#PC Thomas
Bhopal | “Whatever be the religion of a person, it is enough to become a good person” said Sri Narayana Guru Swami, the great saint, philosopher, social reformer and poet of India, who preached the message of “one caste, one religion, one God for humanity”.
When two years ago, when Coronavirus came to the world and taught humans the philosophy of Sri Narayana Guru Swami - one caste, one religion, one God for humanity because human beings all over the world realized at that time that they are in the same boat in spite of great differences.
Observe the life of Christ, Buddha, Mahavira, Guru Nanak and the like.... They all spread the message of love, unity, and non-violence. They taught us to love our fellow beings, and hence, the Communal harmony is the need of the hour for all religions and their followers.
Just taking a hot living example of humanity and brotherhood which was witnessed in Indore Madhya Pradesh this week that a Christian priest cremated as per Hindu custom. Yes, it was none other than Father Varghese Alengaden, the world famous Christian peace activist and a believer in all faith and religion. His last rites performed in Indore as per the rituals of Sanatana Dharma. Although Fr. Alengaden was a believer in all faith and religion, he was fascinated by the cremation of his body as per the Hindu's tradition. While expressing his last wishes he had once claimed - "cremation is the best method of disposing the dead body. In burial the body occupies space, whereas in cremation the body is reduced to ashes and mingles with nature and nothing remains, therefore, I should be given a decent cremation instead of burial". He promoted inter religious faith for universal solidarity throughout his life, and even after his death!
Amidst the atrocities and persecutions over Christians that is going on currently in the country, the Church celebrates this Sixth Sunday in Lent as both Palm Sunday and Passion Sunday. Christians start the Holy Week with Palm Sunday today, April 2, 2023. Palm Sunday is the Sunday before the Easter, the day of resurrection of Christ.
It is on Palm Sunday that the Christian faithful enter Holy Week, welcoming Jesus into their lives and asking Him to allow them a share in His (Jesus) suffering, death and Resurrection. This is the time of the year when they stop to remember and relive the events which brought about their redemption and salvation.
The Holy Week is the period between Palm Sunday and Easter that falls on April 9. During the Holy Week the Christians all over the world remember the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus and meditate over the implication of Jesus’ suffering, death and resurrection to their lives.
It is on Palm Sunday, that the Christians remember and celebrate the day Jesus entered Jerusalem city and was welcomed by people as a Savior and King.
As Jesus rode on a donkey to the city of Jerusalem, a large crowd gathered and laid their cloaks on the road, holding palm leaves in their hands. Thus they gave Jesus a royal welcome. Hundreds of people shouted ‘Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!’" But this splendid event in the life of Jesus was followed by intense suffering, ignominious death, and finally his glorious resurrection. Christians believe that the sufferings in the world, if faced with the right attitude, will lead to joy at the end.
As the Christian faithful begin this most holy of their weeks, may the Almighty be their constant companion. May they enter in the mystery of their Master's' life, death and resurrection with faith and hope. Let them on this day help dedicate themselves to universal harmony and love of Jesus Christ for the progress and prosperity of all sections of the society.
