STAY ATTUNED WITH JESUS

Fr. Dr. Stephen Kachappilly Cap

Jerusalem is the place of traditions, strictly executed laws and regulations and prohibitions. In such a place, it was really a strange thing, a fictional dream to see a combination of teacher-disciples walking together on the roads, sitting on the lakeside, heading towards the synagogue, teaching in boat and having supper at the table of fellowship.

So far, never been heard a teacher walking alone with his disciples, so to say the people of His time experienced highly head-raised, fraudster teachers mostly from the Pharisees and Scribes who called themselves experts in everything with self-imposed wisdom and extremely external piety. Their long black gown, long beard with a serious superficiality made them hard people to approach to. On the other hand, simplicity was the trademark of Jesus and in fact he wanted to teach that aspect of life to the entire flock of people willing to follow. Jesus was good enough to call and invite men and women of little faith from the ordinary set of life to a path nobody travelled yet so far. Formation of the future versatile were gradually taking place in those examples of Jesus. They would be the apostles. The one who is about to send, knows only how to catch fish, how to collect tax, sometimes less to what is required than expected. They know the language of the sea and business with profits and was yet to introduce to the language of love, the medium used by Jesus to communicate the heavenly messages. With time the disciples came to know Jesus. They loved Him. They expected His warmth and care, look and call. Each one calculated himself as the dearest one of his Master, a privilege no everyone can get always. 

It is in the back ground, they began to converse each other on the road with seriousness and deliberation. To know the answer to an ever disturbing question among themselves: who is the Greatest of all? Each one from his eye-view has certain things to state his position to mark the closeness towards the Almighty, Master and Teacher. But the scale they used was only the man-made measures, an offer at easily throwaway rate, which the son of God was not used to. They were appeared to be more adventures to each other to catch the attention of Jesus. They do not know that they would have to wait yet quite another few more days to learn the greatness of the greatest One on the Calvary.  Patience breaks whispering out their silence. The only purpose which carried on the shoulder while walking on the field was to solve this eternal doubt which they had been silencing in the heart for many days.  They were on the way prioritizing a list of things to discuss at large, exclusively aiming at getting the answer to the most persisting question. In fact, no-soon-to-be-discussed agitations nor see-through buttonhole problems among them are to be seen at that very instance. Unfortunately serving the self always prior to the other becomes a self-centered slogan even in the case of those people who have been close to the affability of Jesus for years.  

Peter must have been the first one to warn up all others with his influence towards Jesus that he highly thinks he has. ‘You know’, he must have said to his fellow disciples that ‘I am given the key of heaven, provided I am compared to a strong rock upon which He has the plan to build His Dream Church’. ‘Perhaps to the extent, that I believe that He has given me the freedom to decide if Jesus must be given an entry to Heaven, I feel I am made great by Him I am proud to be his close friend’. He continued that ‘the statement from Jesus says that I am the most beloved of his disciples, my position among you all is far away greater than you all have’. Hearing this from Peter nervously Judas turned behind with a bit of anger on his face. The holder of public money had really something to communicate and convince the group of disciples in a hurry. He has another view to express based on the financial portfolio with the bag full of money at the left side of his lower pocket. ‘The money matters a lot, though you may have a recognized position as you think is the best’, he said to Peter with full-degree of sentiments and high-expressive emotions. It is the money that decides your fate, future, and life. I am the treasurer, and I am great. I can buy things, persons, and positions at beckoning market rates with a business-like mind. 

Soon there was a break of silence, as if the other few more preparing their mind to explore each other. Their talk became more materialistic than spiritual one. Andrew who was at the corner side with Jesus immediately broke into the converse. He minded them with the status and privilege of being the first to be called. Strongly encountering all other arguments to reach the attention of all he anonymously tries to get their acceptance by hand. ‘I was the first one to follow, even my brother was only next to me. I was keeping silent to know how long your conversation would last, dear friends don’t take unnecessary credit for being the pet of Jesus, if so thinking you are slanting towards a wrong wall’ Andrew stopped with a bit of furry at the fiery eyes. ‘Wonderful! how can you all forget me the one who left my good job of collecting the tax, perhaps all of you might have not suffered than the much of things I had undergone. 

Of course, the compassionate teacher remembers my willingness and wholeheartedness to follow him without delay and demands. I did not put forward any requisition, nor did I say that I expected something in return. I know he needs and assumes such hearts as mine, I am the final word of his searches’ Mathew exclaimed with the convincing words. John, the silent person always in public was too not backward to express his sentiments towards the Lord. He is a big gem of Jesus for sure. This man was always with Jesus. Right side of Jesus’ shoulder, John used his pillow to rest. So close was his relation with the master. He did not respond to any of his brothers' statements. But in the heart of hearts, he was more than sure that he is the greatest of all. The man with shyness did not express his inner thoughts to any of them. He waited for his time to reveal the fact. So, he kept smiling at them.  

They took their convenience to make the walk, sometimes slowly and other times faster. Finally, twelve of them walked towards the house of their master. It always looks handsome when the master walks in front to leading the disciples in utmost caring with high-notch concern. Often and again Jesus for this very reason was attracted by people of all walks. He by that time earned the title of all sorts of goodness: a man of love, a source of compassion, the resting place of the poor, and a master of high spirituality. The qualities were not merely an attribution to Him but were the realization on the part of people towards their god revealed in time.   

  

After a day’s work and a tiresome walk in the sun, the holy battalion of disciples with Jesus reached home. In the back courtyard, they noticed children playing with different games. They are enjoying each moment in what they do. They never appeared with the children of malice, prejudice, and hypocrisy like their young parents, friends, and kinships. They do not bargain to win the match. They don’t want to become greater than the other. In their little language of appreciation, they are already heroes to each other. Jesus had a closer observation of them in silence and the disciples expected some teaching over the incident soon. Little more than expected and faster than being late Jesus called a child, soon the little one rushed to his lap to sit and sat on his divine lap without any spark of fear. That is the child! Who makes a transformation!  Jesus must have asked the child what do you expect in the game you play? The reply must end up in a smile with a big NO.  

Now he turned to his disciples and asked them what do you expect in following me? Whom among you count yourself greater than the other? I strongly warn you and those who are about to follow me after you, unless you all must change your heart like the one who is in my lap you will never be my true disciple in spirit (Mk. 10:15). True, Jesus was indirectly hinting at the worst enemy of human being, the EGO.

Ego is something that has destroyed the lives of quite a number of people over the years in the history of humankind. A man or woman can become a saint if they are ready to shed the sickness of egoism from their very life. At the close of the day what is being counted is not what we achieve or how much one is recognized by the other. But rather how importantly we do our responsibilities despite all sort of unrecognition with utter sincerity and ever-sacrificing temperament. 

Let us all follow Jesus with no expectations in return.

Let us love Jesus using sacrifice as the only slogan.

Let us take his cross to lessen our own sinful burdens.

God bless you all in this season of Lent.