Christian Mr. Yaqub Masih (literal meaning in English: Jacob Christ).
Our gardener
for well over a decade. He fasted for 40 days, called Lent (40 days of fasting,
repentance, and spiritual preparation). This pattern mirrors many religious
themes of testing followed by triumph, patience followed by reward, which is
also seen in Ramadan and Eid in Islam.
Christians
observe Lent through fasting, repentance, and prayer, preparing their hearts to
fully appreciate the meaning of Easter. Easter marks the resurrection of Jesus—the
moment of hope, victory, and redemption.
Lent (40
days) commemorates the time Jesus fasted and endured temptation in the
wilderness (Matthew 4:1–11):
1
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the
devil.
2 He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterward he was famished.
3 The tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command
these stones to become loaves of bread."
4 But he answered, "It is written,
‘One does not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of
the temple,
6 saying to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it
is written,
‘He will command his angels concerning you,’
and ‘On their hands they will bear you up,
so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’”
7 Jesus said to him, "Again it is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God
to the test.’”
8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the
kingdoms of the world and their splendor;
9 and he said to him, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down
and worship me."
10 Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! for it is written,
‘Worship the Lord your God,
and serve only him.’”
11 Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.
Throughout
the forty days of Lent, Mr. Yaqub Masih never appeared to be fasting. Despite
the rigour of Christian fasting, he remained energetic and carried out his
daily duties with the same vitality as before.
Jesus (peace be upon him) is quoted in the
Book of Matthew (6:16-18):
“When
you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their
faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received
their reward in full. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,
so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your
Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will
reward you.”
I wish Mr.
Yaqub Masih and indeed all the Christians a meaningful Lenten season. May this
season of reflection and prayer bring you peace and strength. And extend blessings
to you during this time of spiritual renewal. Also, Happy Easter to you and
your families, and wishing you a joyful and blessed Easter!
Aamir
Yazdani
No comments:
Post a Comment