The Shepherd's
Voice
Here is the Light!
Bishop Jacob Manathodath
"Speak! All created things.
Is the light far away?" These words that flowed from the heart of a
poet are the echo of an age. After the fall of Adam, Jesus came into this
world enveloped in darkness, as the Saviour of all men to let his light
shine on all. When the great sigh and cry, "Is the light far away?" rose
from the heart of the whole human race, their eyes were set on the far-away
horizons of expectation and hope.
God does not ever forsake
his chosen people. When the Lord of history, entered human history, the
whole universe and all created things sang, "Peace on earth to men of good
will". At one time we were in darkness, in sin, adoring the Lord of darkness
according to the manner of this world. But with the advent of Jesus another
age was born."But to all who received him, who believed in his name,
he gave power to become children of God" (Jn.1:12). "From his fullness
we have all received, grace upon grace. The law indeed was given through
Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ" (Jn 1:16-17).
"In him was life, and the
life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and
the darkness did not over come it"(Jn 1:4-5). As the answer to the question,
"Is the light far away?" John the Baptist presents Jesus. The light is
not far away. Jesus is the light that enlightens the whole world. The only
Son of God, Jesus, who is God himself, and has the most intimate relationship
with the Father, has revealed him to us. Salvation is attained when we
accept Jesus, the revealed Son of God. "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and
you will be saved, you and your household" (Acts16:31).
The Jesus, who calms the
tempest (cf Mt 8:23-27), saves us from danger. The Lord who said to the
sinful woman, "Go and sin no more"(Jn 8:11), saves us from sin.
The Lord, who healed the leper (Mt 8:1-4), the servant of the centurion
(Lk 4:1-10) and numerous others, preserves us and heals us. In his promise
to the good thief, "Today you shall be with me in paradise" (Lk 25:43),
we see him redeeming broken hearts and doomed lives. The Lord is one who
gives everything to those who have lost everything. When we receive him
into our hearts and homes, we attain integral liberation and complete redemptiom.
Was that not why he blessed Zacchaeus when he visited his home? "Today
salvation has come to this house"(Lk 19:9).
Those who cry out to him,
calling on his name will be saved. Many, however, do not receive him; all
those who receive him are fortunate to become sons of God.
We should bow before him
and adore him as Zacchaeus did. We must be ready to give half of what we
have to the poor and, if we have defrauded anyone of anything, restore
it fourfold. This is a radical change. The Lord says, "Becasue you have
kept my word of patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial
that is coming on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth"
(Rev 3:10).
Look, the time has come
to open your hearts for Christ. May the Lord our God enter your hearts
and your lives! This is my wish for you today!