27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.
–Luke 6: 27-31
It’s 5 : 58 PM on day 1455 of my journey towards independence and I’ve managed to pray, brush my teeth, go back to sleep, read Psalm 143, publish my Disability of the Day feature, publish my Kid of the Week feature, go to an Indian church service – fasting was mandatory by the time we got to the church I had already been awake for 7 hours and the service ended 3 hours later I was starving I had never gone that long without eating I can’t help thinking of people who go without eating every day I couldn’t do it for 10 hours I can’t imagine what it would be like to go without food for days or weeks – and brush my teeth again.
This morning we had to fast before receiving Holy Communion strangely enough I didn’t feel more Christian because I fasted before receiving Holy Communion which made me realize it’s the kind of person you are not the things that you do that make you Christian the priest said as much when he said to be a child of God you have to bless those who curse you and pray for those who mistreat you.
Religious practices and rituals can be difficult to understand. But our misunderstanding or lack of understanding of them do not make them trivial, foolish or unworthwhile. They may be gawdy or uninspiring chests which one day you may unlock and you will discover the sparkling wonders which these treasure chests contain.
But, yes, by all means do as Jesus commands of you (and us). Repent. Forgive. Pray. Worship. Do good. Avoid the near occasions of sin.
God bless you, Nisha.
Very true all religious practices are important.