Release Him, Let him Rise!!
I read an interesting study done among kids. One of them was this; they showed a picture of an elephant and asked the Indian kids, "What is it?" Everyone replied, "It is an elephant" But the Japanese kids replied, "It's a picture of an elephant!"
In 1977 Robert Powell acted as Jesus, in the film Jesus of Nazareth. Then on you see all over the world; in churches, homes, shrines and grottos Jesus being venerated with the Picture of Robert Powell. He cried out a few times, not to venerate his portrait! But who heeds?
"Can you show me Jesus?" the Greeks asked Philip.
If someone asks you, "Can you show me Jesus?" Where will you take him? To your church? To your convent? To your school? To your home? To your ministry place? To your community? To your village? To your parish? To yourself? Where?... where will you take him? or will you show him the pictures of actors such as Diogo Margado, Walter Mbamy, Jim Caviesel, or Robert Powell, and others who had acted as Jesus in films?
Or, Is He Dead?
We are too often busy guessing and highly preoccupied with the historical figure of Jesus! How he looked like, Did he have a beard or not, What was the exact way in which he was born, died or risen? This intellectual curiosity however useless will remain forever. I would say, Just don't get into it, if you want to get enthralled in Jesus! If you want to do a study on him, anyone can do it! even an atheist can; on dead Jesus! Jesus of history!!
But, how to encounter him? The gospel indicates another way! Those who live for themselves will lose it and those who don't care about it will find eternal life. If you are self-centred, it is impossible to follow Jesus. In short, Jesus was selfless and he instructed, "Follow me!" Where there is selflessness and generosity you will find in your deeper self the Him, even today! Yes, He is alive!
He will live as long as you are alive, vibrant, active and motivated to love!
When you help someone in dire need or in great difficulty they will always attribute that to God's intervention and if they are believers will attribute to Jesus!
Is your home filled with love, forgiveness, joy, jokes, and laughter? Jesus lives there!
Is your church or parish filled with acts of compassion, equality, sharing between different castes and social groups? Jesus dwells in there!
Is your community; other centered? a charity home? Joy-filled? gossip free? caste free? filled with concern and care for each other especially for the sick and the elderly? that there is happiness overflowing on the faces? Jesus is there!
If you are gloomy, stiff-necked, long-faced, dogmatic, rubricant! The hell with it! Not only he, no one would like to come closer! Don't imagine that your exquisite theological exhibits will grab him! Nor your prayers and penance will bring him down to your ghettos! He hates ghettos! He came to bring down ghettos!
Therefore, Break your "walls" and build bridges! Break fences and defenses! Allow others to enter your life, your community, your homes, and your churches!
You cannot drag him to hell! He dwells in heaven and only in heaven! Therefore, if you want him, make your home, your heart, your community, your church, your parish a little haven; the abode of God!
Some of us are so conscious and rooted (and rotten) in rubrics, statutes, rituals, bells, and all the unimportant matters. We wrongly think that they please God! They are matters that are related to an association or a club or an army! Christianity of Jesus is not even a religion! Christianity of Rome, Yes!
Jesus is an unending spiritual force! Don't try to lock him down in cubicles, statues, and shrines. In fact, You will not be able to! Let him flow through your acts of love, compassion, charity, forgiveness, encompassing the other, embracing the little ones, hugging your enemy, caring for the deserted ones.
If you don't do this or put an end to these, you will leave him dead in your life!
He dwells in you! Don't cage and bury him in yourself! Let the rocks of stubbornness roll out! Allow Jesus to rise from your heart!
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