Sunday September 11, 2011

Today’s Gospel (Luke 19:1-10)
He came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town.Now a man there named Zacchaeus, who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man, was seeking to see who Jesus was; but he could not see him because of the crowd, for he was short in stature. So he ran  ahead  and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus, who was about to pass that way. When he reached the place, Jesus looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house.” And he came down quickly and received him with joy.    When they all saw this, they began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner.” But Zacchaeus stood there and  said  to  the Lord, “Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it four times over.”  And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house because this man too is a descendant of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost.”


Onam - Feast of Prosperity

Onam, a harvest festival, is celebrated in Kerala, a state in India. Onam is an occasion for Keralities to celebrate plenitude and togetherness. It is linked with the legend of the mythological king Mahabali. It generally falls in the months of August-September. Ranging from four days to ten days, all the activities during this season are centered around worshipping, music, dances, sports, boat races and good food. During these days children prepare floral designs called Pookkalam  in front of their houses to welcome Onathappan (King Maha bali). Thiruvonam, the tenth day, is the most auspicious. On this day all members of the family gather together, usually at the ancestral home, for Sadya - the traditional lunch served on plantain leaves.
There are many stories associated with the celebration of this festival. The story of King Mahabali is the most popular.
A long long time ago, an Asura (demon) king called Mahabali ruled Kerala. He was a wise, benevolent and judicious ruler and beloved of his subjects. Soon his fame as an able king began to spread far and wide, but when he extended his rule to the heavens and the nether world, the gods felt challenged and began to fear his growing powers.  Presuming that he might become over-powerful, Aditi, the mother of Devas pleaded with Lord Vishnu to curtail Mahabali's powers. Vishnu transformed himself into a dwarf called Vamana and approached Mahabali while he was performing a yajna and asked for alms. Pleased with the dwarf brahmin's wisdom, Mahabali granted him a wish. The Emperor's preceptor, Sukracharya warned him against making the gift, for he realized that the seeker was no ordinary person. But the Emperor's kingly ego was boosted to think that God had asked him for a favor. So he firmly declared that there is no greater sin than going back on one's promise. He kept his word. The Vamana asked for a simple gift — three paces of land — and the king agreed to it. Vishnu in the guise of Vamana then increased his stature and with the first step covered the sky, blotting out the stars, and with the second, straddled the netherworld. Realising that Vamana's third step will destroy the earth, Mahabali offered his head as the last step. Vishnu's fatal third step pushed him to the netherworld, but before banishing him to the underworld Vishnu granted him a boon. Since he was attached to his kingdom and his people, he was allowed to return once a year from exile. Onam is the celebration that marks the homecoming of King Mahabali. It is the day when a grateful Kerala pays a glorious tribute to the memory of this benign king who gave his all for his subjects.
We pray for prosperity during this season. Prosperity in wealth or worldly pleasures or achievements will not be a situation of peace of mind and living in togetherness with others unless thers is “Aishwariyam” ((ഐശ്യര്യം). It is the presence of God in our lives. Unless God is present in our every day affairs, we will not be able to enjoy our life.
We wish all people a prosperous year ahead, that is “Aishwariyam” (ഐശ്യര്യം), the presence of God in their own lives, homes, places of work and where ever they are.