Sijo Chemmannur
Member
"You shall Love.." Matthew 22:37
Kahlil Gibran, the famous philosopher, poet and writer wrote in his work "The prophet" that Love is like pillars of the temple, when it is stand apart, it give more strength to the building. He also wrote "Love possesses not nor would it be possessed; For love is sufficient unto love. And think not you can direct the course of love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course. Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself." The portrait of love as a character in itself rather than an emotion. His romantic writings inspired millions of western world and made him the third best selling poet of all times behind Shakespear and Laozi.
During His three and half years of public life, what Jesus Christ tried to do is to convey His message of true love and compassion. He never rejected anybody who came near Him for mercy and care. His heart was an out-pour and unending body of Love. When the law and the society teaches us to love those who love us, Christ put a challenge before us "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them" (Luke 6:32). "But I tell you who hear: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you" (Luke 6:27).
It is relevant as Christians to realize the fulfillment of Mosaic laws, Jesus Christ amended. It was indeed a paradigm shift to the central dogma of what is right and sinful. He transformed the physical and materialistic act of laws into a metaphysical state of heart- a character precisely. He reinstates that "For out of the heart come evil thoughts--murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander" (Matthew 15:19). This has huge effect even to the pragmatic implications of leading a Christian life. We, as Christians should no more discreet or judge the righteous and sinfulness through the physical parameters, but be focused more to achieve a state of living in Christ.
Jesus Christ insisted this state of life, living, growth and bearing fruit by His own teachings. John 15 categorically emphasis the necessity to live in Him by obeying His commandments. "Abide in Me, and I in you" (John 15:4) is the call He gives to everybody who follow Him. "He who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit (John 15:5). He explains how to abide in Him, "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love" (John 15:10). Finally he concludes about His commandment "This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you" (John 15:12).
It is because of its cosmic and metaphysical nature of Jesus Christ's teachings that it has little space to be judgmental or even be institutionalized. A personalized experience of Christ is the must and foremost step to achieve the state of enlightenment and to fill with the holy spirit. Only when all Christian attain this state they can bears the real Christian fruits in their life. It is hard to preach this message and that might be the reason Christ used parables to preach with conclusions, "Whoever has ears, let them hear..." (Matthew 11:15).
Whatever explanations or interpretations we give to the theological perspectives of Christianity, we have to understand personally that there is no discipleship of Jesus Christ without love and loving others. St. Paul writes to Corinthians, "If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing" (1 Corinthians 13:1-3). This clearly shows the relevance of living in the love of Christ is the base for the gifts of Holy spirit. "Ye shall love.." is what Christ teaches..
Kahlil Gibran, the famous philosopher, poet and writer wrote in his work "The prophet" that Love is like pillars of the temple, when it is stand apart, it give more strength to the building. He also wrote "Love possesses not nor would it be possessed; For love is sufficient unto love. And think not you can direct the course of love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course. Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself." The portrait of love as a character in itself rather than an emotion. His romantic writings inspired millions of western world and made him the third best selling poet of all times behind Shakespear and Laozi.
During His three and half years of public life, what Jesus Christ tried to do is to convey His message of true love and compassion. He never rejected anybody who came near Him for mercy and care. His heart was an out-pour and unending body of Love. When the law and the society teaches us to love those who love us, Christ put a challenge before us "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them" (Luke 6:32). "But I tell you who hear: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you" (Luke 6:27).
It is relevant as Christians to realize the fulfillment of Mosaic laws, Jesus Christ amended. It was indeed a paradigm shift to the central dogma of what is right and sinful. He transformed the physical and materialistic act of laws into a metaphysical state of heart- a character precisely. He reinstates that "For out of the heart come evil thoughts--murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander" (Matthew 15:19). This has huge effect even to the pragmatic implications of leading a Christian life. We, as Christians should no more discreet or judge the righteous and sinfulness through the physical parameters, but be focused more to achieve a state of living in Christ.
Jesus Christ insisted this state of life, living, growth and bearing fruit by His own teachings. John 15 categorically emphasis the necessity to live in Him by obeying His commandments. "Abide in Me, and I in you" (John 15:4) is the call He gives to everybody who follow Him. "He who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit (John 15:5). He explains how to abide in Him, "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love" (John 15:10). Finally he concludes about His commandment "This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you" (John 15:12).
It is because of its cosmic and metaphysical nature of Jesus Christ's teachings that it has little space to be judgmental or even be institutionalized. A personalized experience of Christ is the must and foremost step to achieve the state of enlightenment and to fill with the holy spirit. Only when all Christian attain this state they can bears the real Christian fruits in their life. It is hard to preach this message and that might be the reason Christ used parables to preach with conclusions, "Whoever has ears, let them hear..." (Matthew 11:15).
Whatever explanations or interpretations we give to the theological perspectives of Christianity, we have to understand personally that there is no discipleship of Jesus Christ without love and loving others. St. Paul writes to Corinthians, "If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing" (1 Corinthians 13:1-3). This clearly shows the relevance of living in the love of Christ is the base for the gifts of Holy spirit. "Ye shall love.." is what Christ teaches..
