Rejoice in ........

At sixty one plus, I should be behaving an elderly, rigid, religious, more tending to GOD. I confess I believe in GOD, the almighty, in all forms, be Ye Yahowa, Yah, Allah, Vishnu, Brahma, & Shiva. I Love Jesus for his multiple teachings and the prayer – Our father -, HIS humble birth, modesty and humility, and also for his confiscating the vine from the well at the Marriage at Kanai which was concealed by the cunning Jew. It was a good job. I love Krishna for his teachings of Dharma, and for his earthy deeds. He was very boyish when he was a boy.

Today, in the Visual Arts Gallery, there was a painting of Krishna and Jesus, like two village youths sitting and chatting under a tree with their animals around. The caption of the painting was ‘Edayar’(Malayalam) – (Shepherds).

Last Sunday, the Young priest, who conducted the service, cautioned the folks before him the need to be clean. He was vocal of the importance of washing off sins, at least, once a year. He meant the need for confession. He further in his sermon cited the recent Japan calamity to alarm the believers the need for confession. He doubted, if, those Japanese – over twenty thousand–who have met with death got entry into Heaven, as they were not prepared for the same.. He warned and cautioned the folks to be prepared for eventual death, which can occur any time, as in Japan. He was proposing the need for confession. I felt the need to walk out and exactly did. I do not feel guilty.

Bibin turned 18 last week. I called him to wish. He said he would not celeberate his 18th B’day as it is Lent season. Where in the holy scriptures, it is written you should not rejoice. He was so unyielding in his belief, I did not try to correct him. The boy who lives in London town, is averse to good life any boy of his age would be craving. A very unhealthy sign indeed.

I seriously feel, something is wrong in our religious system. The priests do not have a qualm while taking the folks for a ride. They instill fear in believers’ minds, more so young minds. I do not know if it is the policy of the church. If so, they will meet a certain end of road very soon.

Kodathel Unni

When I was young, very young, as old as eight or ten, during one of our weekly visit to the Church, my friend, Varkey took me to the idol of “ Kodathel Unni” (Baby Jesus on a globe)–literally meaning ‘Child on the Pot’. Unni was, in fact is, beautifully clothed like a young little girl. Yes, Unni, though a boy, is robed with a well-knit silk maxi frock.(when I recently visited the church I looked for Unni — the robe has been changed).

Varkey took me to the ‘Kodathel Unni”, glanced around and made sure no one, especially the nuns, was around. Then suddenly he raised the maxi.

Aghast! I could not believe my eyes, I saw it.

Yes, an electric like tremor passed through my bones. Varkey, my friend, made me to view Jesus in his true attire. I committed a sin. I sinned with my eyes. Believe it, I saw Baby Jesus naked. A dead sin indeed. Under his decorated pink rob, Unni wore nothing, I mean, the boyish thing was there for real. I was scared to the bone. I do not know, for how long I was under that fear of sinning with my eyes. I had revealed this secret not to many. Had that act be known to the Nun teachers, God, what would have been the case. I don’t know if the sculptor of the idol was rebuked by the Church.

I am sure, one of the nuns might have had the idea of covering Baby Jesus. She might have had a smile too.

I feel, Baby Jesus would have been put there as it is, I mean without that pink maxi on him. Then Varkey, my friend, and me would not have committed that sin, sin of seeing the disturbing revelation. Unni Krishnan (Baby Lord Krishna) is seen in as is in temples, and, I believe, Unni Krishnan is more in friendship with boys of my age at that time than Kodathel Unni. My point is, why not Unni Yesu a naughty, wily, and earthy boy like Unni Krishnan, a friend of all ages and gender. While Unni Krishnan plays with the boys and Gopikas Unni Yesu is confined to the tabernacle. No play, only bow. Let Jesus be a friend of Children, let HIM play with them. Children will like it, love it indeed.

Pope Benedit XVI in his latest book Jesus of Nazareth, Part II corrects some of the beliefs of the Catholic world viz. the general belief that Jews crucified the Lord. He apologises the Church’s inaction against holocaust of the Jews, an act the Nazis committed during the ww.II, a thing Pius XII, the then Pope, closed his eyes on.

So much so, church needs to also change its stand on marriage, celibacy, child bearing etc. There are good number of persons in the religious robs wanting to do away with it, but can not, for fear of social boycotts. I believe, it will be apt, if the church allows the apple to seed, instead of rot and perish.