The sixth sense...

The Sixth sense!

What makes man ‘great’ is his sixth sense, so we boast! This he acquired against God’s clear command like the Prometheus of Greek mythology, and got himself ousted from the Garden of Eden… ‘And out of the ground the Lord God made to grow every tree… the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.’ (Gen 2:9) ‘… but God said, “You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die…” But the serpent said… “You will not die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 3:3-5.

May be that if man were not to acquire this faculty, he would have been much happier, as the saying goes, ‘ignorance is bliss!’ That is what we see in the children, making Jesus to say, ‘…to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.’ (Mt 19:14). Man is defined as ‘a rational animal.’ Reasoning is the tool to pluck the fruit of knowledge! There is no denying of all that man has achieved through this fruit, especially by way of science and technology, but to what avail! Man still is not happy! Will he ever be happy at all? In this context we need to note the condition of children and even the retarded ones let alone the animals which are understood to have no ‘intellect’. Man carries the burden of unhappiness… nothing satisfies him… he is like a bottomless bottle! It is here we need to heed to Jesus who invites, ‘Come to me… I will give you rest… my burden is light.’ (11:28-30).

In spite of the wonders of science, man has always used his knowledge to subdue his fellowmen and exploit him for selfish ends… Here comes power, authority, politics etc. Never could Jesus compromise with power, instead he proposed and projected service as the mark of discipleship taking the lead himself by washing their feet. He also categorically told them, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant and whoever would be first among you must be your slave; even as the Son of man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.’ (20:25-28). ‘Knowing’ in biblical terminology has a connotation of love, intimate love like ‘Adam knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain…’ (Gen 4:1). This is the gist of all commandments… ‘God is love’ taught John.

Power all along was exercised in a given set up conveniently called state with its own territories and ruler. When people approached Samuel for a king, that displeased him but God asked him to ‘Hearken to the voice of the people…’ (I Sam 8:7) but warn them… Wars were waged and battles fought to save kingdoms! Hence Jesus presented a ‘kingdom’ with no boundaries, no enemies, no lording over, no exploitation… but only love and service… It is God’s kingdom and we are all his children…