The Mar Thoma  Sunday School, Kuwait

C  “Here am I! Send me.” B

PREAMBLE

He had just one desire. He wished his internal eyes to be opened. He wanted to see God directly. For this purpose he became a nomad. He wandered from place to place. He subordinated himself to many a teacher. He secured a fund of knowledge. Yet he did not achieve his particular aim. One evening he went into a cave by the side of a hill. There he met a solitary sage. He disclosed his intention to him. Without paying attention to him, the sage told him, I shall listen to you afterwards. You light the lamp at the entrance of the cave”. He tried his utmost, but he couldn’t light the lamp. Then the sage asked him to see if there was oil in the lamp. The liquid in the lamp was not oil, it was only water. Then the sage directed him to pour out the water, to fill it with oil and then to light it. He acted accordingly, but to no avail, he couldn’t light the lamp. The sage then directed him to squeeze out the water from the wick of the lamp. He did as he was directed. He succeeded in lighting the lamp. Then the sage bid him good-bye. But the seeker stood agape not knowing the significance of what he had done. Taking pity on him, the sage advised him “squeeze out the water of evil thoughts that soak your heart. Then fill it with oil of God’s love. Then your internal eyes will be opened and you will be able to see God. You can then hear him and distinguish his sweet sound”.

The theme of the conference is based on the vision and the call that Isaiah had (Isaiah 6:1-13). The first is the vision of God from which he realized that God is holy. The second is the vision of himself from which he realized he is not worthy to stand in God’s holy presence. He said “Woe to me! I am ruined for I’m a man of unclean lips and I live among a people of unclean lips.” After he was cleansed, he heard the question “Whom shall I send? Who will be our messenger?” God wants you. What is needed in today’s world are dedicated and consecrated souls. Isaiah surrendered himself to God without any hesitation. The world requires such people. There is a large harvest, but few workers to gather it.