Devotional Thoughts for the Sunday of Hoodos Etho - 9th Nov

[admin]

Reading: From the Gospel according to St. St. John 10: 22-38
Dear and Respected Brethren,
The Holy Church observes this Sunday as 'Hoodos Etho', the day of dedication. We must realize how meaningful is to dedicate a Church, which was santified on last Sunday. It is to be feared whether we are giving the apt importance for the observance of this Sunday as the dedication day of the entire Church.
Today's reading says about a dedication day of our Lord's time, where our Lord was also a participant. In verse 23 we read,"And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch". There is a reference of this Solomon's Porch in the Acts of the Apostles 3: 11. In verse 24 we find a group of Jews around our Lord who were compelling Him to tell that He was Christ. They asked our Lord, "how long do you make us to doubt". Our Lord's reply was so simple but thought provoking. "I told you, but you did not believe. The works I have done in the name of my Father do bear witness of me". We the faithful who are getting ready to get dedicated must think about our own position. We all were dedicated in the faith of our Lord God who saved us from the bondage of Satan, through our baptism. And every year we are getting re-dedicated. Do we uphold the true faith in our Lord God whenever we are re-dedicated. Unless and until we are in a position to confess the faith in Lord Jesus, who is our savior and redeemer, our re-dedication would not be of any use. Otherwise we are not at all better than the Jews. What difference we could point out with the Jews who followed our Lord? We might say that they could not confirm and confess their faith in Him. And what about us? We took re-birth and we are growing in His Grace, day by day. But still are we grateful to our Lord and savior? We might claim that we are church oriented and we are observing the rules and regulations of the Church Fathers. At the same time we are supposed to be God oriented too. How far we could go ahead in this path? Let us think and find out an answer by ourselves. If not we will also hear Him saying "But you believe not, because you are not of my sheep, as I said unto you" (verse 26) Let us try to be His dear and near in our word and deed.
We must be much careful in following our Lord and Savior as trustworthy sheep. He says, "my sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." Let us think whether our Lord might say about us as His true obedient sheep. The obedient sheep would always give heed to its shepherd. It will follow the Shepherd and His wise instructions. Are we doing those things? or ar are we doing things and living as we like? When we ran astray from the Master, He suffered a lot to search us and find us in the trap of our enemy. He spent His own life giving blood as the ransom and saved us from the bondage of sins and death Still we are selfish and we do live as we like. Is it not a pity? Let us turn back to our Shepherd in real repentance. He will definitely forgive us and make us live with the trustworthy sheep. His offer is great. When a sinner might turn back to Him, the sinner would be given entire freedom from sins and the eternal life with God would be offered.
In verse 30 our Lord declares "I and my Father are one." A great theology is exposed in very simple terms, which could be grasped by one and all. In Deuteronomy 6:4 we read "Hear o Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord." That is what we are reading in St. John 1:1 "In the beginning was the word and the word was with god and the word was God." Again in 1: 14 we read, "And the word was made flesh and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father) full of grace and truth." St. Paul makes the theory of the Holy Trinity more clearly in 1 Corinthians 8: 6, where we read, "To us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him and one Lord Jesus Christ by whom are all things and we by him."
We are supposed to confess our faith in Holy Triune God, the only one God, most benevolent, and Almighty.
May the Holy Spirit help us to confess the faith as it is required and to lead a virtuous life.
May God bless us all.
Jose Kurian Puliyeril.