Good Governance Day

What better way to honour the King of Kings, born in a stable surrounded by Cattle, in an Overcrowded land,(all had arrived for the census,) Unlettered, yet taught a Million. Taught us to Live and died to Save us all.  Jesus to the western world and Eisa to the East.

What better way to honour him who taught us what Governance is all about when he said, 'Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's.'

Today the largest democracy in the world thinks it fit to celebrate the day as Good Governance Day. As his followers what more should we ask for, when he gets recognized in unimaginable ways. 

The Barefoot Movement

To his great surprise, Moses saw a bush burning without fire to kindle it. The bush burned,  and yet did not burn away; When the LORD saw that he turned aside to look; God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, "Moses, Moses!" And he said, "Here I am." Then he said, “Do Not come here, remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you stand is Holy ground. (Exodus 3:5). He also said, I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.”
Can we in our churches start the barefoot movement:
We walk in with our footwear on, but when walking up to receive the Eucharist,
can we step out of our footwear, let it be at our seated space and walk bare feet in reverence to his presence. 

The Cornerstone

Isaiah 28:16-17

So this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation;   
He was not in the race when it began. They were all miles ahead of him. And then the movement began, silently though. 'When we can no longer change a situation, we are challenged to change our-selves.' The first was when he secured admission for studies over-seas. All were astounded. None expected this of him. On completing his education while all waited in the queue, he went out in the sun and secured his own assignment, and moved ahead by sheer grit.
Three years later walked in with the girl he would want to spend the rest of his years. Another
Three years later to them was born a girl, and now a further
Three years later he has given them a roof, a place we all call home.

GOSPEL according to Luke 12:13 - 21

This Gospel has its own interpretations... 
Read it with the Same Script, and Different Cast
Someone in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me.”  He replied to him, “Friend, who appointed me as your judge and arbitrator?”

Then he said to the crowd, “Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.” Then he told them a parable.            

“There was a rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest. He asked himself, ‘What shall I do, for I do not have space to store my harvest?’  And he said, ‘This is what I shall do: I shall tear down my barns and build larger ones. There I shall store all my grain and other goods and I shall say to myself, “Now as for you, you have so many good things stored up for many years, rest, eat, drink, be merry!”’

But God said to him, ‘You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?’

Thus will it be for all who store up treasure for themselves but are not rich in what matters to God.”

Gospel, Luke 9:51-62

He was all of 16 when he decided, once he completed his work life cycle, would think of ways to give back.
Now it happened that as the time drew near for him to be taken up, he resolutely turned his face towards Jerusalem and sent messengers ahead of him. These set out, and they went into a Samaritan village to make preparations for him, but the people would not receive him because he was making for Jerusalem. Today he was over the hill and remembered the pledge he made to himself.

Seeing this, the disciples  James and John said,

'Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to burn them up?' But he turned and rebuked them, and they went on to another village.

He got his dream venture afloat, but there were areas  beyond him and requested for help, but met with regret. As they traveled along they met a man on the road who said to him, 'I will follow you wherever you go.' No Time was the response he got from the first. Jesus answered, 'Foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head.' Too many commitments said another, Another to whom he said, 'Follow me,' replied, 'Let me go and bury my father first.' But he answered, 'Leave the dead to bury their dead; your duty is to go and spread the news of the kingdom of God.' Another said, 'I will follow you, sir, but first let me go and say good -- bye to my people at home.' How much will you pay me asked the third?
A week later they met at the local prayer hall. It was a coincidence to hear the Gospel of the day Jesus said to him, 'Once the hand is laid on the plough, no one who looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.' 

Who are we ?

Gospel: Luke 9:18-24

Jesus warns that he will be rejected, and his fate will be shared by his followers.
Once when Jesus was praying alone, with only the disciples near him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” They answered, “John the Baptist; but others, Elijah; and still others, that one of the ancient prophets has arisen.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered, “The Messiah of God.”

He sternly ordered and commanded them not to tell anyone, saying, “The Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”

Then he said to them all, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it.    

The above passage raises a few important questions, answers of which we must seek within.

1. Who do people think We are ?          

2. To follow him, We need to take up  our cross willingly and follow his words.

It is Finished......

It was the Summer of his 29 as he walked in. The garden at Gethsemane located on a slope of the Mount of Olives across the Kidron valley from Jerusalem where Jesus frequently went to pray.(John 18:2) A Ten year Courtship, and now opposing views on every subject after exchanging vows. The most famous event at Gethsemane occurred on the night before his crucifixion, when Jesus was betrayed. Frequent bouts of hysterics had driven him up the wall. As the evening began after Jesus and his disciples had celebrated the Passover, they came to the garden. Being at the receiving end was never his forte. At one point, Jesus took the three of them - Peter,James and John - to a place separated from the rest. He knew he could no longer continue. Here Jesus asked them to watch with him, so they would not fall into Temptation.(Matthew 26:41), but  they feel asleep. She was unyielding. Twice Jesus had to wake them. A life they planned to build together, was shattered. This was poignant because Peter indeed did fall that night when three times he denied knowing Jesus. The lease had expired. Jesus moved a little away from the three to pray. It was this day they chose to go separate ways, as he walked homeward. He was exceedingly sorrowful, but God sent an angel from heaven to strengthen him. (Luke 22:43) He left his heart behind and arrived in tears. The intense anguish and sorrow Jesus felt was understandable. He wept like never before. Being God, Christ knew all that was to happen to him (John 18:4) He could not accept this. He knew in detail the events that were to follow his betrayal. He was Strong, but now felt Weak. He knew that many who hailed him days earlier would now be screaming for his Crucifixion ( Luke 23:23) It was sad to watch him breakdown. He knew he would be flogged to the point of death, before they pounded the metal spikes into his flesh. Mary his mother arrived. No sooner had Jesus risen from his first fall than he met his mother standing by the wayside. She was dumbstruck. With immense love, Mary looks at Jesus and their eyes met. Why us! Mary's soul was steeped in grief. Her husband stood by her side consoling her. Crucifixion was considered to be the most painful. It could have been in a fit of anger he explained. "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachtthani?" (Matthew 27:46) 
Mary asked her husband to mediate, but she never took his calls or responded to his messages. The spiritual pain of feeling abandoned greatly exceeded the physical pain. And then the day arrived. Jesus knowing that all had been accomplished and to fulfil scripture said, "I thirst". As they broke bread together at the Final Reconciliation, he knew it was all over.  A jar of sour wine was standing there. They put a sponge of the wine on a branch of hyssop and to his mouth. When Jesus received the wine, he said, "It is Finished." He bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (John 19:30)  

as they walked out of the kitchen

It was a day of Merriment. It was the 4th of January 2014.
The guests had all arrived before the party began.

Music was in full blast, as the lady conductor held every one to the floor. All danced as if there was no tomorrow, until the clock struck twelve. The time had arrived for the guests to fly back to places they came from

Tired, they arrived home and slept through the night.
It was a 6 month long sleep, before they set foot in the kitchen.

Both were reared with a soft touch.
Now they had to warm up to get the kitchen fires burning.

Inadvertently both cut their fingers as they went through the process, and then the troubles began..........

Whose blood was more red. Mine or Yours was the argument.

In the redness of things, they forgot why they had entered the kitchen. They kept the debate alive till they bled themselves dry, and gradually both decided to stay away from the kitchen not knowing that the fireplace was where the warmth lay.

As they stood out in the open,

they reminisced their school days.

How full of Love and Life they were, not burdened with the daily chores, only to lead a carefree life.

They yearned for life, without the encumbrances.

How could the Hall be warm, if the kitchen was cold.

It's nearing sunset, as darkness descends.

Will they agree to set aside their bloodlines and get into the kitchen together.....

"Will tomorrow see a new Dawn in their lives."