ദനഹാക്കാലം അഞ്ചാം ഞായർ

യോഹ 3, 15-21

സന്ദേശം

ദൈവത്തിന്റെ വെളിപാടുകളാണ് ദനഹാക്കാലത്തിലൂടെ നമ്മുടെ മുൻപിൽ അനാവരണം ചെയ്യപ്പെടുന്നത്. ദനഹാക്കാലം അഞ്ചാം ഞായറാഴ്ച്ചത്തെ സുവിശേഷത്തിലൂടെയും ഒരു വെളിപാടാണ് നമുക്ക് ലഭിക്കുന്നത്. വെളിപാട് ഇതാണ്: ദൈവം സ്നേഹമാകുന്നു. സ്നേഹം ദൈവമാകുന്നു. ക്രിസ്തുവിലൂടെ വെളിപ്പെട്ട ഈ മഹാരഹസ്യം ഇന്നത്തെ സുവിശേഷത്തിലാണ് ഉള്ളത്. ” അവനിൽ വിശ്വസിക്കുന്ന ഏവനും നശിച്ചുപോകാതെ നിത്യജീവൻ പ്രാപിക്കുന്നതിനുവേണ്ടി തന്റെ ഏകജാതനെ നൽകുവാൻ തക്കവിധം ദൈവം ലോകത്തെ അത്രമാത്രം സ്നേഹിച്ചു.” ദൈവ സ്നേഹത്തിന്റെ പാരമ്യമായി, ക്രിസ്തുവായി ദൈവം ഈ ഭൂമിയിൽ അവതരിച്ചുകൊണ്ടു അവിടുന്ന് തന്റെ സ്നേഹം പ്രകടമാക്കി. ക്രിസ്തുവാകട്ടെ തന്റെ ജീവിതത്തിലൂടെ ദൈവത്തിന്റെ സ്നേഹം എന്താണെന്ന് ലോകത്തിനു മനസ്സിലാക്കി കൊടുത്തു. ഇന്നത്തെ സുവിശേഷം നമ്മോടു പറയുന്നത്, “മകളേ, മകനേ നിന്നിലൂടെ എന്റെ സ്നേഹം വെളിപ്പെടുത്തുവാൻ ഞാൻ ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്നു.” നമ്മിലൂടെ ദൈവത്തിന്റെ സ്നേഹം, ക്രിസ്തുവിന്റെ സ്നേഹം വെളിവാക്കപ്പെടുന്നവിധം ജീവിക്കുക എന്നതാണ് ഇന്നത്തെ സുവിശേഷ സന്ദേശം.

വ്യാഖ്യാനം

ഇന്നത്തെ സുവിശേഷത്തിലെ പതിനാറാം വാക്യം ബൈബിളിലെ ഏറ്റവും മനോഹരമായ വാക്യമാണ്. ക്രിസ്തുമതത്തിന്റെ സകല ദൈവശാസ്ത്രവും, ക്രിസ്തുമതത്തിന്റെ കാമ്പും കാതലും ഈ വാക്യത്തിൽ അടങ്ങിയിരിക്കുന്നു. ‘ക്രിസ്തുവായി ഈ ഭൂമിയിൽ അവതരിക്കത്തക്കവിധം ദൈവം ഈ ലോകത്തെ അത്രയധികമായി സ്നേഹിച്ചു. തന്നിൽ വിശ്വസിക്കുന്നരാരും നശിച്ചുപോകാതെ രക്ഷപ്രാപിക്കേണ്ടതിനു അവിടുന്ന് നമുക്ക് വേണ്ടി മരിച്ചു. ഉത്ഥാനം ചെയ്തു ഇന്നും ജീവിക്കുന്നു. സുവിശേഷങ്ങളുടെ summary ആണ് ഈ ദൈവ വചനം. തുടർന്നുവരുന്ന വചനങ്ങളോ ദൈവസ്നേഹത്തിന്റെ സ്വഭാവത്തെ വെളിവാക്കുന്നതും.

ബൈബിൾ മുഴുവൻ, ഉത്പത്തി മുതൽ വെളിപാടുവരെ, വരച്ചുകാണിക്കുന്നതു…

A man lives as long as does his ideology

Poetry

Click on the names of the poets to read

Dr Piku Chowdhury, Milan Mondal, Navneet K Maun, Dr Laksmisree Banerjee, Soumik De, Aminath Neena

Musings

Bapu Walked Here

A thoughtful walk down the memory lane with the shades of Bapu influencing the author,Lina Krishnan. Clickhereto read.

Travels with Gandhi

Dr. Nishi Pulugurthameanders through the passages of Aga Khan Palace in Pune, where Gandhi had been imprisoned, and wonders… Clickhereto read.

Story

When Bapu met MLK Jr…

Santosh Bakayatakes us on a journey among clouds and chirruping birds. Clickhereto read.

Essays

Gandhi — an enduring vision — and those spectacles

Keith Lyonsapplauds the Mahatma from New Zealand. Clickhereto read.

‘If humanity is to progress, Gandhi is inescapable’

Rakhi Dalalsays it all through…

Saturday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time

January 30, 2021

Today, in God’s Lavish Mercy, our Responsorial Psalm is the glorious Benedictus which is one of the three canticles in Luke’s first two chapters, the other two being the “Magnificat” and the “Nunc Dimittis”. The Benedictus was the song of thanksgiving uttered by Zechariah on the occasion of the circumcision of his son, John the Baptist.

Can you imagine Zechariah that morning, holding his little boy, eight days old? This unexpected, miraculous child would be named in a ceremony marking the ancient covenant between God and God’s People.

The little group gathered for the ritual expected the name to be an honorary repetition, probably his grandfather’s name. Instead, it is a name delivered by an angel: John, which means “Yahweh has shown favor,” — announcing John’s role in salvation history.

When Zechariah…

To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. —Hebrews 3:15

God is speaking to mankind with more than one voice, but it must be said that the clearest, most distinct and most easily distinguished voice is that of the Holy Spirit. The call and reproof and conviction by the Holy Spirit give grave and serious meaning to all other voices calling men home.

If it were not for the presence of the Holy Spirit speaking through the consciences of men and women, no other voice would have any significance. For the Holy Spirit, the divine Comforter, came to confirm Christ’s words and Christ’s work and Christ’s person. EFE026

The Holy Spirit…lived in the human Christ for three and a half years, the Spirit who wept in His tears, suffered in His agonies, spoke in His words of wisdom and love, took the…

But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream! Amos 5:24

Among the many exhibits and artifacts exploring the harsh reality of slavery and its aftermath in the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington DC, I was grateful to discover the Contemplative Court. This tranquil room features translucent walls of bronze glass, and water appears to rain down from the ceiling into a pool.

As I sat in that peaceful space, a quote on the wall from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. caught my eye: “We are determined . . . to work and fight until justice rains down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.” These powerful words are drawn from the Old Testament book of Amos.

Amos was a prophet living among a people who were involved in religious activities, such as celebrating festivals and offering sacrifices, but whose…

At the sixth-annual Evangelicals for Life conference Thursday, former NFL player Benjamin Watson warned that the pro-life movement must be a “Gospel-minded catalyst” or run the risk of losing the “next generation.”

A HOLY TASK

Obey theLordwith great fear.Psalm 2:11

mary and Mary [Magdalene] knew a task had to be done—Jesus’ body had to be prepared for burial. Peter didn’t offer to do it. Andrew didn’t volunteer … So the two Marys decide to do it …

I wonder if halfway to the tomb they had sat down and reconsidered. What if they’d looked at each other and shrugged, “What’s the use?” What if they had given up? What if one had thrown up her arms in frustration and bemoaned, “I’m tired of being the only one who cares. Let Andrew do something for a change. Let Nathanael show some leadership.”

Whether or not they were tempted to, I’m glad they didn’t quit. That would have been tragic. You see, we know something they didn’t. We know the Father was watching. Mary and Mary thought they were alone. They weren’t. They…

Quote/s of the Day – 29 January – The Mustard Seed – Lord, May Your kingdom Come Into My Heart

“To what shall we compare
the kingdom of God, …
It is like a mustard seed,
which, when sown on the ground,
is the smallest of all the seeds on earth,
yet when it is sown, it grows up
and becomes larger than all the garden plants
and puts out large branches,
so that the birds of the air
can make nests in its shade.”

Mark 4:30-32

“He Himself will help us
and lead us
to what He has promised.”

St Pope Leo the Great (400-461)
Father and Doctor of the Church

“You first loved us
so that we might love You—
not because You needed our love
but because, we could not be
what You created us to be,
except by loving You.”

William of Saint Thierry (c 1075-1148)

In the mid nineties, I had a little red Buick and a big ol’ bass box in the trunk, and would listen to “Christian Rock”, cranked to 11.

(What did you say? Huh? Can you say that again, I didn’t hear you….)

I have gotten away from that genre for many reasons, the least of which may be a loss of hearing, but some songs have stuck with me over the decades.

The artist’s I listened to sought to reflect Scriptural teaching for the most part. They ranged from “preaching” pop culture religion to significant theological teaching. As I listened to the lyrics, I found some to be quite challenging.

To be honest, I listened because I could justify the rock beat with “sanctified lyrics”.

Occassionaly I will post a song, supply the lyrics and make a comment or two. If you decide to listen to the tune, turn the…

Duration: 365 days

ISAAC

His name means:“He Laughs”

His work:Isaac was an accomplished farmer and herdsman.
His character:The only son of Abraham and Sarah, Isaac at a young age witnessed, through the faithfulness of his father, the meaning of obedience. He was gentle and hardworking.
His sorrow:As an old and feeble man, Isaac was victimized by the deception of his son Jacob and to his later dismay gave him the blessing that he had intended for his older son, Esau.
His triumph:Isaac is considered one of the three great patriarchs. For millennia his progeny have revered him.
Key Scriptures:Genesis 25-27

A LOOK AT THE MAN

When a man is hugely successful in his work, everyone notices. Some of those people celebrate his prosperity; others hate him for it. That is what Isaac experienced. He is one of the early farmers in the Scriptures with…