Christian

2 Comments Posted on by Reji Koduvath Canada

Jesus’ Triumphal Entry: The King on a Borrowed Donkey

The story of the Triumphal Entry is so pivotal that it appears in all four Gospel accounts (Matthew 21, Mark 11, Luke 19, and John 12). It depicts Jesus riding into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey’s colt—an animal that had never been ridden before.

Today, Christians worldwide celebrate this event as Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week. It sets the stage for the Passion: the journey toward Good Friday’s crucifixion and the eventual victory of Easter Sunday. Jesus entered Jerusalem fully aware that this path would end in a sacrificial death for the sins of humanity.

The date of the first observance of Palm Sunday is uncertain. A detailed description of a palm processional celebration was recorded as early as the 4th century in Jerusalem. The ceremony was not introduced into the West until much later in the 9th century.

Many churches, distribute palm leaves to the congregation on Palm Sunday to commemorate the Triumphal Entry.  The worshipers take home the venerated palm leaf and display it near a cross or crucifix or place it in their Bible until the next year’s season of Lent. Some churches collect baskets to gather the old palm leaves to be burned for Ash Wednesday or Christmas.

Why did he ride on a donkey?

Mathew 21 says ‘Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me.  If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.”

In those days in that land, horses were owed by the nobility and donkeys by the lower society – often animals of burden used by the potters, washermen, load or water carriers, etc.  No one owning a donkey would have had the courage to refuse or fight against the noble looking disciples.  Irony of the narration in all the Gospels is that none speaks about returning the donkey to its owner.

All the prophets before Jesus were military Generals and they all must have rode on a horse, dressed in complete nobility, carrying a sword.  Here came Jesus, on lowly donkey, with neither any military ceremonial uniform nor a sword.  He came with a smile on his face and heart pouring out with his Godly love. Now compare Jesus triumphant entry with that of our Bishops – riding on a luxury sedan with a flag flying on their cars, dressed in all gold and finery!!!!!As He rode, the crowds cut palm branches – symbols of goodness and victory – waving them in the air and laying them on the path. They shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Matthew 21:9).

Riding a donkey or a horse that has never been rode upon is a very difficult task.  The animal did not have a saddle, hence the disciples removed their cloaks and spread it on the animal’s back to act as a saddle.  Still, it is a very difficult ride – Ask anyone who ever rode a bare-back horse!!  When we were cadets at the National Defence Academy, during horse-riding classes, bare-back riding (without a saddle, but with a blanket,) was the most dreaded one.

Jesus’ purpose in riding into Jerusalem was to make public His claim to be their Messiah and King of Israel in fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. Matthew says that the King coming on the foal of a donkey was an exact fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9, “Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

It is the story of the King who came as a lowly servant on a donkey, not a stallion, not in royal robes, but on the clothes of the poor and humble. Jesus Christ came not to conquer by force as earthly kings but by love, grace, mercy, and His own sacrifice for His people.

A Modern Reflection
When we compare the Triumphal Entry to the entries of modern religious leaders, the contrast is stark. While Jesus rode a borrowed beast of burden, many of today’s bishops traverse their cities in luxury sedans with flags flying, dressed in gold and finery.

Palm Sunday reminds us that the true King did not demand a throne; He borrowed a donkey. He did not carry a sword; He carried a heart full of Godly love.

8 Comments Posted on by Reji Koduvath Indian Army

Regimental Training for a Young Officer

A Regiment of Many Classes

In January 1983, I joined the 75 Medium Regiment—my first posting as a freshly minted officer. The Regiment then had an intriguing class composition: one battery of Brahmins (excluding those from the Southern and Eastern States), a second battery of Jats, and a third manned by soldiers from the four Southern States. Managing each battery required a different approach—their reactions, languages, and needs were distinct. Today, the Regiment draws soldiers from every class and region across the nation.

I was allotted the Brahmin Battery, commanded by Late Major Daulat Bhardwaj. A Brahmin himself, his first advice to me was uncompromising: “To command Brahmin soldiers, you must be a Brahmin yourself. Beat them in all aspects—physical, mental, and spiritual. You must be mentally alert and morally straight, else they will never respect you. Once you earn their respect and confidence, they will follow you blindly.”

He continued, “You are a Christian from Kerala. You have to beat the Brahmins even in spiritual matters. Attend the Mandir Parade every evening, learn the aartis, slokas, mantras, and hymns by heart, understand their meaning, and apply them to your everyday life.”

Within a month, I could sing the aarti and recite the slokas fluently. I had become a Brahmin. Even though the first of the Ten Commandments declares, “You shall have no other gods before Me,” for any officer of the Indian Army, the religion of the soldiers they command comes before their own. While my lips moved to Hindu prayers, my heart prayed to my Lord and Saviour, Christ. In truth, I was praying to a God I did not believe in—for soldiers who believed in me.

The Lilliput Among Giants

The soldiers of the Brahmin Battery—especially the Medium Gunners who manned the 8-ton 130mm Russian gun—were all well-built, nearly six feet tall. They were selected for their strength to handle the gun’s 50 kg shells, and for the physically punishing task of transitioning the gun from travelling mode to action mode. Among these giants, I stood as a Lilliput. I had to look up to meet their eyes when I spoke. Instead of them looking up to me, I was looking up to them.

Life in the Barracks

My first quarters in the Regiment were in the soldiers’ barracks. My bed was placed next to Havildar Brij Bhushan Mishra, better known among the soldiers as BB Major. He was the senior-most Gun Detachment Commander, renowned for his gunnery training abilities. He spoke softly, almost in a whisper, forcing soldiers to strain their ears. He believed little in talk, but the soldiers respected and feared him. He was tough, and he sported a ferocious handlebar moustache. He lived by the doctrine that soldiers and brass are alike—the harder you rub, the brighter they shine.

Gun Drill and a Humbling Lesson

I began gunnery training like any recruit—as Number 9 of the detachment, attending Gun Drill classes under BB Major’s watchful eye. With each passing day, I was promoted until, within two weeks, I became the Gun Detachment Commander.

I was impressed with my swift advancement—until I goofed up. During a drill, my omission could have jeopardised the safety of the crew. BB Major’s timely intervention saved me. He ordered “Stand Fast”—the command that freezes everyone when a commander senses risk. He pulled me out, shook me hard, and said, “Saheb, you must take care of the soldiers under your command. You must be alert at all times. You cannot risk their safety because of your carelessness.”

Major Daulat Bhardwaj, watching from the sidelines, called out: “BB, तेरे मूछों में दम है!” (There is strength in your moustache!)

I did not speak a word. I was shaken and deeply guilty.

Mutual Respect

That incident forged mutual respect between BB Major and me. In later training sessions, he often quoted it to young soldiers—and how well I had taken it in my stride. He added, “If I could do it to the Lieutenant Saheb, you guys better watch out.“

From that day onward, I understood: leadership is not about authority; it is about responsibility. And a leader who learns from his mistakes is one who earns the trust of those he leads. I also understood that in the Indian Army, respect is earned not by rank, but by the willingness to stand alongside your men—and sometimes, to look up to them.

8 Comments Posted on by Reji Koduvath Indian Army

Psalm 91 : The Soldiers’ Psalm

SoldiersPsalm91jpg

During our childhood, we recited Psalm 91 as part of the evening Family Prayer (Click Here to Read More about it).  In those days I never realised the meaning of the words we recited and did not visualise that it will impact my life. During my first stint at the Kashmir Border, sleeping alone in my bunker, the very same words rang in my ears.  These words I realised helped me tide over the difficulties and uncertainties that lie ahead for any soldier in  high-altitude terrain, mostly snow covered icy heights, prone to avalanches and blizzards and  bone chilling cold.  I recited Psalm 91 every evening, (in Malayalam, the language in which our father taught us the Psalm,) before I retired to bed.  Psalm 91 has for ever been one of my inspirations and a prayer.

There is a story in circulation by the modern evangelists that during World War I, 91 Infantry Brigade of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) was preparing to enter combat in Europe. Because their commander was a devout Christian, he assembled his men and gave each of them a little card on which was printed the Psalm 91, the same number Psalm as their brigade. They agreed to recite that Psalm daily. After they had begun praying the Psalm, 91 Brigade was engaged in three of the bloodiest battles of World War I – Chateau Thierry, Belle Wood and the Argonne. Other American units that fought in the same battles had up to 90 percent casualties, but 91 Brigade did not suffer a single combat-related casualty.

The truth about this story of 91 Infantry Brigade and the Psalm 91 has been cleared By Mary Jane Holt in an article ‘The truth about the 91st Psalm.‘  The article refers to a communication the author received from Mike Hanlon, Research Editor of Relevance, the Quarterly Journal of The Great War Society: “There was no 91 Brigade with the AEF in World War I. The Brigades’ highest number was 84.”  This story appears to have been churned out by an evangelist with a view to cash in on the sympathy the soldiers world over enjoy.

The Bible historians believe that Psalm 91 might have been written by Moses, even though most Psalms are authored by King David.  Moses might have written it to inspire the enslaved Israelite soldiers to fight against their Egyptian masters.  Hence, Psalm 91 is known as the Soldiers’ Psalm and is also referred to as the Psalm of Protection.

There are many testimonies of NATO soldiers keeping a card size print of Psalm 91 in their pockets and also reciting it during their deployment in Iraq and Afghanistan.  The Psalm as is, will be applicable to all soldiers irrespective of their faith or religion.

The Psalm begins by stating that there is no need to fear because of who He is. Then is a more personal relationship to God as the Almighty is referred to as ‘My refuge, My fortress, My God in whom I trust.’  Thus the personal relationship we have with our God enables us not to fear at all.  It follows with an affirmation that He will come to your rescue in case of any difficulties and that He will protect you as He will cover you under His wings like a mother bird.

Then is the declaration of guarantee by  God that He will protect you from all that a soldier may confront in a battlefield like ‘the terror of night‘,  ‘arrow that flies by day,’ ‘the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,’ and ‘the plague that destroys at midday.’  He also provides you the protection while you rest that no disaster would come near your tent.  The God vows to protect the soldier even though thousands may fall on either side.  God has commanded the angels to guard you so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

The Psalm further says that you will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.  This act can only be done by a soldier in a battlefield and the soldier has to move ahead facing the enemy’s bullets and nothing can stop him from carrying out his divine duty.  For God’s sake, don’t even let the thought about these actions come to anyone else’s mind or even in the mind of a soldier in peacetime, as the wild life protection laws of no nation will ever spare you and please do not expect God to come to your rescue!!

The Psalm concludes with a God’s promise to a soldier ‘He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him, and honour him.  With a long life I will satisfy him, and let him behold My salvation.’

In Bhagawad Gita, Lord Krishna exhorts Arjuna to fight by saying “O son of Kuntī, either you will be killed on the battlefield and attain the heavenly planets, or you will conquer and enjoy the earthly kingdom. Therefore get up and fight with determination.”  Here again the Lord guarantees a soldier the grand honour of the right to heaven.