Arulvakku

17.10.10 GOD THE JUDGE

Posted under Reflections on October 16th, 2010 by

Then he told them a parable about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary. He said, "There was a judge in a certain town who neither feared God nor respected any human being. And a widow in that town used to come to him and say, 'Render a just decision for me against my adversary.' For a long time the judge was unwilling, but eventually he thought, 'While it is true that I neither fear God nor respect any human being, because this widow keeps bothering me I shall deliver a just decision for her lest she finally come and strike me.'" The Lord said, "Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says. Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night? Will he be slow to answer them? I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?" (Lk 18:1-8)

 

 

Jesus came into the world to usher in the kingdom of God. He went about preaching and doing the deeds of the kingdom. Besides this he also corrected the wrong image the people had of God. He picked up different aspects of God and through parables and stories corrected them and gave them the right image of God. Here, he corrected the image of God as a judge. People believed that God was a judge and would perform justice to all the people, particularly to the people of Israel.

 

The judge in the story has no respect for God and he doesn’t care whether he does the right thing for people or not. The main point of the story is: if even a rotten judge could be persuaded to the right thing by persuasion, the how much more God would do for his own people; God who is justice personified.

 

The story is about the Christians who are living a life of suffering, holiness and service. The enemies attack them and the Christians would  want God to act on their behalf. And God will surely act and show that they are truly his people. God will vindicate them. His people should wait in patience and in prayer (relationship with him).   

  

16.10.10 LOYALTY

Posted under Reflections on October 15th, 2010 by

I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before others the Son of Man will acknowledge before the angels of God. But whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God. "Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the holy Spirit will not be forgiven. When they take you before synagogues and before rulers and authorities, do not worry about how or what your defense will be or about what you are to say. For the holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say." (Lk 12:8-12)

 

 

Today’s reading speaks about acknowledging, denying, speaking against, blaspheming etc. All these words seem to have a shade of meaning on loyalty or belongingness. In the Old Testament, the relationship between God and the people of Israel was founded on covenant relationship. Loyalty was the basis on which this relationship was built.

 

Anyone who sees the work of Jesus and denies or misunderstands him may be forgiven because he may repent and realize the truth afterwards. But anyone who denounces the work of the Holy Spirit is cut off and he will not benefit from that work.

 

Loyalty is required from disciples. Today’s reading is a challenge to all casual, half-hearted, relaxed disciples (Christianity). God knows and cares about the smallest details of our lives. God wants dedicated and single-minded discipleship. 

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