Cry of the Broken/ abandoned

Cry of the Broken/ abandoned

A reflection by my friend Rev. Christopher david on Mark 15: 33- 36

The world where we live is filled with bittersweet experiences which would allow everyone to face desperate situations and separations from the beloved ones whom we think, are close to our heart. It is uncommon and unusual as we could see Jesus’ cry and anguish in the passage (Mark15: 33-36), He experienced segregation and deep sense of separation from God and the people who are closest to His heart. Every human faces the situation of bitterness and exclusion as Jesus experienced on the cross. The words that Jesus uttered are close to our hearts and minds; He spoke in his vernacular language to express the deep sense of loss, disconnection and elimination from God. The people who were around suspected that Jesus is calling Elijah to vindicate him from this situation, some of them said let’s wait and see that Elijah would come and rescue Him from this bitter experience. Most of the time we too express our feelings in our mother tongue rather in foreign language. We too get different descriptions and interpretations of our problems as Jesus got from the people. The ultimate identification of Jesus’ humanity is clearly portrayed in the fourth verse that He said on the Cross. This passage clearly indicates the question, how could righteous suffer? As we read in Psalm 22, the righteous can face sufferings but they can be relived from their circumstances.

As we approach in Jesus’ condition, the emancipation is not accessible as per Psalmist’s determination. The Gospel writers portrayed Jesus’ loud cry and groaning to get rid of the uncomfortable situation. Another important aspect we could get it from this passage is, Jesus questioned God. Jesus accepted the form of incarnation, His connection with God was very close, at the same time He did not experience the disconnection from God but, here Jesus experiences the loneliness and discomfort for not having the connection as He had with God in the past. Darkness is a powerful symbol in the Bible. Physical darkness preceded creation (Gen. 1:2-3), represented God’s judgment on Egypt (Exo. 10: 21-23) and concealed God’s glory from the people (Exo. 20: 21). Darkness is also used as a metaphor for people’s ignorance of God (Mt. 4: 16) and their hopelessness without God (I Pet. 2:9). The curtain of darkness that came over the whole land as Jesus hung on the cross (Mk. 15:33) picks up all these meanings, but above all it conveys a sense of doom and hopelessness as God seems absent. Even Jesus cried out in distress at being separated, even temporarily from His Father: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

The condition of Jesus, clearly projects the brokenness and abandonment of God, of course it is uncertain and unusual but it gives different sets of experiences and incidents that we face in our day today life. At the same time it kindles us to suspect and question: Can God leave us alone? Or Can God allow Suffering? Having had the sense of suspect and question it is very important to face the challenges and tribulations of the world. Jesus’ experience teaches us to overcome the trials and tribulation through our faith experience.

As we meditate this verse, I would like to highlight a couple of heart burning issues that common folk faced in our place. One of the incidents was the cyclone effects of Gaja, especially to the farmers. If you approach this incident from farmer’s perspective, you could come across, exploitation, desperation, separation and deep sense of loss. They did not expect the unexpected incident but it’s huge loss and sense of anguish. Here the same question arises, “Why God?”

Another important incident is the injustice to the farmers. Farmers are most resourceful to produce food for everyone in our nation. The farmers are not recognized by the government sector. In the name of development huge amount of money is spent on the technological and scientific sectors, at the same time Government is not ready to spend money on agriculture which is the vital source of Life. Farmers’ voices are not recognized by the authority. In the name of expansion most of the farmers’ lands are taken, they are in desperate situation, their voices are unheard. At present our farmers are facing desperate sense of loss, pain and segregation by our own government. Their petitions are not recognized, they experience the deep sense of separation as Jesus experienced on the Cross. Why God?

It is very important for us to re-think our commitment with God, when we face desperate situation we fail to overcome but we raise the question “why should this happen/occur to me”. Jesus had overcome the problem by questioning God. He had overcome by asking question and finding remedy for that, He found remedy that the Cross is the  remedy to get the salvation. It’s a personal experience of every individual’s life. Most of the time we never find the alternative way to get the things done. Sometimes we have to face the tribulations but at the same time it can be taken out with our alternative way of thinking and approach with focused mind and commitment. Jesus had taken the alternate way that dying on the Cross alone can emancipate me, so He is ready to take the risk, what we have to take is, we never take challenges and come out of sophisticated circle. We want salvation for sale. As a Christian community let us unite and make our commitment alive and be focused to win the battle as Jesus had overcome trials and tribulations on the Cross. I would like to conclude

my short meditation by quoting Martin Luther King Jr, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that” so, love is the transforming force which can change an enemy into friend. As a Christian community let us be united in the love of Jesus Christ and march towards to win the race by witnessing Christ in our deeds and action.

Merciful God, we seek your mercy to march towards to witness you in our actions and deeds. God of hope, we hope that you are our hope to overcome trials, tribulations and desperation that we face in our day today life. Grant us knowledge and wisdom to win the battle and be the testimony of Jesus Christ till we depart from this world. God of just, we seek your presence for the people who face exploitation, separation and segregation all over the world, let your divine presence be upon them to overcome the circumstances that they face. We want your connection to disconnect the evil structures of this unlawful, unethical and unwanted trials to the people of God. Amen.