Reflections

STEADFAST IN FAITH   Hebrews 13:7-21 Rt. Rev. Dr. Geevarghese Mar Theodosius Episcopa 7 Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.   The book Hebrews is popularly known to the common reader by its strong message on faith. Early Christians of the first century, who were persecuted, had spiritual struggles on leadership, ancestral practices and kingdom value. Hence the early community, constituting the Christian Church, had to evaluate their religious concepts, habits and vision. This is true of the present Church as well that faces contemporary challenges. The scripture portion presents before us mainly three things.   The writer of the Hebrew, in his concluding exhortations, is asking the readers to remember their spiritual leaders , who spoke the Word of God to them (13:7). He further asks them to submit to the spiritual authority of the leader...

Pilgrims in a Foreign Land 1 Peter 1: 8-12 The Rev. Dr. James N. Jacob and Ninni Jacob Rhode Island 12. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in regard to the things that have now been announced to you through those who brought you good news by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels long to look!   In Hebrews 13:14 we read "Here we have no lasting city, but we are looking for the city that is to come". In our earlier days in the US about forty years ago, we had to complete ‘Alien Registration Cards’ at the post office. That reminded us that we were aliens in a foreign land. Peter wrote his letter ‘to the elect strangers of the Diaspora’ including those in Asia, which means he had us also in mind. The word ‘Diaspora’ means ‘dispersion’. The Christian Church is scattered all over and we are exiles in the world. Peter calls us the ‘chosen people of God’ (eklektos), chosen according to the foreknowledge of God, con...

Coming Again: Hope of Resurrection 1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18    Pothen Abraham and Dr. Anne Pothen, Orlando MTC . 16 For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call and with the sound of God’s trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord forever.    As the Christmas carols and the festivities of another season of advent fade away and routine life returns to some level of normalcy, we are reminded that just as the Bible foretold the coming of a Saviour as an infant, the Bible also tells us that the same Jesus, our Savior, will return again. If the Old Testament prophecies of Jesus’ first coming were fulfilled to the letter, we can rest assured that the return of our Lord Jesus Christ will also be fulfilled. As Jesus departed from this world at His...

Coming Again: Victory of the Lord Colossians 1:6-11 Jaffey Chacko St Thomas MTC, Bristol-UK 10 so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God.   As a youngster, “Walk worthy of the Lord” has been a key verse as I started my journey with the Lord. This was implanted into me through a VBS theme very early on, and as I grew and committed myself to the Lord, this theme became a challenge to bear a true witness to the calling.   As we can see in vs. 10 & 11, there are three areas where we could challenge ourselves to be fruitful in a life living worthy for the Lord.  Bearing fruit in every good deed; Growing in the knowledge of God; Being strengthened.   As we ponder about how this can be achieved, we are made aware that the Holy Spirit is the source of all Christian love. It is therefore the Holy Spirit that will undoubtedly strengthen us to bea...

Coming again: The Day of the Lord Zechariah 14 Abey Cherian St. Thomas MTC, Yonkers, NY 3 Then the Lord will go forth and fight against those nations as when he fights on a day of battle. 4 On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives, which lies before Jerusalem on the east....     References to “The day of the Lord” in the scriptures often points to a span of time when God visibly intervenes in the history of His people to fulfil His purposes, and to the events associated with it. The Prophet Zechariah and other major and minor prophets have talked about the “The day of the Lord” referencing events that take place in its immediate context and also pointing to the Messianic and eschatological (relating to the end time) fulfilment of those prophesies. The Book of Zechariah presents “The King” of Israel who is lowly and righteous, coming with salvation for His people in Chapter 9. Then we see the fulfilment of the day of the Lord in chap...

WISH ALL OF YOU A MERRY AND BLESSED CHRISTMAS The Dayspring from on high has visited us  Luke 2:1-20   Rev M P Samuel Atlanta MTC But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord (vs. 10,11)  Today is Christmas. It is a time of joy. It is the day in which Jesus Christ has come to bring radiance of joy into our lives. It was announced in that day by the angel to the shepherds, “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you”. The presence of this Savior among us is the reason for great joy. He is Emmanuel, “God with us”. Almighty God has stepped down from heaven to earth to be with us in our life situation. In the birth of this Savior, in other words, "the dayspring from on high"(Luke 1:78 - KJV) has visited us to transform and reshape our lives. It is the dawn of a new era which rea...

Room for Jesus Luke 2: 1-7 Philip Manuel & Laila Anie Philip Carmel MTC, Boston MA  7  And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. “Have you any room for Jesus, He who bore your load of sin? As He knocks and asks admission, Sinner, will you let Him in?” “No Availability” is a sign that sends disappointments through our hearts and minds when we are just looking to find a place to spend the night. Just imagine the confusion and terror that Mary and Joseph had to go through when they were told that there was no room for Mary to deliver her baby. Jesus himself must have heard that phrase while still in his mother’s womb. The innkeeper when he said those words has missed one of the most blessed experiences of his life. It may have been his ignorance that caused him to not know that the child to be born was the Saviour of this world, the son of God. While Mar...

The  Coming : Shining Star. Matthew 2:1-11 Dr. George Abraham Carmel MTC, Boston, MA "....after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.”    Journals refer to a star as an intensely luminous globe of plasma held together by gravity.  At its core, it is a huge mass of gaseous material composed primarily of hydrogen, along with helium and trace amounts of heavier elements.   A star signifies positive energy.  A ‘starry’ sky is synonymous with a beautiful night, a fireworks display is intended to mimic the constellation of stars in the sky.  Stars are a positive reinforcement of exceptional performance, academic excellence is rewarded with a star.  We have film stars, sports stars, stars in every walk of life, the term representing an exceptional ac...

The Coming: Hope of Peace Isaiah 11:1-10    John Abraham   Carmel MTC, Boston, MA 6. The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. The world we are living in today needs peace, probably more than at any other time in history. We hear the news of peoples and communities trying to kill each other in the attempt to establish themselves. In this scenario the vision of Isaiah is powerful and relevant. Under the leadership of a child, the wolf and lamb, the leopard and young goat, calf and lion, animals of seemingly opposite pole, dwell together. This is peace offered by the coming of our Saviour. Peace is not the absence of diversity, differences or trouble  but the presence of Christ enabling our hearts to be calm, just like the center of a wheel which is still, even when it is rotating at a fast speed and relate to the other . Jesus i...

Proclamation of Redemption Isaiah 35: 1-10    Jocelyn Chacko St. Thomas MTC, NY 4.“Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.”   Isaiah 35:1-10 is a strikingly beautiful and powerful passage. We read of a God who is powerful enough to create streams of water in the desert, to grant sight to the blind, and to create a way in the desert for His people. We read of a faithful God that has promised to rescue His people and restore them so that joy may overtake them--away from their present sorrows and sighing. This passage is meant to be comforting and encouraging; it is a declaration of the incredible power and the loving intentions that God has for His people.    The Proclamation of Redemption Brings Power The imagery used in this passage is larger than life. God restores the ability to walk to those who were lame—and they leap for joy. God restores the ability to s...