Moon and Cloud !

I get up usually early enough to watch the moon in the horizon from the steps of our sit out. 

The middle photo is of 19 th February, 2019, when the Super Snow Moon or Hunger Moon was expected to be sighted globally. This was supposed to be the biggest super moon of the year. Yes, when compared to the first photo the moon is whiter and mildly larger on 19th February, 2019.

As I kept watching this awe inspiring sight, dark cloud gradually covered the moon and stayed like that for the next several minutes. 

For sky watchers, the Super Snow White moon was a historical event of 2019. However even that significant event can get covered or subdued by the clouds. 

The cloud is  symbol of hiding something beneath. 

In the recent months, there are regular references of child abuse, indulgent behaviour of religious leadership, mismanagement of property and finance, abuse of power and ill treatment of women reported among the church leadership in India. The cloud that covered these most unfortunate and regrettable vice in the church is now getting uncovered. It is now in the public dominion.

The silence of the church leadership except for feeble defence that has no merit or credibility, is evident and shameful. 

The church historically is a light to a searching world for reality, purpose and calling to live. But if that flight is covered by cloud of misdeeds and acts of commission of exploitation and indulgence or authoritarian control, it is like the 'salt that has lost its saltiness'!

When I watched the Super Snow Moon today, I was disturbed to dwell on this crisis in the church. The church is currently an organisation of activities in education, health care, social service, worship services, etc.

Is not the Church called to be the 'bride' of its Lord Saviour, Jesus of Nazareth, in which case, its role is to be set apart as a holy and righteous community of pilgrims in a voyage to be a witness to the  virtue of our calling!

All believers in Jesus of Nazareth ought to consider this: how can we let the cloud of misdeeds move away for the followers of Jesus of Nazareth to be an offering of love and healing to the broken hearted and the wounded!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)