Gerald D'Cunha

  “You must not lean on a tree on Sabbath; if the tree might be dependent on you for support.” Ovadia Yosef I f Sunday is ‘Sabbath’ – the day of rest and prayers -   here in India and many other parts of the world, it’s Friday in many Arab counties… and, it’s not so in Israel, the land of Moses, where the concept of ‘Sabbath’ was first introduced… For the Jews, Sabbath starts at Friday sunset and ends at Saturday sundown… I think, whether Arabs and Jews are endlessly are at war with one another, and whether how a day of Sabbath - or the ‘Lord’s Day’ -   is observed is not at all important. To me, it has nothing to do with God. For, He will never ever ask whether or not we keep your tools down and rest on a Sunday or a Friday or any other day. What difference does it make to God… as long as we have rested, reflected, rejuvenated – sharpened the saw as Stephen Covey said? Yes, why fuss about - which day is ‘Sabbath’? W hen most of us rest, there are so many around...

  “Religion is for those who’re afraid of going to hell; Spirituality is for those who’ve already been there.” Vine Deloria Jr.   I do not know, if they still teach the fascinating stories from The Ramayana and The Mahabharata in pre-primary and primary schools, these days. Hope they do… The stories are so fascinating, that they have remained permanently etched in my mind even after sixty-plus years… Every time Deepavali comes, come back to my mind the inspiring stories of Rama’s sacrifice, Bharata’s love, devotion and righteousness, his mother Kaikeyi’s stubbornness and father Dasharatha’s atma sankat… Though the primary school I studied in (St. Peter’s ) was run by the local church authorities, the atmosphere out there was purely secular… I grew up among scores of non-Catholic friends – Hindus, Muslims and Jains… Brahmins and Harijans all. The stories from The Ramayana and Mahabharata enchanted all of us… Thus, as a grown-up man, today, I am quite aware of why De...

Pic.: Ashwin Mohta T hough I am a Christian, I rarely go to church.  But, I go on my knees and pray a lot, and, as I pray those ‘wordless’ prayers, tears simply flow down my cheeks… I feel extremely closer, loved, cared, protected and healed by my Hero – Jesus Christ. I look up to Him more like my true well-wisher… and, hence, I feel comfortable seeking His hand anywhere I feel like… Why wait for a Sunday morning? Why against the backdrop of scintillating choir and why in the midst of a packed church? Why should my prayer and worship be choreographed? Why should this be mechanical? Why should it be stereotype… bereft of my soul, my presence? So, whenever someone – a very ‘concerned’ fellow-Christian - asks me, ‘Why don’t I see you in the church?” I smile and tell him, “Jesus Christ comes home.” “Blaspheme! “Blaspheme! Yes, I can see my fellow-faithful tearing off his cloak! Hello, Jesus Christ really comes home, if I am really, really sincere. He ...

Pic.: Divesh Shah “Humility is not thinking less of yourself…I t's thinking of yourself less.” C. S. Lewis C hristmas is barely a week away. All the pomp and glamour associated with this festival aside, one lesson Jesus has left for us… He taught us right as He was born… He is ‘King of all Kings’, I, as a Christian believe… He is the Son of God… the Messiah… The Salvador… God Himself. Now, all these are my beliefs as His follower, a Christian… But, then, what is there for me to learn from Jesus’ birth in the manger… amidst the cows? The day before His death, Jesus had held His last supper. But, just before the supper, He had surprised His twelve disciples by washing their feet… What lesson was that? Sometimes, when I think of these two episodes in the life of Jesus, I seriously think, I do not have to learn any more lessons in life… The lesson taught, through these two episodes, is enough to make me – and anyone else, for tha...