The tradition of sanctifying (purifying) and rededicating the place of worship can be traced all the way back to 169 BC. In 169 BC, the Syrian King Antiochus Epiphanes defiled the temple. The defiled Temple was purified and dedicated in 165 B.C by Judas Maccabeus. Jews celebrate this purification and re-dedication of their temple every year in a feast called Hanukkah. This is popularly known as the 'Festival of Lights.' Syriac Orthodox Church begins the liturgical year with the purification and rededicating of the church similar to what Jews do during Hanukkah.

We have examined the foundation of the Church before. Jesus Christ founded the Church on the Rock of Faith revealed to St. Peter. He gave Peter the Keys to the Kingdom and granted the power to the church to bind and unbind the sins, hitherto available only to God. So, the church has clear mandate from Jesus Christ with a mission and vision. It is up to us, as the part of the body of Christ, to deliver.

This week we rededicate our church. It is important to note that the church is the body of Christ and we constitute the body. So, the dedication of church means we rededicate our lives to serve the God. (The original dedication of us was on the day we received our baptism.) The Gospel readings for this Sunday prescribed in the Lectionary of the Syriac Orthodox Church are:

Luke 9:18-25
Mark 12:41-44
John 10:22-38 and
Luke 19:47-20:8

We have featured John 10:22-38 in this week's journal. Last year, we have examined Luke 19:47-20:8, especially the discipleship aspect (Taking the Cross and Following Jesus). If you haven't read that Journal, it is MWJ Issue 245. (  http://www.malankaraworld.com/Newsletter/MWJ_245.htm )

One of the stunning facts of John 10:22-38 is the location where the message was delivered.

Jesus is walking through Solomon's Porch during the festival of lights, or Hanukkah (verse 22-23). This place is important; it was the porch or portico on the east side of the Temple and was called the "Porch of Judgment." From this location, the King would make his judgments and exercise justice for those who were brought before him. And here is Jesus strolling through this historic location, physically embodying justice in this place of justice -- something his life and teachings were all about.

In John 10:22-38, Jesus re-introduce himself as the "Good Shepherd." These days, if you are lucky enough to go to a sheep farm, you will recognize that the sheep is corraled by the dogs. But in Palestine, at the time of Jesus, there were no dogs to control the sheep. It was a personal relationship between the sheep and the shepherd. The shepherd will walk in the front calling the sheep to follow him. The sheep will follow only if they recognize the voice of the shepherd. In the Old Testament, God was called the "Shepherd of Israel." See Psalm 80.1:

Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel,
you who lead Joseph like a flock!
You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth
- Psalm 80:1 (NRSV)

God's appointed leaders in the Old Testament times were referred to as 'shepherds.' So, when Jesus stated that he is the "Good Shepherd", he was claiming the leadership of the flock, the body of the Christ, that He was willing to die for to protect.

How far is a shepherd willing to sacrifice for his flock? He is willing to die for them. Jesus made it clear, there is no greater love than when someone sacrifice his life.

I came across a passage that describes what Jesus meant when he said, he is the 'Good Shepherd.' It is in the Study Bible ( The New Student Bible, The New Revised Standard Version, Zondervan Publishing House,Grand Rapids, MI.) It is beautiful. Let us take a look:

"Some of the Bible's rural illustrations simply do not transfer easily into modern life. What is a good shepherd" like? What did Jesus mean by the term?

A small drama that took place on the slopes of Washington's Mount Rainier may shed light on the meaning of the "good shepherd." One Memorial Day weekend a Christian dentist named James Reddick was teaching his 12-year-old daughter and 11-year-old son the joy of mountain hiking. A sudden storm came up, battering them with hurricane-force winds and thick, wet sheets of snow. A blinding "whiteout" made it impossible to see or move on the steep slopes.

Willing to Die

Reddick laboriously dug an oblong trench with an aluminum mess kit, then tucked his children ino sleeping bags away from the entrance. He covered the opening with a tarp, but it kept blowing away, exposing the trench to the swirling snow outside. Reddick found he had to lie directly across the opening, using his own weight to hold down the edges of the tarp. His body protected his son and daughter from the howling wind.

Two days passed before searchers finally noticed the corner of a backpack protruding from deep snow. They rushed to the site, hoping the snow-covered mound would contain the three missing hikers. Inside, they found Sharon and David Reddick, very much alive. But the stiff body of their father lay against one wall of the snow cave. He had "taken the cold spot," in one searcher's words, using his own back as the outer wall,

An image something like that must have filled the minds of Jesus' listeners as he described a good shepherd who "lays down his life" for his sheep (John 10.11). Nothing - not ravaging cold, thieves, wolves - would come between the good shepherd and his sheep. He would die for their protection.

Those of us who were born and brought up in villages in Kerala, know what the relationship between the animals and humans are like. We call them names, they listen to our call and come running to us. If something happens to them, we mourn like they are part of us. The kids who were brought up in the US or in metropolitan areas in India do not quite get this. But then they understand the relationship between a pet dog and his master. The dog follows his master like the sheep follow the shepherd.

Please read the articles in this week's Malankara World Journal to appreciate the significance of this week's Gospel Reading.

This Sunday (November 8) is also a very special day. It is the 90th birthday of my cousin Susan's Dad. Susan is a loyal follower of Malankara World. We have published several photos taken by her in Australia as well as several recipes too. Susan has gone from Perth, Australia to Singapore where her dad lives. It will be a grand family get together. We wish many happy returns to uncle on the occasion of his 90th birthday and a safe return for our beloved SS. Happy Birthday and Bon Voyage!!