King Herodes wanted to make friendship with Jesus Christ. He asked Jesus to show a miracle. In fact, the request was a choice between life and death for Jesus. Jesus chose the latter. Rest is history. Men and women bleed to death to proclaim Christian faith. The tsunami of martyrs blood capsized mighty Empires.
Had Jesus chosen to show a miracle?
Jesus will be a friend of King Herodes. He will be a granted a job in Roman Imperial Government. The movement he began - Christianity will cease right there.
A person who has power and wealth represent King Herodes of today's society. Clergy - Bishops and Priests symbolized Jesus. What is the miracle - Facebook photos, presence in the family events, be a guest in their palatial residence?
Have you even seen a leader - political of religious, sleeping in a labor camp when they visit Gulf countries? Have you seen a Bishop attending the wedding of a common man? Why because they do not have the common man as friends. When they visit parishes/communities in home or abroad, they do eat drink and sleep with wealthy and powerful who can afford to host them. In contrast, Jesus turned down King Herodes and ninety-nine like him to be the friend of the neglected one.
Any movement - religious or political will be wiped out if they distanced from the people. It is heartbreaking to see the serene churches in Europe, once delivered peace and tranquility to generations are converted into heritage hotels and dance bars. Holy Spirit failed, and spirit wins. Many in the USA were brought up in rich Catholic faith. Their ancestors from Europe brought Christian faith when came to the promised land of USA. But many of them do not practice any religion now. That is not because they forgot God by indulging in the worldly happiness. But they don't see the testimony of Jesus's life in the Catholic church and its followers.
Another example is from India. Indian National Congress(INC) led by Gandhi reclaimed the Independence of India from Britain. INC is ousted from power in most of the States and Federal. The Party represented Nathuram Godse - who killed Gandhi has won the hearts of Indian masses now.
I was at a community meeting last week. I noticed a total disconnect between committee and community. Often the committee forgot the fact that they stand for the community. The meeting was scheduled to get the approval of the community to buy a church. Capital and running expense of the church is expected to share by nearly 100 permanent member families. That means every family is buying a new Toyota Corolla 2017 model and finance it for ten years without insurance payment. Household income of permanent members could range from 100,000 to 250,000. The majority earns between 100,000 to 150,000. At least 25% families have only one income.
Suppose an opinion poll conducted among permanent members, most of them will tell 'YES' to the idea of buying a church. But people might step back if someone asks them, will you buy one more new Car. Yes, it is a big stretch for the majority of families and a significant toll on single income families.
I wondered why people squeeze the budget to buy a church. The reason is, People want community. Medium for the community is Holy Mass in their mother tongue. New Church to be purchased is an overhead. Every kind of churches is seen in every nook and corners of the Cities in the USA. So that, 'The community' is the primary reason for budding of any vernacular church or temple in the USA.
So that committees and clergy should do everything to serve, inspire and influence the community. Make every possible effort to find the one lost sheep and get him to feel very much part of the community.
Avoid anything and everything which is a cause for people ran away from the church. Let it be buying a new church or temple, the length of worship or requesting sponsorship for festivals or rituals, which starts as voluntary but ends up as mandatory.
Always a large number of families are watching the church with suspicion. Often they have the double mind to get associated or not. A transparent, democratic and inclusive atmosphere will transcend the positive vibration to the community. Such attitude not only attracts the new members to a community but make them remain firmly as the pillars of the church and society.
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