Devotional Thoughts for the first Sunday after Soonoyo - 21st Aug 2011
Reading: From the Gospel according to St. Luke 6: 39-45
Dear and Respected Brethren,
Today’s reading starts with a Parable. Our Lord asks whether a blind man can lead another blind. He again asks shall they not both fall into the ditch. What does it mean? Our Lord means that a leader must be perfect in all senses. A leader must have the necessary leadership qualities and talents in addition to a high sense of responsibility.
It is very difficult to find qualified leaders these days in the social, political and religious fields. Hence this advice of our Lord is so significant for us. One, who leads others to certain destination, must be aware of the ways to be covered. He must be noble, simple and humble. He must have love, patience and mind of pains taking. He must be courageous to undertake the challenges on the way. Only a leader of the above mentioned qualities only could succeed in their missions. If a leader always remembers that he or she could not do anything without the help and presence of our Lord Jesus. So also he or she should not forget the words of our Lord that He is the way, truth and life. All leaders are bound to lead their followers to this great truth.In verse 40 we read, “The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.” All leaders must realize the fact that God only could make anyone perfect in any walks or fields of life. God alone could make imperfects to perfects. In verse 40 it is intended to announce that God could make an imperfect person as a perfect man or woman, without the interference of any worldly sources or influences. In verse 41 and 42 we find a special nature of human weakness. While having a beam in one’s own eye, he or she might be getting worried over a mote in his or her friend’s eye. We could find this type of attitude among so many people in excess these days. While having a beam in one’s own eye, he or she should not try to find fault with others who might have a tiny mote in their eyes. The problem is that we do not count our weakness much and we are only interested to exaggerate the faults and problems of our own brethren. Now all people of various walks of lives do possess excess volumes of cash and hence they get a feeling that they are everything. Wrongly and without much thinking they place the wealth in the place of Almighty God. We must get rid of selfishness, if not we will be victims of this sort of satanic feelings and misunderstandings. A self-feeling that someone is rich will force him or her to look for positions in societies. Now there are so many social organizations and we do find the competitions for positions by the ones who feel that they are wealthy enough. One who cannot acquire a desire position in a social or cultural organization turns his or her attention to the religious fields. The one who rush for positions will not have any concern for others. They cannot love or respect their fellowmen. In such cases we find endless unrests. If we all would take the wealth as a gift from God there won’t be any problem. More over wealth is to be considered as a trust entrusted to us by our Lord God and we are not owners of the worldly riches. This feeling and faith would eradicate all sorts of unrests from our midst.
After teaching that a good tree would not bring forth corrupt fruits, our Lord tells us that a good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth that which is good and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. (Verse 45) We must try to appreciate the good in others. Or at least we should not project the weaknesses of others. Some people will not say a single word without insult. Let us clean up our hearts. If the Holy Spirit is active and strong in us, our words, deeds and thoughts would be identical to the precious fruits of the Holy Spirit. So let us examine ourselves. Let us beseech to God Almighty to renew the Holy Spirit in us and not to take away the Holy Spirit from us. We must humble ourselves to listen to the Holy Spirit in us. Then only we could behave as perfect Christians.
May God bless us all.
Jose Kurian Puliyeril
Kottayam.
Reading: From the Gospel according to St. Luke 6: 39-45
Dear and Respected Brethren,
Today’s reading starts with a Parable. Our Lord asks whether a blind man can lead another blind. He again asks shall they not both fall into the ditch. What does it mean? Our Lord means that a leader must be perfect in all senses. A leader must have the necessary leadership qualities and talents in addition to a high sense of responsibility. It is very difficult to find qualified leaders these days in the social, political and religious fields. Hence this advice of our Lord is so significant for us. One, who leads others to certain destination, must be aware of the ways to be covered. He must be noble, simple and humble. He must have love, patience and mind of pains taking. He must be courageous to undertake the challenges on the way. Only a leader of the above mentioned qualities only could succeed in their missions. If a leader always remembers that he or she could not do anything without the help and presence of our Lord Jesus. So also he or she should not forget the words of our Lord that He is the way, truth and life. All leaders are bound to lead their followers to this great truth.