend or explain everything that happens in our lives. We need to trust Him and His ways. As St. Paul exclaims in Romans 11:33-34, “O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!” We need to remind ourselves that we are mere instruments in His mighty hands and we need to blindly trust His thoughts, which may not be our thoughts, and His ways, which may not be our ways’ (Is 55:8).

c. Attaining Spiritual Vison

​Two miracles took place in the passage: the man got his sight and he attained spiritual vision. The initial opinion of the blind man, just after he received eyesight, was ‘Jesus is yet another person who performed miracle’. “The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes”(9:11). As he discussed the healing incident with the Pharisees, he realised that Jesus may not be an ordinary man but a prophet; “He is a prophet.” (9:11). Later as the Pharisees tried to prod him more, he understood that Jesus is bigger than a prophet, he is from God ” (9:33). The 2ndconfrontation with Jesus made him realise that Jesus ‘is Lord and he worshiped him’(9:38).

​There are many who view Jesus as a good human being or as a good teacher. They are happy to follow some of the teachings of Jesus, especially related to social living. Some others place him on the pedestal of a ‘prophet’; a social leader/ reformer like Mahatma Gandhi or prophetMohammed. There are also a few who are willing to treat him as a demigod or even as one among many gods like Budhha. When we interact with people who have these blurred visions about Jesus (Jesus as only a teacher or social leader or a minor god) it is our duty to humble and gently help them to have a complete vision about Christ. The conversations with the Pharisees, who were reluctant to believe and accept Jesus, helped the blind to grow in his realisation about Christ and ultimately he could gain a proper spiritual vision. Our dialogues with people of other faith would help them and ourselves to have a clear vision about God.

Conclusion

​Jesus has a mission. He is obliged to fulfill. That mission is to be the "Light of the world ". This is the mission we the disciples share with him. Our circumstances are an opportunity to shine brightly for the lord and share God's overcoming truth with those around us. Let us be that light to those around us.

Keep shining. The world needs your Light.

Fifth Sunday of Great Lent (Crippled woman)

              The Silent, yet Sound Faith 

       

Fr. Dr. Joshi Varghese, Bhilai

(Diocesan Education Officer & PRO, Calcutta Diocese)

Evening: St. Luke10: 25-37, Morning: St. Luke 7:11-17, Before Holy Qurbana: Gen 9: 1 -7, Jer 51: 1-9         Is 50: 1-5, Barazeera 51: 13 – 30  Holy Qurbana: I Pet 3: 8-16 Rom 12: 1- 15

 

St. Luke 13: 10-17

Healing of the crippled woman is one of the six miracles unique to the Gospel of Luke. The healing is also peculiar as Jesus healed her without any request from her or others.

a. An inclusive Worshipping community 

“… the entire crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things that he was doing” (Lk 13:17).

​St. Luke emphasises that the woman was crippled for eighteen years. “She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight” (13:11). It would have been extremely difficult for her to travel, yet in spite of her physical problem she used to attend the Synagogue worship on the Sabbaths. The foremost reason behind her attending the Synagogue would be her deep faith and love for God. Another reason for her regular attendance would be the worshipping community, which welcomed her and accepted her. They treated her as one among them despite her being crippled. She felt at home among her fellow faithful. When she was healed, they didn’t grumble about the possibility of Sabbath being broken, rather rejoiced at the miracle.

 A woman who actively participated in the Church services suffered a stroke and was bed ridden. After a few months she recovered partially and was able to walk with support. On a Sunday , after many months,  she attended the Church service. After the Holy Qurbana, as all others went to the offertory, she waited to join the queue at the end. She looked at other women to support her as she struggled to walk, alas, no one cared to help her. This hurt her and she stopped going to the Church (which can’t be condoned) and said ‘if they don’t care for their sister, would God care to be there?’ This incident might be an exception but it shows how heartless a worshipping community can become. 

The worshipping community of the crippled woman shall serve as a model on how to be an inclusive and accommodating community. The Church, represented through the worshipping communities/ parishes, is a place of consolation for the afflicted and tormented. It should be a place where all are accepted as they are; the rich and the poor, the sick and the healthy, the sinner and the saint, the man and the woman. Are our parishes able to accommodate everyone as the ‘son/daughter of Abraham’? Or are they still labelled and divided on the basis of the differences in wealth, health, ancestry, language etc.? When a tragedy befall, in the form of sickness, accident or death, it’s commonplace to see many offering their sympathy, visiting and praying for those who are affected. But as time passes, everyone gets used to that start overlooking the ill-fate. This often happens in case of prolonged illness or terminal illness. The woman who was crippled for eighteen long years draws our attention towards the chronically ill, who need our presence and prayers.

b. Jesus: A People Leader

The leader of the synagogue was indeed a religious man. He ensured that all the religious duties assigned to him are executed without fail and also the people religiously followed all the rules and regulations, especially pertaining to Sabbath. He meticulously followed the laws that he could have been chosen as the “Synagogue leader of the year’. He was concerned not about how many attended the worship but did those who attend follow all the rules. In short he was more concerned with the law than with the people. He did not allow anything which could possibly question the status-quo of the system.  

But Jesus was concerned about the people who attended the Synagogue. He cared less about the system. Hence Jesus said “The Sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the Sabbath” (Mk 2:27). Jesus can be viewed as a People Leader who inspired and transformed people.Social and religious systems have been made for the welfare of the humankind. If these systems oppress people, then there needs to be a re-interpretation and overhauling of the system so that it would enrich the people. The touchstone of an organisation should be how much is it contributing to the welfare and transformation of the people. Any religion, organisation or country to become transformational shall follow Gandhiji’s words to “recall the face of the poorest and weakest man you have seen, and ask yourself if this step you contemplate is going to be any use to him”. Such an attitude would help us to treat others as sons/ daughters of Abraham (Lk. 13:17) and not as inferior to ‘an ox or donkey’ (Lk. 13:16).Church is called to follow the path of Jesus in liberating people from their bondages and not to encumber  the people with rigid laws similar to that of the leader of the Synagogue.                 

Jesus, as a leader, respected the system but vehemently opposed whenever it turned oppressive. He was not against the system or law but outrightly rejected it whenever it lost its ‘spirit’. He gave more importance to the spirit of the law than to the letter itself. 

 Conclusion

​The gospel passage reveals that the role of the true religion is to liberate people from the bondages; to straighten up from their crippled lives. People are to be dealt with compassion and not under the stern scrutiny of oppressive laws for we are called to “bring good news to the oppressed”.The crippled woman had a sound and deep faith in God. Her silent faith was loud enough to be heard by God and to be healed.

 

Fourth Sunday of Great Lent (Canaanite woman)

              Faith unlocks the door    

Fr. Dr. Joshi Varghese, Bhilai

(Diocesan Education Officer & PRO, Calcutta Diocese)

Evening: St. Mark 7:24-37, Morning: St. Luke 7:1-10, Before Holy Qurbana: I Sam 7: 10-17, Num. 17: 1-8Is 56: 1-7, Ezk 34:1-16  Holy Qurbana: Acts 4:1-12 Rom 7: 14- 25

St. Matthew 15: 21-31

The incident of the Canaanite woman is often a stumbling block for some readers. One may wonder whether the conversation Jesus had with her can be truly attributed to him, as it seems to contradict his gentle nature.  

a. Faith matters, not the race

​ He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.”  He answered, “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs” (Mt 15:24- 26). 

St. Matthew is believed to have focused on the Jewish or Jewish- Christian readers. The first half of the Gospel has more focus on the Jewish community barring a few exceptions- visit of the non- Jewish Magi (2:1-12), Centurion (8:5-12), and possibly the two demoniacs (8:28–34). The instructions given while sending out the Twelve to “Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Mt 10:5- 6) also shows the focus on the Jewish community during the initial stages of Jesus public ministry. While explaining the parable of the weeds, Jesus tries to make the disciples and the Jews understand that his mission in not limited to be the Messiah of the Jews but his “field is the world” (Mt 13:38).

​It can be said that Jesus was reflecting the views of the disciples and other Jews that the Messiah would be sent exclusively for ‘the lost sheep of the house of Israel’. In other words, Jesus was holding a mirror to reflect the public opinion. This becomes clearer with the contrast in the attitude of the Jews and Gentiles to the ministry of Jesus. Even after witnessing many signs, the Jews still demanded for more signs while the gentiles represented by the Centurion and the Canaanite woman shows marvellous display of deep faith in Jesus. Jesus’ apparent initial apathy shown to her can be viewed as a test of her faith, which she passed in flying colours by demonstrating steadfast faith in the “son of David’.  The lesson that Jesus wanted to teach the disciples, and us, is that it is faith that matters, not one’s place of birth or race. Through the incident disciples and Jews were taught that Jesus has “other sheep that do not belong to this fold” and it is His, as well as that of the Church, to ‘bring them also to the same fold’ (Jn 10:16). 

 

b. Mother par excellence 

The love of mother is often praised as the most compassionate expression of love. Mother’s love is even used to compare the depth of God’s love. “As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem” (Is 66:13). ” Can a woman forget her nursing child, or show no compassion for the child of her womb? (Is 49:15a). The Canaanite woman can be considered as a model mother. She is the personification of empathy. She knelt before Jesus and said, “Lord, help me” (Mt 15:25). She took the torment of her daughter as her own. The daughter was perhaps insensible of her own disease as the case is with such diseases. It was the mother who underwent much suffering on seeing the condition of her daughter. Hence she prays, ‘have mercy on me’.

The Canaanite woman is not bothered about the reactions of others. She was not bothered with the rivalry that existed between Israel and the gentiles. To get her daughter cured, she sought the help of a Jew, Jesus son of David (Mt 15:22). As she knew Jesus is able to give her relief, she is determined to pursue him. The initial silence from Jesus did not deter her from her pursuit. The seemingly insulting references about her race also did not bother her; what mattered were her daughter’s illness and the presence of the one who can cure her. The Canaanite is a representative of “many women whose demands were mocked or pushed aside, whose insistence on justice and equality meant others soured their lips”.

We have witnessed many mothers similar to the Canaanite woman, in the present age also, though there may be few exceptions. The Gospel passage is indeed a glowing tribute to the self- giving love of mothers. It should prod the children and society in general to appreciate the struggles of all mothers, especially those of single- mothers.  

 

c. The power of Intercession

The Gospel portion is one of the beautiful passages about intercession. “I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone…” ( 1 Tim 2:1). Throughout the Bible we can see instances of intercessions being made. Abraham’s intercession for Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen 18: 16-33) was a lengthy one where he interceded for the cities multiple times. Moses is seen interceding before God for the Israelites whenever they sinned. “ ButMoses implored the Lord his God…Turn from your fierce wrath; change your mind and do not bring disaster on your people… And the Lord changed his mind about the disaster that he planned to bring on his people” (Ex 32:11-14). It was Moses intercession that saved Israel from destruction in the wake of God’s wrath. Moses also successfully interceded for his sister Miriam, who along with Aaron had rebelled against him.  

The hallmarks of Canaanite woman’s intercession were deep faith and perseverance. Even when her prayers where not answered she continued to plead. When she was apparently treated with contempt she persistently sought mercy. If our intercessions are not answered initially, itspossible that God is checking the depth of our faith. Let us join the Canaanite woman to plead for mercy without any resentment or anger about the situation we are in. 

 Conclusion

Let us gratefully remember all mothers for their sacrificial love and the pain they undertake for the nurturing of their beloved ones. May the Lenten season help us to fulfil God’s desire ‘to gather together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings’ ( Lk 11:34b). 

“To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. 

To one without Faith, no explanation is possible”. 

(Thomas Aquinas)