Religions are designed to help the masses reach the Divine. They are designed by nature
such that the participants through their practice feel an upliftment of spirit
and a renewed sense of positivity in their life. The psalmist states ‘like a deer that thirst
for water so I thirst for you.’ All of
us human beings search for greater meaning in our life. All the more we wish to be acknowledged that
our life serves a greater purpose, not unlike a small piece of thread, in
itself insignificant, becomes part of a masterpiece when put in the loom by a
skilled craftsman. Religion and rituals
give us such significance.
All rituals are based around the idea of
sacrifice. In the bible we read of
animal sacrifices. One of the most
famous sacrifices mentioned in Bible is that of Abraham called to sacrifice his
son Isaac. Christians reenacts the
sacrifice of Jesus through the Holy mass or communion. Even the Catholic practice of confessions
requires something called ‘restitutions’.
However my greatest concern is that in this
world today, we are giving more importance to participating in the rituals
rater than trying to understand the mechanics of it. Therefore one of the most important questions
that comes to my mind is ‘What makes a good Christian?’ Is it following the precepts of Christ or is
it following rituals?
Let me give you a few examples: Priest often ask the question, ‘Did you go to
mass today?’. Should not the question be
‘Did you improve your relationship with God today?’
Suppose are two points, Point A and Point
B. In between these points lies a deep
chasm. Most people would require a
bridge to cross from one point to another, but an Olympic jumper may be able to
easily jump across. If we compare this
analogy to religion and say that rituals are like the bridge that joins people
to divinity, surly there may be people through practice and discipline who do
not require the crutch of a ritual?
At the end of it let me one again ask what
difference does it make if I participate in a ritual if I don’t involve my self
in it? For did Christ not say, ‘Sabbath
is made for man and not man for Sabbath’?
