Greetings to all our dear brothers and sisters in the mighty name of Jesus. May the dawn of the new month brings in warmth, love, wisdom and fullness in Him. Recently on a train journey I saw a very young girl playing with her father – commanding him to do innumerable things all through the journey. He was too willing to oblige the child and with so much joy and delight went on playing with her. Normally we think the mother is the more patient one in dealing with the child ! This man never took rest even for a minute nor gave charge over the child to his wife. I saw the glittering, proud eyes of the girl never ever allowing her father to change his attention from her ! 

Reminded me of an old touching world war movie called “ As far as my feet will carry me (2001) “. It was the fag end of world war II. An young German soldier “Clemens Forell” is sent on a mission. As he leaves his young wife and daughter “ Lisa” (Elizabeth), he promises to send her a “Christmas Card” without fail wherever he is ! Unfortunately it turns out he is captured by the Soviet Army , condemned  and sent to a Siberian Gulag (Camp) as  a prisoner to serve  sentence of 25 years of hard labour. Thousands of kilometres from his home in Germany ! What troubles him is his broken promise to his daughter Lisa. Undaunted,   he escapes and makes a trans Siberian journey of about 3000 kilometres to his home, walking by foot most of his journey ! The freezing cold, enemy territory and a brazen commander in constant relentless pursuit does not deter Clemens Forell to return to his daughter. So many good people including an affectionate dog help him through his travails of journey. Finally a Polish Jew protects him and arranges  passport to cross the Russian border even though he was aware of Forell’s  German Army background !

Meanwhile “Lisa” grows up but constantly remembers her father and prays for his safe return. Whenever her father is in danger, she  intuitively becomes aware and says a word of prayer. Finally as Lisa is attending the Christmas eve service in the Church, her father returns home and the family is reunited ! The love for her child by the father is portrayed in a beautiful, serene and touching manner , every time, Clemens Forell  faces  danger and is about to give up !

I am reminded of a greater love or the greatest perhaps ! It is the love of the Heavenly Father on us. God is love ( I John 4:8). Love gives everything for the loved one. (அன்பு தன்னை தான் கொடுக்கும்). As we read in Isaiah Chapter 53 , we see that God’s love for us  is fathomless deep. Because He does not  want even a single soul to be lost ( John 3:16). So He gave His only begotten Son. Jesus is Holy. Sinless. Word of God. His son. Word becoming flesh for us. But it is written: “ Yet, it pleased the Lord to bruise Him” (Isaiah 53:10). For my sake. For your sake. For us all to get redeemed. He gave the price : Suffering and death on the Cross. I think every time the Lord Jesus was  beaten, spat on and went through all kinds of torture and humiliation on the cross, He was thinking about me : an useless , undeserving and sinful person, receiving only His blessing but not being truthful to Him. Far surpassing the love of father to his daughter as  shown by Clemens Forell above ! Love we can’t compare. That is the love of Jesus on the cross.

Our Lord is a righteous God. A  man who has committed sin should  be convicted and bear the punishment. “ It is written :  He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses” (Isaiah 53: 4 / Mathew 8:17) . I heard from  a preacher that every time  I commit an act of sin, Lord Jesus goes through the cross to save me. His amazing grace ! His amazing Love.

Clemens Forell’s love to his daughter is natural. But can you show this love to your neighbour ? to your persecutor ? to a stranger ?

We love him, because he first loved us.  If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?  And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.   ( I John 4 : 19-21)

Prayer : Dear Lord,

Thank you for your love on us. As we begin the Lenten  days, please give us the strength to love our neighbour, our parents, our brothers and sisters and show compassion to the deprived. Lighten our hearts to take our cross and follow you. Without turning back.

In Jesus name we pray,

Amen.