SENSING GOD’S PRESENCE

            In the post resurrection period, the witnesses of Risen Jesus found it difficult to proclaim the crucified messiah. The Jews expectation of militant messiah, who would deliver them from the hands of roman empire was very prominent. The apostles and all the witnesses were captured by the Resurrection of Jesus but they could not get proper words to describe this event. They wanted to reveal this wonder and unheard act of God to others but they could not because of the inexplicability of the crucifixion. For the Jews crucifixion is a stumbling block (1 Cor1:23). They could not reconcile with the fact that the messiah suffered and died on the cross. They needed signs to recognize Jesus, the crucified one as the messiah. In todays’ gospel too Jn2:13-25 the Jewish authorities ask for a sign. The proclamation of the crucified Jesus as God to the gentiles was also very difficult because of the prevailing greek philosophical thought that demanded perfection and immutability in God’s nature. They perceived Jesus as a foolish God, who could not help himself and died sadenly. Their wisdom and reasoning demanded logical understanding to comprehend this unexplainable act of crucifixion. That’s why St. Paul tells that though this crucifixion seems to be foolishness of God to the gentiles, still the foolishness of God is greater that man’s wisdom (1 Cor1:25).

            In the gospel Jesus is angry with the people who have desecrated the holiness of the God’s temple with their business market. The temple is the place where people come to encounter God. It is the meeting place of divine and human. Jesus presents Himself as the new temple where the new worship begins. As Christians, we are called to be temple of the Holy Spirit where Jesus resides. Thus, we have the obligation to guard the holiness of the temple of our body. In the first reading Ex 20:1-17, God asks people to keep the ten commandments which will make them holy and keep them in a right path. Those commandments are simple guidelines to order our life and discipline oneself. Amidst them the most important commandment is to have the sense of God and keep the Sabbath holy.

            In this techno-cratic and business oriented world, people long for holiday to relax and get refreshed. But our ancient wisdom tells that setting apart a day for God will make a person reflective of ones’ activity and lifestyle. The relaxation holidays will remove our stress but will they make us to evaluate our actions?  In today’s culture, we need relaxation at every weekend to remove stress.  Which is better; to remove the stress completely or relax every weekend to get prepared to face new stresses? Probably, we are loosing the practicality in dealing with the life situation. A day spent in Lord’s presence will make us aware of our status in life. In reading the word of God we discover the place we stand in life. God has given us basic commandments to follow which will make us stress free. The constant renewal and reminding of the commandments is needed as we are prone to distraction in many ways. This renewal will take place only when we set apart a day for the Lord. Let us keep the Sabbath, the day of the Lord holy by affirming the presence of God and evaluating one’s life from the sight of God. Let us clean our temple with Jesus’s commandment of love, mercy and compassion. Let our temple be holy.


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