GROWTH TO BECOME SMALL
Before
slavery was abolished, slave markets were very common in the developed
countries. Here, poor and helpless people, were exhibited in the public and
sold for a price like animals or vegetables.
A rich man bought a young
slave from the market to work in his farm. The slave was a Christian and obeyed
his master's orders with love and respect. Impressed by his innocence and
dedication, the landowner asked him to accompany him during his next visit to
the slave market to buy more slaves for his new farms.
Reaching the slave market,
they saw a large number of slaves displayed for sale. The owner sought the
opinion of the slave in selecting suitable slaves. The slave pointed at an old
and frail man and pleaded to purchase him. The rich man was reluctant as the man was old and weak, but the young
slave insisted. Finally the old man was bought and brought to the farm. The
young slave was eager to help the old slave and even shared his duties with
pleasure. When he fell ill, the young slave looked after him and saved him by
his tender care. Seeing these acts of affection, the master asked the young
slave whether the old man was his father or a close relative. The young slave
denied. When the master insisted, he told the story of his association with the
old man.
When the young slave was a child, the
old man had stolen him and sold him as a slave to the slave traders. The master
asked, "That means he is your worst enemy. Then why did you care for
him?" The young slave replied, "Sir, I am a Christian. Jesus taught
us to love our enemies. I am following His commandments." The owner was
impressed by this exemplary display of Christian love. He became a true
Christian and granted freedom to his slaves.
Jesus taught, "Love your enemies, do good
to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who
ill-treat you { Luke 6: 27, 28; Matthew
5: 44, 45}. The supreme sacrifice of
Jesus on the Cross, His forgiveness and His constant compassionate love to us
in the Holy Eucharist, the Sacrament of Salvation, are exemplified in the popular
hymn in Malayalam, "Thiruvosthiyay ennil anayum, sneham, Daiva sneham..."
in the album "Oru Vilippadakaley", composed by the blessed poet, Rev. Fr. Joy Chencheril, MCBS of
Kerala, South India and tuned by Mr. Jacob Koratty. The lyrics of this hymn are
translated here to be sung in the original tune as follows:
"In Eucharist you fill my mind, Oh! Love,
Divine Love!
You come to stay inside my mind, Oh! Love, my Jesus!
(2)
To
become so small, how much should one grow?
How
to be so lavish in love? (2)
I pained Him with my bitter tongue.
There He gave 'Sacrament of Love'! (2)
I blamed Him so much in my mind.
He blessed it with merciful love! (2)
{To
become so small........in love?(2)}
I crucified Him with my hands.
There He gave me 'Manna of Life'! (2)
My mind was furious at Him.
He filled it with flames of deep love. (2)
{In Eucharist........Jesus.}
{To become so small........in love? (2)}"
Translated
from Malayalam into English by Prof. Dr. Babu Philip (Email:
[email protected])
For a video of the original hymn, kindly visit: www.youtube.com/watch?v=1e8Xt9uoAl4
...................................................................................................................................
© By: Dr. Babu Philip, Professor, Cochin University of
Science & Technology, Fine Arts Avenue, Kochi-682016, Kerala, India, Prof.
Mrs. Rajamma Babu, Former Professor, St. Dominic's College, Kanjirappally and
Leo. S. John, Maniparambil, Ooriyakunnath, Kunnumbhagom, Kanjirappally,
Kottayam-686507, Kerala, India.
For more moral stories, parables and anecdotes for
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