Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
Abraham Mattackal
MTC of Los Angeles, CA
12 What shall I return to the
Lord for all his bounty to me? 13 I will lift
up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord
The Diocese of North America
& Europe is celebrating November 22 as Diaspora Sunday. This is the Sunday
before Thanksgiving. What do these two celebrations have in common?
395
years had elapsed since the early English settlers, “pilgrims” as they are
often called, first celebrated Thanksgiving at Plymouth, Massachusetts in the
fall of 1621. What were these early English settlers thankful for? First,
they were the same "Separatists who left England for Holland towards the
beginning of the 16"century at the time of Queen Elizabeth I. Second, the
pilgrims landed at Plymouth at the worst time of the year- in December 1620.
The fierce winter of New England was taking its toll. Nearly half of them died
in the next few months. Yet, the pilgrims did not lose hope or their steadfast
faith in God. With the onset of Spring, they planted corn and sweet potatoes
and in the summer they had a rich harvest. The native Wampanoag Indians turned
out to be friendly and helpful. Their settlement was going to survive. And, in
the fall, in a spirit of victory over awesome odds and a feeling of
homesickness for the land they grew up and left behind, they had a harvest
festival. It is their triumph that all Americans now celebrate as Thanksgiving
Day celebrations !
The
word Diaspora is a Greek word used to designate the dispersal of Jews at the
time of the destruction of the first temple in 586 B.C. and their forced exile
to Babylon. The term Diaspora has also been applied to other peoples living
outside their traditional homelands. We are a perfect example. We left our
homeland Kerala and have settled down in various parts of the world. Although
it is not at all comparable with what the early pilgrims had to go through when
they arrived at Plymouth, Mass, yet our early Mar Thoma immigrants who came in
the 1950's, 60's and 70’s to U.K., United States and Canada had to face
enormous difficulties. Today's young adults were babies or little children then.
Mothers had to spend many a sleepless night working night shifts and
taking care of their babies during the day. Those who came as students had to
do menial jobs to sustain a meager living. Some of them had to walk in sandals
in the winter snow as they could not afford to buy a winter shoe. Every father
or mother or one who came as a student alone, had a story to tell his or her
sons and daughters, a story though poignant at times, had something to cherish
and/or reflect upon generation after generation. This what the Diaspora Sunday
stands for.
PRAYER
Almighty Lord, we are Your chosen
people. From the time we left our homeland Kerala and scattered ourselves in
different parts of this world, You have kept us under Your protection and
blessed us abundantly. We particularly remember and pray for our early settlers.
Help us to be always thankful for Your mercies and blessings... Amen
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
“Fear not. For I am with you. Yes, I will help you. I will
uphold you with my righteous right hand" Isaiah 4:1:10