AT ST. PAUL’S CATHEDRAL ON THURSDAY, 7th APRIL 2011 AT 10.30 A.M.
********
I am disturbed, troubled and even hurt.
I am disturbed by what is happening in our country. Troubled by the various scams that are being unraveled. Hurt because my country is looted in broad day-light by those whom we trusted to run it with transparency, dignity and utter honesty. Not to be outraged by these revelations is not only sheer indifference but also a manifestation of lack of patriotism and bankruptcy of love for our nation.
Commonwealth Games, 2G scam, money stacked in tax havens. This is only the tip of the ice-berg they say. Corruption is rampant. It has penetrated into every strata of society. Politicians, Civil servants, the Police, Educationists, even the Religious men and women count among the corrupt in our society.
Corruption has become a way of life and it is fast destroying the very moral fabric of our nation. If there was a World Cup for corruption – we would win it hands down!
Not willing to be a mute spectator of this unfolding drama and with a burning desire to stop the spread of this deadly virus, Anna Hazare – a Mahatma of our times declared a fast unto death from 5th April 2011 demanding stringent action against those caught in acts of corruption. Can this be the beginning of a new movement in our society wherein we pledge to live with honesty, whereby we resolve never more to indulge in corrupt practices?
To me, moments like this can become defining moments for India that can give our children a better future. Who else is better equipped to take up this challenge than our esteemed educational institutions inculcating in the minds of these children passing through their hallowed portals, the noble values like honesty and love.
It is in this context I wish to take note of another national phenomenon. The world over, India is seen as a very religious country – a land of Rishis, Sadhus, Holy Men, Temples, Shrines and places of Pilgrimage. It is the cradle of some of the world’s greatest religions. Numerous religious traditions and list of religious sects and movements. People are searching for a spiritual recipe that suits their palate. The Religious scene resembles a huge supermarket with plenty of choices.
A recent study conducted in the 4 metros of our country (Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Delhi) show that 99% of the College students believe in religious observances; 90% of them say they pray and visit religious centres. Most students say they pray before examinations and receive their parents’ blessing before they write examinations.
Recently a lead article in The Statesman pointed out that this over-emphasis of religious observances is rooted in the socio - psychological needs created by liberalization and globalization of the economy. According to one empirical research, 30% of the respondents have become more religious over the past few years. Hence religious tourism is on the increase. It accounts for more than 50% of all package tours in the country. One notices that religion is not only good for business but also the best business too. That is why various State Governments in the country are spending enormous amounts of money on developing various popular centres of pilgrimage.
So far I was disturbed, troubled and hurt. But now I am totally confused. Confused because religion is playing a greater role in the lives of people and yet at the same time we are becoming more and more corrupt in every area of life.
Well, the question I ask is: What sort of religion is being practised by us? If a religion does not bring about a change of heart, transformation of life, loving attitudes towards others, if it does not make me a better human being, then there is something wrong in the way of my practising it.
Let me now draw your attention to the story of Zacchaeus we heard from Gospel of Luke, Chapter 19, verses 1 – 10.
1. Who was Zacchaeus? He was a Chief Tax Collector, an employee of the Roman Government. He was rich. He became rich because he was an extortionist. He was notorious for overcharging people. Hence he was despised and hated by people.
2. In spite of all the money he had, he was not a happy man. There was turmoil in his soul. He had power and position and that did not satisfy him. Something was missing in his life. He was experiencing a kind of emptiness in his heart. This gives birth to a desire in him to SEE Jesus.
3. Because he was a man of small stature he decides to climb a sycamore tree to see WHO Jesus is. Why did Zacchaeus want to see Jesus? Because he had heard of all the wonderful things Jesus had done in the lives of people. He must have thought, “Surely this man who has done so much for others can do something for me. I have got to see Him for myself. He can satisfy the hunger of my soul. May be he can fill the emptiness in my life”.
4. Lo and behold, instead of Zacchaeus seeing Jesus, Jesus looks at him lovingly. “Zacchaeus, come down. I must abide at your house”.
A life cannot stay the same when Jesus moves in. When He comes in, He changes everything. He makes everything new, everything better.
Zacchaeus is a changed man. He now proceeds to demonstrate the change. He promises to give away half of his fortune and to restore fourfold to anyone from whom he has taken anything under false pretenses.
The action on the part of Zacchaeus is an external demonstration – an expression. But the foundation is a RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE – the touch of the divine.
Now I come back to where I began. Could it be that we practise religion without a Religious Experience of the Divine?
As Jesus passed the place where Zacchaeus was up on the tree, he stopped and began to speak to Zacchaeus. When Jesus spoke, He called Zacchaeus by his name, which means “PURE” by the way!
Zacchaeus, “Make haste and come down”. Don’t you think poor old Zacchaeus almost fell out of that tree when he heard Jesus call him by his name?
“I must abide at your house”.
Zacchaeus not only opened wide the door of his house but much more the door of his heart.
All religions have begun because the founder had a unique FOUNDATIONAL EXPERIENCE OF GOD. The followers or adherents of that religion attempt to make their own this experience of God of their founder and slowly a CREED (i.e. The Belief System), a CULT (Worship System), a CODE (Rules and Regulations to live by) and a Community (Web of Relationships) develops.
Being born in a particular family that belongs to a particular religion, we are in touch with its religious expressions like Community, Creed, Cult and Code, and claim that we practise that religion. Expressions without an Experience. And this is what is happening to many of us.
Just to cite the example of Jesus. Jesus had what we call as an experience of God as His Father – an ABBA Experience. He began to preach. The core message of his preaching was: “The Kingdom of God is near at hand, repent and believe in the Gospel”. Repentance is the first step in our journey to a genuine “God-experience”. No change in my life is possible unless I repent and experience a radical change of heart with the aid of divine grace.
This is precisely what happened to Zacchaeus. This is what can happen to each one of us. If each of us begins with a change of heart – then we can hope for a change in society, a society that lives under the rule of God and a society that treats others as brothers and sisters. We will truly be religious people only when we have a genuine Religious Experience–the touch of the Divine.
On this Thanksgiving day of the Julien Day Schools – when we lovingly remember our Founder Mrs. Grace Julien, I wish that her Vision and Mission may be carried forward by the Managing Trustee Mrs. S.E. Broughton and the Chairman Mr. J.G. Broughton and the Board of Trustees.
I pray that the Management and the Staff join hands with them in moulding the minds and hearts of the many children who pass through their hands into honest citizens of this country. To you dear outgoing students, as I congratulate you on your successful completion of school studies, I say – Take courage. Stand up, be Honest and make a Difference to our Society.
!!! God Bless you all !!!
********
I am disturbed, troubled and even hurt.
I am disturbed by what is happening in our country. Troubled by the various scams that are being unraveled. Hurt because my country is looted in broad day-light by those whom we trusted to run it with transparency, dignity and utter honesty. Not to be outraged by these revelations is not only sheer indifference but also a manifestation of lack of patriotism and bankruptcy of love for our nation.
Commonwealth Games, 2G scam, money stacked in tax havens. This is only the tip of the ice-berg they say. Corruption is rampant. It has penetrated into every strata of society. Politicians, Civil servants, the Police, Educationists, even the Religious men and women count among the corrupt in our society.
Corruption has become a way of life and it is fast destroying the very moral fabric of our nation. If there was a World Cup for corruption – we would win it hands down!
Not willing to be a mute spectator of this unfolding drama and with a burning desire to stop the spread of this deadly virus, Anna Hazare – a Mahatma of our times declared a fast unto death from 5th April 2011 demanding stringent action against those caught in acts of corruption. Can this be the beginning of a new movement in our society wherein we pledge to live with honesty, whereby we resolve never more to indulge in corrupt practices?
To me, moments like this can become defining moments for India that can give our children a better future. Who else is better equipped to take up this challenge than our esteemed educational institutions inculcating in the minds of these children passing through their hallowed portals, the noble values like honesty and love.
It is in this context I wish to take note of another national phenomenon. The world over, India is seen as a very religious country – a land of Rishis, Sadhus, Holy Men, Temples, Shrines and places of Pilgrimage. It is the cradle of some of the world’s greatest religions. Numerous religious traditions and list of religious sects and movements. People are searching for a spiritual recipe that suits their palate. The Religious scene resembles a huge supermarket with plenty of choices.
A recent study conducted in the 4 metros of our country (Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Delhi) show that 99% of the College students believe in religious observances; 90% of them say they pray and visit religious centres. Most students say they pray before examinations and receive their parents’ blessing before they write examinations.
The revival of religion in the nation’s public space has considerably increased. The economic prosperity is bringing in its wake what may be described as the “Rush Hour of Gods” , resulting in the proliferation of new expressions of religiosity.”
Recently a lead article in The Statesman pointed out that this over-emphasis of religious observances is rooted in the socio - psychological needs created by liberalization and globalization of the economy. According to one empirical research, 30% of the respondents have become more religious over the past few years. Hence religious tourism is on the increase. It accounts for more than 50% of all package tours in the country. One notices that religion is not only good for business but also the best business too. That is why various State Governments in the country are spending enormous amounts of money on developing various popular centres of pilgrimage.
So far I was disturbed, troubled and hurt. But now I am totally confused. Confused because religion is playing a greater role in the lives of people and yet at the same time we are becoming more and more corrupt in every area of life.
Well, the question I ask is: What sort of religion is being practised by us? If a religion does not bring about a change of heart, transformation of life, loving attitudes towards others, if it does not make me a better human being, then there is something wrong in the way of my practising it.
Let me now draw your attention to the story of Zacchaeus we heard from Gospel of Luke, Chapter 19, verses 1 – 10.
1. Who was Zacchaeus? He was a Chief Tax Collector, an employee of the Roman Government. He was rich. He became rich because he was an extortionist. He was notorious for overcharging people. Hence he was despised and hated by people.
2. In spite of all the money he had, he was not a happy man. There was turmoil in his soul. He had power and position and that did not satisfy him. Something was missing in his life. He was experiencing a kind of emptiness in his heart. This gives birth to a desire in him to SEE Jesus.
3. Because he was a man of small stature he decides to climb a sycamore tree to see WHO Jesus is. Why did Zacchaeus want to see Jesus? Because he had heard of all the wonderful things Jesus had done in the lives of people. He must have thought, “Surely this man who has done so much for others can do something for me. I have got to see Him for myself. He can satisfy the hunger of my soul. May be he can fill the emptiness in my life”.
4. Lo and behold, instead of Zacchaeus seeing Jesus, Jesus looks at him lovingly. “Zacchaeus, come down. I must abide at your house”.
A life cannot stay the same when Jesus moves in. When He comes in, He changes everything. He makes everything new, everything better.
Zacchaeus is a changed man. He now proceeds to demonstrate the change. He promises to give away half of his fortune and to restore fourfold to anyone from whom he has taken anything under false pretenses.
The action on the part of Zacchaeus is an external demonstration – an expression. But the foundation is a RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE – the touch of the divine.
Now I come back to where I began. Could it be that we practise religion without a Religious Experience of the Divine?
As Jesus passed the place where Zacchaeus was up on the tree, he stopped and began to speak to Zacchaeus. When Jesus spoke, He called Zacchaeus by his name, which means “PURE” by the way!
Zacchaeus, “Make haste and come down”. Don’t you think poor old Zacchaeus almost fell out of that tree when he heard Jesus call him by his name?
“I must abide at your house”.
Zacchaeus not only opened wide the door of his house but much more the door of his heart.
All religions have begun because the founder had a unique FOUNDATIONAL EXPERIENCE OF GOD. The followers or adherents of that religion attempt to make their own this experience of God of their founder and slowly a CREED (i.e. The Belief System), a CULT (Worship System), a CODE (Rules and Regulations to live by) and a Community (Web of Relationships) develops.
Being born in a particular family that belongs to a particular religion, we are in touch with its religious expressions like Community, Creed, Cult and Code, and claim that we practise that religion. Expressions without an Experience. And this is what is happening to many of us.
Just to cite the example of Jesus. Jesus had what we call as an experience of God as His Father – an ABBA Experience. He began to preach. The core message of his preaching was: “The Kingdom of God is near at hand, repent and believe in the Gospel”. Repentance is the first step in our journey to a genuine “God-experience”. No change in my life is possible unless I repent and experience a radical change of heart with the aid of divine grace.
This is precisely what happened to Zacchaeus. This is what can happen to each one of us. If each of us begins with a change of heart – then we can hope for a change in society, a society that lives under the rule of God and a society that treats others as brothers and sisters. We will truly be religious people only when we have a genuine Religious Experience–the touch of the Divine.
On this Thanksgiving day of the Julien Day Schools – when we lovingly remember our Founder Mrs. Grace Julien, I wish that her Vision and Mission may be carried forward by the Managing Trustee Mrs. S.E. Broughton and the Chairman Mr. J.G. Broughton and the Board of Trustees.
I pray that the Management and the Staff join hands with them in moulding the minds and hearts of the many children who pass through their hands into honest citizens of this country. To you dear outgoing students, as I congratulate you on your successful completion of school studies, I say – Take courage. Stand up, be Honest and make a Difference to our Society.
!!! God Bless you all !!!
