RECONCILIATION

Abstract: Season of Lent is a period of recollection. Recollection should lead into the awareness of one's estrangement from God (if any). Awareness should develop a longing to be with God. Longing for the relationship with God leads one to examine the worthiness his/her life. True examinations will make one humble before God. This will lead to repentance which brings transformation in one’s life. An estranged son of God reconciles with God through awareness, longing, examination, repentance and transformation (ALERT) to become the inherited son of God.

Relationship with Jesus is the core of Christian living. Liturgical season of Lent is the apt time to recollect about our relationship with Jesus and prepare ourselves for a renewal. In catholic tradition liturgical season of lent begins with Pethratha Nzhayar. The Syriac word Petratha has the meaning 'to return', 'to pass through', 'to finish' or 'to end'. The weeks of Great Fast is the season of looking back at one's own life and prepare for a real reconciliation with Jesus. The faithful has to reflect and meditate over the life, passion, death and burial of Jesus Christ. He must feel the loving care of Lord the Father who gives his own Son for fulfilling the promise of salvation, the self emptying sacrifice of the Son to redeem the humanity and the gift of the Holy Spirit. This must lead him to a total conversion (metanoia).

The Parable of the prodigal son (Lk.15/11-32) is a real model to experience the true repentance which is followed by reconciliation with God. The prodigal son leaves his father to live a life of his own enjoying all worldly pleasures. In course of time he loses all his assets and struggles for a living. In the midst of his sufferings he comes to his senses (LK 15/17). This is his awareness about his wretched situation. He longs to be with his father (LK 15/18 a). His conversion begins now. He examines his present situation which leads him to repentance (LK 15/18b). He understands his mistake and is prepared to confess before his Father. This brings a complete transformation in his life LK 15/18-19). This leads him to a total conversion (metanoia). It is this conversion that makes him to return to his loving father in humility to be reconciled with him.

Like the prodigal son we too are carried away by the whims and fancies of this world ending up in a broken relationship with loving God. Just as the prodigal son came into senses we too at some point of life should become aware of the loving God and His providential care. This should create a longing in our hearts to be united with Him. This should lead us to conversion examining our situation and feeling the compassion of the Lord (LK 15/7, 10). Repentance is the fruit of this examination where one understands his short comings and humbles himself before God (LK. 15/21). Here occurs the complete transformation from a estranged son of God (sinner) to the inherited son of God (LK. 15/22-2). Let is liturgical season of LENT help us to examine our lives in the light of Jesus self emptying love and his compassion to approach the sacrament of reconciliation with true repentance and humility. Let this help us to celebrate EASTER with a renewed heart.

References

http://www.catholic.org/bible/

http://www.nasranifoundation.org/petratha.html

ART OF CHRISTIAN LIVING

Abstract: The core of Christian Spirituality is to have a deep rooted love relationship with Jesus. Art of Christian living-Christian Spirituality begins with a knowledge in Christ. Knowledge of Jesus Christ must challege us to follow Him. True experience with Jesus is the fruit of this close flowing. Thrilled with the Jesus experience one shares and bear witness to Jesus. Jesus invites all his disciples to experience Him and bear witness to Him'

The core of Christian spirituality is the love relationship with Jesus. As we know the growth in relationship with a person occurs through a series of steps. Once we are introduced to a new person, we try to learn about his whereabouts by interacting with him and his friends we know. As we learn more about him we may begin to appreciate some of his words and deeds. Later on we will experience this person more in our heart and we will begin to follow some of his values and practices. Once we are closely knit we share our experiences with this person to more friends and the relationship is further strengthened. Slowly this relation may turn up to a lifelong friendship. In the similar way our relationship with Jesus also should bloom up to an everlasting friendship. St. John in his Gospel (Jn. 1: 35-42) depicts the interaction between Jesus and some of his first disciples. Here John the Baptist introduces Jesus to two of his disciples as Jesus passes by. Both of them follow Jesus and experience HIM by being with HIM. They are thrilled by their experiences with Jesus. They come back and share their experiences. Andrew, one among the two shares his experience with Jesus to his brother Simon and takes him to Jesus.

The introduction of first disciples with Jesus, their interaction and experience with Jesus followed by their sharing with their friends and relatives about Jesus is a very good model to understand the growth of relationship in Jesus in the life of every Christian disciple. A Christian disciple should Know Jesus, Follow Jesus, Experience Jesus, Share Jesus and finally must bear Witness to Jesus through his life. This is the art of Christian Living- in fact the art of Christian spirituality. Knowledge about Jesus is the first step in the art of Christian living. Knowledge of Jesus must challenge one to closely follow Him. A disciple starts to appreciate the exhortations and preaching of Jesus and show eagerness to follow Him. The close following with Jesus binds his relationship with Jesus through daily encounters with Him. At this level one’s knowledge about Jesus transforms to a deep rooted experience with Jesus. Once this level is reached a disciple will experience the loving relationship and intimacy with Jesus in his heart. He then shares his ’Jesus experience’ with others. He bears witness to Jesus through his presence, words and deeds.

To master the art of Christian Living a Christian disciple must start his journey with a knowledge of Jesus that challenge him to follow his master. It is the spirit of Jesus that gives the strength to take up the challenge and guides him to his destination. Jesus himself has promised that His Father will give this spirit in abundance to those who seek ardently (Lk. 11: 10-13). The closely following disciple will experience the love of Jesus and love for Jesus and love for his fellow beings in his heart. Sacramental life will become more meaningful. The disciple freed from the bondage of egoism and self centeredness is oriented to the other- his neighbour (LK.10: 36-37). At this level real transformation occurs. The transformed disciple is thrilled by ‘Jesus Experience’ which he shares with his fellow beings. The culmination of love relationship is to share disciple’s experience through his presence, words and deeds. At this stage they become models of Jesus Christ in the world. They become the salt of the Earth and light of the World fulfilling Jesus’ exhortations (Mt. 5:13-16). All the saints have experienced a transformation from the mere knowledge of Jesus to a deep rooted loving relationship and intimate experience with Jesus Christ in their life. This has given them the courage to challenge worldly values against Gospel values. Jesus invites each one of his disciples to experience Him and give witness to Him through his presence, words and deeds in this modern world. Let us whole heartedly accept this invitation and say LORD HERE I AM... let our ongoing transformation begin now.