Everyone has need for protection and recognition.
And a correct recognition is often more valuable than money or anything else: Then each of us wants to hear, "You're good," or "you do it well."
Jesus behaves like someone who knows of this psychology:
“You are of more value than many sparrows." He appreciates the people above all creatures. He recognizes people.
There were many ‘Excluded’ in his acquaintance and also as disciples: fishermen, tax collectors, Pharisees, rich and poor, women and children, sick and healthy, weak and strong-people from every field were around him.
Because, Jesus came to save such people.
He was in search of sinners and the weak.
His goal was to free these people from their miserable situations.
Jesus promises three-fold protection: first by him, then through the Heavenly Father, then the protection of the Heaven.
We can experience in the church all these protections.
There are many opportunities for people to come closer to God.
To "renounce the old Man".
We are his people. This is a great recognition.
And we are part of its divine Mission.
We share all these in the sacraments and in the communion.
The truth is, few are interested in such offers.
And we cannot convince and attain many people with our actions to God and to the church.
What's wrong in our mission?
Are we not ‘speaking’ the language of the affected- The world?
Where we fail in our communication?
How we recognize our fellow man?
Can People come to us and experience this divine protection?
Are our churches and religion open for the weak and sinners?
Or is it just an exclusive community of "saints" and "hypocrites"?
So many questions are open for us in the church and in the pastoral activities.
God and religion should certainly offer protection and recognition.
But many people are least convinced and concerned of it.
Some do not need a "religious protection" and God at all.
For them the secular insurances are enough...
I think we need renewal:
We need to offer people the most important and most necessary.
Above all, our experience of God must be a lesson for others.
This is most important, in preaching Jesus.
Jesus could do it fairly, because he knew his people.
He felt their needs.
We Christians do have the same job in a new way.
We must be more and more close to people and be conscious to their needs.
We must show them that they are valuable to God.
Let us create an atmosphere that they find God’s recognition in their lives.
Let us come to our God without fear and bear witness to him.
God bless us and strengthen us all. Amen!
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Fr Thomas Kalathil
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