'The people who heard him were amazed at the way he taught,
for he wasn't like the teachers of the Law;
instead, he taught with authority.
Mark 1: 22
The past week, has been one of merry making, gathering among friends and relatives...Yes, it was all around food! Have I put on many kilos? I don't think so, as these days I seem to be a moderate eater myself. Not sure why I don't find that inner strength to over indulge? Could it be my life of prayer, meditation and self-control? I wonder? But, yes my taste butts were all functioning pretty well, and love the local food. Guess what? I must admit I miss the chinese way of chinese new year gatherings, that we don't get in Australia; last night I was at a dinner and it was noisy, crazy acts and me were the last tables to leave the restaurant (almost 12am!); a very typical Malaysian chinese way.
But, it was all great!
Have you ever wondered if you were listening to Jesus in the streets, what will be your reaction? If we were alive during the time of Mother Teresa, Mahatma Ghandi, Buddha, Albert Einstein, Newton (discovered gravity)...What will be our first reaction? Today, we easily listen to those ideas given to us by people who lived in the past. Their words give us hope, knowledge, life, science...You name it.
At the same time, we need to be mindful of the many struggles that these great people of the past had to go through. Jesus, got Himself crucified! Mother Teresa opted to live a life of real poverty to help the poor! I am sure Newton and Einstein, had to face ridicule to proff their new found scientific knowledge. The man who spoke about the earth globe being round and NOT flat, was tortured by the Roman Catholic Church; Galileo.
I bet, today we too live in the same circle of history. Those who do not think alike with the great majority are often silenced and at times even toutured/killed. Look at the many up risings that took place in some parts of the world last year? Look also in our own work place and community, how do YOU treat those that, in YOUR mind, are different from you and the majority?
Like so many, I very often fall short myself. At my work place, when gossips start to spread, and those gossips reaches my ears, I too am affected in the way I treat that person who is gossiped on. When person A and B, is talked on, I start becoming very suspicious of that person A and B. It is sad, because at prayer each evening when I reflect, I ask myself the question of CHARITY.
Is it charity when I look upon others with suspicion? Is it charity when others gossip on another, even when that gossip may be 'valid'? Is it reasonable for me to pay attention to gossips?
I wonder when can I speak like Jesus and make my audience be amazed by what I have to say?
Let us work on this, may our words GIVE LIFE to people, to science, to communities, to religion, to society...Again YOU name it! May your words be life giving where ever you are!::))