Devotional Thoughts for the Sunday of Koodos Etho - 2nd Nov

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Devotional Thoughts for the Sunday of Koodos Etho - 2nd Nov 08

Reading: From the Gospel according to St. Matthew 16: 13-23

Dear and Respected Brethren,
As everyone knows, this Sunday is known as Koodos Etho, which literally means the sanctification of the Holy Church. We all are supposed to get ready to be sanctified. Let each and every one of us think how much we are prepared for the call of the Holy Church for the greatest day of our sanctification. If we ignore such things, how we could expect more spiritual growth in our own lives? So one and all are earnestly requested to take special interest and care to observe the teaching/exhortation of our Holy Church.
In today's reading we find our Lord and Savior trying to teach His beloved disciples by asking them a question and making them ready to answer the question. Lord asked: "Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?" They replied on the basis of what they had heard from the public. In Daniel 7: 13 we read "I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient days, and they brought him near before him." After listening to their answers, our Lord asked them, "But whom you say that I am."

A sort of spontaneous answer came from St. Peter. He said "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God". Immediately our Lord said, "Simon-Bar- Jonah (Simon, son of Jonah) you are blessed, for flesh and blood has not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in Heaven" Why our Lord might have used "flesh and blood" ? Usually it denotes our connection with our parents. In other words, our Lord was emphasizing that St. Peter had not obtained the greatest identification from his parents or society. See our Lord's unusual usage of addressing St. Peter as son of Jonah. When we would put those words together, we could realize the intention and purpose of our Lord. One more greatest lesson was taught then and there by our Lord that all the heavenly matters could be understood only if God the Father is pleased to reveal. The truths of heaven could not be gained through our secular studies or from our parents/elders. The same truth is to be revealed by God the Father, out of His mercy and compassion. In verse 18 we read, "Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." When St. Simon was introduced to Lord Jesus for the first time, on the spot itself our Lord had foretold about the change of his name as Simon to Ce-phas, which literally means a stone.(Refer St. John 1: 42) In fact the term Peter also means the same. What was revealed to St. Peter by God Almighty is the base of the Christian faith and the Christian Church. Many misinterpret this passage and argue that our Lord was telling about the blessed Apostle, who was instrumental in the hands of God Almighty to reveal the great news to the world. But in fact our Lord was telling about the words uttered by the blessed Saint. No one could deny the blessedness attained by the Saint, when and where he was elected by Lord God for the public announcement of the greatest mystery. But still realize that the Church is based on the faith confessed by the Saint. Lord Jesus is the rock on which the Christian faith is built up and He is the corner stone of the Church. In Isaiah 28: 16 we read, "Therefore thus says the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation, he that believes shall not make haste". This is what St. Paul also has to tell. In his first epistle to Corinthians 3:11 "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ."

We must realize ourselves as the stones built upon this strong and solid foundation. We are supposed to keep up the nobility and holiness of the building. We have to long for not spoiling the holiness of the Holy church, when and where we are part and parcel of the building. Let us try to clean ourselves. Let us try to go near Him with real repentance. He who called us is trustworthy and kind. Let us seek His compassion and mercy for ever. Let us try to accumulate as much as possible purity in ourselves to remain as members of the Holy body of Christ.

May God bless us all

Jose Kurian Puliyeril.
Abu Dhabi