Reflections

  Glorification of The Messiah through Death   Scripture:     Exodus 24:12- 18 The enclosure for the tent  of the Lord's presence  In this passage, Paul reveals a profound truth: the Good News of life through death. We are like  fragile jars of clay, carrying the treasure of God's love within us. Though we face trials and  difficulties, God's power sustains us, turning our weaknesses into vessels of His strength. Life  can often feel overwhelming, leaving us feeling like the clay jars that are easily broken by the  challenges we encounter. But it is precisely in our weaknesses that God's power shines the  brightest. We are not meant to rely solely on our own strength, for the power that sustains us  comes from the one who created us.  When we face afflictions and uncertainties, we may feel defeated and confused. Persecution and  challenges might bring us down, but we are not forsaken, nor are we destroyed. As follower...

  Holy Spirit who Empowers for Mission Scripture: 1 Cor  2:10-16 V16 “For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.” In this passage, the Apostle Paul sheds light on the wisdom of God, which is revealed to us through the receiving of the Holy Spirit. Paul highlights in this passage that the nature of God can only truly be understood through the lens of the Holy Spirit. The sinful nature of man stands as a barrier to understanding the nature of God and all his attributes. The death and resurrection of Christ allowed man to connect with God in a way that our minds are in union with Him. Paul reminds us that through the receiving of the Holy Spirit, we are one with Christ and must strive to be Christ-like. The Spirit is received through our faith and acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord, repentance, and our conduct. This is the only way to understand and “know the mind of the Lord.” We cannot be one with the Lord when our hearts se...

  Empowered for Mission   Scripture: John 20:19 -23 Mission is a complex term used regularly in military, secular, and religious contexts. Two principal affirmations of Mission in a religious context are: Mission belongs to God and invites us to participate in the Mission. Two, Our presence, actions, and words are powerful tools for this Mission. Even though the term Mission often makes us think of only sending, the Church understands the essence of Mission as being and doing.  This passage is heavily loaded with the presence, actions, and announcements of Risen Christ. They were enough to break free from the confines of closed doors and embrace the boundless horizons of their Mission. Let us skim through three messages from this portion. "Peace be with you." "Shalom" is a sacred greeting in Jewish tradition. However, it evolved into a powerful message that the disciples were entrusted to share with the world—the relevance of this message of peace increases when fea...

  Holy Spirit who Empowers for Mission Galatians 5:16-25 What does it mean to walk by the Spirit? This passage clearly states that we are living in the tensions between two worlds: the urgings of our flesh vs the Spirit. We will always be at war with what our humanity wants and what the Spirit desires for us.  So what does it mean to walk by the Spirit? Walking by the Spirit requires us to acknowledge that sometimes what our flesh wants is contrary to what God has for us. Walking by the Spirit requires us to pay attention to what is from within us and what is from the Holy Spirit. Walking by the Spirit requires us to die to self so that we can receive and live the fullness of life Christ has for us.  When we walk by the Spirit then we are empowered to live out the mission. Walking by the Spirit enables us to experience the fruit of the Spirit which allows us to love others the way God loves us. And at the end of it all, it is our love for God and for one another that draw...

  Holy Spirit who Empowers for Mission Acts 1: 1-11 V 8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”  In today’s passage for our devotion, we see that Jesus’ ministry did not stop with His ascension into heaven. Rather it was the beginnings of Christ building His Church through His apostles and by the works of the Holy Spirit. Acts 1 mentions that Jesus shared with the apostles the truths of the Kingdom of GOD over a forty-day period, this was so that the apostles would gain enough confidence about His resurrection and in the hope of GOD’s redemptive plan for mankind. But the apostles were still anxious and had many questions about how they would share the Good News with others if Jesus was not going to be around with them. Jesus reminds them of the promise that once He ascended into heaven from their midst, He would send them a Helper, an Advocate from the...

  Empowered by the Holy Spirit for Mission Isaiah 61:1-4   “V1a - "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor" In Isaiah 61:1-4, we see the prophet Isaiah describing the mission of the Messiah. He is anointed by the Spirit of the Lord for the mission of proclaiming the Gospel and bringing hope to those in need. In the New Testament, we see the fulfillment of this prophecy in the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus, upon beginning His earthly ministry, quoted these very words in the synagogue, declaring that He is the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy (Luke  4:16-21 ). As followers of Christ, we are also recipients of the Holy Spirit, who empowers us for the mission of God. We are called to be His hands and feet, reaching out to those who are hurting, oppressed, and under-represented. As members of the Mar Thoma Church, we recognize the significance of the Holy Spirit in our lives and in fulfilling the great commission. ...

  St James Day Mark 10:35-45  It was on September 10, 1946, during a train journey to the hill station of Darjeeling, that   Mother Teresa  felt a  call within a call  to leave her life as a nun and work directly with the poor. This inner calling  led her to found the Missionaries of Charity in 1950. The  organization's  primary goal was to provide wholehearted free  service to the poorest of the poor and to care for those nobody else was prepared to look after. Mother Teresa and her fellow sisters began their work by helping the  the sick and dying in the streets of  Calcutta. They started with a small  school and gradually expanded to include orphanages, hospices, and homes for people with various disabilities. Their mission was to provide  care,  comfort, and dignity to those who were suffering and had been abandoned by the society. In Verse 43, “Not so with you. Instead, whoever ...

  Holy Spirit who Empowers Mission Joel  2:12-17 Can you imagine living without your computer? Or without internet access or basic phone service? We have become so accustomed to having access to unlimited information just through our fingertips. Imagining living without it seems impossible.  However, just 25 years ago, things were significantly different. Just for something as simple as a meal, I used to depend on my elders to pass down recipes or had to buy cookbooks. But now, I can scroll on social media or search engines to find the best ways to make any meal with any ingredient.  That’s the power of the internet. It is not just the access, but also the ability to use the internet to our advantage. Similarly, before the time of Christ, God communicated to His People through prophets.  Only the prophets were filled with the Holy Spirit and they had to remind people of how they were living and of what God wanted. Joel prophesied the access of Holy Spirit to eac...

  Holy Spirit who Empowers Mission Joel  2:12-17 Can you imagine living without your computer? Or without internet access or basic phone service? We have become so accustomed to having access to unlimited information just through our fingertips. Imagining living without it seems impossible.  However, just 25 years ago, things were significantly different. Just for something as simple as a meal, I used to depend on my elders to pass down recipes or had to buy cookbooks. But now, I can scroll on social media or search engines to find the best ways to make any meal with any ingredient.  That’s the power of the internet. It is not just the access, but also the ability to use the internet to our advantage. Similarly, before the time of Christ, God communicated to His People through prophets.  Only the prophets were filled with the Holy Spirit and they had to remind people of how they were living and of what God wanted. Joel prophesied the access of Holy Spirit to eac...

  Embracing Weakness, Receiving Strength   Good News: Life through Death   Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:7-12   “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and  not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;  persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” (2 Corinthians 4:7-9)   In this passage, Paul reveals a profound truth: the Good News of life through death. We are like  fragile jars of clay, carrying the treasure of God's love within us. Though we face trials and  difficulties, God's power sustains us, turning our weaknesses into vessels of His strength. Life  can often feel overwhelming, leaving us feeling like the clay jars that are easily broken by the  challenges we encounter. But it is precisely in our weaknesses that God's power shines the  brightest. We are not meant to rely solely on our own strength, fo...

  Embracing Weakness, Receiving Strength   Good News: Life through Death   Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:7-12   “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and  not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;  persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” (2 Corinthians 4:7-9)   In this passage, Paul reveals a profound truth: the Good News of life through death. We are like  fragile jars of clay, carrying the treasure of God's love within us. Though we face trials and  difficulties, God's power sustains us, turning our weaknesses into vessels of His strength. Life  can often feel overwhelming, leaving us feeling like the clay jars that are easily broken by the  challenges we encounter. But it is precisely in our weaknesses that God's power shines the  brightest. We are not meant to rely solely on our own strength, fo...

  Good News: Life Through Death John 12:20-26 “Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”  (John 12:25) Many people consider the term “life” as the quality of individual existence. Especially in our individualistic ideology of living, life connotes the span of years a person lives. Its quality is often assessed on the basis of “success,” people achieve. However, according to the Bible, life is a gift from God and should be cherished. It is an opportunity to develop a relationship with God, with others, and to serve the Lord and other people. Therefore, the quality of life depends on the ongoing relationship with Jesus Christ that extends to the gift of eternal life. St. John portrays Jesus as the source of life. Verse 21 introduces the impact of people’s desire to meet Jesus. Seeing Jesus means abandoning other dimensions of one’s existence characterized with fear, greed, anger and resentment. Human...

  Good News: Life Through Death Romans  8:12-17   “For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live”  The book of Romans is rich with theological underpinnings. In today’s devotional passage, the Apostle Paul dives deep into ideas that are not unfamiliar to believers: the flesh and the Spirit. These two are often times pit against one another in Scripture to reveal the glory of God and the fallen nature of man. Why does Paul choose to place such an emphasis on the Spirit? One reason for this is because the Spirit is key to living a purpose-driven life, which truly glorifies God. Death and life. Slavery and liberation. The flesh and the Spirit. The concept of duality is put on full display in this text. Paul’s admonition to the faithful in verse 13 is to “put to death the deeds of the body”. In other words, crucify the flesh. Paul sheds light on the ...

  Good News: Life Through Death Bible Portion – Ephesians 3:1-13 Bible Key Verse Text  This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together in the promise in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 3:6 Devotional Text IAt the end of Paul’s second missionary trip, he visited Ephesus and returned there at the start of his third missionary journey. He wrote his epistle to the Ephesians while he was incarcerated for preaching an outlawed religion. God promised Abraham that all the nations will be blessed through him. Paul, born to Jewish parents, was a Roman citizen by birth. He was a Pharisee, educated under the renowned teacher Gamaliel. The Jewish people thought that they were God’s chosen people, the descendants of Abraham, and that the blessings of God were only for their race. Paul received the revelation of a mystery and he shared that with the world. Through the vicarious, atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, salvation was bought unto the wh...

  Good News: Life Through Death Bible Portion – I Deuteronomy 6:1-17 Bible Key Verse Text “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength” (Deuteronomy 6:5). Devotional Text Deuteronomy 6:1-17 is a significant passage in which Moses addresses the Israelites, emphasizing the importance of wholehearted faithfulness to God and the passing down of His commandments to future generations. Moses instructs the Israelites to love the Lord their God with all their heart, soul, and strength. He tells them that they are to diligently teach God's commandments to their children, discussing them at home, on the road, before sleep, and upon waking up. They are to put God's commandments as symbols on their hands and foreheads, serving as constant reminders. The passage warns against turning to other gods, and it emphasizes the promise they have with God. It cautions against forgetting God's commandments in times of prosperity and abundance, re...

  Good News: Life Through Death Bible Portion – Isaiah 53 Bible Key Verse Text “Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him with affliction. When you make his life an offering for sin, he shall see his offspring and shall prolong his days; through him the will of the Lord shall prosper.” (Isaiah 53:10 NSRV) Devotional Text Isaiah 53 is the prophecy of the suffering and atonement of Jesus Christ. Isaiah describes the burdens Jesus Christ suffered till his death by the hands of God’s people. “He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.” Isaiah portrays the simplistic life Jesus lived, with nothing that others should envy. Instead, He became the target of abuse and mockery because of His inclination to serve others and spread the Good News. Despite all his good deeds, he was destined for a cruel death that he did not deserve, so that we, his offspring, will live after death even though we were doomed through our actions. At t...

  Good News: Life Through Death Bible Portion – Isaiah 53 Bible Key Verse Text “Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him with affliction. When you make his life an offering for sin, he shall see his offspring and shall prolong his days; through him the will of the Lord shall prosper.” (Isaiah 53:10 NSRV) Devotional Text Isaiah 53 is the prophecy of the suffering and atonement of Jesus Christ. Isaiah describes the burdens Jesus Christ suffered till his death by the hands of God’s people. “He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.” Isaiah portrays the simplistic life Jesus lived, with nothing that others should envy. Instead, He became the target of abuse and mockery because of His inclination to serve others and spread the Good News. Despite all his good deeds, he was destined for a cruel death that he did not deserve, so that we, his offspring, will live after death even though we were doomed through our actions. At t...

   Good News: Death Through Life Bible Portion – 1st Kings 18: 21-39 Bible Key Verse Text “And Elijah came near to all the people and said, ‘How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.’ And the people did not answer him a word” (1st Kings 18:21). In the Old Testament, sacrifice serves as a multi-purpose mechanism to achieve the plans set forth by God. The sacrifice presented in 1st Kings 18 serves not only as a foreshadowing to the ultimate sacrifice in Christ Jesus, but also, it opens the reader to the illuminatory impact of sacrifice as a whole. Elijah, a mighty prophet of God, came into the fray during a time period where God’s people were susceptible to falling for the schemes of the enemy. The worship of the false god, Baal, was highly prevalent at the time. This is a callback to the time of the Exodus narrative where the Israelites erected an idolic golden calf and worshipped it in the desert....

  PEOPLE OF GOD – BODY OF JESUS CHRIST  Bible portion: psalm 18:1-6   I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies. Vs 3  David used five metaphors  to describe his absoulute trust in God. He viewed God  as his rock, fortress, shield, the horn of salvation, and his stronghold. An unsusal hebrew expression of  love for God, which emphasizes the intensity of his intimacy for God is portrayed here, who is his ultimate strength.  When he said he loved God – the hebrew word “raham” is used ,which depicts the love, a mother has to a child who is in her womb.  David used the word rock  which symbolizes his unique strength  as a fortress and refuge in the midst of varied and bad experiences he had from  enemies. During the times when he faced the atrocities and danger that might have led him to snares of death, God heard his cry for help.           This is a psalm of praise. For...