Reflections

  ALL SAINTS DAY EPHE  1:15-23 This is a day that is celebrated to venerate all the holy men and women who have been canonized by the church. November first is celebrated as all saint’s day by the catholic church. Other than the catholic church many protestants, Lutheran, Anglican and Methodist churches also observe this special day. Though in Mar Thoma Church we remember all the saints in our prayers we do not dedicate a day as all saint’s day. All the saints and martyrs for Christ are remembered on this special day by the churches. Their faith, dedication, worship, love and sincere prayers for the suffering world is well remembering. Pope Gregory III in 731 AD dedicated a chapel in Rome for the saints Though this is not a pagan holiday many pagan practices have crept in the worship order of many churches. In the 1900 ‘s people used to decorate the graves of the departed with lights and candles which later on lead to the practice of holding lights in worship services. Today’s...

   Sanctification of the Church Judges 13: 1-14 The Book of Judges describes Israel's history from the death of Joshua to shortly before Israel's first king, Saul. Israel failed to complete God's command to purge the wicked Canaanites from the land. This results in a centuries-long cycle where Israel falls into sin and is oppressed by local enemies. After each oppression, God sends a civil-military leader, using a Hebrew word loosely translated into English as "judge." These specifically appointed rescuers freed Israel from enemy control for a certain time. After each judge's death, the cycle of sin and oppression begins again. This continues until the people of Israel choose a king, during the ministry of the prophet-and-judge Samuel This chapter relates to the birth of Samson, another of the judges of Israel, which an angel foretold to his mother, who told her husband of it, upon whose entreaty the angel appeared again, and related the same to them both, and...

  Koodosh Eetho: Sanctification of the Church St. john  2:13-22   Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days, I will raise it up.” (v. 19) Kitsugi  is the Japanese craftsmanship method for repairing broken pottery using gold fillings to bind the broken fragments. The result is pottery both beautiful due to the gold but it also highlights the brokenness. The brokenness is brought out as a new form of beauty.  In the same way, we see the Church as the broken body of Christ binding a broken people together. That broken body of Christ is a body of glory and power. That broken people are not forever broken either. Instead, the victory of Christ imparts a divine power to mend the brokenhearted and the broken in spirit. What is the Church? It arose out of the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ and His Body broken for us. By his resurrection, He brought about the community of those with a new life in Christ. The Church is the community of broken people. We...

  Sanctification of the Church 1 Peter  1:13-19   In this passage, we can see that Peter begins with a command in which he states ”Preparing your minds for action, and being self-disciplined” The key phrase here is to have your hope completely on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. The word completely comes from the Latin word ‘completus’. Our hope is to completely be in God's grace. We are not to be happy with our hope of 50% on God, 10% on the job, 20% on family, and 20% on possessions. If our hope is divided, then we are shaken. There are three commands Peter is giving to each and every one of us:    1. Set Your Hope Completely on His Grace      In all of your daily activities remember to place your hope completely on the grace of God. Without faith or hope, we cannot continue to live our lives, and we will live our lives without purpose. With faith and trust put in the Lord, we can achieve all things. ...

  Sanctification of the Church Acts 28: 17-30  “From morning till evening he explained and declared to them the kingdom of God and tried to convince them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets.” Through Acts 28: 17-31, we can identify that Paul has a major worry. He is worried that many people will shut down the message of Jesus before he gets to Rome. Paul realizes that many people won’t listen to him because word has traveled that he is coming. When Paul does receive his opportunity to speak, he does it in three methods. Paul witnesses, explains and preaches. First we can see that Paul is a witness through his experiences. Through Paul’s letters we can see that he acts as a witness of the gospel. Paul also explains to the people the scriptures of God, which is the Bible. He moves through the Old Testament, into the present, and has hope for the future. He explains how God had acted in the past, and how the picture being painted was not yet complete. Paul als...

  Sanctification of the Church 2 Chronicles 34: 14-28 As we read we can see that Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the Lord, and he gave it to Saphan. Saphan tells the king about the discovery, and the king wants to hear the words from the books, and this is a very important moment in this story because this is where the word of God spreads. Now bear in mind, at that time King Josiah had never heard or listened to the word of God, and in discovering this book, the king wanted to know what was in the book. In the bible, it says “When the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his robes.” He then says to Sapahn and his people around him “Go and inquire of the Lord for me and for the remnant in Israel and Judah about what is written in this book that has been found.” Hearing these words of God had a very big spiritual impact on Josiah, so much that he tore his robe.” Now back then tearing of clothing was a traditional expression of horror and astonishment. King Josiah ...

  Sanctification of the Church 2 Chronicles 34:29-33  The king stood in his place and made a covenant before the Lord, to follow the Lord, keeping his commandments, his decrees, and his statutes, with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant that were written in this book. 2 Chronicles 34:31 When we read 2 Chronicles chapter 34, we read a story about a young king named Josiah rebuilding what appears to be a Jerusalem in disarray and disorder.  The chapter deliberately details his age at different stages.  At age 8 he becomes king, but when he turns 16 he starts purging the idols and false God’s and then at the age of 26 he begins a project to rebuild the broken temple.  It Is during this restoration project he is told that the word of God has been found in the house of the Lord.   Sanctification is a process or a journey with which we actively try to become holy.  If you look at King Josiah, he began the sanctification proce...

  Sanctification of the Church St. John 3: 22-30 “He must become greater; I must become less.” The purpose John the Baptist set for was to come before Jesus and bring those into his kingdom. We can identify John the Baptist correcting his disciples because they saw Jesus as a competition. Through this passage, we can learn that John understood three main points. 1. John understood his reliance on Christ John could’ve gained a lot of success through his ministry and used it for his own good, however, he knew that all he had was from God. John himself knew that he wouldn’t have a ministry if it wasn’t for God’s plan to send his son. John decides to give all credit that he had received straight to god.  2. John understood his relationship with Christ. The disciples of John saw Jesus as a “competitor”, however, John deflected the praise aimed towards him. John understood that it wasn’t his day, and wanted Jesus to have the day set aside for him. He acknowledged the fact that he wa...

  FAMILY THAT HAS TO BE BUILT UPON CHRIST Psalms 128:1-6 Verse: “Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to him.” - Psalms 128:1   A godly family is a huge part of God’s kingdom plan. Just because we are Christians and attend church does not mean we have a godly family. A godly family is filled with the love, power, and wisdom of the Holy Spirit. A godly family is not one that simply believes in Christian values or claims a Christian heritage. Too many children grow up in such a home and wander from God as they become adults. Much more is required in a godly home. A godly family is built by God ( “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it.” Ps. 127:1). It results in harmony among each other (“How good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity.” Ps. 133:1). The family is a heavenly invention, not an earthly one. Scripture says, “For this reason, I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and...

  FAMILY THAT HAS TO BE BUILT UPON CHRIST St. Luke 2:41-52  In a monastery, a disciple asked his Guru, “Throughout your spiritual journey have you ever found God”? Then Guru said to his disciple, Yes, I have found God. Disciple wondered what the guru has said. Disciple eagerly asked guru, where did you find God? Then Guru replied to him silently, “You will find in yourself”. The part of this scripture also allows us to realize ourselves, change our attitude, and search for God. Here, when Jesus reached the age of twelve his pious parents took him to the Passover Feast in Jerusalem. It is his second visit to the temple and for the first time, he was presented in the temple as we can see in St. Luke: 2: 22-24. He felt drawn to God irresistibly, now that his earthly guardians had gone away. He stayed within around the temple, as to his real home. More than that, this family had a bond relationship with God and for that purpose, we read as ‘they were regular visitors to the temple...

  FAMILY THAT HAS TO BE BUILT UPON CHRIST Ephesians  3:14-21     In today’s devotion, we will turn to Ephesians Chapter 3 verses 14-21. This bible portion focuses on trusting God and casting all our worries fully on Him and not on earthly people.  In today’s day, especially after COVID, it is very easy to prioritize other matters over  God. We may tend to say, “I had work last night, I’m too tired to go to church in the morning, I  would rather sleep” and this is very common. We are all humans, we struggle and sometimes forget to prioritize our creator when we are so busy. But in Ephesians Chapter 3 verses 18-19  “ may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God”. It is very important for us to take time out of our busy schedule to praise and honor Go...

  FAMILY THAT HAS TO BE BUILT UPON CHRIST  Colossianas:3:12-25 Verse:  25  Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.    The family is the fundamental institution of society ordained by God. It is constituted by marriage and is composed of persons related to one another by marriage, blood, or adoption. Three fundamental events in God's plan combine to make marriage and family relationships possible for time and eternity. They are the creation, fall, and atonement. Can we formulate five ways by which one can raise a strong family?  They are 1.  Read God's word regularly. 2.  Keep God as the center of the family always.  3. Pray together as a family. 4. Include God in all your decisions. 5. Teach good values.  6. Hold a weekly family night. 7. Go to church together.                                  A...

  FAMILY THAT HAS TO BE BUILT UPON CHRIST 1 John 2:7-17 Verse:15  Do not love the world or love anything in the world. If anyone loves the world the love of the Father is not in him.   The biblical command to love is old, but the newness is seen in the divine love on the cross.  Christ's exposition of the old testament law is new to Christ's new believers.  Their daily experience as believers should grow as they love each other in Christ's love.    Their Christian experience when they hear the gospel should enhance a newness in the command of love.  The message of Christ's love is seen in Jesus who is the true light and the darkness is passing.                       Anyone who claims to be in the light, who is the Christ, and hates his brethren, is staying back still in darkness.    In the Bible hatred and love are moral qualities, and are not primarily emotions, but attitudes e...

     FAMILY THAT HAS TO BE BUILT UPON CHRIST Genesis 48:1-16 Verse:14   But Israel reached out his right hand and put it on Ephraim's head....... …....................   even though  Manasseh was the firstborn.”.   The book of Genesis related the name “Ephraim” to the Hebrew root meaning  “ to be fruitful”.  Jacob tells of the appearance of  God to him in Luz he adopts Ephraim and Manasseh as his own children.  Jacob blessed Joseph – he puts Ephraim before Manasseh. The seed of Ephraim will become the multitude of nations. The children of Israel will come again into the land of their fathers. As firstborn, Joseph would receive a double portion of the inheritance. Jacob enacted the double portion by opting for Joseph's sons  to receive the same rights as his children.  Jacob was acting in faith as he blessed them. These blessings were the fulfillment of prophecies in each dividual and their future tribes.    ...

  FAMILY THAT HAS TO BE BUILT UPON CHRIST 1Peter 3:1-9 7. “ Husbands,” in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner..................will hinder prayers.   Marriage is one of the most important human relationships. No wonder Peter spends a few thoughts to help the readers with this sometimes difficult institution. In western cultures and even so with the present-day Kerala Christians, to expect wives to be submissive to their husbands is not considered politically correct. “ In the same way” what Peter meant is that, like believers would submit to a government authority, or as slaves to their master,  wives are required to submit themselves to their husbands. The Greek word used here is respect towards government authority, and it does not mean inferiority implied by that reference.                             Wives who are ...

  Youths:  Inheritors  of Faith Acts 6:1-7 “They chose Stephen a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit” Acts 6:5 We live in a time when the world revolves around showcasing every aspect of our lives for the praise and honor of man.  We crave for man’s honor and build our identity on what the world says.  Sin makes us covet the Glory that belongs to God alone and cause us to live for ourselves. We demand to be at the center of the universe, the One place that should be for God and God alone. We take credit for what only God could produce. We want to be sovereign, and we want to be worshipped.  We tell ourselves that we’re entitled to what we really don’t deserve, and we complain and grumble when we don’t get whatever we want.  And so, we end up in an unrelenting cycle of never being satisfied.  In the life of Stephen, we see a stark contrast to what the world teaches. We see a young man who was both content and lived a life of peace. He sought f...

  Youths:  Inheritors  of Faith Mark  10:17-22 You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me. (Mk  10:21 ) Jesus challenged the young man in two ways. First, he asked him, “Are you burdened and tied down?” The young man didn’t realize he was burdened. He thought that by keeping the commandments, he was drawing nearer to God. The commandments provided him a false sense of spiritual security in the same way that his wealth provided him a false sense of physical security. Now the Messiah stood before the young man and challenged him to give up the false security of his rituals and wealth. Jesus then asked him a second question, “Are you willing to let go of the burden?” Jesus asked him to choose the true security that comes from serving God and allow God to provide for his needs. If he had stayed to listen to Jesus, he would’ve heard ...

  Youths:  Inheritors  of Faith Titus 2:1-15 Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you. V.15 At some point in your life, you may have had to train or teach someone a particular skill. For example, as a parent you may have taught your child to tie their shoes or as an employee, how to file documents in the office etc. We go into these experiences with a certain expectation, that is to perform a job or duty with little to no supervision. There are rules and consequences to these tasks and as a teacher we are to communicate that to them appropriately. Today’s passage is just like this. We learn the faith from us  forefathers and mothers and our goal are to pass it down from generation to generation. We are entrusted to educate fellow believers so that they may not fall into error and build up the kingdom of God here on earth. All of us have a role to play in defending and  ...

  Youths:  Inheritors  of Faith Titus 2:1-15 Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you. V.15 At some point in your life, you may have had to train or teach someone a particular skill. For example, as a parent you may have taught your child to tie their shoes or as an employee, how to file documents in the office etc. We go into these experiences with a certain expectation, that is to perform a job or duty with little to no supervision. There are rules and consequences to these tasks and as a teacher we are to communicate that to them appropriately. Today’s passage is just like this. We learn the faith from us  forefathers and mothers and our goal are to pass it down from generation to generation. We are entrusted to educate fellow believers so that they may not fall into error and build up the kingdom of God here on earth. All of us have a role to play in defending and  ...

  Youths:  Inheritors  of Faith Hebrews 12:1-13 “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful.  Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”  Hebrews 12:11 As Christians, we are called to respond to life’s anxieties and challenges with perseverance.  Oftentimes though, it feels like the situations we deal with are insurmountable, unfair, or impossible to get through.  Hebrews 12 gives us a guide for not just going through the difficulties of life but growing through our difficulties to become inheritors of our faith. Today’s passage focuses on the first section of Hebrews 12, which discusses how God disciplines his children.  Verses 1-3 encourages believers of the early Christian Church to stay firm in their faith in God and persevere to stay on the path God laid out for them.  The passage encourages believers to do this by focusing on Jesus, who endured great hardsh...