Rev
7:2-4, 9-14; 1 Jn 3:1-3; Mt 5:1-12a
I would like to share
with you a true story shared by a soldier.
A group of 15 soldiers
led by a Major were on the way to their post in the Himalayas where they would
be deployed for the next 3 months.
It was a cold winter
& intermittent snowfall made the treacherous climb even more difficult. “If
someone could offer a cup of tea”.... the Major thought, knowing it was a
futile wish.
They continued their
journey for another hour or so when they came across a shabby structure,
which looked like a tea-shop. But soon, their joy turned into disappointment when
they saw that it was closed and locked.
It was late in the
evening and they were all tired. “No tea boys, bad luck”, said the Major.
But he suggested that they take a little rest there before continuing - as they
had been walking for several hours.
“Sir, this is a tea
shop and we can make tea ourselves... but we will have to break the lock” suggested
one soldier.
The officer was
hesitant to accept this unethical suggestion but the thought of a steaming cup
of tea for the tired solders made him give the permission.
They were in luck, the
place had everything needed to make tea and lots of packets of biscuits.
The soldiers had hot
tea & biscuits and were ready for their remaining journey.
The major thought... ‘we
are disciplined soldiers - not a band of thieves. We had broken the lock and
had tea & biscuits without the owner’s permission’. So, to pay for the
tea and biscuits, and the cost to repair the lock – he took out two thousand
rupees from his wallet, placed it on the counter under the sugar container, so
that the owner would see it. The office’s guilt was somewhat relieved. He pulled
down the shutter to close the shop and ordered the soldiers to proceed.
Three months passed by.
They were lucky not to lose anyone from the group in the intense insurgency
situation. And now, it was time for another team to replace them. They were on
their way back and stopped at the same tea-shop which was open this time and
the owner was also present in the shop. The owner - an old man with meagre resources
was very happy to greet 15 customers.
While having tea and
biscuits, they talked to the old man about his life and experiences - especially about selling
tea at such a remote location. Was he able to make enough money to support his
family?
The old man had many
stories to tell - full of love and miracles. “God is very kind –
merciful. He has always taken care of me and my family” he said in a soft but
firm and confident tone of voice that showed his strong faith and
confidence in God.
“Aray Baba, if God is
so kind and merciful, then why should He keep you in such poverty?” commented one
of them.
“Sahib! Let me tell you
a recent story how God took care of us”. Said the old man.
“Three months ago, I
was going through very tough times. My only son had been badly beaten up
by the terrorists. He was severely injured and needed to be taken to the hospital.
But I did not have enough money for hospital and medicines - and on top of
that, I had to close my shop to take care him.”
With tears of gratitude
in his eyes, the old man continued: “That evening, I prayed to God for help…
and God walked into my shop that night.”
“When I opened my shop
in the morning, I found the lock broken. At first, I felt unhappy and little
angry - that along with other things, I must have lost whatever little money I had
left in the shop.
But then I saw that God
had left two thousand rupees on the counter under the sugar pot. I can’t tell
you Sahib how much that money was worth for me that day. I was able to take my
son to hospital and buy medicines for him. My son is alright now… God took care
of us. “Of course, there is God and He is very kind and merciful”
The light of faith in
his eyes was unflinching. Fifteen pairs of eyes met the eyes of their officer
and read the clear and unmistakable order in his eyes: “Keep quiet”.
The major got up and
paid the bill. He hugged the old man and said, “Yes Baba, I know God is very
kind and merciful. And by the way, the tea was wonderful and delicious.”
Those 15 pairs of eyes
did not miss to notice the moisture building up in the eyes of their officer -
a sight they had never seen before.
Walking on the path of
compassion we can be the messenger of God to anyone. Today we are going through
things that our generation has never experienced.
Everything has halted.
The speed in which we were moving has been suddenly stopped. Old things are
replaced with new trends. A total change everywhere.
In this trying times to
be a messenger of God. We have to have a lot of compassion. This is what we read
in the life of saints. They were ordinary men and women. But, whoever came into
contact with them had the experience of God in their presence, their words and
their actions.
Today we need many more
saints to pass on the compassion of God to a suffering world. And that mission is
on us.
To be messengers of God
we should go ahead and do whatever little bit we can and let everybody
experience God through us.
Satish