Devotional Thoughts for the Hoodos Etho Sunday 6th Nov 2011

 

 

 

 

Reading: From the Gospel according to St. John 10: 22-38

Dear and Respected Brethren,

As per the Church Calendar, last Sunday was the first Sunday- the day of sanctification and on 6th Nov 2011 will be its second Sunday- the day of Dedication. Last Sunday was named Koodos Etho meaning sanctification of the entire Church and this Sunday is named Hoodos Etho meaning the dedication of the entire Church. We all have attended many Koodos Etho Sundays as well as Hoodos Etho Sundays so far. Let us think how many Sundays in the past had significant role on the Koodos Ethos or Hoodos Ethos. We do believe and teach the younger ones that Hoodos Etho stands for the dedication of the Holy church. It has become a routine practice of the Church than an experience. While we might examine ourselves, we will find and come to the conclusion that our rituals do remain as rituals without making a transformation in our minds and thoughts.

Today’s reading reminds the experiences of our Lord on a day of dedication in Jerusalem. In Exodus 40, Leviticus chapters 8 and 9, and Numbers 7 we read about the dedication of the Tabernacle. In 1 Kings 8 and 2 Chronicle chapters 5 and 6 we read about the dedication of the Temple. So also in Nehemiah 12:27 we read about the dedication of the Wall of Jerusalem. In all these dedications, transformation to holiness was the main agenda. Whenever the Israelites celebrated the feasts later, they lost the process of the transformation to holiness for ever. That is the reason why the descendants of the former fathers questioning our Lord “how long does thou make us doubt.” (Verse 24) In the beginning verses of the same chapter we find our Lord introducing Himself as the good shepherd who gives his life for the sheep. (Verse 11 ff) Still they did not recognize our Lord as He was. We are also not indifferent. Every week we get the opportunity to unite ourselves with our Lord through the acceptance of His flesh and blood. Still we also carry on the ‘doubt’ as the Israelites. In this condition we must wake ourselves from our sleeping nature.

In fact Dedication must be declaration (of the) entire dependence in Christ and trust innocently, obey (with) nobility. The first alphabets of the words declaration, entire, dependence, in, Christ, and, trust, innocently, obey and nobility are taken from the word dedication. What we are obliged to declare? It is nothing else other than Lord Jesus is our Lord and God. He is the head of the Church where the church is the body of Christ. We are obliged to listen what He is telling us. We should not ignore the instructions and teachings of the head. We must long to live in Him and allow Him to live in us. Refer St. John 6: 51-55. We must declare and practice all these points every day in our daily lives. We must submit ourselves and all that is held by us entirely to God’s disposal. The worldly riches held with us are not ours and the feeling and faith of such must govern us always.  The entire creation on earth, rich and poor, healthy and unhealthy, white and black all are His creation and He extends His love and care to one and all alike. We must depend His mercy and compassion than depending ourselves. We must get rid of selfishness completely from our words, deeds and thoughts. We must prepare ourselves to abide in Him. Kindly refer St. John 6:56, 15: 6, 1 John 3: 16. Christ is our Lord, God, Savior, and Redeemer. Introduce Him to our younger ones so. (St. John 20:28) We must keep up our trust in Him for whom nothing is impossible. Our trust in our Savior must be guiding and leading factor in our every day lives, as mentioned in 1 Timothy 4:10. We must follow a life style where innocent approaches could be practiced. We must be innocent to our Lord God as well as to our fellow men. We should not fail in obeying the commandments of God and His Church. We must give prime importance to loving God and loving our fellowmen. “We ought to obey God rather than men.” Acts. 5: 29  We must be keen in identifying the conversation with God through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit day by day. Do we take interest to give heed to God in our busy lives? We must spare little time to hear Him. We should not forget the fact that our prayers are a sort of conversation with Lord God who created us and protects us. Let us listen Him and respond according to His words and instructions. The aim of our lives must be to attain nobility, pure and pious nobility which would be the after effect of living in and with God. In Acts 17: 11 we read about Bereans were nobler. In 1 Corinthians 1: 26 we read, “For you see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.” Let us try and God Almighty would help and guide us.

May God bless us to have a renewed life in Lord Jesus Christ for ever and ever.

Jose Kurian Puliyeril

 

Kottayam.

 

 

 

Reading: From the Gospel according to St. John 10: 22-38
Dear and Respected Brethren,
As per the Church Calendar, last Sunday was the first Sunday- the day of sanctification and on 6th Nov 2011 will be its second Sunday- the day of Dedication. Last Sunday was named Koodos Etho meaning sanctification of the entire Church and this Sunday is named Hoodos Etho meaning the dedication of the entire Church. We all have attended many Koodos Etho Sundays as well as Hoodos Etho Sundays so far. Let us think how many Sundays in the past had significant role on the Koodos Ethos or Hoodos Ethos. We do believe and teach the younger ones that Hoodos Etho stands for the dedication of the Holy church. It has become a routine practice of the Church than an experience. While we might examine ourselves, we will find and come to the conclusion that our rituals do remain as rituals without making a transformation in our minds and thoughts.
Today’s reading reminds the experiences of our Lord on a day of dedication in Jerusalem. In Exodus 40, Leviticus chapters 8 and 9, and Numbers 7 we read about the dedication of the Tabernacle. In 1 Kings 8 and 2 Chronicle chapters 5 and 6 we read about the dedication of the Temple. So also in Nehemiah 12:27 we read about the dedication of the Wall of Jerusalem. In all these dedications, transformation to holiness was the main agenda. Whenever the Israelites celebrated the feasts later, they lost the process of the transformation to holiness for ever. That is the reason why the descendants of the former fathers questioning our Lord “how long does thou make us doubt.” (Verse 24) In the beginning verses of the same chapter we find our Lord introducing Himself as the good shepherd who gives his life for the sheep. (Verse 11 ff) Still they did not recognize our Lord as He was. We are also not indifferent. Every week we get the opportunity to unite ourselves with our Lord through the acceptance of His flesh and blood. Still we also carry on the ‘doubt’ as the Israelites. In this condition we must wake ourselves from our sleeping nature.
In fact Dedication must be declaration (of the) entire dependence in Christ and trust innocently, obey (with) nobility. The first alphabets of the words declaration, entire, dependence, in, Christ, and, trust, innocently, obey and nobility are taken from the word dedication. What we are obliged to declare? It is nothing else other than Lord Jesus is our Lord and God. He is the head of the Church where the church is the body of Christ. We are obliged to listen what He is telling us. We should not ignore the instructions and teachings of the head. We must long to live in Him and allow Him to live in us. Refer St. John 6: 51-55. We must declare and practice all these points every day in our daily lives. We must submit ourselves and all that is held by us entirely to God’s disposal. The worldly riches held with us are not ours and the feeling and faith of such must govern us always.  The entire creation on earth, rich and poor, healthy and unhealthy, white and black all are His creation and He extends His love and care to one and all alike. We must depend His mercy and compassion than depending ourselves. We must get rid of selfishness completely from our words, deeds and thoughts. We must prepare ourselves to abide in Him. Kindly refer St. John 6:56, 15: 6, 1 John 3: 16. Christ is our Lord, God, Savior, and Redeemer. Introduce Him to our younger ones so. (St. John 20:28) We must keep up our trust in Him for whom nothing is impossible. Our trust in our Savior must be guiding and leading factor in our every day lives, as mentioned in 1 Timothy 4:10. We must follow a life style where innocent approaches could be practiced. We must be innocent to our Lord God as well as to our fellow men. We should not fail in obeying the commandments of God and His Church. We must give prime importance to loving God and loving our fellowmen. “We ought to obey God rather than men.” Acts. 5: 29  We must be keen in identifying the conversation with God through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit day by day. Do we take interest to give heed to God in our busy lives? We must spare little time to hear Him. We should not forget the fact that our prayers are a sort of conversation with Lord God who created us and protects us. Let us listen Him and respond according to His words and instructions. The aim of our lives must be to attain nobility, pure and pious nobility which would be the after effect of living in and with God. In Acts 17: 11 we read about Bereans were nobler. In 1 Corinthians 1: 26 we read, “For you see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.” Let us try and God Almighty would help and guide us.
May God bless us to have a renewed life in Lord Jesus Christ for ever and ever.
Jose Kurian Puliyeril
Kottayam.

 

 

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