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"Let us all work together |
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Beloved in Christ, Western philosophy has influenced the Christian way of thinking to regard ‘individualism’ as opposed to Eastern spirituality, ‘the community‘ as the basis of relationship with God. We are created for communion. Our God is triune in essence. God is Communion and we are created in His image. Intercession is communion, sharing a common life, humanity and being connected to one another through Christ. Jesus’ prayer for unity outlines the ‘Theology of community.” We are to be one as the Trinity is One and our life becomes partaking of the Trinity, in our relationship to Christ .This does not mean we become divine by nature, but become ‘partakers of the divine nature’ as II Peter 1:4 says . Again St. John 17:21-23 says that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as We are One, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that You have sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved me. ‘‘where two or three gather in My name, there am I with them.’’ (St. Mathew 18:20). Disciples were in one accord in prayer and supplication (Acts 1:14). What does it imply by ‘created in the image’ of God. What does it mean to be living a Christian life, to be saved, to be alive in Christ. Human life should emanate the love of God. If those who die in Christian faith are dead, unconscious and completely out of touch, then what is the relevance of Trinitarian life, especially in regard to those who laid down their lives for God. Why God takes somebody who is alive in Him and experiencing physical death. Why God cut them off from the very thing that He created them for, which is communion, a union with God. Why God separated them from all others. So death denotes separation and life typifies union and communion with God. When we die in Christ, we don’t die, but become separated from the physical realm and even more unionized with God, with His Saints, His Church and His Body. Jesus said, if you have faith. even though you die, you will live. James 2:26 says, ‘as body without the spirit is dead’. It says spirit still lives . It lives in Christ. We have to live in communion and intercession for the departed soul. If we say we love God, then we must love others, in emulating God who is love. We have to give our self to one-another and submit our self to one another as God submits Himself within the Life of Trinity. We become partakers of Christ’s suffering by sharing in the suffering of others. (Phil 3:10). We ‘fulfil Christ’s suffering’ (Col 1:24). If we share the love that led Christ to suffer for our sakes we voluntarily enter into the suffering of others. In this way our salvation is not only between ‘us and God’ or personal relationship with Christ, but it is among us and other believers. Intercession is our recognition of others’ suffering and our suffering with them by offering prayer to God on their behalf and thus strengthening and encouraging them. It is ultimately the expression of love, what God Himself is. (I John 4:8). Prior to the Great lent period, let us remember all departed clergy and laymen, who taught us to become children of God. O Son of God, grant them rest in the Heavenly Kingdom with the just and the righteous. Great lent period is a time of prayer, fasting and meditation. This period allows us to empty our self of our will, our earthly passions and focus on God’s will. Church calendar also gives us prescribed scripture reading of the day. This reading can edify our spiritual life. Begin scripture reading with prayer. Spending some time in silence and meditation. Communion with God through silence, prayer and reading of the Holy Scripture helps us ignoring our worries, managing stress, which are the burdens of the modern worldly life. Fasting is not merely avoiding certain food, but giving up sinful practices. The person who limits his fast just for abstaining from animal food product, is the one who belittles is value. Do you fast? Prove it by doing good works. If you see someone in need, be compassionate with them. If you see a friend being honoured, don’t be jealous of him. You can’t fast with only your mouth, but you must fast with your eye. your ears, your feet and all parts of the body. Let us start this great lent period with utmost discipline and continue to grow in our spiritual practices to lead a life analogous to the one in Paradise. Amen. In His service Jose Mathew Achen
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