Monday, 19 August 2013
Wednesday, 24 July 2013
Generous Landowner
Through this article I would like to briefly reflecting upon
the passage of Matthew 20:1-16,
which says about a generous landowner. Here, Jesus comparing the landowner with
the Kingdom of God. The various
times which, the land owner went out for
searching laborers are interesting one; Early in the morning, 9 am 12 pm, 3 pm
and 5 pm. Here, landowner hire laborers on the contract which usual daily wage. Through this passage,
I am trying to portrait three simple points.
1. Covenant
Here the contract is usual daily wage. We have a covenant
with our God, which is about the eternal
life. This is the God’s contract with us. Through the life in the earth, we
are working also for the glory of the Kingdom of God with great hope about it. So,
we are living here based on the contract / covenant which is given by our savior Jesus Christ. He is searching for us, for working His vineyard.
2. Calling
Here in verse 3, we can see that the landowner is calling
some idle people for the job. Here we can see two types of idle people; for some,
don’t have any interest in any job and others are willing to do jobs, but no
one is calling them. The Kingdom of God is welcoming every one. This calling is
not based on the familial dignity, merit, power, etc. As a Christian minister,
we should do the role of this landowner. In our present society most of the
people are excluded from the main stream. We have the right to welcome them to
this wonderful opportunity.
3. Equality
Here, the generous land owner is giving equal wage rates for
all. In one sense we may think that, it is injustice. But here, Jesus
portraying this landowner as a symbol of generosity and equality. Because, he
is representing here as the kingdom of God.
Everyone is equal before God. People are trying to dominate themselves
before God. But that is not useful. If we have a pleasant and God-fearing life,
we also the part of that kingdom.
v We have to live according to the Covenant.
v We have to welcome others without any division.
v We have to understand the egalitarian nature of Kingdom of God.
Lyrics & Music Alex Abraham
For CSI Central Kerala Diocese Annual Youth Conference,2010.
Safalam surafilam saandramaam sangeetham
sathatham sthuthimayam swargeeya sangeetham
Hridaya sangeetham Navaneetha sangeetham
Mama chithathe dinam saanthamaakkum swanthanam
Kinnarathaal idayaraagam meettidum
Daaveede pol hridayaraagam theerthidam
Swargadoothar paadum aarpin geetham paadam
Saantham preethi motham ulakileykeedam
Sthothramaam swaramekum swanthanam
Jeevitham manonjamaam jeevitham
Thiruvachanam eakidunnu keerthanam
Maanavarkkai rakshayin sankeerthanam
Adharam sudhamaakkaam nal sthuthikalekuvaanai
Paadi vaazhtheedam nal varangalekiyone
Sthothramaam swaramekum swanthanam
Jeevitham manonjamaam jeevitham
Gist in English
Always Music is giving new experience
Heavenly music is giving me peace
It leads us to a joyous life
Scripture is giving hymns of salvation
So cleanse our tongues to give thanks and praise to the Lord
Wednesday, 10 July 2013
Jesus’s Song - Hymn in the midst of Suffering
“When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives”
Matthew 26:30/ Mark 14:26.
The Bible contains many songs. Song of Miriam,song of Mary,
Psalms etc.. These songs are created in
various situations ie the time of victory, the time of joy, the time of sadness
etc. Did Jesus sing?
Matthew 26:30/ Mark 14:26.
These are the only Bible portion
which we can find in Gospel about the singing of Jesus. This happened just
after the Lord’s Supper. How can we sing in the time of troubles and suffering.
Here, Jesus is going to face a very crucial and painful situation in his life
which He already knew. Tomorrow is not a
good day for Him.
We have various types of hymns
for various situations. Most of the hymns/ songs are created from various
composers who are facing painful situations and different problems. These songs
are very meaning full and heart touching. Because this is coming from the
experience of reality.
One important thing is that, the
music is very helpful in the time of stress and strain. Through songs, we can
find hope and relief. Here Jesus and His Disciples spend some moments for sing
praise to the God. They sang during the time of pain.
Friends, today we are facing
various types of stress and strain in our daily life. But we should remember
one thing. We are called as a cross bearers of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Let us sing to the Lord…Let us make harmony… May God bless us and guide us with
His amazing harmony in our life with new
hope and blessings.
Monday, 24 June 2013
Christian Harmony...!
Life is the precious
gift of God almighty. God planned his ideas and fulfilled his works through
each individual. But today humanity is going astray from the presence of God
through disorder and flaws in their lives. God so loved the people irrespective
of any division and sustained them with extra care. Unity and love are the
visible signs of God’s blessings and virtues. Through this short article, I
would like to draw your attention about the harmony in Christian life and
Christian worship.
Harmony in Christian Life
Sound in
itself is not meant as music. Music is the ordered fusion or mixture of Tune,
Rhythm, Pitch and Voice so on. Structured and systematic discipline of these
elements makes good music. For a better Christian life, we should lead a
harmonious life like good music which resulted out from the harmony. The basis
of harmony is God’s love. In Joshua 24:15 (b), we can see…”but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord”. This is
the testimony coming out of the harmonious life of Joshua towards God and within
the family. God has given various opportunities in our life as experiences for
a better Christian life. For creating a good music, we should work hard in
endurance. Like this, we should discipline our life in every aspects of life.
It will help us to lead a harmonized Christian Life.
Harmony in Worship
Worship is the
visible expression of fellowship. It is also the celebration which includes
Verses, Sermons, Hymns and Prayers. Worship is recognizing the worthiness of
God and accepting the dignity of fellow beings. But today, our life is chained
by anger, hatred, jealousy, greed and selfishness. So all are trying to satisfy
their needs and desires only. So it will affect the real meaning of worship. It
destroys harmony in Christian worship.
In Four Parts singing, there are four voices; soprano, alto,
tenor and bass. Each one who sings the song should be leveled his voice according
to others those who sing. Domination or suppression of one voice will affect
the total music. We should create adequate flavor to the lives of people. It
will create harmony in life. In Matthew 5:13, we can see..”You are the salt of the earth”. Yes, We are really the salt of
the earth. We should creatively participate in the preserving, flavoring activities of lives through better harmony with God, almighty and fellow beings.
We should observe worship as means of dedication of gratitude, medium of peace,
perfection of happiness and synonym of humility. It is the real need of our
Church and the society.
May God,
almighty help us to lead a better harmonious life in relation to divine and
humane.
"This article i prepared for the magazine which is published by St.Thomas' CSI Malayalam Congregation, Kolkata ,during the Golden Jubilee Celebration in December 2012". alex
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