Acts 13:14,43-52; Ap7:9,14-17: Jn 10:27-30
9th December 1971 was the saddest day in
the history of Indian Navy. Indian Navy deployed INS KHUKRI off the coast of
Diu, in the Arabian Sea, for a submarine hunt. While in operation, the ship was
struck by a salvo of three torpedoes. The ship sank in minutes. When everyone
was trying to save himself Captain Mahendra Nath Mulla chose to be with the
ship under his command. He was seen standing on the deck with a feeling of
dedication and commitment to the ship and the sailors entrusted to his care.
The ship was swallowed by the Arabian Sea with 194 men. Captain Mahendra Nath
Mulla displayed conspicuous gallantry and dedication. He held on to the ancient
tradition, “Captains don’t abandon their ships.”
In today’s
Gospel Jesus is presented as a Shepherd who dedicates himself to the sheep.
Jesus asserts that “I know my sheep and they follow me….. No one will ever
steal them from me”. These words show the tremendous trust and the tremendous
claim of Jesus. His trust was something which traced everything back to God.
The history of salvation shows that whoever tried to count on his own abilities
miserably tasted defeat and met with tragic end. Goliath took pride in his own
strength and challenged the chosen people of God, and he was humbled by a
teenager, David. David was able to win over Goliath, because he put his trust
in God. “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the
name of the LORD our God”. (Psalm 20:7)Joshua defeated a large army with a
handful of men, because his strength was God. “They cried to God in the battle,
because they put their trust in Him. (Chronicles 5:20) The psalmist says, “The
Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in
whom I will trust. (Psalms 18:2)”
Jesus’ attitude to life was not self confidence but
God confidence. He had no servants yet they called Him Master. No degrees; yet
they called him Teacher. No medicine; yet they called him Healer. No army; yet
the kings feared Him. He won no military battles; yet He conquered the world.
He was buried in a tomb; yet he lives today. This victory of Jesus is the
result of His trust in God.
Today’s second reading from the Acts of Apostles gives
us an account of the work of St Paul and Barnabas. They challenged the self
trust of the Jews and admonished them to put their trust in God by accepting
Jesus. This enraged the Jews and they cast them away from the city. So, they
shook the dust from their feat and turned to Iconium where their message was
accepted by the gentiles.
John sees in his vision large crowds of people
assembling before God. They are the ones who put their trust in the Lord. He
calls them as “purified by the blood of the lamb.” For John’s listeners’
purification by blood was a familiar concept.
Mithraism, the most famous mystery religions of that
time offered to men a rebirth and a promise of eternal life by deeply moving
ceremonies. Their most sacred ceremony was ‘taurobolium’ or the bath of bull’s
blood. It is described by the Christian poet Prudentius. A trench was dug, over
which was erected a platform of planks, which were perforated with holes. Upon
this platform a sacrificial bull was slaughtered. Below the platform knelt the
worshipper who was to be initiated. The blood of the slaughtered bull dripped
through on to the worshipper below. He exposed his head and all his garments to
be saturated with blood. He came out from this certain that he was reborn for
all eternity.
Throughout centuries people have adopted various
practices to attain eternal life. Jesus taught His listeners that the only way
to gain eternal life is to place their trust in God. The Old Testament dream of
people who put their trust and confidence in God is seen in Isaiah (49:10)
“They shall not hunger or thirst; neither scorching wind nor sun shall smite
them; for he who has pity on them will lead them. And by springs of water will
lead them. The psalmist’s confidence in God is reflected in the verse, “He
leads me beside still waters.”(Ps 23:2) All these dreams are summed in
Revelations. “They will never hunger or thirst again; because the lamb who is
at the throne will be their shepherd and will lead them to springs of living
water.”
As Jesus put his trust and confidence in God we should
be able to put our trust and confidence in Him.
Satish