An Indian pond Heron arrived on our lawn in the afternoon yesterday and moved about in the lawn pausing between the slow movements. With the day temperature soaring to 39 degrees celsius, I was not surprised to have this visitor, having a respite in the shade !
What was striking was its movements which were slow with pauses!
The Good Friday readings from the gospels were on my mind as I watched this slow movements with pauses and a vigilant look. The Good Friday readings brought a narration of the hatred of the chief priests towards Jesus of Nazareth and the provocative behaviour of people around Him by slapping him, spitting at him, placing a crown of thorns on his heard, blindfolding him while he was beaten and the crowd shouting 'crucify him' !
It was in this above context this pond Heron arrived to bring a message of composure, graceful presence and peaceful movements!
Its movements in the lawn was a surprising sight. It was so slow with pauses even between strides that time stood still while watching such slow movements. How a bird has its body brought to a discipline of movements through awareness. It moved as if it was moved by a remote control.
The crowd around Jesus behaved with mob fury. They could not return to reason even after Pilate pronounced three times after three stages of interrogation, that 'I find no fault in Him'. Pilate yielded to mob fury to release Him to be crucified.
This instinctual, revengeful and impulsive behaviour continue in human history even today. The painful and merciless behaviour of the nation of Israel towards the Palestinians in Gaza, is one such demonstration of a distorted and unjust human behaviour, which even after the recent resolution by the United Nations for cease fire, does not bring a restraint on Israel.
It became a Good Friday because Jesus endured suffering, humiliation and nailing on the cross!
We live in a season and time when humans impose suffering and pain on others for personal gain.
The visit of the pond Heron brought a call for peaceful presence in a broken world!
Jesus turned His suffering into a Good Friday experience by His forgiving response!
It is towards such a way of contemplative presence, the Good Friday points us to!
M.C.Mathew(text and photo)
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