*Festival of light(s)* (Reposted from archives, for PRAYER )
A festive day... sound of crackers already heard in the
streets and children are busy lighting their favourite flower pots and
sparklers…..Religious affinities apart, the season of Diwali is indeed a time
of joy and celebration and I think this is one of the most colorful festivals
of Hindu brethren. Having been brought up in that environ and belief, I know
how exciting those times are. But for some reason, like every year, even this
as well, a sense of burden is beginning to grip me. *To what avail is this festivity?* I am not basing my argument on
wasting (or spending) money on crackers? Some are of the opinion that it is an
unwise thing to spend on something we are eventually going to burn or burst?
That is part and parcel of this festivity and I am in no mood to get into that
debate. Lets’ leave that aside, for now.
But what bothers me the most is that despite all the fun,
excitement, color and extravaganza, there is actually little or no meaning in
what people in our fraternity observe when they celebrate Diwali. I don’t’ say
this because I have allegiance to a different faith system. I say this because
I have my roots in this community. I know that we have more than one
mythological and historical account of its origin, meaning and reason behind
this celebration, but at the crux of all our postulation that we encounter is
the concept of light. The Wikipedia describes Diwali as a "festival of lights", celebrated in
autumn every year. The festival spiritually signifies the victory of light over
darkness, knowledge over ignorance, good over evil, and hope over despair.
Whether one is aware of such definition or even bothers to know of it or not,
my question or my heartache emerges from the fact that does anyone celebrating
this festival claim that he has had victory over _darkness_(to begin with) in
his life, in his family? * By just
lighting diyas (lamps) all around our house can we aver that we have received
the light? (not the literal on as we have electrical appliances to give light
nowadays)? * If we say that it is only _symbolic_,
even than that we do as a symbolic or a ritualistic thing must convey a meaning
to an individual’s life? Right. How many of our friends happily celebrating
this festival claim to have achieved victory over..Hope over despair?........
On the contrary, the following bible passages written and
handed over 2000 to 3000 years ago throw a relevance and meaning to this
otherwise hindu festival.
*The people dwelling
in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and
shadow of death, on them a light has dawned. (Isaiah 9:2)(Matt 4:16)*
*In him was life, and
the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the
darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was
John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might
believe through him . He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the
light.( John 1:4-8 )*
*I am the light of
the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the
light of life (John 8:12)*
*For God, who said,
*“Let light shine out of darkness,”* has shone in our hearts to give the light
of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of *Jesus Christ*. (2
Corinthians 4:6)*
*This is the message
we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no
darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in
darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as
he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus
his Son cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:5-7 )*
These are few examples of what the Bible says when it talks
about light. Light is personified or even referred to as the Light of Men in
the form and nature of Jesus Christ – God who became man. The bible in many
places prophesies and records fulfillment of such prophecies in the person of
Jesus Christ. In the whole bible, it is only Jesus Christ who is referred to as
the Light, _the light which came to this world to drive away darkness. The
Light did come….but did it ever succeed in eliminating darkness from the world?
We still see the works of darkness let loose all around us? Then what are we
talking about? We are talking about the transformation , a spiritual light
which casts away spiritual darkness in the inner man, in an individual not a
community or a society as a whole. At one point of time a mythological
character might have won over a demon (an asuraa) and probably the saints of
the old decided to institute the day to celebrate victory over evil. Good. But
how does it matter to me? Am I not still in the kingdom, in a place where
darkness is still ruling the roost? Yes, the world has not yet been freed from
the influences and interventions of dark forces and it will not be so for some
period of time…..
*Then what am I
trying to convey? A Diwali can be a Diwali to you only when the rule of evil
and dark forces in your world is dealt with, only when you come to light of men
– Jesus Christ. Then every day in Christ will be a Diwali-celebration of good
over evil, celebration of light over darkness.*
I am burdened that our friends celebrating Diwali come to
the knowledge of this truth…..perhaps, reaching somebody with this message
during this festival…may be looked at as an anathema, arrogance or even
insensitiveness……But what can be done freely and powerfully is a prayer? *More
than a wish, a prayer for all those celebrating Diwali today?* A prayer that
they come to the light and celebrate the real Diwali in their lives? A prayer
that their spiritual eyes are opened….they may even be our blood brothers,
sisters, parents, children etc.,…..Today (or even tomorrow), I am sure you will
be seeing many faces ….be it on your street….in your locality….during your
travel…..during your ride…..REMEMBER TO
SAY ONE PRAYER:
_Lord, thank you for
shining your light in my life and making me walk in the radiance of your
brightness. Lord, I plead for your mercy and grace to come upon this family so
that they understand the real life giver, real light, real redeemer, real
saviour and thereafter celebrate the joy of salvation in their lives. In Jesus
name, I pray, Amen_
WILL YOU PRAY?
