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Message from our
Bishop.
MEET
THE RISEN LORD AND FIND JOY IN
LIFE
I
have always loved to watch the sunset
sitting by the seashore or from a hilltop. As I keep watching the sun
setting in western sky, intense feelings come to
me which I often fail to express in words. As the sun begins to
set in the horizon yonder a great calm begins to envelop the earth. The
birds reaching their nests have their last exchange of words and then they
calm down and become absolutely calm. One can hear the noise of all kinds
at far distance, of a baby crying, the children playing and shouting aloud,
people living in the neighborhood having a loud dispute, a motorbike
or a truck climbing up the hill on top gear etc,. Finally, there comes
the silence of the night and all go to sleep.
On
the contrary, watching the sunrise is indeed a great joy. Our face and our
eyes brighten moment by moment as the rays of the rising sun reach us. He
slowly rises in the distant skies of the east, a huge red ball
becoming brighter and brighter, rising higher and higher in the sky until
he becomes fully a dazzling ball and we can’t see him with
our naked eyes.
I
have always contemplated the mystery of life and death
through the reality of the rising and setting sun everyday. Life in
all its earthly glory must one day come to an end. The Psalmist would say
life is drifting fast, ‘it is eighty for those who are strong’.
It
is also very true that everyday in our life is a new beginning with
new hopes and joys. And everyday of life offers different
experiences. Some sad incidents of life bring in sadness and bitterness
when we remember such events even after many years. But the happy moments
lift us up from our drooping spirits. Amidst all these events of life there
are some events which become the ‘turning point’ of our life and we no more
live for ourselves. Life becomes altogether
different for us.
It
was one such event that changed the life of the disciples of Jesus. The
crucifixion of Jesus made them sad in life and all their dreams were
shattered. Some of them were already on their way back to their homes, to
their old professions. But the Risen Lord
was after them. He went after them, explained to them the Scriptures,
and even dined with them. The disciples full of sorrow and sadness and
could not believe their eyes when they met the Lord who greeted them “Shalom”.
Their joy knew no bounds when they saw Him in their midst. An
inexplicable joyful feeling! This encounter became a turning
point in their lives. The splendor of the Lord they met was greater
than the morning sun! His Peace brought them back
to the Lord whom they had disowned and were ready to
forget a while ago. Then onwards, they did not look back. They went on
proclaiming the Good News of salvation in the name of Jesus the Risen Lord
to as many people as possible.
Why
is it that the people in the world
today do not show interest in this greatest event the world has ever known
– the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus ? The only reason we can find is
that it has not enough people to tell them
who Jesus is like the apostles of old. You and I are called to be
messengers of His Good News to all people in the world. As we celebrate
Easter, we must know and believe the same Jesus, our Risen Lord is amidst us. For many of us, His presence has
not become a personal experience of the
Risen Lord. And that is why the people cannot recognize Jesus as the only Saviour of the world. Let this celebration of
Easter bring a new experience of the Risen
Lord to all of us. May we be filled with His Peace and
Joy that we may in turn, share it with all people
around us. Let the splendor of the Lord shine on us. Let His Peace
reign in our hearts. HAPPY EASTER TO YOU !
A Very Happy New Year to you all
† Robert Miranda
Bishop of
Gulbarga
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