By Sujata Jena
Bhubaneswar: When I wished someone “Happy Ascension Feast” May 16, he surprised with me a question: “What relevance does this feast have in this time?”
The question got me thinking.
The day marks the day when Jesus went to heaven 40 days after he rose from the dead.
For me, the feast simply means having a restful, blessed, peaceful, lovely and happy day. But this can happen only if I find Jesus within me and outside.
I cannot look for Jesus in the sky or in the empty tomb. He is present among the poor, the dying, migrants, homeless, and those suffering from injustice.
If I want to find Jesus, I have to seek him among the people and in the community.
The feast puts a bigger responsibility on my shoulders – to go out to the whole world and preach the good news of justice, peace and liberation.
God has a bigger plan for mankind and the world and He wants me to contribute my tiny part to fulfill it. I have to do whatever I can. He inspires me and accompanies me in whatever I do.
The feast invites me to continue the work Jesus had begun.
When a mother calls me to say that her children are starving, I cannot ignore it saying I have to do my routine activities — prayer or assigned duties. I need to respond to her as Jesus did — finding food for her children.
Or when I hear from people I know telling me their entire family is down with Covid and they have no one to cook meals. I may not be able to reach these families in person but can I remain silent about it? I have to find where cooked free meals are available and ensure that they reach to such people.
We find many people who come out to help others in such situation. Sometimes just a phone call solves the problem of others. Why can’t I do that with my cellphone to help the starving experience the good news in the form of food?
During this pandemic time, many kind-hearted people have come together to reach out to people in whatever way they can. Some get oxygen and medicines and arrange transportation, while others provide free food to those in quarantine at home. Some with their thoughtful calls and texting give hope and encouragement.
This is the kingdom that God wants us to create. This is the way to carry the message of Risen Jesus to the whole world, beyond the boundaries.
I experience Jesus every time I receive the love of my brothers and sisters and reciprocate it in whatever way I can.
Every time we share my love with a brother or a sister, help someone or become the cause of their smile, I make Jesus present to that person.
The feast of Ascension demands that I become the visible presence of Jesus in the world. The feast of Ascension demands that I carry forward the important mission that Jesus left for us — to continue His loving and redemptive presence in the world. It is really a great challenge.
When people see me, do they get inspired to make the Gospel the foundation of their life?
On May 15, a former candidate of our congregation called me to inform me that all her family members are Covid-19 positive and that they have nobody to prepare meals for them. “Even with the sickness I tried to cook for 5 days but I am becoming weaker and I can’t manage anymore. Kindly tell me how to go about?” she asked me.
I told her I would get back to her with information. I found that the Sikh community provides cooked food to Covid patients in home quarantine. To confirm the information, I dialed the number and inquired about free food. The respondent confirmed the availability of free food and asked me to tell him the location and the contact details of the patients to reach them lunch and dinner.
I gave the contact number of the former candidate and many other Covid patients who had contacted me.
I also found out that the Sikh community provides oxygen in Bhubaneswar and all over the country.
They opened up hospital to save hundreds of Covid patients in New Delhi. It built a 400 bed-place in ten days.
If a small Sikh community could such wonders, our leaders could do much more if they care for their people. The citizens look up to them for proactive, pro-life, pro-people actions.
On this feast of Ascension, I salute my Sikh brethren. Whenever I have gone to Delhi to attend Right to Food Campaign and other issues, it is the Sikh community who fed hundreds of thousands of protester through their langars. They feed people without any discrimination of caste, gender, language, religion, or race.
Everyone knows how Bollywood actor Sonu Sood has been helping people since the outbreak of pandemic in early 2020. If people like him become leaders of our country everyone – the poor, vulnerable, the least and the lost — would experience God’s kingdom of love, Justice and peace.
Then the world would experience the real fruits of the feast of Ascension.