The future belongs to the God fearing, assures the almighty. And worship is the best expression of that love for God, that fear and gratitude. In submission, as the faithful will tell you, lies salvation. And it is that time of the year where thousands turn up for worship, for obeisance. The churches across the Capital, some around 300 years old, others relatively young, deck up to greet the devout. Braving the winter chill, the faithful line up, lighting a candle, singing hymns, taking in a sermon. And children? The schools are closed but they wait anxiously for their Santa, their moment of promised goodies, and maybe an imagined flight to Neverland.
Be it at the Sacred Heart Cathedral or the Church of Redemption, all is calm, all is quiet and all is lit. However, in this age when every rumour has the potential to cause loss of life and limb, when a church has been reduced to ashes in the city, it is important to safeguard the values our ancestors have left us with. Let’s remember Maryam and how she survived on dates through her pregnancy. Let us remember Jesus, who, by the grace of God, could heal the sick, cure of leprosy and even restore vision to the blind.
And why should only Christian brothers hail Jesus? No Muslim is a Muslim till he believes in Jesus. And in this wonderful land of ours no Indian is a true Indian till he respects all religions. So, let’s show some consideration towards people of other faiths, towards people whose mode of worship may be dissimilar to ours. Forget the squabbles over conversions and reconversions, this Bada Din, let’s remember that unto Him shall we all return. After all, didn’t God create us all in His image?
