November 9, 2025 HOLD ON TO FAITH
In our gospel reading for this Sunday Luke 20: 27-38, Jesus addresses the issue of being resurrected to everlasting life. Jesus is in his final week of life, which is known as the “passion week.” After his triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, Jesus returned to the temple on Monday and drove out the merchants who were selling their wares and obscuring people’s access to God. This enraged the religious rulers, who then engaged in several controversies with Jesus. St. Luke records in chapter 20, verses 1to 8, the Chief Priest and scribes questioned Jesus’ authority. Then in verses 20 to 26 they tried to trap him politically with the question about paying taxes. The third controversy Luke relates in which the Sadducees try their hand at tripping up Jesus on an internal Jewish dispute over the resurrection.”
Let’s look more into what Jesus is teaching here about the afterlife. But to understand the context, we need first to start with the Sadducees. The Sadducees are the ruling class in the Jerusalem Temple, more the aristocratic Jewish party. The Sadducees controlled the high priests and most of the seats on the presiding Jewish High Council, the Sanhedrin, flatly denied the resurrection of the body. The Sadducees only believed in the first five books of the Bible - Genesis to Deuteronomy, the Torah, and there they found no hints of an afterlife, a resurrection. This was their basic theological difference with the Pharisees, who believed strongly in a resurrection. You can remember their name and theology if you reflect on this: The Sadducees did not believe in an afterlife. That is why they were “sad-you see.” The Pharisees, on the other hand, believed and taught there is life after death doctrine. Therefore, they congratulated Jesus on His ingenious response. According to Moses, argued Jesus, death is not the end because Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are still alive to God.
How would you like to live under a religion that believed in no life after death - no resurrection? In one sense, I guess you wouldn’t have to worry about eternally frying in hell. That would be nice for some. But what hope would you have for the future? And what would your real purpose in life be? What need would you have of any religion? What a sad state of existence it would be if we didn’t believe in a life after death. But that’s what the Sadducees believed! They only accepted the first five books of the Bible as truly being “God’s Word”. They denied the existence of angels and demons. And so the Sadducees approached Jesus with a question that they felt would prove there is no life after death. When this action took place, Jesus was already in the third year of his public ministry. As a matter of fact he was only three days from his crucifixion. By this point in His ministry, the spiritual leaders of the time - the Sadducees and the Pharisees had had quite enough of Jesus. Jesus had humiliated them, and He had proven them to be wrong. In their eyes, Jesus had stolen many of their followers with His “romantic” ideas of what Judaism is about. So, they finally decided to attack Jesus with this one last round of questions to try and nail Him to the wall.
The Sadducees thought they had the perfect scenario. It was based on a provision called Levirate Marriage. Levirate Marriage stipulated that if a man died childless, his brother was under obligation to marry his widow and have children in his brother’s name. So, their scenario had the same woman marrying seven different brothers, with all of them dying. Now, “whose husband would she be in heaven?” Here’s their logic. One man can marry one woman according to God’s Law. This law provides for one man to be married to one woman at a time.
But if there’s a resurrection - that all gets messed up - because then all the brothers would be alive. Then one man could not be married to one woman, or six of the brothers would have to divorce the one woman so the one could stay married to her in heaven. It would be impossible to figure it out. The Sadducees envisioned Jesus having a hard time trying to explain it - saying, “well, since the oldest one gets the inheritance, he would get the woman,” or something that would be embarrassing to try to explain. Jesus said there is no marriage in heaven. Before we get to the main point, let me just point out that this doesn’t mean that you won’t know each other. What was the first problem with the Sadducees question? It was based on the premises that heaven would have to be like earth. The Sadducees were assuming that the principles that govern this life can never change! And since they didn’t want to let go of this life, they denied any life after death.
Jesus said there is no marriage in heaven. Jesus also said in Luke 14: 26, “If any one comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple" (RSV). If you like to learn more about love and relationship, please join us in our worship on Sundays at 11:00 AM
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
In our gospel reading for this Sunday Luke 20: 27-38, Jesus addresses the issue of being resurrected to everlasting life. Jesus is in his final week of life, which is known as the “passion week.” After his triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, Jesus returned to the temple on Monday and drove out the merchants who were selling their wares and obscuring people’s access to God. This enraged the religious rulers, who then engaged in several controversies with Jesus. St. Luke records in chapter 20, verses 1to 8, the Chief Priest and scribes questioned Jesus’ authority. Then in verses 20 to 26 they tried to trap him politically with the question about paying taxes. The third controversy Luke relates in which the Sadducees try their hand at tripping up Jesus on an internal Jewish dispute over the resurrection.”
Let’s look more into what Jesus is teaching here about the afterlife. But to understand the context, we need first to start with the Sadducees. The Sadducees are the ruling class in the Jerusalem Temple, more the aristocratic Jewish party. The Sadducees controlled the high priests and most of the seats on the presiding Jewish High Council, the Sanhedrin, flatly denied the resurrection of the body. The Sadducees only believed in the first five books of the Bible - Genesis to Deuteronomy, the Torah, and there they found no hints of an afterlife, a resurrection. This was their basic theological difference with the Pharisees, who believed strongly in a resurrection. You can remember their name and theology if you reflect on this: The Sadducees did not believe in an afterlife. That is why they were “sad-you see.” The Pharisees, on the other hand, believed and taught there is life after death doctrine. Therefore, they congratulated Jesus on His ingenious response. According to Moses, argued Jesus, death is not the end because Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are still alive to God.
How would you like to live under a religion that believed in no life after death - no resurrection? In one sense, I guess you wouldn’t have to worry about eternally frying in hell. That would be nice for some. But what hope would you have for the future? And what would your real purpose in life be? What need would you have of any religion? What a sad state of existence it would be if we didn’t believe in a life after death. But that’s what the Sadducees believed! They only accepted the first five books of the Bible as truly being “God’s Word”. They denied the existence of angels and demons. And so the Sadducees approached Jesus with a question that they felt would prove there is no life after death. When this action took place, Jesus was already in the third year of his public ministry. As a matter of fact he was only three days from his crucifixion. By this point in His ministry, the spiritual leaders of the time - the Sadducees and the Pharisees had had quite enough of Jesus. Jesus had humiliated them, and He had proven them to be wrong. In their eyes, Jesus had stolen many of their followers with His “romantic” ideas of what Judaism is about. So, they finally decided to attack Jesus with this one last round of questions to try and nail Him to the wall.
The Sadducees thought they had the perfect scenario. It was based on a provision called Levirate Marriage. Levirate Marriage stipulated that if a man died childless, his brother was under obligation to marry his widow and have children in his brother’s name. So, their scenario had the same woman marrying seven different brothers, with all of them dying. Now, “whose husband would she be in heaven?” Here’s their logic. One man can marry one woman according to God’s Law. This law provides for one man to be married to one woman at a time.
But if there’s a resurrection - that all gets messed up - because then all the brothers would be alive. Then one man could not be married to one woman, or six of the brothers would have to divorce the one woman so the one could stay married to her in heaven. It would be impossible to figure it out. The Sadducees envisioned Jesus having a hard time trying to explain it - saying, “well, since the oldest one gets the inheritance, he would get the woman,” or something that would be embarrassing to try to explain. Jesus said there is no marriage in heaven. Before we get to the main point, let me just point out that this doesn’t mean that you won’t know each other. What was the first problem with the Sadducees question? It was based on the premises that heaven would have to be like earth. The Sadducees were assuming that the principles that govern this life can never change! And since they didn’t want to let go of this life, they denied any life after death.
Jesus said there is no marriage in heaven. Jesus also said in Luke 14: 26, “If any one comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple" (RSV). If you like to learn more about love and relationship, please join us in our worship on Sundays at 11:00 AM
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
November 1, 2025. TRANSFORMING LOVE
The Gospel lesson for this Sunday Luke 19: 1 -10 is a familiar story of Jesus meeting Zacchaeus the chief Tax collector. The name Zacchaeus means the “righteous one,” he lived a life quite opposite to the meaning of his name, he was a dishonorable tax collector. Zacchaeus was a man who had reached the top of his profession; and he was the most hated person in the district. Tax collectors in Jesus’ day were little more than Roman government sanctioned crooks. The tax collectors were mentioned together with sinners and prostitutes in the gospels.
Taxes were collected in three places: Capernaum, Jerusalem and Jericho. We see that Zacchaeus owned the tax collection in Jericho, one of the biggest tax collecting cities. If tax collectors had a cartel, then Zacchaeus would have been the kingpin, for he was not just “a” tax collector, but he was “the chief tax collector.” Jericho was a very wealthy and important city. It is in the Jordan valley, and it is an entry to Jerusalem and the crossings of the river which gave access to the lands east of Jordan. The Romans carried dates and balsam to world-wide trade and fame. During Jesus’ days Jericho was one of the greatest taxation centers in Palestine.
Today in terms of conversion experience, the story of Zacchaeus is an important case study, and it is one of my favorite stories in the Luke gospel. I want you to notice many important principles with me as we learn this passage together. One of the most important things we see is that Zacchaeus wanted to see who Jesus was? He sought to see who Jesus was, are you willing to see who Jesus is in your life?
Zacchaeus was determined to see who Jesus was and would let nothing stop him. For Zacchaeus to mingle with the crowd was a courageous thing to do, for many people would take the chance to get a nudge, or kick, or push at the little tax-collector. It was an opportunity not to be missed. Zacchaeus would be black and blue with bruises that day. He could not see--the crowd took an ill delight in making sure of hurting the tax collectors. So Zacchaeus ran on ahead and climbed a sycamore tree. It is consequently a favorite wayside tree. It is very easy to climb, with its short trunk and its wide lateral branches forking out in all directions." Things were not easy for Zacchaeus but the little man had the courage of desperation.
But why did Zacchaeus want so desperately to see Jesus? I want to suggest several possibilities. It may be that he had heard of Jesus through the acquaintance of another tax collector, Levi, also called Matthew, had also been a tax collector prior to becoming a disciple of Jesus (Luke 5:27-31). Perhaps Matthew reaching out to his former circle of friends had told Zacchaeus about Jesus and what a change he had made in his life.
I believe that Zacchaeus found his wealth and lifestyle unsatisfying. How often, even today, do we hear of people who seem to have it all as far as the things of this world, who find their lives very unsatisfying? You may be experiencing unease; nothing in your life is satisfying.
In the book of Jeremiah 29:13, God revealed to prophet Jeremiah, "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." God is not playing hide-and-seek with us. He wants us to know him - as our Creator and our God.
Today, humanity is in search of God. We use all kinds of means and ways to find God. We thought that by our own efforts we can make it to God. Yet the truth is, God is reaching down towards us. God is revealing Himself to us. The Bible revealed that God came down to this world in the Person of Jesus. Jesus himself said in verse 10, "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."
Last week was the Pastoral care week celebration in hospitals, in one of the seminars I attended the speaker said in most religions - Humanity is looking for God, but in Christianity - God is looking for Humanity. Jesus came to Jerico to meet Zacchaeus, if you like to learn more about this encounter, please join us in our worship on Sundays at 11:00 AM
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
The Gospel lesson for this Sunday Luke 19: 1 -10 is a familiar story of Jesus meeting Zacchaeus the chief Tax collector. The name Zacchaeus means the “righteous one,” he lived a life quite opposite to the meaning of his name, he was a dishonorable tax collector. Zacchaeus was a man who had reached the top of his profession; and he was the most hated person in the district. Tax collectors in Jesus’ day were little more than Roman government sanctioned crooks. The tax collectors were mentioned together with sinners and prostitutes in the gospels.
Taxes were collected in three places: Capernaum, Jerusalem and Jericho. We see that Zacchaeus owned the tax collection in Jericho, one of the biggest tax collecting cities. If tax collectors had a cartel, then Zacchaeus would have been the kingpin, for he was not just “a” tax collector, but he was “the chief tax collector.” Jericho was a very wealthy and important city. It is in the Jordan valley, and it is an entry to Jerusalem and the crossings of the river which gave access to the lands east of Jordan. The Romans carried dates and balsam to world-wide trade and fame. During Jesus’ days Jericho was one of the greatest taxation centers in Palestine.
Today in terms of conversion experience, the story of Zacchaeus is an important case study, and it is one of my favorite stories in the Luke gospel. I want you to notice many important principles with me as we learn this passage together. One of the most important things we see is that Zacchaeus wanted to see who Jesus was? He sought to see who Jesus was, are you willing to see who Jesus is in your life?
Zacchaeus was determined to see who Jesus was and would let nothing stop him. For Zacchaeus to mingle with the crowd was a courageous thing to do, for many people would take the chance to get a nudge, or kick, or push at the little tax-collector. It was an opportunity not to be missed. Zacchaeus would be black and blue with bruises that day. He could not see--the crowd took an ill delight in making sure of hurting the tax collectors. So Zacchaeus ran on ahead and climbed a sycamore tree. It is consequently a favorite wayside tree. It is very easy to climb, with its short trunk and its wide lateral branches forking out in all directions." Things were not easy for Zacchaeus but the little man had the courage of desperation.
But why did Zacchaeus want so desperately to see Jesus? I want to suggest several possibilities. It may be that he had heard of Jesus through the acquaintance of another tax collector, Levi, also called Matthew, had also been a tax collector prior to becoming a disciple of Jesus (Luke 5:27-31). Perhaps Matthew reaching out to his former circle of friends had told Zacchaeus about Jesus and what a change he had made in his life.
I believe that Zacchaeus found his wealth and lifestyle unsatisfying. How often, even today, do we hear of people who seem to have it all as far as the things of this world, who find their lives very unsatisfying? You may be experiencing unease; nothing in your life is satisfying.
In the book of Jeremiah 29:13, God revealed to prophet Jeremiah, "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." God is not playing hide-and-seek with us. He wants us to know him - as our Creator and our God.
Today, humanity is in search of God. We use all kinds of means and ways to find God. We thought that by our own efforts we can make it to God. Yet the truth is, God is reaching down towards us. God is revealing Himself to us. The Bible revealed that God came down to this world in the Person of Jesus. Jesus himself said in verse 10, "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."
Last week was the Pastoral care week celebration in hospitals, in one of the seminars I attended the speaker said in most religions - Humanity is looking for God, but in Christianity - God is looking for Humanity. Jesus came to Jerico to meet Zacchaeus, if you like to learn more about this encounter, please join us in our worship on Sundays at 11:00 AM
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
October 26, 2025 JUST WORSHIP
In our Gospel reading for this Sunday St. Luke 18: 9-14, we read about one of the greatest parables ever told was the story of the Pharisee and the Tax collector. The story is great because it has a plot, it has twists and leads to a surprise ending. The message of this simple parable is one of the most important teachings we can have from the gospel.
This passage tells us of the purpose of the parable as we read in verse 9, “to some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else.” Before we can understand the purpose of the parable, we need to define some important theological terms. What do these terms “righteousness” and “justified” mean?
The word righteousness means to be in right-standing with God. God views the righteous person as being good. Righteousness is a requirement to be accepted by God. The other word is justified, which means to be treated as if one were righteous. When one is justified in a court case, they are declared to be innocent or not guilty. In this parable, Jesus was speaking to those who thought they were right and good in God’s sight. The story ends with the tax collector being justified or declared righteous by God. Since all of us would rather be righteous instead of just thinking we were righteous, we would do well to listen to this parable carefully.
Jesus said in this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: "God, I thank you that I am not like other men-robbers, evildoers, adulterers-or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner.’ Jesus said, I tell you this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
In Jesus’ time, the Pharisee would have been considered the good guy and was a leader of the synagogue in his town. All Pharisees were super-religious men who were extremely careful about obeying the Torah, which is basically the first five books of the Old Testament. They also followed the Mishnah, which explained how to obey the Torah. There might be several chapters in the Mishnah devoted to one single verse in the Torah. In addition, they followed the Talmud, which was a commentary on the Mishnah. The Pharisees lived by the book!
However, a tax collector was considered as the bad person of the earth, the very bottom of the religious food chain in Israel. Hired by the Romans, they could charge exorbitant taxes and keep most of the money for himself. Tax collectors were considered the villains. Jesus is always full of surprises. Jesus introduced a good guy and a bad guy, and by the time Jesus finished the parable, the good guy had become the bad guy and the bad guy had become the good guy!
In the parable, both the Pharisee and the Tax Collector went to the temple in Jerusalem to pray. But when you examine their actions and attitudes, you discover they went for two different reasons. The question for us today is why did you come here today, why do you come to Church every Sunday? If you would like to learn more about the prayer and grace and mercy of God, please join us in our worship on Sunday at 11:00 AM.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
In our Gospel reading for this Sunday St. Luke 18: 9-14, we read about one of the greatest parables ever told was the story of the Pharisee and the Tax collector. The story is great because it has a plot, it has twists and leads to a surprise ending. The message of this simple parable is one of the most important teachings we can have from the gospel.
This passage tells us of the purpose of the parable as we read in verse 9, “to some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else.” Before we can understand the purpose of the parable, we need to define some important theological terms. What do these terms “righteousness” and “justified” mean?
The word righteousness means to be in right-standing with God. God views the righteous person as being good. Righteousness is a requirement to be accepted by God. The other word is justified, which means to be treated as if one were righteous. When one is justified in a court case, they are declared to be innocent or not guilty. In this parable, Jesus was speaking to those who thought they were right and good in God’s sight. The story ends with the tax collector being justified or declared righteous by God. Since all of us would rather be righteous instead of just thinking we were righteous, we would do well to listen to this parable carefully.
Jesus said in this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: "God, I thank you that I am not like other men-robbers, evildoers, adulterers-or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner.’ Jesus said, I tell you this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
In Jesus’ time, the Pharisee would have been considered the good guy and was a leader of the synagogue in his town. All Pharisees were super-religious men who were extremely careful about obeying the Torah, which is basically the first five books of the Old Testament. They also followed the Mishnah, which explained how to obey the Torah. There might be several chapters in the Mishnah devoted to one single verse in the Torah. In addition, they followed the Talmud, which was a commentary on the Mishnah. The Pharisees lived by the book!
However, a tax collector was considered as the bad person of the earth, the very bottom of the religious food chain in Israel. Hired by the Romans, they could charge exorbitant taxes and keep most of the money for himself. Tax collectors were considered the villains. Jesus is always full of surprises. Jesus introduced a good guy and a bad guy, and by the time Jesus finished the parable, the good guy had become the bad guy and the bad guy had become the good guy!
In the parable, both the Pharisee and the Tax Collector went to the temple in Jerusalem to pray. But when you examine their actions and attitudes, you discover they went for two different reasons. The question for us today is why did you come here today, why do you come to Church every Sunday? If you would like to learn more about the prayer and grace and mercy of God, please join us in our worship on Sunday at 11:00 AM.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
October 12, 2025 PLANTING LIFE
In our Gospel reading for this Sunday St. Luke 17: 11-19, we learn about 10 men who suffered from leprosy. When Jesus came on the scene everything changed for these men. Jesus had compassion on them and healed them. And I am glad to tell you that Jesus is still changing our lives today. Maybe you are suffering from something which you cannot explain, you need healing. You need a life changing experience with Jesus, and believe me Jesus is there for you and for me.
This passage tells us as Jesus passed through Samaria and Galilee, He entered a village where He met a group of men who were in bad shape. We are told that there were 10 of them. If you look at their condition for a moment you will know how miserable they were, these men had a horrific disease. In fact, their sickness was one of the worst in the history of the world. They were Lepers. Leprosy begins to totally consume one’s body. Though this is a gruesome description of a physical disease, it is a great illustration of a spiritual disease. Leprosy paints a vivid picture of sin! Not only were these men sick, we also saw that: They were separated from the community.
What a sad life these men had to endure. They were sick, they were separated, they lifted their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. Notice that they cried out to Jesus! They could not go to Him. It was unlawful for these men to come within 50 feet of a clean person. Even though they could not go to Jesus, they cried out and Jesus went to them! And He is still doing the same today! Somehow, someway these men have heard about Jesus and the miracles that He had performed.
It was no coincidence that Jesus saw these men. I believe with all that is in me that He went looking for them. Why? Because that is just what He does! Let's look for a moment at Jesus' perspective - These men cried out to Jesus and He saw them. But Jesus saw more than their outward condition; He saw the condition of their hearts. His primary objective was not to heal their bodies. His desire was to cleanse their souls! He knew that their condition was worse than they could imagine! Jesus wants a wholesome change.
My friends, Jesus sees you! He knows your story and your circumstances. He knows more than the problems you face in this life. He knows the condition of your soul. And He knows the consequences of your sin. But He also cares enough to do something about it. Whether you realize it or not Jesus has already done something about it. If you would like to learn more about the love of Jesus please join us in our worship on Sunday at 11:00 AM.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
In our Gospel reading for this Sunday St. Luke 17: 11-19, we learn about 10 men who suffered from leprosy. When Jesus came on the scene everything changed for these men. Jesus had compassion on them and healed them. And I am glad to tell you that Jesus is still changing our lives today. Maybe you are suffering from something which you cannot explain, you need healing. You need a life changing experience with Jesus, and believe me Jesus is there for you and for me.
This passage tells us as Jesus passed through Samaria and Galilee, He entered a village where He met a group of men who were in bad shape. We are told that there were 10 of them. If you look at their condition for a moment you will know how miserable they were, these men had a horrific disease. In fact, their sickness was one of the worst in the history of the world. They were Lepers. Leprosy begins to totally consume one’s body. Though this is a gruesome description of a physical disease, it is a great illustration of a spiritual disease. Leprosy paints a vivid picture of sin! Not only were these men sick, we also saw that: They were separated from the community.
What a sad life these men had to endure. They were sick, they were separated, they lifted their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. Notice that they cried out to Jesus! They could not go to Him. It was unlawful for these men to come within 50 feet of a clean person. Even though they could not go to Jesus, they cried out and Jesus went to them! And He is still doing the same today! Somehow, someway these men have heard about Jesus and the miracles that He had performed.
It was no coincidence that Jesus saw these men. I believe with all that is in me that He went looking for them. Why? Because that is just what He does! Let's look for a moment at Jesus' perspective - These men cried out to Jesus and He saw them. But Jesus saw more than their outward condition; He saw the condition of their hearts. His primary objective was not to heal their bodies. His desire was to cleanse their souls! He knew that their condition was worse than they could imagine! Jesus wants a wholesome change.
My friends, Jesus sees you! He knows your story and your circumstances. He knows more than the problems you face in this life. He knows the condition of your soul. And He knows the consequences of your sin. But He also cares enough to do something about it. Whether you realize it or not Jesus has already done something about it. If you would like to learn more about the love of Jesus please join us in our worship on Sunday at 11:00 AM.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
October 5, 2025 FREE TO GRIEVE
Our focus for this Sunday is on St. Luke 17:5-10, in this passage Jesus is assuring his disciples that if they have the mustard seed-size faith that can up-root a mulberry tree from soil and go to the sea. For the last few days, I have been thinking and reading about what faith is. For me Faith requires confidence in God even when it is impossible to understand what God is doing. Even when things look bleak, we can trust that God knows what He is doing because He sees in full what we only see in part. God knows far more than we do, and God is always acting for His glory and our good. God proves his goodness and faithfulness over and over again to His Word.
We read in all the gospels that Jesus used in several places the example of Mustard seeds. Let us examine why the mustard-seed example was used. As we study the mustard seed, the first observation will be the size of the seed, which is very small or tiny. When the disciples asked Jesus to “increase their faith” Jesus' response was the mustard seeds which can be easily understood because during Jesus time it was an agrarian society. Everyone will understand the analogy or metaphor used on agricultural produce. Jesus using the mustard-seed example was a good choice at that time to help the disciples understand about their Faith.
The mustard plant which is a small bush-like tree that typically grew to approximately nine feet from a remarkably small seed. This mustard plant was not grown in gardens since the distribution of seeds meant they grew up in places not desired and were grown in large numbers. Because the plants grew into trees, birds loved them for nesting. Obviously one of the points of the parable is that while the mustard seed has a small beginning, it ends with a surprisingly large effect.
However, in the Mustard Seed parable Jesus also mentions that birds come and perch in the tree's branches. Few commentators, drawing on images of birds in the book of Ezekiel, seem to see an allegory to the Gentile inclusion. Others insist that this is strictly a one-point parable and that the birds carry no additional allegorical meaning.
Here Jesus uses another metaphor, “uprooting a mulberry tree,” meaning a seemingly impossible task. Faith, a gift from God, can “move mountains” and “uproot trees” and empower a disciple to forgive a seemingly impossible sum of times, even on the same day.
Jesus is talking about here in relation to faith. I believe Jesus is teaching us a very important lesson about faith that carries on throughout the Bible. Here is the lesson: Faith is not faith if it is not demonstrated by faithfulness.
Faithfulness …. We talk a whole lot more about faith than we do faithfulness in Christian circles, but I believe Jesus is saying here that faith is demonstrated by doing what we are supposed to do. That is we should live out our life in Christian service and make Jesus number one in our life. The disciples were asking to increase their faith, Jesus was saying if you act faithfully, you have already got it. It is not so much about having big ideas for God; lots of faith as it is about living faithfully with what we have. Faith really is not faith until it is expressed.
Jesus is telling the disciples, and of course us, that sometimes we may resent, in our thoughts. What God commands and expects of us and thinks we do not have the power to do it, yet that mustard seed-sized faith is more than enough to accomplish it. It is not a pill. It is not a commodity. It is a free will choice to switch perspectives and breathe the air of God, His Spirit. Then, we are grateful to God for providing that air (Spirit), rather than expecting him to be grateful to us for absorbing the faith. If you would like to learn more about the “Faith”, please join us in our worship on Sundays at 11:00 AM.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
Our focus for this Sunday is on St. Luke 17:5-10, in this passage Jesus is assuring his disciples that if they have the mustard seed-size faith that can up-root a mulberry tree from soil and go to the sea. For the last few days, I have been thinking and reading about what faith is. For me Faith requires confidence in God even when it is impossible to understand what God is doing. Even when things look bleak, we can trust that God knows what He is doing because He sees in full what we only see in part. God knows far more than we do, and God is always acting for His glory and our good. God proves his goodness and faithfulness over and over again to His Word.
We read in all the gospels that Jesus used in several places the example of Mustard seeds. Let us examine why the mustard-seed example was used. As we study the mustard seed, the first observation will be the size of the seed, which is very small or tiny. When the disciples asked Jesus to “increase their faith” Jesus' response was the mustard seeds which can be easily understood because during Jesus time it was an agrarian society. Everyone will understand the analogy or metaphor used on agricultural produce. Jesus using the mustard-seed example was a good choice at that time to help the disciples understand about their Faith.
The mustard plant which is a small bush-like tree that typically grew to approximately nine feet from a remarkably small seed. This mustard plant was not grown in gardens since the distribution of seeds meant they grew up in places not desired and were grown in large numbers. Because the plants grew into trees, birds loved them for nesting. Obviously one of the points of the parable is that while the mustard seed has a small beginning, it ends with a surprisingly large effect.
However, in the Mustard Seed parable Jesus also mentions that birds come and perch in the tree's branches. Few commentators, drawing on images of birds in the book of Ezekiel, seem to see an allegory to the Gentile inclusion. Others insist that this is strictly a one-point parable and that the birds carry no additional allegorical meaning.
Here Jesus uses another metaphor, “uprooting a mulberry tree,” meaning a seemingly impossible task. Faith, a gift from God, can “move mountains” and “uproot trees” and empower a disciple to forgive a seemingly impossible sum of times, even on the same day.
Jesus is talking about here in relation to faith. I believe Jesus is teaching us a very important lesson about faith that carries on throughout the Bible. Here is the lesson: Faith is not faith if it is not demonstrated by faithfulness.
Faithfulness …. We talk a whole lot more about faith than we do faithfulness in Christian circles, but I believe Jesus is saying here that faith is demonstrated by doing what we are supposed to do. That is we should live out our life in Christian service and make Jesus number one in our life. The disciples were asking to increase their faith, Jesus was saying if you act faithfully, you have already got it. It is not so much about having big ideas for God; lots of faith as it is about living faithfully with what we have. Faith really is not faith until it is expressed.
Jesus is telling the disciples, and of course us, that sometimes we may resent, in our thoughts. What God commands and expects of us and thinks we do not have the power to do it, yet that mustard seed-sized faith is more than enough to accomplish it. It is not a pill. It is not a commodity. It is a free will choice to switch perspectives and breathe the air of God, His Spirit. Then, we are grateful to God for providing that air (Spirit), rather than expecting him to be grateful to us for absorbing the faith. If you would like to learn more about the “Faith”, please join us in our worship on Sundays at 11:00 AM.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
September 28, 2025 SURPRISING INVESTMENTS
The gospel reading for this Sunday is St. Luke16:19-31. In this passage we have one of the sad stories of the gospel; a story about a person who did not keep things flowing in his life, which resulted in his life becoming clogged and ending in a tragedy. We do not know the man's name as Jesus told this story. Jesus simply called him "the rich man" that means this man was richly blessed. Many of life's blessings had flowed to this man. But it seems that none of those blessings flowed through him in reaching other people.
Last Sunday we meditated from the gospel of Luke, chapter 15 in which Jesus addressed the topic of money. On several occasions, the rich become Jesus’s target. In the minds of many of the people of Jesus’s days there was the notion that a materially wealthy person was favored and blessed by God while those without wealth were cursed by God. The Pharisees were by and large quite wealthy; they also happened to be the spiritual leaders in the land of Israel. If anyone thought they would get to Heaven it was the Pharisees. They were convinced that their status as the religious leaders of the land, their Jewish heritage, and their affluence were all guarantors of their spending eternity in Paradise or in Heaven.
When we think about wealth, we become so used to the status quo that we presume someone’s good fortune, and the ill fortune of others is the way it is supposed to be. All are in their places that we do nothing to alleviate human sufferings and needs. While it is true that we cannot do a whole lot about worldwide hunger and poverty, we can do something about hunger and poverty right under our nose. We really cannot justify doing nothing just because their problems seem too big for our comparatively meager resources.
Unlike the rich man in the story, instead of passing by those in need we can resolve not to let one day pass by, doing something positive, to fill an empty stomach with food or a needy heart with love. In doing so, we fill our own hearts at the same time, what we share and give away on earth will come back to us in eternal currency.
On earth, here and now, the good things that we can do are the same as they will be in eternity, namely, eternal love and joy, no matter what our earthly circumstances may be. Thus, even the economically poor have much to share with others. No one need be “poor” in love, for any love shared is also love returned to the giver. Unlike material goods, love replenishes itself when it is given away. That should not be the only motivation for living and giving, but it surely is the result.
In our Second reading for this Sunday Paul writes to offer instruction to Timothy as we read in 1Timothy 6:17-18 “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.” These are the divine instructions for the wealthy not only where Timothy ministered, this also applies to us. These verses tell us that, do not become arrogant, do not put your hope in your wealth, be rich in good deeds and be generous and willing to share
In the story of the rich man and Lazarus, we are given a pretty good picture of the consequences of sins of omission, and they are grave. Ignoring the needy, hiding from people who might require help, because we are too “busy”, and being unmoved by human hurt- such behavior may not be able to be seen by other humans, but God sees it and does not approve of the behavior. This parable provides a good meditation on our behavior to the order of confession and forgiveness. When we ask for forgiveness for what we have done and for what “we have failed to do.”
Life in general suggests flowing rather than stagnation. We want the blood and air to flow through our bodies; we try to avoid the stagnations that cause a buildup of sickness and clogged arteries. In recent times we've come to appreciate the cycling and recycling that goes on in nature. There seems to be a constant flow, the flow of life that cleanses, enriches and makes things new. The leaves of autumn will gradually flow into the soil of a future springtime. We are learning that unless our throwaway society begins to effectively recycle what it discards, we will clog the flow of our water and atmosphere until we're literally choked to death.
You and I don't have to be financially rich to apply the force of what Jesus is saying in this story. There are many levels and dimensions of life at which you and I have been greatly blessed. Many blessings have come to us; they are meant to travel through us to others. Take the primary matter of our own faith and trust in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. This is the greatest blessing we have! We know of salvation in Jesus Christ, and we believe it. Think of it: In His mercy and love God has chosen us to be God's own. God's Son has died on the cross for our sins and our forgiveness. Christ has risen from the grave so that you and I don't need not fear the grave. If you would like to learn more about the teaching of Jesus Christ, please join us in our worship on Sundays at 11:00 AM.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
The gospel reading for this Sunday is St. Luke16:19-31. In this passage we have one of the sad stories of the gospel; a story about a person who did not keep things flowing in his life, which resulted in his life becoming clogged and ending in a tragedy. We do not know the man's name as Jesus told this story. Jesus simply called him "the rich man" that means this man was richly blessed. Many of life's blessings had flowed to this man. But it seems that none of those blessings flowed through him in reaching other people.
Last Sunday we meditated from the gospel of Luke, chapter 15 in which Jesus addressed the topic of money. On several occasions, the rich become Jesus’s target. In the minds of many of the people of Jesus’s days there was the notion that a materially wealthy person was favored and blessed by God while those without wealth were cursed by God. The Pharisees were by and large quite wealthy; they also happened to be the spiritual leaders in the land of Israel. If anyone thought they would get to Heaven it was the Pharisees. They were convinced that their status as the religious leaders of the land, their Jewish heritage, and their affluence were all guarantors of their spending eternity in Paradise or in Heaven.
When we think about wealth, we become so used to the status quo that we presume someone’s good fortune, and the ill fortune of others is the way it is supposed to be. All are in their places that we do nothing to alleviate human sufferings and needs. While it is true that we cannot do a whole lot about worldwide hunger and poverty, we can do something about hunger and poverty right under our nose. We really cannot justify doing nothing just because their problems seem too big for our comparatively meager resources.
Unlike the rich man in the story, instead of passing by those in need we can resolve not to let one day pass by, doing something positive, to fill an empty stomach with food or a needy heart with love. In doing so, we fill our own hearts at the same time, what we share and give away on earth will come back to us in eternal currency.
On earth, here and now, the good things that we can do are the same as they will be in eternity, namely, eternal love and joy, no matter what our earthly circumstances may be. Thus, even the economically poor have much to share with others. No one need be “poor” in love, for any love shared is also love returned to the giver. Unlike material goods, love replenishes itself when it is given away. That should not be the only motivation for living and giving, but it surely is the result.
In our Second reading for this Sunday Paul writes to offer instruction to Timothy as we read in 1Timothy 6:17-18 “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.” These are the divine instructions for the wealthy not only where Timothy ministered, this also applies to us. These verses tell us that, do not become arrogant, do not put your hope in your wealth, be rich in good deeds and be generous and willing to share
In the story of the rich man and Lazarus, we are given a pretty good picture of the consequences of sins of omission, and they are grave. Ignoring the needy, hiding from people who might require help, because we are too “busy”, and being unmoved by human hurt- such behavior may not be able to be seen by other humans, but God sees it and does not approve of the behavior. This parable provides a good meditation on our behavior to the order of confession and forgiveness. When we ask for forgiveness for what we have done and for what “we have failed to do.”
Life in general suggests flowing rather than stagnation. We want the blood and air to flow through our bodies; we try to avoid the stagnations that cause a buildup of sickness and clogged arteries. In recent times we've come to appreciate the cycling and recycling that goes on in nature. There seems to be a constant flow, the flow of life that cleanses, enriches and makes things new. The leaves of autumn will gradually flow into the soil of a future springtime. We are learning that unless our throwaway society begins to effectively recycle what it discards, we will clog the flow of our water and atmosphere until we're literally choked to death.
You and I don't have to be financially rich to apply the force of what Jesus is saying in this story. There are many levels and dimensions of life at which you and I have been greatly blessed. Many blessings have come to us; they are meant to travel through us to others. Take the primary matter of our own faith and trust in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. This is the greatest blessing we have! We know of salvation in Jesus Christ, and we believe it. Think of it: In His mercy and love God has chosen us to be God's own. God's Son has died on the cross for our sins and our forgiveness. Christ has risen from the grave so that you and I don't need not fear the grave. If you would like to learn more about the teaching of Jesus Christ, please join us in our worship on Sundays at 11:00 AM.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
September 21, 2025 PRAYERFUL LIVING
Luke records in chapter 16, a parable that Jesus told his disciples about a dishonest Manager. This is one of the interesting parables and one of the most difficult parables to understand in the Bible. In this chapter 16 Jesus teaches his disciples the wrong attitudes about the “wealth”.
Let’s look at the parable that Jesus teaches in the passage Luke 16: 1-13. This story is about the Foolish or dishonest Manager, or Steward. Through this passage Jesus talks to us about our possessions, what we have, and how we are going to deal with what God has given to us. There are three things that I want to bring up for our meditation from this story.
First, the Accountability of the Foolish Steward or Manager: We read in verses 1 & 2 “Then Jesus said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was squandering his property. So, he summoned him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Give me an accounting of your management because you cannot be my manager any longer.” The fact that when the owner came back this unwise manager of the master’s possessions was brought into a position of accountability.
The first reason is that “I am accountable to God.” Because everything that I have today are gifts of God of which I own none. I am accountable to the owner. Every good and perfect gift comes from the Lord. He is the owner, and He blesses me with everything. Remember your very breath is a gift from God, your ability to walk and work is a gift from God. Every Gift you have, God gave them to you, every possession you have, God gave them to you. He’s the owner.
The more that I understand that God is the owner, and I’m the manager then all the sudden the conflict begins to disappear because I realize everything that I have, everything, my health, my life, my possessions, my family, everything I have, it’s not mine, God owns it, I manage it.
The second reason I’m accountable to God, because God is the Owner, being God, the Owner has expectations of the Manager. In other words, when the Master comes back, he wants to know what has been done with the possessions that he has given us, and there are several areas of expectations. For the benefit of our understanding let me quote a few verses from the Bible.
We got to know that the owner expects us to consecrate, dedicate and give ourselves to Him. Paul writes to Romans 12: 1 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God.” This is your spiritual act of worship.” Apostle Paul is telling us that this is our act of Worship, to give ourselves totally to God, He’s our owner, and we are His people, slaves to Jesus Christ. We don’t like the word slaves, our pride kind of gets in the way, but the fact is, I was dead in my sins and on my way to Hell, and Jesus brought me back to life by his blood that he shed on Calvary. He paid my price, He died for me, I owe Him my very life, I am His slave, and I would have it no other way. Please note that God expects us to be ourselves.
The third reason I would like to highlight is “Our Possessions, and Our Time”. Paul writes to the Church in Ephesians in chapter 5:15-17 “Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” As one translation say, “make every minute count,”
Our Gifts or our Abilities. Jesus has an expectation of what we will do with what he has entrusted with us, please read 1 Peter 4:10 “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” God our owner has expectations that I will take my Gifts and abilities and use them to build up his Kingdom, whether it’s myself, my possessions, my time, my gifts, they are all to be used for Him, and we will be accountable on how we are using those gifts.
All these areas I’m accountable for, now let’s make sure we get this straight before we move on. God’s the owner, I’m the manager, so therefore God has given me certain gifts, certain possessions, he’s given me a certain amount of time, He’s given me all these wonderful things of which He has high expectation that I will fulfill them and reach my potential. If you would like to know more about prayerful living, please join us in our worship service on Sunday at 11:00 AM.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
Luke records in chapter 16, a parable that Jesus told his disciples about a dishonest Manager. This is one of the interesting parables and one of the most difficult parables to understand in the Bible. In this chapter 16 Jesus teaches his disciples the wrong attitudes about the “wealth”.
Let’s look at the parable that Jesus teaches in the passage Luke 16: 1-13. This story is about the Foolish or dishonest Manager, or Steward. Through this passage Jesus talks to us about our possessions, what we have, and how we are going to deal with what God has given to us. There are three things that I want to bring up for our meditation from this story.
First, the Accountability of the Foolish Steward or Manager: We read in verses 1 & 2 “Then Jesus said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was squandering his property. So, he summoned him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Give me an accounting of your management because you cannot be my manager any longer.” The fact that when the owner came back this unwise manager of the master’s possessions was brought into a position of accountability.
The first reason is that “I am accountable to God.” Because everything that I have today are gifts of God of which I own none. I am accountable to the owner. Every good and perfect gift comes from the Lord. He is the owner, and He blesses me with everything. Remember your very breath is a gift from God, your ability to walk and work is a gift from God. Every Gift you have, God gave them to you, every possession you have, God gave them to you. He’s the owner.
The more that I understand that God is the owner, and I’m the manager then all the sudden the conflict begins to disappear because I realize everything that I have, everything, my health, my life, my possessions, my family, everything I have, it’s not mine, God owns it, I manage it.
The second reason I’m accountable to God, because God is the Owner, being God, the Owner has expectations of the Manager. In other words, when the Master comes back, he wants to know what has been done with the possessions that he has given us, and there are several areas of expectations. For the benefit of our understanding let me quote a few verses from the Bible.
We got to know that the owner expects us to consecrate, dedicate and give ourselves to Him. Paul writes to Romans 12: 1 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God.” This is your spiritual act of worship.” Apostle Paul is telling us that this is our act of Worship, to give ourselves totally to God, He’s our owner, and we are His people, slaves to Jesus Christ. We don’t like the word slaves, our pride kind of gets in the way, but the fact is, I was dead in my sins and on my way to Hell, and Jesus brought me back to life by his blood that he shed on Calvary. He paid my price, He died for me, I owe Him my very life, I am His slave, and I would have it no other way. Please note that God expects us to be ourselves.
The third reason I would like to highlight is “Our Possessions, and Our Time”. Paul writes to the Church in Ephesians in chapter 5:15-17 “Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” As one translation say, “make every minute count,”
Our Gifts or our Abilities. Jesus has an expectation of what we will do with what he has entrusted with us, please read 1 Peter 4:10 “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” God our owner has expectations that I will take my Gifts and abilities and use them to build up his Kingdom, whether it’s myself, my possessions, my time, my gifts, they are all to be used for Him, and we will be accountable on how we are using those gifts.
All these areas I’m accountable for, now let’s make sure we get this straight before we move on. God’s the owner, I’m the manager, so therefore God has given me certain gifts, certain possessions, he’s given me a certain amount of time, He’s given me all these wonderful things of which He has high expectation that I will fulfill them and reach my potential. If you would like to know more about prayerful living, please join us in our worship service on Sunday at 11:00 AM.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
September 14, 2025 GROWNG IN GOD'S LOVE
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, 24 years ago we all faced the greatest tragedies of our lifetime. The devastation we all experienced on September 11, 2001is still in our thoughts and mind. On September 11, 2022, President Biden at the memorial Service said “It’s good to remember. These memories help us heal, but they can also open up the hurt and take us back to that moment when the grief was so raw. You think of everything — everything that they could have done if they had lived to just had a little more time: the experience you missed together; the dreams they never got to fulfill or realize”.
I feel we, the people of this country, moved on from one tragedy to another and we are still surviving by the power and grace of our God. Let us remember and thank God for His mercies.
Having remembered 9/11, let us move on to this Sunday’s gospel passage. Luke in chapter 15 records the three stories or three parables of Jesus’s teaching. I call this chapter the “lost and found chapter.” If you read Jesus’ parables, you will discover that normally when Jesus tells a parable He tells the story and then He goes on to explain what it means before telling another parable. One of my New Testament professors used to tell us “The parable of Jesus tells us the autobiography of God”. In Luke chapter 15 the parables circle around Losing, Searching, Finding.
The gospel reading for this Sunday is Luke 15:1-10. In this passage we learn about two parables. But in Luke 15, Jesus doesn’t pause to explain, he launches one after another, three parables. Why? because Jesus wants to explain to the Pharisees and Scribes that in the sight of God all are equal The Pharisees and Scribes criticize Jesus that he receives sinners and eats with them. So, Jesus told them these parables: The first one Jesus tells the stories of the Lost Sheep, the second is Lost Coin, and the third parable is about the Wayward Son. These stories are so rich and carefully woven. These are also the most of our favorite stories in the Bible.
Remember, Jesus is delivering these stories to a group of devoutly religious leaders. Upper class Orthodox Jews. In their minds, in their days, being a shepherd was a lowly degrading trade or profession. Shepherds were considered as lower-class citizens. It is interesting that when Jesus was born, the angels told the good news first to the shepherds who were abiding in the fields by night taking care of the sheep.
Jesus knows that these men think of shepherds as second-class citizens, so he chooses to tell a story about a shepherd, to get their attention. He makes up a story about a shepherd and asks them a question about doing something they would never do. We read verse 4, “Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it”? When Jesus says, “Which one of you, being a shepherd…” we can imagine what these Pharisees and Scribes will think to themselves “none of them would ever become shepherds”.
Jesus says in the story “The shepherd loses one of them.” But this shepherd loves his sheep. Jesus gets the attention of Pharisees and Scribes quickly. While they’re all thinking about what a worthless profession sheep-tending is? Jesus tells them about a shepherd who loves sheep. The second shock comes to the Pharisees and Scribes is when this shepherd is saddled with the responsibility of losing a sheep.
I would like to narrate these two stories in question-and-answer form, because it will be easy for us to understand. In Jesus’ story, how many sheep does the shepherd have? 100. And what happens to them? One wanders off and gets lost. He leaves the other 99 in the open yard in the country. He does not even bring them back to the city and corral them for the night. He leaves them in potential danger to go and find the one that is lost. When he finds the sheep, what does he do? Puts it on his shoulders and brings it home. And what does he say to his friends? “Rejoice with me.” Why? Because he is happy. So happy, the shepherd throws a party to celebrate. That is the story of a shepherd who lost and found his sheep. Losing, searching and finding.
We are all lost because of our blindness to danger. Sheep just do not realize what incredible hurt that they expose themselves to when they refuse the care and guidance of the Shepherd. If you like to learn more, please join us in our worship on Sunday at 11:00 AM.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, 24 years ago we all faced the greatest tragedies of our lifetime. The devastation we all experienced on September 11, 2001is still in our thoughts and mind. On September 11, 2022, President Biden at the memorial Service said “It’s good to remember. These memories help us heal, but they can also open up the hurt and take us back to that moment when the grief was so raw. You think of everything — everything that they could have done if they had lived to just had a little more time: the experience you missed together; the dreams they never got to fulfill or realize”.
I feel we, the people of this country, moved on from one tragedy to another and we are still surviving by the power and grace of our God. Let us remember and thank God for His mercies.
Having remembered 9/11, let us move on to this Sunday’s gospel passage. Luke in chapter 15 records the three stories or three parables of Jesus’s teaching. I call this chapter the “lost and found chapter.” If you read Jesus’ parables, you will discover that normally when Jesus tells a parable He tells the story and then He goes on to explain what it means before telling another parable. One of my New Testament professors used to tell us “The parable of Jesus tells us the autobiography of God”. In Luke chapter 15 the parables circle around Losing, Searching, Finding.
The gospel reading for this Sunday is Luke 15:1-10. In this passage we learn about two parables. But in Luke 15, Jesus doesn’t pause to explain, he launches one after another, three parables. Why? because Jesus wants to explain to the Pharisees and Scribes that in the sight of God all are equal The Pharisees and Scribes criticize Jesus that he receives sinners and eats with them. So, Jesus told them these parables: The first one Jesus tells the stories of the Lost Sheep, the second is Lost Coin, and the third parable is about the Wayward Son. These stories are so rich and carefully woven. These are also the most of our favorite stories in the Bible.
Remember, Jesus is delivering these stories to a group of devoutly religious leaders. Upper class Orthodox Jews. In their minds, in their days, being a shepherd was a lowly degrading trade or profession. Shepherds were considered as lower-class citizens. It is interesting that when Jesus was born, the angels told the good news first to the shepherds who were abiding in the fields by night taking care of the sheep.
Jesus knows that these men think of shepherds as second-class citizens, so he chooses to tell a story about a shepherd, to get their attention. He makes up a story about a shepherd and asks them a question about doing something they would never do. We read verse 4, “Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it”? When Jesus says, “Which one of you, being a shepherd…” we can imagine what these Pharisees and Scribes will think to themselves “none of them would ever become shepherds”.
Jesus says in the story “The shepherd loses one of them.” But this shepherd loves his sheep. Jesus gets the attention of Pharisees and Scribes quickly. While they’re all thinking about what a worthless profession sheep-tending is? Jesus tells them about a shepherd who loves sheep. The second shock comes to the Pharisees and Scribes is when this shepherd is saddled with the responsibility of losing a sheep.
I would like to narrate these two stories in question-and-answer form, because it will be easy for us to understand. In Jesus’ story, how many sheep does the shepherd have? 100. And what happens to them? One wanders off and gets lost. He leaves the other 99 in the open yard in the country. He does not even bring them back to the city and corral them for the night. He leaves them in potential danger to go and find the one that is lost. When he finds the sheep, what does he do? Puts it on his shoulders and brings it home. And what does he say to his friends? “Rejoice with me.” Why? Because he is happy. So happy, the shepherd throws a party to celebrate. That is the story of a shepherd who lost and found his sheep. Losing, searching and finding.
We are all lost because of our blindness to danger. Sheep just do not realize what incredible hurt that they expose themselves to when they refuse the care and guidance of the Shepherd. If you like to learn more, please join us in our worship on Sunday at 11:00 AM.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
September 7, 2025 NEW IDENTITY
For the last few months I was basically preaching on the gospel lessons, but this Sunday I would like to step away from the gospel lesson and meditate on the first lesson from the book of Jeremiah 18:1-11. The reason is, this is not only one of my favorite passages of the Old Testament, most of the Old Testament lovers will like to meditate or ponder on this passage. I feel this will give me an opportunity to expound more on this passage for the benefit of our learning together. As Jeremiah was preparing God's message to the people of Israel, God told him that to prepare this message he must "go down to the potter's house."
In this text, God was preparing Jeremiah to receive His message, and the first thing God asked Jerimaih to "go down to the potter's house". In this special assignment God was not telling Jeremiah to go on any isolation in a quiet room, or no separation from people, or no immersing oneself in meditation, or no studious survey of books. But to prepare for His message to the people, God told Jeremiah "go down to the potter's house". In order to understand the message of God, Jeremiah would have to "go down ... God tells Jeremiah to go down from his high studies, go down from his proper priestly position, go down from his pomp and pride of being a prophet, and go down". Go down for an observation!
In Jeremiah's day, people could not cook a meal unless they went down to the potter's house. They couldn't carry water from a well unless they went down to the potter's house. And God's message to Jeremiah was, "If you want to understand who “I AM”, Jeremiah, you have to go down to the potter's house." The potter's house was called the house of molding or making, because the potter would take the clay and mold it and make it and give a form to that which had no form.
When Jeremiah reached the potter's house, he saw the potter working at the wheel, but the pot that the potter was working on was marred, and the potter reworked on the clay and formed it into a new pot. God told Jeremiah, "My people are just like that clay. They have been marred and broken, and they refuse to be remade." But the potter can take old clay and make a new thing. If we need correction in our life all that we must do in our life is to "go down to the God's house”, God will reshape and recreate our life.
In Jeremiah 18:4 we read, “And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter's hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do.” The prophet Jeremiah went to the potter’s house and took notice of how the potter wrought his work upon the wheels. In fact, God uses the natural things to convey the message of the spiritual. The potter refers to God; and the clay is reference to the people of God.
As the potter works, so does God work. The potter works with clay. There are two ways the potter’s work. One with the hands and the other applies the wheel in his operations. The potter uses clay to accomplish his purpose - what he tends to form with the clay. the potter, therefore, picks up the raw clay - without any form, any fashion and any purpose and he then conceives a function (purpose) and form with the clay
The potter knows what he wants to achieve with the clay. However, the clay, by itself, does not understand what the potter wants to do with it. God knows what form He wants to create out of you and me - a function which God desires of you - what to do with your life. God has a function for our lives - to create a reality and to reshape our lives.
To mold the clay the potter uses three things - the Wheel, the Water, and Hands. Similarly, God also uses these three things to mold us: The Wheel represents times, seasons, circumstances, situations, and events that happen in our lives. The Water represents the Word of God and the Holy Spirit - used to soften the clay so that it can be shaped. The hands of God are to give protection, security, and guidance so that you can be formed. If you would like to learn more about the teaching of Jesus Christ, please join us in our Sunday worship at 11:00 AM.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
For the last few months I was basically preaching on the gospel lessons, but this Sunday I would like to step away from the gospel lesson and meditate on the first lesson from the book of Jeremiah 18:1-11. The reason is, this is not only one of my favorite passages of the Old Testament, most of the Old Testament lovers will like to meditate or ponder on this passage. I feel this will give me an opportunity to expound more on this passage for the benefit of our learning together. As Jeremiah was preparing God's message to the people of Israel, God told him that to prepare this message he must "go down to the potter's house."
In this text, God was preparing Jeremiah to receive His message, and the first thing God asked Jerimaih to "go down to the potter's house". In this special assignment God was not telling Jeremiah to go on any isolation in a quiet room, or no separation from people, or no immersing oneself in meditation, or no studious survey of books. But to prepare for His message to the people, God told Jeremiah "go down to the potter's house". In order to understand the message of God, Jeremiah would have to "go down ... God tells Jeremiah to go down from his high studies, go down from his proper priestly position, go down from his pomp and pride of being a prophet, and go down". Go down for an observation!
In Jeremiah's day, people could not cook a meal unless they went down to the potter's house. They couldn't carry water from a well unless they went down to the potter's house. And God's message to Jeremiah was, "If you want to understand who “I AM”, Jeremiah, you have to go down to the potter's house." The potter's house was called the house of molding or making, because the potter would take the clay and mold it and make it and give a form to that which had no form.
When Jeremiah reached the potter's house, he saw the potter working at the wheel, but the pot that the potter was working on was marred, and the potter reworked on the clay and formed it into a new pot. God told Jeremiah, "My people are just like that clay. They have been marred and broken, and they refuse to be remade." But the potter can take old clay and make a new thing. If we need correction in our life all that we must do in our life is to "go down to the God's house”, God will reshape and recreate our life.
In Jeremiah 18:4 we read, “And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter's hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do.” The prophet Jeremiah went to the potter’s house and took notice of how the potter wrought his work upon the wheels. In fact, God uses the natural things to convey the message of the spiritual. The potter refers to God; and the clay is reference to the people of God.
As the potter works, so does God work. The potter works with clay. There are two ways the potter’s work. One with the hands and the other applies the wheel in his operations. The potter uses clay to accomplish his purpose - what he tends to form with the clay. the potter, therefore, picks up the raw clay - without any form, any fashion and any purpose and he then conceives a function (purpose) and form with the clay
The potter knows what he wants to achieve with the clay. However, the clay, by itself, does not understand what the potter wants to do with it. God knows what form He wants to create out of you and me - a function which God desires of you - what to do with your life. God has a function for our lives - to create a reality and to reshape our lives.
To mold the clay the potter uses three things - the Wheel, the Water, and Hands. Similarly, God also uses these three things to mold us: The Wheel represents times, seasons, circumstances, situations, and events that happen in our lives. The Water represents the Word of God and the Holy Spirit - used to soften the clay so that it can be shaped. The hands of God are to give protection, security, and guidance so that you can be formed. If you would like to learn more about the teaching of Jesus Christ, please join us in our Sunday worship at 11:00 AM.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
August 31, 2025 OPEN TABLE
The gospel lesson for this Sunday is from St. Luke 14: 1, 7-14, in which we learn that Jesus stopped for a Sabbath dinner at the home of an unnamed Pharisee. Pharisees are important religious leaders in the community. The religious leaders in the days of Jesus were all about self-righteousness and self-rewarding. The Pharisees loved to walk down the street in their fine arraignment and have people call them by their titles. They looked down on others saying, “Thank you God for not letting me like that man!”
During the ministry of Jesus the religious leaders engaged Jesus in verbal conflict. The religious leaders taught that to be a citizen of the kingdom of God one had to follow the rules and the regulations of God, as interpreted by them. Jesus taught that one had to enter a relationship with God through faith in His Son and the repentance of sins. One of the necessary attributes in this relationship was humility.
The religious leaders did not have humble hearts, and they viewed themselves as better than others. And our natural tendency is to do the same thing; however, we can get past that if we really try to turn the focus away from ourselves and on to someone else.
Jesus was showing that He came for everyone, and in His eyes, there is no disparity, everyone deserved recognition and attention; that no one was “lower” than anyone else. This caused the Pharisees to feel threatened and they began to hate Jesus even more. Since Jesus cared more for people than He did about tradition, the Pharisees saw Him as one who was careless in observing the Sabbath. In Luke 14:1 we read, “One Sabbath when he went to dine at the house of a ruler who belonged to the Pharisees, they were watching him.” Remember even today people are watching everything we do and everything we say, especially if you profess to be a Christian.
In this passage, Luke lets the reader know that this get-together was not held to hear Jesus teach or to even honor Him. It was a different situation orchestrated by the Pharisees so they could scrutinize everything Jesus said and did so they could find fault in Him. But instead of being able to find fault, they were about to learn a very powerful lesson by Jesus in humility. When Jesus went to dine at the house of a ruler of the Pharisees, he noticed how the guests chose the places of honor. He saw their pride, how they thought of themselves better than they really were, seeing their faults in faint black and white rather than in vivid color, and assuming the worst in others while assuming the best in themselves. And that is what prompted Jesus to tell them all a parable, which we call “the parable of the wedding feast.”
Luke emphasizes to us in this passage, as I would call it something like "a ministry of hospitality and humility”. Let's begin by looking at this concept of hospitality. This passage reading brings us the parable about the wedding guests. After rebuking the people in attendance at the meal for their lack of compassion and mercy, Jesus told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor (14:7) at the dinner table.
Jesus warns us that if you immediately claim a place of honor at such a gathering, you had better be prepared to experience some embarrassment when a more honored guest is ushered to your seat, and you are forced to take one of the undesirable spaces at the back of the hall. Then Jesus concludes by saying that if you want to be truly hospitable when you give a luncheon or dinner, you ought not to invite your same old friends all the time but rather people who could never repay you, like the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind.
Here is the hard lesson in humility they learned. In their tradition, the place of highest honor was where the host sat, at the very head of the table. The place of next highest honor was to the host’s right. And every other place of honor was in direct correlation to the distance the seat was from the host: The farther away, the least important the guest. So, these people always scrambled to sit in the places of highest honor – to fulfill their evil and insecure hearts. They did this because they always viewed others as less important than they were. This is in direct opposition to what Jesus’ ministry was all about.
In John 3:17, we read that Jesus did not come to condemn this world, but to save it. We can all understand that for Jesus to have done that, He would have had to have a heart that was humbled in love for other people, not a heart that considered everyone else as something below Him.
I remember while growing up in India, my father taught me the lesson of humility in the way he patiently handled the problems he faced at home and as a church leader. Jesus is teaching the Pharisees about humility by patiently explaining to them that if they insisted on taking the seat of high honor, they could be publicly asked to move to make room for someone of more importance. The moral for them was it is better to show humility at first rather than feel ashamed later. If you would like to learn more about the teaching of Jesus Christ, please join us in our Sunday worship at 11:00 AM.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
The gospel lesson for this Sunday is from St. Luke 14: 1, 7-14, in which we learn that Jesus stopped for a Sabbath dinner at the home of an unnamed Pharisee. Pharisees are important religious leaders in the community. The religious leaders in the days of Jesus were all about self-righteousness and self-rewarding. The Pharisees loved to walk down the street in their fine arraignment and have people call them by their titles. They looked down on others saying, “Thank you God for not letting me like that man!”
During the ministry of Jesus the religious leaders engaged Jesus in verbal conflict. The religious leaders taught that to be a citizen of the kingdom of God one had to follow the rules and the regulations of God, as interpreted by them. Jesus taught that one had to enter a relationship with God through faith in His Son and the repentance of sins. One of the necessary attributes in this relationship was humility.
The religious leaders did not have humble hearts, and they viewed themselves as better than others. And our natural tendency is to do the same thing; however, we can get past that if we really try to turn the focus away from ourselves and on to someone else.
Jesus was showing that He came for everyone, and in His eyes, there is no disparity, everyone deserved recognition and attention; that no one was “lower” than anyone else. This caused the Pharisees to feel threatened and they began to hate Jesus even more. Since Jesus cared more for people than He did about tradition, the Pharisees saw Him as one who was careless in observing the Sabbath. In Luke 14:1 we read, “One Sabbath when he went to dine at the house of a ruler who belonged to the Pharisees, they were watching him.” Remember even today people are watching everything we do and everything we say, especially if you profess to be a Christian.
In this passage, Luke lets the reader know that this get-together was not held to hear Jesus teach or to even honor Him. It was a different situation orchestrated by the Pharisees so they could scrutinize everything Jesus said and did so they could find fault in Him. But instead of being able to find fault, they were about to learn a very powerful lesson by Jesus in humility. When Jesus went to dine at the house of a ruler of the Pharisees, he noticed how the guests chose the places of honor. He saw their pride, how they thought of themselves better than they really were, seeing their faults in faint black and white rather than in vivid color, and assuming the worst in others while assuming the best in themselves. And that is what prompted Jesus to tell them all a parable, which we call “the parable of the wedding feast.”
Luke emphasizes to us in this passage, as I would call it something like "a ministry of hospitality and humility”. Let's begin by looking at this concept of hospitality. This passage reading brings us the parable about the wedding guests. After rebuking the people in attendance at the meal for their lack of compassion and mercy, Jesus told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor (14:7) at the dinner table.
Jesus warns us that if you immediately claim a place of honor at such a gathering, you had better be prepared to experience some embarrassment when a more honored guest is ushered to your seat, and you are forced to take one of the undesirable spaces at the back of the hall. Then Jesus concludes by saying that if you want to be truly hospitable when you give a luncheon or dinner, you ought not to invite your same old friends all the time but rather people who could never repay you, like the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind.
Here is the hard lesson in humility they learned. In their tradition, the place of highest honor was where the host sat, at the very head of the table. The place of next highest honor was to the host’s right. And every other place of honor was in direct correlation to the distance the seat was from the host: The farther away, the least important the guest. So, these people always scrambled to sit in the places of highest honor – to fulfill their evil and insecure hearts. They did this because they always viewed others as less important than they were. This is in direct opposition to what Jesus’ ministry was all about.
In John 3:17, we read that Jesus did not come to condemn this world, but to save it. We can all understand that for Jesus to have done that, He would have had to have a heart that was humbled in love for other people, not a heart that considered everyone else as something below Him.
I remember while growing up in India, my father taught me the lesson of humility in the way he patiently handled the problems he faced at home and as a church leader. Jesus is teaching the Pharisees about humility by patiently explaining to them that if they insisted on taking the seat of high honor, they could be publicly asked to move to make room for someone of more importance. The moral for them was it is better to show humility at first rather than feel ashamed later. If you would like to learn more about the teaching of Jesus Christ, please join us in our Sunday worship at 11:00 AM.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
August 24, 2925 HEALING REIGN
Our passage this Sunday is from Luke 13:10-17, which gives us amazing elements that share with us the definition of true worship. Especially the Scripture tells us when we worship the LORD our GOD with all our heart, mind, soul and strength and when we love our neighbor as ourselves is the true worship. Jesus shares with us an illustration of what he desires worship to look like, to smell like and to feel like.
The gospel writer Luke doesn't share its precise location but as we read in verse 10 “Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath”. We quickly noticed that synagogues possessed a wide-open door policy. The synagogue was open to those of the local Jewish community. Anyone living near this synagogue was both encouraged and welcomed to worship and learn. To be in the synagogue on a Sabbath day was to be at the heart of Judaism and at the heart of Jesus Christ. Luke reminds us that it was Jesus' custom to either be at the Temple or at the synagogue on the Sabbath. One of the best things we read about in this passage is that the local synagogues are always open and welcoming.
In Luke chapter 13, verse 11 we read “And there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years; she was bent over and could not fully straighten herself”. The woman suffering from a curvature of the spine was allowed to attend the synagogue services. She would not have been allowed into the inner parts of the Temple due to her condition but in the outlying synagogues the rules were more relaxed. We must note this synagogue was open to broken people. We should always have open hearts, open minds and open doors. This should be the motto and practice of all the Churches of Jesus Christ.
The story of this passage goes like this: a woman was in the synagogue on the Sabbath day. She was bent over and could not stand up. She had been this way for 18 years. Jesus was in the synagogue too. He was the teacher of that day. Now what happens here is quite amazing. Jesus does not ask her about her disease. She does not ask Jesus to heal her. Verses 12-13 simply say, "And when Jesus saw her, he called her and said to her, 'Woman, you are freed from your infirmity.' And he laid hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and praised God." She asked for nothing. She was promised nothing. She had not cornered Jesus. She had not forced his hand on her. Jesus could have finished his lesson and gone home and no one would have even thought about this woman.
But Jesus made a note of her presence in the synagogue and Jesus saw her and called her. Jesus took the initiative and made an issue of this woman. Jesus has something he wants to say. He wants to say something about the Sabbath and what it means to keep it holy. Jesus has something he wants to say about the hypocrisy of the synagogue leaders.
This woman in the synagogue has been bent over for 18 years. What's that like? It must have been a horrible experience. People stare. People think she might have committed some terrible sin. Kids would have laughed and made fun of her. She can’t look anyone in the eye. People don't know how to make conversation. If you look through the lens of God's Word, you will see a daughter of Abraham. If we learn to see this woman as Christian women, the way Jesus saw this woman in the synagogue we will see them as heirs of the King of glory. And that will have a deep effect on our relationships.
Luke narrates “in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath day”; the first-century equivalent of being in church on Sunday morning. I wonder, if I had been crippled for eighteen years, will I be faithful to worship God week after week in the synagogue or in the church? I think certainly this woman must have prayed and asked God for deliverance, but still she was crippled, her prayers were not answered. This did not cause her to become bitter or resentful. There she was in the synagogue; worshipping and praising the God she loved.
This crippled woman also teaches us the value of church attendance. Think about what she would have missed if she wasn’t there that day. Her presence was probably an encouragement to so many people and I am sure there were many there who loved her and encouraged her. In fact, that’s the real purpose of meeting together. The Bible says, in Hebrew 10:24-25 “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near”. If you would like to know more about Jesus Christ and his healing power, please join us in our worship on Sunday at 11:00 A.M.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
Our passage this Sunday is from Luke 13:10-17, which gives us amazing elements that share with us the definition of true worship. Especially the Scripture tells us when we worship the LORD our GOD with all our heart, mind, soul and strength and when we love our neighbor as ourselves is the true worship. Jesus shares with us an illustration of what he desires worship to look like, to smell like and to feel like.
The gospel writer Luke doesn't share its precise location but as we read in verse 10 “Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath”. We quickly noticed that synagogues possessed a wide-open door policy. The synagogue was open to those of the local Jewish community. Anyone living near this synagogue was both encouraged and welcomed to worship and learn. To be in the synagogue on a Sabbath day was to be at the heart of Judaism and at the heart of Jesus Christ. Luke reminds us that it was Jesus' custom to either be at the Temple or at the synagogue on the Sabbath. One of the best things we read about in this passage is that the local synagogues are always open and welcoming.
In Luke chapter 13, verse 11 we read “And there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years; she was bent over and could not fully straighten herself”. The woman suffering from a curvature of the spine was allowed to attend the synagogue services. She would not have been allowed into the inner parts of the Temple due to her condition but in the outlying synagogues the rules were more relaxed. We must note this synagogue was open to broken people. We should always have open hearts, open minds and open doors. This should be the motto and practice of all the Churches of Jesus Christ.
The story of this passage goes like this: a woman was in the synagogue on the Sabbath day. She was bent over and could not stand up. She had been this way for 18 years. Jesus was in the synagogue too. He was the teacher of that day. Now what happens here is quite amazing. Jesus does not ask her about her disease. She does not ask Jesus to heal her. Verses 12-13 simply say, "And when Jesus saw her, he called her and said to her, 'Woman, you are freed from your infirmity.' And he laid hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and praised God." She asked for nothing. She was promised nothing. She had not cornered Jesus. She had not forced his hand on her. Jesus could have finished his lesson and gone home and no one would have even thought about this woman.
But Jesus made a note of her presence in the synagogue and Jesus saw her and called her. Jesus took the initiative and made an issue of this woman. Jesus has something he wants to say. He wants to say something about the Sabbath and what it means to keep it holy. Jesus has something he wants to say about the hypocrisy of the synagogue leaders.
This woman in the synagogue has been bent over for 18 years. What's that like? It must have been a horrible experience. People stare. People think she might have committed some terrible sin. Kids would have laughed and made fun of her. She can’t look anyone in the eye. People don't know how to make conversation. If you look through the lens of God's Word, you will see a daughter of Abraham. If we learn to see this woman as Christian women, the way Jesus saw this woman in the synagogue we will see them as heirs of the King of glory. And that will have a deep effect on our relationships.
Luke narrates “in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath day”; the first-century equivalent of being in church on Sunday morning. I wonder, if I had been crippled for eighteen years, will I be faithful to worship God week after week in the synagogue or in the church? I think certainly this woman must have prayed and asked God for deliverance, but still she was crippled, her prayers were not answered. This did not cause her to become bitter or resentful. There she was in the synagogue; worshipping and praising the God she loved.
This crippled woman also teaches us the value of church attendance. Think about what she would have missed if she wasn’t there that day. Her presence was probably an encouragement to so many people and I am sure there were many there who loved her and encouraged her. In fact, that’s the real purpose of meeting together. The Bible says, in Hebrew 10:24-25 “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near”. If you would like to know more about Jesus Christ and his healing power, please join us in our worship on Sunday at 11:00 A.M.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
August 17, 2025 RESTORE US
In the gospel of Luke chapter 12 is all about discipleship. Jesus was teaching the people and also his disciples about what it really means to be a disciple. Jesus was also warning his disciples of what will happen to them once they go out and start ministering and serving truthfully and faithfully. For the last two weeks we are studying Luke chapter 12 and we learned about the value of the Kingdom of God, two weeks ago we discussed the possession of wealth and last week we pondered upon fear, worry and anxiety.
This Sunday gospel reading for our worship is also from St. Luke 12: 49-56. These eight verses are some of the difficult verses to understand in this chapter. Jesus was urging people to become citizens of the kingdom of God. Jesus knew about the coming crisis of our eternal destiny and he wanted everyone to be prepared for this eternal destiny.
Jesus said in verse 49, "I came to cast fire upon the earth; and would that it were already kindled! What does the fire represent? Theologians say it is a reference to the Holy Spirit, a symbol of God’s Word, the gospel, faith, or spiritual fervor. “Frequently when the Bible uses the image of fire, it refers to two important functions: The refiner’s fire that purifies, or the fire of judgment which destroys.” Jesus is talking about the crisis of eternal destiny of coming judgment and fulfilling.
In Luke 3:16 we read John the Baptist’s promise that Jesus would baptize ‘with the Holy Spirit and with fire.’ Jesus said that he wished that the fire of purification and judgment that he had come to cast on earth were already kindled. But, that would happen only after Jesus’ baptism of his death by crucifixion. Jesus’ anticipation of the cross was growing, months before he died on the cross. Nevertheless, Jesus wanted it to happen because he knew that his death would bring about the salvation of His people (the elect).
Early in his ministry Jesus told people not to reveal his identity. He often spoke in parables and was more announced in his proclamation about his identity and mission. However, as he came to the last few months of his ministry, Jesus’ preaching became increasingly urgent as he urged his listeners to repent of their sin and believe that he indeed was the Christ sent by God to seek and to save the lost.
After Jesus’ death on the cross, he would be buried, three days after his burial, God the Father raised him back to life – a sign that he had accepted the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus to pay the penalty for sin. It is at that point that the fire is cast on the earth. It is the fire that either purifies or destroys. It purifies those who repent of their sin and believe in Jesus, and it destroys those who reject Jesus.
Jesus then went on to give a second image of baptism in verse 50, “I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how I am constrained until it is accomplished!” Now what does baptism mean here? In coming to cast his fire on the earth, Jesus also had to undergo a baptism. This obviously does not refer to his water baptism in the Jordan River, as he had already received that baptism. Here in verse 50 Jesus was looking to a baptism that was yet to be accomplished.
The baptism to which Jesus was referring was his death on the cross by crucifixion, which was now only a few months away. He would experience a fierce, fiery trial when he suffered the unmitigated wrath of a holy God as he bore the penalty of our sin on the cross at Calvary. Jesus was speaking about the pains that he would suffer on our behalf in order to secure our salvation.
That is why Jesus said in verse 51, “Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.” I will never forget this verse, when I first went to seminary during the advent we were given an assignment to prepare a Christmas message! The constant message of the season is “peace, peace, peace.” Growing up in India, I remember often listening to the Christmas messages, the theme of peace, every message was peace, the need for peace, the importance of peace.
And when you are a disciple, you start to truly see for the first time. You see the division within as a help and not a hindrance. You start to see the division within as a blessing instead of a curse. You start to see the division within as a positive instead of a negative. You start to see the division within as a sign to carry on instead of giving up. If you would like to know more about how Jesus “Restores Us” please join us in our worship on Sunday at 11:00 AM.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
In the gospel of Luke chapter 12 is all about discipleship. Jesus was teaching the people and also his disciples about what it really means to be a disciple. Jesus was also warning his disciples of what will happen to them once they go out and start ministering and serving truthfully and faithfully. For the last two weeks we are studying Luke chapter 12 and we learned about the value of the Kingdom of God, two weeks ago we discussed the possession of wealth and last week we pondered upon fear, worry and anxiety.
This Sunday gospel reading for our worship is also from St. Luke 12: 49-56. These eight verses are some of the difficult verses to understand in this chapter. Jesus was urging people to become citizens of the kingdom of God. Jesus knew about the coming crisis of our eternal destiny and he wanted everyone to be prepared for this eternal destiny.
Jesus said in verse 49, "I came to cast fire upon the earth; and would that it were already kindled! What does the fire represent? Theologians say it is a reference to the Holy Spirit, a symbol of God’s Word, the gospel, faith, or spiritual fervor. “Frequently when the Bible uses the image of fire, it refers to two important functions: The refiner’s fire that purifies, or the fire of judgment which destroys.” Jesus is talking about the crisis of eternal destiny of coming judgment and fulfilling.
In Luke 3:16 we read John the Baptist’s promise that Jesus would baptize ‘with the Holy Spirit and with fire.’ Jesus said that he wished that the fire of purification and judgment that he had come to cast on earth were already kindled. But, that would happen only after Jesus’ baptism of his death by crucifixion. Jesus’ anticipation of the cross was growing, months before he died on the cross. Nevertheless, Jesus wanted it to happen because he knew that his death would bring about the salvation of His people (the elect).
Early in his ministry Jesus told people not to reveal his identity. He often spoke in parables and was more announced in his proclamation about his identity and mission. However, as he came to the last few months of his ministry, Jesus’ preaching became increasingly urgent as he urged his listeners to repent of their sin and believe that he indeed was the Christ sent by God to seek and to save the lost.
After Jesus’ death on the cross, he would be buried, three days after his burial, God the Father raised him back to life – a sign that he had accepted the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus to pay the penalty for sin. It is at that point that the fire is cast on the earth. It is the fire that either purifies or destroys. It purifies those who repent of their sin and believe in Jesus, and it destroys those who reject Jesus.
Jesus then went on to give a second image of baptism in verse 50, “I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how I am constrained until it is accomplished!” Now what does baptism mean here? In coming to cast his fire on the earth, Jesus also had to undergo a baptism. This obviously does not refer to his water baptism in the Jordan River, as he had already received that baptism. Here in verse 50 Jesus was looking to a baptism that was yet to be accomplished.
The baptism to which Jesus was referring was his death on the cross by crucifixion, which was now only a few months away. He would experience a fierce, fiery trial when he suffered the unmitigated wrath of a holy God as he bore the penalty of our sin on the cross at Calvary. Jesus was speaking about the pains that he would suffer on our behalf in order to secure our salvation.
That is why Jesus said in verse 51, “Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.” I will never forget this verse, when I first went to seminary during the advent we were given an assignment to prepare a Christmas message! The constant message of the season is “peace, peace, peace.” Growing up in India, I remember often listening to the Christmas messages, the theme of peace, every message was peace, the need for peace, the importance of peace.
And when you are a disciple, you start to truly see for the first time. You see the division within as a help and not a hindrance. You start to see the division within as a blessing instead of a curse. You start to see the division within as a positive instead of a negative. You start to see the division within as a sign to carry on instead of giving up. If you would like to know more about how Jesus “Restores Us” please join us in our worship on Sunday at 11:00 AM.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
August 10, 2025 LIVING INTO THE PROMISE
Our gospel lesson for this Sunday is St. Luke 12:32-40, this passage speaks about worry, anxiety, and fear. Luke deals with the subjects of worry, anxiety and fear more than any of the other Gospel writers. Repeatedly, Luke uses the word - "phobeo" which at its core means "to frighten, to scare away or to make afraid".
In Luke chapter 1:11 we read that Zachariah was gripped with fear when the angel appeared to him. And in verse 30 we read that the angel of the Lord told Mary not to be afraid. Also in Luke chapter 2:9 we read that the angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds, and they were terrified. Thankfully, in all the three accounts everyone is encouraged to release their fears and welcome God's Good News.
When Jesus called Peter, Andrew, James, and John to follow him, Luke narrates that Jesus explains to them not to fear. Luke goes on to refer to the existence of fear after Jesus heals the paralytic in chapter 5: 25 "And immediately he rose before them, and took up that on which he lay, and went home, glorifying God. 26. And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen strange things today.” In chapter 7 when Jesus raises the widow of Nain's son verse 16 “Fear seized them all; and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people.” And in chapter 8 Jesus frees the demonic man of Gadarenes, verse 37 “Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Ger′asenes asked him to depart from them; for they were seized with great fear; so, he got into the boat and returned”. In all three situations people are overcome with fear from the view of these great miracles.
Why does Luke talk more about fear than his contemporary Gospel writers? It's not because Luke possessed an unhealthy obsession with worry or anxiety or fear but just the opposite. Being a physician, Luke understood the devastating effects that worry, or anxiety or fear could have on the human body, mind and soul. He knew that when anyone is worried or anxious or filled with fear it can paralyze them, create massive cardiac arrest and even cause mental and emotional sickness. I believe Luke dealt with fear because he saw that in Christ there is a true remedy for worry or anxiety or fear.
Our passage this morning may look like A "Miscellaneous Help List" as it deals with varied subjects like fear, heavenly and earthly treasure along with the Lord's Second Coming. There is so much here that we would do ourselves a great disservice if we attempted to look at each one of these areas separately.
In chapter 12 Luke has shared several things that can create fear in people's hearts, minds and souls:
*The fear of death - verse 4,
*The fear of ridicule and public shame - verse 11
*The fear not having enough - verse 22
*The fear that God is not on their side in verse 32
In verse 32 Jesus says, "Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom”. We must understand that our LORD JESUS wants us to be free of phobias from now on. He came to give us abundant life and abundant life is a life free of worries or anxieties or fears.
Jesus gives us three great assurances that if we take them to heart today, they will be able to alleviate our worries or fears. The three great assurances based on God's love: 1. We are His sheep. 2. We are His joy, and 3. We are His kingdom. To learn about this assurance please join us in our worship on Sunday at 11:00 AM.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
August 3, 2025 SOUL INVESTMENTS
The gospel passage for this Sunday is taken from Luke 12: 13-21. Luke narrates Jesus teaching about the things that have value: the Kingdom of God, the care and love of God the Father, the importance of fearing God and confessing to God. During this time there were lots of people who were listening to Jesus; when someone from the crowd interrupted Jesus with a request to resolve a family dispute over an inheritance.
Maybe after listening to Jesus this man was counting on Jesus to help him to get his share of money from his family estate. This prompted Jesus to teach about the dangers of covetousness and placing one’s confidence in earthly riches. In our materialistic society, for most people their main priority in life is to accumulate wealth. Money in itself is not bad; it is the greed for money that is so destructive. Greed simply wants more; it is having a desire that cannot be satisfied.
The list of things Jesus taught about were intangibles, but this guy who asked to intervene Jesus in his family dispute wanted money that would make him wealthy by earthly standards. Not missing this opportunity, Jesus responded with as we read in verse 14, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” What an excellent question Jesus asks. There were obviously relationship problems between siblings of a family that had inherited a serious amount of money.
What is unsaid but obvious is that greed had overtaken the family to the point that when truth was spoken by Jesus in the presence of this man, all he heard was a way to force generosity, or a sense of fairness, onto his brother. How do you do that when greed has its teeth buried in your spirit? Jesus’ purpose was not to make bad men good or good men better. His purpose was to make dead people live, to see people born again and brought into the kingdom of God. Jesus was out to heal relationships between God and people, only then could they heal relationships between each other.
Countless times we think that if we only had more money we could prevent problems from coming our way. We think money would not only allow us to enjoy a better life, but that it would allow us to enjoy life better. The sooner we get over the illusion that more wealth means a better life the better off we will be. Then we can pursue the true treasure, a deep and abiding relationship with Jesus.
How could this man miss the lesson he had just heard? Money was all that was on his mind. After teaching about eternal issues, such as truth, fear, and the Holy Spirit, this man’s greed blocked all sense of reason. Perhaps he thought it would be a miracle if the absent brother actually did share the family fortune.
Jesus knew about his thoughts and Jesus used this opportunity to teach us in verse 15, “And he said to them, "Take heed, and beware of all covetousness; for a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." The possessions do not give life its meaning. Desiring possessions can become a tyrant in our life, filling us with greed. “All kinds of greed,” what was He talking about? Money and power are related, so whatever form power takes, regardless of its type, run-away greed can result if not tempered by the code of conduct that began with God’s list of rules handed to Moses for us to follow.
Remember the verse from Deuteronomy 5:21, “You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife?” It continues, “You shall not set your desire on your neighbor’s house or land, his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor.
The disciples needed to learn the lesson that life is more important than material things. Jesus’ disciples therefore must learn not to be diverted from their commitment to Jesus by greed for wealth and material possessions. We must avoid the tyranny of things, for what people own will not supply true peace and joy. True riches and satisfaction come only from God. If you would like to learn more, please join us in our worship on Sunday at 11:00 AM.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
The gospel passage for this Sunday is taken from Luke 12: 13-21. Luke narrates Jesus teaching about the things that have value: the Kingdom of God, the care and love of God the Father, the importance of fearing God and confessing to God. During this time there were lots of people who were listening to Jesus; when someone from the crowd interrupted Jesus with a request to resolve a family dispute over an inheritance.
Maybe after listening to Jesus this man was counting on Jesus to help him to get his share of money from his family estate. This prompted Jesus to teach about the dangers of covetousness and placing one’s confidence in earthly riches. In our materialistic society, for most people their main priority in life is to accumulate wealth. Money in itself is not bad; it is the greed for money that is so destructive. Greed simply wants more; it is having a desire that cannot be satisfied.
The list of things Jesus taught about were intangibles, but this guy who asked to intervene Jesus in his family dispute wanted money that would make him wealthy by earthly standards. Not missing this opportunity, Jesus responded with as we read in verse 14, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” What an excellent question Jesus asks. There were obviously relationship problems between siblings of a family that had inherited a serious amount of money.
What is unsaid but obvious is that greed had overtaken the family to the point that when truth was spoken by Jesus in the presence of this man, all he heard was a way to force generosity, or a sense of fairness, onto his brother. How do you do that when greed has its teeth buried in your spirit? Jesus’ purpose was not to make bad men good or good men better. His purpose was to make dead people live, to see people born again and brought into the kingdom of God. Jesus was out to heal relationships between God and people, only then could they heal relationships between each other.
Countless times we think that if we only had more money we could prevent problems from coming our way. We think money would not only allow us to enjoy a better life, but that it would allow us to enjoy life better. The sooner we get over the illusion that more wealth means a better life the better off we will be. Then we can pursue the true treasure, a deep and abiding relationship with Jesus.
How could this man miss the lesson he had just heard? Money was all that was on his mind. After teaching about eternal issues, such as truth, fear, and the Holy Spirit, this man’s greed blocked all sense of reason. Perhaps he thought it would be a miracle if the absent brother actually did share the family fortune.
Jesus knew about his thoughts and Jesus used this opportunity to teach us in verse 15, “And he said to them, "Take heed, and beware of all covetousness; for a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." The possessions do not give life its meaning. Desiring possessions can become a tyrant in our life, filling us with greed. “All kinds of greed,” what was He talking about? Money and power are related, so whatever form power takes, regardless of its type, run-away greed can result if not tempered by the code of conduct that began with God’s list of rules handed to Moses for us to follow.
Remember the verse from Deuteronomy 5:21, “You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife?” It continues, “You shall not set your desire on your neighbor’s house or land, his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor.
The disciples needed to learn the lesson that life is more important than material things. Jesus’ disciples therefore must learn not to be diverted from their commitment to Jesus by greed for wealth and material possessions. We must avoid the tyranny of things, for what people own will not supply true peace and joy. True riches and satisfaction come only from God. If you would like to learn more, please join us in our worship on Sunday at 11:00 AM.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
July 27, 2025 SHAPED BY PRAYER
The gospel reading for this Sunday St. Luke 11: 1-13, gives us the narration of the disciples asking Jesus to teach them to pray. The prayer Jesus taught is called the Lord’s Prayer, for Christians it becomes part and parcel of their faith Journey.
You will agree with me that prayer is a common and the only way to communicate with God. Not only Christians pray but all religions have one or other form of prayer. Prayer is also a request for the needs of the person who prays to God. It is important to know what each one is praying for. Mostly prayer is something we ask or send as our petitions to God. I wonder how many people know how to pray in order to see results? Jesus repeatedly told His disciples that they could pray in His name and expect results.
For Christians prayer is an essential part of their life. Prayer is how they communicate with God. They can pray to God and listen to what God is speaking back to them. There are so many passages in the scriptures that talk about prayer. What is Christian prayer? Christian prayer is praying to God through Jesus Christ. Examples of Christian prayer are in the Bible, from how to pray to the answered prayers. Biblical scholars and Theologians say there are many kinds of prayer. I would like to highlight eight main kinds of prayer that can be taken from the Bible as well: private prayer, corporate prayer, prayer of adoration, prayer of thanksgiving, prayer of confession, prayer of intercession, prayer of listening or guidance, and prayer of deliverance.
Before we look at the prayers in the Bible, let’s analyze a little more at what the definition of prayer is. Prayer is simply talking to God and it is one of the ways we communicate with Him. Prayer is how we are able to repent and ask for forgiveness as well as give God praise. We often pray for people who are sick and ask God to heal them. St. Matthew 21:22 says, “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” We are to pray to believe that God will work and move in our lives and the people around us! It takes faith to pray and believe. The Bible also says in Jeremiah 29:12-13, “Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
We know God listens to us when we pray. We are not praying to a long distance and wishing he will hear: His word tells us he is listening. We must seek God with our whole heart. Jesus talked about it. Paul wrote about it, in Philippians 1:2 “We always thank God for all of you and pray for you constantly”. The Psalmist spoke of it in many Psalms, one example that stands out to me is from Psalm 71: 17-18 “O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. So even to old age and gray hairs.”
I think our culture has a lot to say about our attitudes in prayer. We live in a fast food society - When we pray we tend to say if I don’t get it now I guess it’s not coming. We tend to only ask God for the big things and we take care of the little things. God wants to be involved in every aspect of our lives, big or small.
The gospel passage for this Sunday one of the disciples asks Jesus to teach them to pray. The prayer that Jesus taught, the Lord's Prayer, is a prayer found in two occurrences in the New Testament. While often referred to as parallel passages. It appears that Jesus taught in prayer at two different times, one recorded in the gospel of Matthew, the other in the gospel of Luke. Since the focus of both the gospel account was to teach the disciples how they should pray without repetition, it makes sense that the principles of the content would be similar in both occurrences, but with a need for them to be perfectly identical in wording
The first thing I want you to notice is that the disciples saw that Jesus was always faithful in his prayer. We know Jesus prayed because He was in constant communion with the Father, but Jesus also knew that everything that He was going to do on earth would be a result of His prayer life. Why do you think that Jesus went out often and prayed all night? Jesus’ response to them was not the response that they expected. I suppose they thought that since they had asked Him to remember to pray that He would simply remind them, "It’s time to pray". What Jesus does is to give them an outline for prayer, that if they follow, they would never not want to pray. Many people believe that the Lord is teaching them exact words to repeat as a prayer.
The Lord’s Prayer in such a way that it will enable and empower a more compelling prayer life for you and me. A more compelling prayer life, a more profound thirst for prayer, an intensified life of prayer. I want us to experience the Lord’s Prayer and thus experience some of the powerful possibilities in prayer. If you would like to know more about prayer please join us in our worship on Sunday at 11:00 AM
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
The gospel reading for this Sunday St. Luke 11: 1-13, gives us the narration of the disciples asking Jesus to teach them to pray. The prayer Jesus taught is called the Lord’s Prayer, for Christians it becomes part and parcel of their faith Journey.
You will agree with me that prayer is a common and the only way to communicate with God. Not only Christians pray but all religions have one or other form of prayer. Prayer is also a request for the needs of the person who prays to God. It is important to know what each one is praying for. Mostly prayer is something we ask or send as our petitions to God. I wonder how many people know how to pray in order to see results? Jesus repeatedly told His disciples that they could pray in His name and expect results.
For Christians prayer is an essential part of their life. Prayer is how they communicate with God. They can pray to God and listen to what God is speaking back to them. There are so many passages in the scriptures that talk about prayer. What is Christian prayer? Christian prayer is praying to God through Jesus Christ. Examples of Christian prayer are in the Bible, from how to pray to the answered prayers. Biblical scholars and Theologians say there are many kinds of prayer. I would like to highlight eight main kinds of prayer that can be taken from the Bible as well: private prayer, corporate prayer, prayer of adoration, prayer of thanksgiving, prayer of confession, prayer of intercession, prayer of listening or guidance, and prayer of deliverance.
Before we look at the prayers in the Bible, let’s analyze a little more at what the definition of prayer is. Prayer is simply talking to God and it is one of the ways we communicate with Him. Prayer is how we are able to repent and ask for forgiveness as well as give God praise. We often pray for people who are sick and ask God to heal them. St. Matthew 21:22 says, “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” We are to pray to believe that God will work and move in our lives and the people around us! It takes faith to pray and believe. The Bible also says in Jeremiah 29:12-13, “Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
We know God listens to us when we pray. We are not praying to a long distance and wishing he will hear: His word tells us he is listening. We must seek God with our whole heart. Jesus talked about it. Paul wrote about it, in Philippians 1:2 “We always thank God for all of you and pray for you constantly”. The Psalmist spoke of it in many Psalms, one example that stands out to me is from Psalm 71: 17-18 “O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. So even to old age and gray hairs.”
I think our culture has a lot to say about our attitudes in prayer. We live in a fast food society - When we pray we tend to say if I don’t get it now I guess it’s not coming. We tend to only ask God for the big things and we take care of the little things. God wants to be involved in every aspect of our lives, big or small.
The gospel passage for this Sunday one of the disciples asks Jesus to teach them to pray. The prayer that Jesus taught, the Lord's Prayer, is a prayer found in two occurrences in the New Testament. While often referred to as parallel passages. It appears that Jesus taught in prayer at two different times, one recorded in the gospel of Matthew, the other in the gospel of Luke. Since the focus of both the gospel account was to teach the disciples how they should pray without repetition, it makes sense that the principles of the content would be similar in both occurrences, but with a need for them to be perfectly identical in wording
The first thing I want you to notice is that the disciples saw that Jesus was always faithful in his prayer. We know Jesus prayed because He was in constant communion with the Father, but Jesus also knew that everything that He was going to do on earth would be a result of His prayer life. Why do you think that Jesus went out often and prayed all night? Jesus’ response to them was not the response that they expected. I suppose they thought that since they had asked Him to remember to pray that He would simply remind them, "It’s time to pray". What Jesus does is to give them an outline for prayer, that if they follow, they would never not want to pray. Many people believe that the Lord is teaching them exact words to repeat as a prayer.
The Lord’s Prayer in such a way that it will enable and empower a more compelling prayer life for you and me. A more compelling prayer life, a more profound thirst for prayer, an intensified life of prayer. I want us to experience the Lord’s Prayer and thus experience some of the powerful possibilities in prayer. If you would like to know more about prayer please join us in our worship on Sunday at 11:00 AM
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
July 20, 2025 WORD AND WORK
My thought process started during my presence at the UCC General Synod 35 in Kansas City, as I prepared the sermon for this Sunday, July 20, 2025. During the Synod, I have been blessed to participate in the Resolution put forth by the New York Conference regarding the religious persecution in India. Happy to inform the resolution passed with overwhelming majority.
The gospel reading for this Sunday is taken from St. Luke 10: 38 - 42, the writer Luke gives one of the best encounters that has been preserved; Jesus had with Mary and Martha. The sisters Martha, Mary and their brother Lazarus are from a little town called Bethany. Luke narrates Bethany as a village. Martha appears to be the eldest of the family, and head of the sibling household.
Before we analyze this story let us look how the author Luke narrates about Mary and Martha. Martha was hospitable, distracted, much serving (caring), anxious and troubled. Mary was seated at the feet of Jesus Christ, listening to the teaching and having chosen the good portion.
First, like Martha, we must each personally ask Jesus to come into our lives. Martha opened her home to Jesus. To open your home to someone means it is receiving someone into your personal space, your personal life, with love and affection. But also, like Martha, even when we have asked Jesus to come into our lives, we are still “a work in progress” and required to have some changes in our attitude and lifestyle.
The context of this story is that Jesus is continuing his mission. Jesus is going through Judea teaching people about the Kingdom of God and calling them to live in the ways of God. At the same time, he is teaching his disciples about what it means to be servants. We are his disciples, so Jesus is teaching us too. Luke has selected or inserted in his gospel the story of the Good Samaritan before this story, and he includes Jesus’ teaching about how to love our neighbor.
This story is, in some ways, at the heart of Jesus’ teaching about discipleship, and about servanthood. Jesus has come to the home of the people he knows, and they are showing him hospitality. Martha is doing things to make sure everyone is fed, warm and looked after generally which is very important, because hospitality to the visitor was an important gesture in Eastern culture.
Mary is sitting at the feet of Jesus and listening to Him. Martha, not unreasonably as we think, asks Jesus; she does not use his name, Martha acknowledges her relationship with him by calling him as ‘Master’. Martha asks Jesus to tell her sister to help. Jesus not only tells Martha that Mary is doing the thing he wants, the much better thing, but Jesus very concisely gets to the root of her problem: Martha is pulled away from Jesus by all she was doing.
The most important thing that needs to happen in each of our lives after Jesus comes in. Martha didn’t regard it, at first, as the most important thing and honestly, many of God’s people today do not see it as that important either. But that it should have the highest priority in our lives, Jesus makes it very clear, both here and in many other places in scripture. What is that “one thing”? It is what we see Mary doing here: Verse 39 says that Martha “had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word.”
Luke’s gospel is concerned with one main question. What does it mean to be a servant of Jesus? As we work through Luke’s gospel this lectionary period, we can keep that in front of us, and ask it each week, like a lens through which we can examine the passages we share. Luke moves on from what it means to be a servant of Jesus through serving people, to this new thought. And the thought is this: service is not just doing things. Service is being in relationship with Jesus.
I’ve heard lots of sermons on this story. It’s a simple story, but it is quite difficult to get a handle on, because it seems like a common-sense expectation. Surely doing things in the service of Jesus, in the service of the Kingdom, is important.
This text is all about welcoming a guest. It’s about hospitality. Under normal circumstances, Martha’s acts would be correct, and Mary’s would be wrong. Here, however, the scene is much different. The guest reclining in their home is not a normal visitor but He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The Visitor has the Word of eternal life. The Words Jesus shares with this household are the Words of the Gospel, Words the Kingdom, and Words of the discipleship.
We have an example of Mary who is listening to Jesus Christ, a picture of discipleship. Here Mary’s devotion to Jesus is seen very clearly as we’re told she was sitting at the feet of Jesus listening to His teaching. Her attention was fixed on Christ and His every Word. The words of Jesus had captivated her, and it was as if she was transported to another world. If you would like to know more about the “Words and Work” please join us in our Sunday worship at 11:00 AM.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
My thought process started during my presence at the UCC General Synod 35 in Kansas City, as I prepared the sermon for this Sunday, July 20, 2025. During the Synod, I have been blessed to participate in the Resolution put forth by the New York Conference regarding the religious persecution in India. Happy to inform the resolution passed with overwhelming majority.
The gospel reading for this Sunday is taken from St. Luke 10: 38 - 42, the writer Luke gives one of the best encounters that has been preserved; Jesus had with Mary and Martha. The sisters Martha, Mary and their brother Lazarus are from a little town called Bethany. Luke narrates Bethany as a village. Martha appears to be the eldest of the family, and head of the sibling household.
Before we analyze this story let us look how the author Luke narrates about Mary and Martha. Martha was hospitable, distracted, much serving (caring), anxious and troubled. Mary was seated at the feet of Jesus Christ, listening to the teaching and having chosen the good portion.
First, like Martha, we must each personally ask Jesus to come into our lives. Martha opened her home to Jesus. To open your home to someone means it is receiving someone into your personal space, your personal life, with love and affection. But also, like Martha, even when we have asked Jesus to come into our lives, we are still “a work in progress” and required to have some changes in our attitude and lifestyle.
The context of this story is that Jesus is continuing his mission. Jesus is going through Judea teaching people about the Kingdom of God and calling them to live in the ways of God. At the same time, he is teaching his disciples about what it means to be servants. We are his disciples, so Jesus is teaching us too. Luke has selected or inserted in his gospel the story of the Good Samaritan before this story, and he includes Jesus’ teaching about how to love our neighbor.
This story is, in some ways, at the heart of Jesus’ teaching about discipleship, and about servanthood. Jesus has come to the home of the people he knows, and they are showing him hospitality. Martha is doing things to make sure everyone is fed, warm and looked after generally which is very important, because hospitality to the visitor was an important gesture in Eastern culture.
Mary is sitting at the feet of Jesus and listening to Him. Martha, not unreasonably as we think, asks Jesus; she does not use his name, Martha acknowledges her relationship with him by calling him as ‘Master’. Martha asks Jesus to tell her sister to help. Jesus not only tells Martha that Mary is doing the thing he wants, the much better thing, but Jesus very concisely gets to the root of her problem: Martha is pulled away from Jesus by all she was doing.
The most important thing that needs to happen in each of our lives after Jesus comes in. Martha didn’t regard it, at first, as the most important thing and honestly, many of God’s people today do not see it as that important either. But that it should have the highest priority in our lives, Jesus makes it very clear, both here and in many other places in scripture. What is that “one thing”? It is what we see Mary doing here: Verse 39 says that Martha “had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word.”
Luke’s gospel is concerned with one main question. What does it mean to be a servant of Jesus? As we work through Luke’s gospel this lectionary period, we can keep that in front of us, and ask it each week, like a lens through which we can examine the passages we share. Luke moves on from what it means to be a servant of Jesus through serving people, to this new thought. And the thought is this: service is not just doing things. Service is being in relationship with Jesus.
I’ve heard lots of sermons on this story. It’s a simple story, but it is quite difficult to get a handle on, because it seems like a common-sense expectation. Surely doing things in the service of Jesus, in the service of the Kingdom, is important.
This text is all about welcoming a guest. It’s about hospitality. Under normal circumstances, Martha’s acts would be correct, and Mary’s would be wrong. Here, however, the scene is much different. The guest reclining in their home is not a normal visitor but He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The Visitor has the Word of eternal life. The Words Jesus shares with this household are the Words of the Gospel, Words the Kingdom, and Words of the discipleship.
We have an example of Mary who is listening to Jesus Christ, a picture of discipleship. Here Mary’s devotion to Jesus is seen very clearly as we’re told she was sitting at the feet of Jesus listening to His teaching. Her attention was fixed on Christ and His every Word. The words of Jesus had captivated her, and it was as if she was transported to another world. If you would like to know more about the “Words and Work” please join us in our Sunday worship at 11:00 AM.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
July 6, 2025 SURPRISING PROPHETS
The gospel passage for this Sunday is from St. Luke 10: 1 - 11, 16 - 20, in this chapter, Jesus set an example for us by sending the disciples out in two by two or we can say in pairs. As we read in the book of Ecclesiastes 4: 9-10 “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls, and has no one to help them up”.
As we meditate on this passage, it explains to us about presence, peace and hospitality. We live in a community where Christian relationships are demonstrated and seen visibly. We give people an opportunity to hear the gospel through our life. As Christians we are to work together as a team.
Please note your partner in Christian mission and ministry will strengthen you, your partner will stretch you and your partner will stand with you. Jesus is sending his disciples out to prepare the way for him as he goes to Jerusalem for the last time. When Jesus sent out the 72 disciples to proclaim the kingdom, he told them to enter a home if they are welcoming. When those sent out two by two entered a home, they were to proclaim peace, inviting these people into God’s peace or shalom. This is not a cheap sales pitch. The disciples came in as a symbol of peace, offering themselves to the people of the community.
Notice that these are workers for the Kingdom of God and are going into the harvest field. These workers are living in the local culture and focused on doing the small things of the kingdom for a specific group of people so they can actually experience and feel the life of Christ in and through Christians as Christians relate to one another and communicate with one another.
What we need are stories about engaging people with the gospel in real life. How about spending time with someone you know, or a friend over lunch listening to what is going on in his or her life? This example implies an ongoing conversation that requires the development of focused, loving relationships. These are not random acts of kindness to strangers, but they are acts of kindness for people we know.
Over the last 300 years, when people talked about missions, they meant doing ministry in a foreign country. The idea was that the West was Christian and the rest of the world was not. So, the major task of the church was to do missions among those in nonwestern countries. We can no longer rightly say that the West is Christianized. (Probably never should have thought this anyway) The mission field has shifted to include those who live on our street, in our workplace and even those in our family.
Many in our culture get their ideas about Christianity from TV shows. Some people think that Christians are seen as mean spirited and judgmental. How do we change this thinking? Only when people notice how as Christians we interact and relate with one another in love, patience, peace and kindness. In the Gospel of Luke, peace is used as another way of explaining what is salvation. Much more than simply the absence of conflict, it calls for a positive stance represented by the Old Testament word shalom, which means communal well being. Shalom is a gift of God upon his people to live in security, blessing, and relational wholeness.
How do we experience Peace today? Often, learning to practice peace with our neighbors begins as we respond in peace when conflict among Christians arises. Can we choose the way of peace rather than the need to win? Choosing the way of peace does not mean ignoring reality or covering things up so that emotions are set aside. Peace, true peace, creates an environment in which each person can offer their perspective and deal with differences because no one feels the pressure to win. When people in our neighborhoods see us dealing with conflict in peaceful ways, they will notice the difference between Christians and others.
One of the goals of our church is to reach out into this community to minister to the needs of the people. Every Christian is primarily called by the Lord to serve. If you like to learn more please join us in our Sunday worship at 11:00 AM.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
The gospel passage for this Sunday is from St. Luke 10: 1 - 11, 16 - 20, in this chapter, Jesus set an example for us by sending the disciples out in two by two or we can say in pairs. As we read in the book of Ecclesiastes 4: 9-10 “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls, and has no one to help them up”.
As we meditate on this passage, it explains to us about presence, peace and hospitality. We live in a community where Christian relationships are demonstrated and seen visibly. We give people an opportunity to hear the gospel through our life. As Christians we are to work together as a team.
Please note your partner in Christian mission and ministry will strengthen you, your partner will stretch you and your partner will stand with you. Jesus is sending his disciples out to prepare the way for him as he goes to Jerusalem for the last time. When Jesus sent out the 72 disciples to proclaim the kingdom, he told them to enter a home if they are welcoming. When those sent out two by two entered a home, they were to proclaim peace, inviting these people into God’s peace or shalom. This is not a cheap sales pitch. The disciples came in as a symbol of peace, offering themselves to the people of the community.
Notice that these are workers for the Kingdom of God and are going into the harvest field. These workers are living in the local culture and focused on doing the small things of the kingdom for a specific group of people so they can actually experience and feel the life of Christ in and through Christians as Christians relate to one another and communicate with one another.
What we need are stories about engaging people with the gospel in real life. How about spending time with someone you know, or a friend over lunch listening to what is going on in his or her life? This example implies an ongoing conversation that requires the development of focused, loving relationships. These are not random acts of kindness to strangers, but they are acts of kindness for people we know.
Over the last 300 years, when people talked about missions, they meant doing ministry in a foreign country. The idea was that the West was Christian and the rest of the world was not. So, the major task of the church was to do missions among those in nonwestern countries. We can no longer rightly say that the West is Christianized. (Probably never should have thought this anyway) The mission field has shifted to include those who live on our street, in our workplace and even those in our family.
Many in our culture get their ideas about Christianity from TV shows. Some people think that Christians are seen as mean spirited and judgmental. How do we change this thinking? Only when people notice how as Christians we interact and relate with one another in love, patience, peace and kindness. In the Gospel of Luke, peace is used as another way of explaining what is salvation. Much more than simply the absence of conflict, it calls for a positive stance represented by the Old Testament word shalom, which means communal well being. Shalom is a gift of God upon his people to live in security, blessing, and relational wholeness.
How do we experience Peace today? Often, learning to practice peace with our neighbors begins as we respond in peace when conflict among Christians arises. Can we choose the way of peace rather than the need to win? Choosing the way of peace does not mean ignoring reality or covering things up so that emotions are set aside. Peace, true peace, creates an environment in which each person can offer their perspective and deal with differences because no one feels the pressure to win. When people in our neighborhoods see us dealing with conflict in peaceful ways, they will notice the difference between Christians and others.
One of the goals of our church is to reach out into this community to minister to the needs of the people. Every Christian is primarily called by the Lord to serve. If you like to learn more please join us in our Sunday worship at 11:00 AM.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
June 29, 2025. PICK UP THE MANTLE
The Gospel for this Sunday is from St. Luke 9:51-62, in which we read Jesus was on his way towards Jerusalem; this journey directs him to the cross and the experience of rejection and hatred. In verse 51 we read “When the days near for Jesus to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.”
Jesus meets three men on his way to Jerusalem. If we use the modern language, I will say these three men were fans of Jesus – but Jesus is not interested in building a fan club. Jesus wants disciples. Jesus wants people who can seriously say “Everything the Lord says I will do.” That’s why just as God kept renewing the contract with the Israelites Jesus kept bringing up the commitment contract with his followers. Jesus does not want hasty commitments. Jesus wants a reasoned commitment. He wants people who will be in it for a long time or not at all. Now let us look one by one how these men have interacted with Jesus.
Jesus meets a man, in verse 57 we read “As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go” the man says, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Now Jesus knows that this man if he wanted to be the disciples of Jesus, must face the cross and Jesus replies by saying, in verse 58, “And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”
Jesus tells clearly, if he follows Jesus the comforts of this world are going to be denied to him, and as a follower he would consider the potential cost of following Jesus. We saw something very special in this meeting. Something wonderfully attractive about Jesus himself, suffering and death.
The cost of the disciples is very hard, after the death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, most of the disciples were eventually murdered, martyred, some crucified because they refused to stop saying that Jesus had risen from the dead!
So, Jesus wanted the first man to know that before starting to follow, he needs to know that the ride will not be easy, it will be bumpy. When we present the claims of Jesus to men and women today, we must not pretend that Christianity is an easy, sentimental religion, but this religion tells something about the real in life.
We see this first man who came to Jesus seems to be very religious, not needing an invitation. He simply told Jesus that he would follow Him anywhere. Religious people were religiously inclined; he had great respect for Jesus. He had observed the crowds and caught the excitement of being in the presence of Jesus. He was anxious to be a more permanent part of the whole experience.
But Jesus challenged his heart. Jesus was concerned about this man's Religiosity, he wanted to be a follower and not a disciple. Following Jesus would not be a smooth, easy journey. There would be no home base, no comfortable inns, no guaranteed food, no salary, no pension plan, no health-care plan, and no social security. If you like to learn more about Jesus's response to the other two men please join us Sunday Worship at 11:00 AM.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
The Gospel for this Sunday is from St. Luke 9:51-62, in which we read Jesus was on his way towards Jerusalem; this journey directs him to the cross and the experience of rejection and hatred. In verse 51 we read “When the days near for Jesus to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.”
Jesus meets three men on his way to Jerusalem. If we use the modern language, I will say these three men were fans of Jesus – but Jesus is not interested in building a fan club. Jesus wants disciples. Jesus wants people who can seriously say “Everything the Lord says I will do.” That’s why just as God kept renewing the contract with the Israelites Jesus kept bringing up the commitment contract with his followers. Jesus does not want hasty commitments. Jesus wants a reasoned commitment. He wants people who will be in it for a long time or not at all. Now let us look one by one how these men have interacted with Jesus.
Jesus meets a man, in verse 57 we read “As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go” the man says, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Now Jesus knows that this man if he wanted to be the disciples of Jesus, must face the cross and Jesus replies by saying, in verse 58, “And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”
Jesus tells clearly, if he follows Jesus the comforts of this world are going to be denied to him, and as a follower he would consider the potential cost of following Jesus. We saw something very special in this meeting. Something wonderfully attractive about Jesus himself, suffering and death.
The cost of the disciples is very hard, after the death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, most of the disciples were eventually murdered, martyred, some crucified because they refused to stop saying that Jesus had risen from the dead!
So, Jesus wanted the first man to know that before starting to follow, he needs to know that the ride will not be easy, it will be bumpy. When we present the claims of Jesus to men and women today, we must not pretend that Christianity is an easy, sentimental religion, but this religion tells something about the real in life.
We see this first man who came to Jesus seems to be very religious, not needing an invitation. He simply told Jesus that he would follow Him anywhere. Religious people were religiously inclined; he had great respect for Jesus. He had observed the crowds and caught the excitement of being in the presence of Jesus. He was anxious to be a more permanent part of the whole experience.
But Jesus challenged his heart. Jesus was concerned about this man's Religiosity, he wanted to be a follower and not a disciple. Following Jesus would not be a smooth, easy journey. There would be no home base, no comfortable inns, no guaranteed food, no salary, no pension plan, no health-care plan, and no social security. If you like to learn more about Jesus's response to the other two men please join us Sunday Worship at 11:00 AM.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
June 22, 2025 IN GOD'S PRESENCE
The gospel for this Sunday is from St. Luke 8: 26-39, in which the story begins with the demon-possessed man in the region of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. Jesus and the disciples had just landed their boat at the shore after enduring a storm at the sea. And here came this naked, screaming, raving, bleeding, bruised and scarred, wild-eyed, possessed man, running down the hill toward them.
Sometimes this man would run into the town and terrorize the people. During Jesus' time there were no Psychiatric hospitals, so the authorities have arrested him and chained him. But he was able to break his bonds with his tremendous maniacal strength. Then, the people chased him out of town. This demon possessed man went to live among the dead in one of the caves near the town cemetery. And I am sure that those villagers could hear the screams of that tortured soul coming from the cemetery at night. It must have been a sad as well as scary story to face every day.
When the disciples saw this raving lunatic men running toward them, they did exactly what you and I would do: they gave him immediate access to the Master. More than likely, they wanted to get back into the boat and head for safer shores. But they probably huddled behind Jesus. And the Lord said to him, "tell me about yourself. What's your name?" "Oh, Lord," the man responded, "I don't know who I am anymore. I am lost and confused. My name is Legion, for there are many inside me.”
If you have dealt with the mentally ill, you will understand why it is not pleasant. Hearing the same old ramblings and grumbling. Even when there is coherence, there is not always sense. It is frustrating. It is very natural to put them away. Out of sight and out of mind. For years we did the same thing with the people who have been affected by mental issues, now we have the best institutions, mentally ill people are cared for by trained professionals and we are prepared to deal with such needs. But nowadays, it is not enough in the metropolitan cities that we need more of these institutions.
In the days of Jesus there was no one to care for people who had mental illness. That was a tragedy. The desire of the mentally ill person will be to be left alone; that’s the worst thing for them. Jesus knew this. When Jesus sees this man, naked, irrational, and shut out by society, Jesus asks the one thing this man can answer. When Jesus asked him of his name, Legion reacted, his demons knew Jesus and they were afraid. “What do you want with me, Jesus of Nazareth?” they asked. Jesus by asking his name trying to connect with him, the approach the compassion Jesus shows on him. It is a personal touch given to this needy person.
You see, Jesus loved this man. Despite who he was and how he acted, Jesus showed his love in a meticulous way. That’s just how Jesus works. He loves us all. He doesn’t demand or force himself, but Jesus lovingly reaches out to each one of us, no matter what we have done. As Paul says in Romans 5:8 “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”.
We have many sides in our life; we present ourselves to our boss at work and another to the guys at lunch break. We show one side to a family member and the children another. And when we go to church, we present an entirely different picture. But the fact of the matter is that when we look at ourselves in the mirror, we do not know who we really are. We are unable to identify the real self.
At one point in their conversation, this man who had come running to Jesus for help even shouted, "Jesus, have you come to torment me too, like everyone else?" But our Lord came to heal and deliver - not to judge and punish. And Christ caused this man's illness to enter a herd of pigs. Immediately they rushed into the sea and drowned. Then Jesus could say to the man, "See, there are your sins and infirmities at the bottom of the sea. People cannot bother you any longer." And the man was soon found clothed and in his right mind. If you would like to learn more, please join us in our Sunday worship at 11:00 AM.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
The gospel for this Sunday is from St. Luke 8: 26-39, in which the story begins with the demon-possessed man in the region of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. Jesus and the disciples had just landed their boat at the shore after enduring a storm at the sea. And here came this naked, screaming, raving, bleeding, bruised and scarred, wild-eyed, possessed man, running down the hill toward them.
Sometimes this man would run into the town and terrorize the people. During Jesus' time there were no Psychiatric hospitals, so the authorities have arrested him and chained him. But he was able to break his bonds with his tremendous maniacal strength. Then, the people chased him out of town. This demon possessed man went to live among the dead in one of the caves near the town cemetery. And I am sure that those villagers could hear the screams of that tortured soul coming from the cemetery at night. It must have been a sad as well as scary story to face every day.
When the disciples saw this raving lunatic men running toward them, they did exactly what you and I would do: they gave him immediate access to the Master. More than likely, they wanted to get back into the boat and head for safer shores. But they probably huddled behind Jesus. And the Lord said to him, "tell me about yourself. What's your name?" "Oh, Lord," the man responded, "I don't know who I am anymore. I am lost and confused. My name is Legion, for there are many inside me.”
If you have dealt with the mentally ill, you will understand why it is not pleasant. Hearing the same old ramblings and grumbling. Even when there is coherence, there is not always sense. It is frustrating. It is very natural to put them away. Out of sight and out of mind. For years we did the same thing with the people who have been affected by mental issues, now we have the best institutions, mentally ill people are cared for by trained professionals and we are prepared to deal with such needs. But nowadays, it is not enough in the metropolitan cities that we need more of these institutions.
In the days of Jesus there was no one to care for people who had mental illness. That was a tragedy. The desire of the mentally ill person will be to be left alone; that’s the worst thing for them. Jesus knew this. When Jesus sees this man, naked, irrational, and shut out by society, Jesus asks the one thing this man can answer. When Jesus asked him of his name, Legion reacted, his demons knew Jesus and they were afraid. “What do you want with me, Jesus of Nazareth?” they asked. Jesus by asking his name trying to connect with him, the approach the compassion Jesus shows on him. It is a personal touch given to this needy person.
You see, Jesus loved this man. Despite who he was and how he acted, Jesus showed his love in a meticulous way. That’s just how Jesus works. He loves us all. He doesn’t demand or force himself, but Jesus lovingly reaches out to each one of us, no matter what we have done. As Paul says in Romans 5:8 “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”.
We have many sides in our life; we present ourselves to our boss at work and another to the guys at lunch break. We show one side to a family member and the children another. And when we go to church, we present an entirely different picture. But the fact of the matter is that when we look at ourselves in the mirror, we do not know who we really are. We are unable to identify the real self.
At one point in their conversation, this man who had come running to Jesus for help even shouted, "Jesus, have you come to torment me too, like everyone else?" But our Lord came to heal and deliver - not to judge and punish. And Christ caused this man's illness to enter a herd of pigs. Immediately they rushed into the sea and drowned. Then Jesus could say to the man, "See, there are your sins and infirmities at the bottom of the sea. People cannot bother you any longer." And the man was soon found clothed and in his right mind. If you would like to learn more, please join us in our Sunday worship at 11:00 AM.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
June 15, 2025 WISDOM CALLS
Happy Father's Day!
This Sunday the church celebrates Trinity Sunday. The Trinity is a foundation doctrine of the scripture and our Christian faith. At times some find it difficult to understand and believe completely the concept of Trinity. Today we will be meditating on the mystery of the Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We Christians come to church on Sundays to show that we might love God with all our mind and our soul and our strength.
Our theme as we look at what John writes in his gospel and tells is the fact that the Triune God is our source of eternal salvation: Everything that belongs to the Father belongs to the Son: Our gospel text for this Sunday is from St. John 16: 12-15, we read in verse 12, “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear”. Jesus had already told the disciples that He was going to go to Jerusalem to suffer at the hands of Pontius Pilate and be put to death. The disciples are not willing to accept or listen to Jesus about his suffering and death. But Jesus also told them that He would come back to life and will ascend to the Father and will send the Holy Spirit or the Comforter.
Jesus realized that He had much more to tell them, but they were not able to bear it yet. So, we realize that after Jesus arose from the dead and ascended into heaven, He sent to them the Holy Spirit who would give them a full understanding of God’s great plan of salvation. That is why Jesus says at the end of our text verse 15 “All that belongs to the Father is mine”. We have to picture that here is Jesus in physical form, standing before His disciples. He had told them many things. They didn’t want to see Him go to Jerusalem and be put to death. They were troubled and saddened, Jesus reminded them that He would be put to death, but He would come back to life because His heavenly Father was His true Father. Whatever His Father had in heaven was His because He was God the Father’s Son, so Jesus says, “Whatever the Father has is mine.”
Everything, in other words, that belonged to the Father belonged to the Son. When we look at what the will of the Father was for the world, His will is that no one would perish but everyone would come to repentance. That was the will of God’s Son Jesus, also. It wasn’t something that was a new teaching. It was something that the people of the Old Testament knew and that they looked forward to, that the Messiah would come and that believers would be saved. God the Father’s will for humanity was that all to be saved and that was Jesus’ will for humanity also. We see that Jesus was sent to earth that He might live and die and rise again.
Whatever the Father had, belonged to the Son. Jesus wanted God’s will to be done, so He prayed that His Father’s will would be done. And it was done. Jesus was reminded that He was not left alone. An angel came and strengthened Him. Whatever belonged to the Father belonged to the Son. His glory would be shown in Jesus’ death. Sometimes to do God’s will is not always the easy way out. Still, the Lord strengthens us. God reminds us that the source of our eternal salvation is the Triune God. He reminds us today that everything that belongs to the Father belongs to the Son.
Everything that belongs to the Son belongs to the Holy Spirit: Remember, Jesus was going to leave His disciples. The disciples were going to struggle. They were going to struggle when it came to the crucifixion of their Lord and teacher when Jesus was taken away from them. But, when Jesus after his resurrection met them in the Upper Room and he breathed on them the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit would help the disciples. The Holy Spirit would come and make known to them completely so that they could understand and believe in their hearts what they really knew in their minds.
Jesus explains how the Holy Spirit is going to do this work. In verse 14 He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. What belonged to Jesus that the Holy Spirit would take from Him and make known to the disciples? He would make known to them that; indeed, this Jesus was the true Messiah, the Messiah who had been promised already to Adam and Eve at the creation of the world, the Messiah who had been looked forward to for three thousand years. The Holy Spirit would make known to them that their faith was not in vain, that Jesus was the true Son of God. He was the one the Lord God had promised for the sins of the world.
We are heirs of eternal life because as our text tells us and as our readings point out and as the Apostle/Nicene creed reminds us, the Triune God is our source of eternal salvation. Everything that is divine belongs to the Father, it belongs to the Son; what belongs to the Son belongs to the Spirit. If you would like to know more about the Christian doctrine of “Triune God” please join us in our worship on Sunday at 11:00 AM.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 1070
Happy Father's Day!
This Sunday the church celebrates Trinity Sunday. The Trinity is a foundation doctrine of the scripture and our Christian faith. At times some find it difficult to understand and believe completely the concept of Trinity. Today we will be meditating on the mystery of the Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We Christians come to church on Sundays to show that we might love God with all our mind and our soul and our strength.
Our theme as we look at what John writes in his gospel and tells is the fact that the Triune God is our source of eternal salvation: Everything that belongs to the Father belongs to the Son: Our gospel text for this Sunday is from St. John 16: 12-15, we read in verse 12, “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear”. Jesus had already told the disciples that He was going to go to Jerusalem to suffer at the hands of Pontius Pilate and be put to death. The disciples are not willing to accept or listen to Jesus about his suffering and death. But Jesus also told them that He would come back to life and will ascend to the Father and will send the Holy Spirit or the Comforter.
Jesus realized that He had much more to tell them, but they were not able to bear it yet. So, we realize that after Jesus arose from the dead and ascended into heaven, He sent to them the Holy Spirit who would give them a full understanding of God’s great plan of salvation. That is why Jesus says at the end of our text verse 15 “All that belongs to the Father is mine”. We have to picture that here is Jesus in physical form, standing before His disciples. He had told them many things. They didn’t want to see Him go to Jerusalem and be put to death. They were troubled and saddened, Jesus reminded them that He would be put to death, but He would come back to life because His heavenly Father was His true Father. Whatever His Father had in heaven was His because He was God the Father’s Son, so Jesus says, “Whatever the Father has is mine.”
Everything, in other words, that belonged to the Father belonged to the Son. When we look at what the will of the Father was for the world, His will is that no one would perish but everyone would come to repentance. That was the will of God’s Son Jesus, also. It wasn’t something that was a new teaching. It was something that the people of the Old Testament knew and that they looked forward to, that the Messiah would come and that believers would be saved. God the Father’s will for humanity was that all to be saved and that was Jesus’ will for humanity also. We see that Jesus was sent to earth that He might live and die and rise again.
Whatever the Father had, belonged to the Son. Jesus wanted God’s will to be done, so He prayed that His Father’s will would be done. And it was done. Jesus was reminded that He was not left alone. An angel came and strengthened Him. Whatever belonged to the Father belonged to the Son. His glory would be shown in Jesus’ death. Sometimes to do God’s will is not always the easy way out. Still, the Lord strengthens us. God reminds us that the source of our eternal salvation is the Triune God. He reminds us today that everything that belongs to the Father belongs to the Son.
Everything that belongs to the Son belongs to the Holy Spirit: Remember, Jesus was going to leave His disciples. The disciples were going to struggle. They were going to struggle when it came to the crucifixion of their Lord and teacher when Jesus was taken away from them. But, when Jesus after his resurrection met them in the Upper Room and he breathed on them the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit would help the disciples. The Holy Spirit would come and make known to them completely so that they could understand and believe in their hearts what they really knew in their minds.
Jesus explains how the Holy Spirit is going to do this work. In verse 14 He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. What belonged to Jesus that the Holy Spirit would take from Him and make known to the disciples? He would make known to them that; indeed, this Jesus was the true Messiah, the Messiah who had been promised already to Adam and Eve at the creation of the world, the Messiah who had been looked forward to for three thousand years. The Holy Spirit would make known to them that their faith was not in vain, that Jesus was the true Son of God. He was the one the Lord God had promised for the sins of the world.
We are heirs of eternal life because as our text tells us and as our readings point out and as the Apostle/Nicene creed reminds us, the Triune God is our source of eternal salvation. Everything that is divine belongs to the Father, it belongs to the Son; what belongs to the Son belongs to the Spirit. If you would like to know more about the Christian doctrine of “Triune God” please join us in our worship on Sunday at 11:00 AM.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 1070
June 6, 2025. GATHERED AND SCATTERED
Pentecost is the story of the Holy Spirit breathing movement into the life of the disciples. This is also the time of year that we celebrate how the church began. The history and development of the church is guided by the Holy Spirit. It was now 50 days since Passover, and it was the custom of the Jewish community to celebrate two important things during this time: “The first fruits of the Harvest (The Harvest of the Weeks) and the giving of the Law”.y
The disciples had gathered in Jerusalem. Jesus had instructed them not to leave Jerusalem; to wait for the gift that the Father had promised. As the disciples waited, the disciples found themselves surrounded by travelers from all over the world. The Jews had come back home to participate in this agricultural and religious Festival. Some had come from Europe, some from Asia, and some from Africa. Many different nationalities and languages could be seen in the marketplaces.
The Gift that the Father had promised came like a mighty rushing wind and flames of fire on the disciples who were filled with and engulfed by the Holy Spirit. They began to speak to everyone about what Jesus had done. Peter stood up amidst the throngs of people in the street and said, as we read in our first lesson this morning Acts 2: 22 -24 Peter addressed: “Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him”.
Peter said we all are witnesses of this fact that Jesus exalted to the right hand of God has poured out the Holy Spirit upon us. Therefore, let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." Luke, the writer of the book of Acts, tells us how the people responded to Peter’s message. Verse 37 "When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brother’s what shall we do?" Peter replied in verse 38, "Repent and be baptized every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
They did repent and Luke tells us that 3000 were added to the church on that day. It is the story of the coming of the Holy Spirit. Today, we cannot duplicate the exact events of Acts. That was a one time event in the life of the church. We may not be able to duplicate the exact event, but we can duplicate three things that occurred on that day, and I would like to point out the three things that the church needs to duplicate if we are to reach people for Christ.
The first thing we need is passion and desire. The disciples expected something to happen. They wanted to reach the world for Christ. It is a desire for Pentecost to stay alive and for others to repent for their sins and be transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit.
The second is that the church must have power: The church needs people with passion. But if we are to reach people for Christ, we also need power. At Pentecost the disciples were given the promised gift of the Holy Spirit. They were given power. It is hard sometimes to relate to a concept of spiritual power. Too often, we fear, we get the misconception that when the disciples receive the Holy Spirit, they become spiritual supermen. Nothing could be further from the truth that these men had far less talent, creativity, resources, and education than the people sitting in the church council meetings. What they did have was compulsion. It was this motivation that thrust these dozen men out into the world with a message of redemption and by the end of the first century over a half million people had been brought under the Christian banner.
One sure way NOT to experience the power of the Holy Spirit is to isolate ourselves. Someone once said “There is no Christianity without communion. There is no love without family. There is no power without Pentecost”. How about us? Have you experienced power? Have you ever experienced the reality of Christ? How can you experience the power of the Holy Spirit? If you would like to know more about this, please join us in our worship on Sunday at 11:00 AM.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pond field Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
June 1, 2025 BREAKING CHAINS
For the past two weeks we are trying to understand St. John’s writing on Jesus' final discourse with his disciples, before He was arrested. This Sunday gospel lesson St. John 17:20-26, reads that Jesus prays for all future believers and followers of Him. Jesus welcomes all those who love the name of the Lord to be united and to be one with him and with the Father.
Jesus' desire for the union of people is founded upon the Word of God with faith as the way in which we come to understand that we have been brought into close relationship with God and the world. God in Christ has brought us together into the intimate unity of the family of God. Our adoption as children of God, and therefore as members of the royal household, was accomplished as Paul writes to Galatians 4:4-5 “But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship”.
Our baptism becomes the unifying act, which places us all into the same family and makes us all blood relatives who have been bonded together by the shedding of Christ's blood on Calvary. This is no mere genetic affiliation, this is a dynamic creation, constituted by Christ, which shall last forever and ever. If we recognize that we are all members of the same family, if we acknowledge that God desires to hold us in peace then, ideally, we will stop fighting with each other and destroying one another.
However, in our family, our day-to-day operations are not marked with constant goodwill and cooperation. Parents can disagree with each other, or the children, or the young couples with each other. There are so many possibilities for dissension - goals will vary, opinions often differ, and wills may clash. If love is at the heart of our relationships, and forgiveness is liberally applied, there is still a family unity and loyalty, which acts like a glue. Unity holds family members together even when they are apart, and loyalty brings them together again at times of crisis or joyful celebration.
The church as the family of God has characteristics like other family units but with infinitely more possibilities for disagreement and dissension. It is no wonder then that Paul saw the primary task of the church as one of reconciliation: 2 Corinthians 5:18-20 "All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. So, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us”.
To reconcile is to bring into harmony, not into unison. There is a difference between the two concepts. "Reconciliation is not making everyone 'sing' in unison. It is to enable everyone to 'sing' in harmony. Reconciliation doesn't erase differences; it seeks to bring them into a workable accord. The individual contributions and needed correctives can be brought into harmony - where differences, strengths, uniqueness, and distinctions can be blended into melodic composition." If you would like to learn more please join us in our worship on Sundays at 11:00 AM.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
For the past two weeks we are trying to understand St. John’s writing on Jesus' final discourse with his disciples, before He was arrested. This Sunday gospel lesson St. John 17:20-26, reads that Jesus prays for all future believers and followers of Him. Jesus welcomes all those who love the name of the Lord to be united and to be one with him and with the Father.
Jesus' desire for the union of people is founded upon the Word of God with faith as the way in which we come to understand that we have been brought into close relationship with God and the world. God in Christ has brought us together into the intimate unity of the family of God. Our adoption as children of God, and therefore as members of the royal household, was accomplished as Paul writes to Galatians 4:4-5 “But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship”.
Our baptism becomes the unifying act, which places us all into the same family and makes us all blood relatives who have been bonded together by the shedding of Christ's blood on Calvary. This is no mere genetic affiliation, this is a dynamic creation, constituted by Christ, which shall last forever and ever. If we recognize that we are all members of the same family, if we acknowledge that God desires to hold us in peace then, ideally, we will stop fighting with each other and destroying one another.
However, in our family, our day-to-day operations are not marked with constant goodwill and cooperation. Parents can disagree with each other, or the children, or the young couples with each other. There are so many possibilities for dissension - goals will vary, opinions often differ, and wills may clash. If love is at the heart of our relationships, and forgiveness is liberally applied, there is still a family unity and loyalty, which acts like a glue. Unity holds family members together even when they are apart, and loyalty brings them together again at times of crisis or joyful celebration.
The church as the family of God has characteristics like other family units but with infinitely more possibilities for disagreement and dissension. It is no wonder then that Paul saw the primary task of the church as one of reconciliation: 2 Corinthians 5:18-20 "All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. So, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us”.
To reconcile is to bring into harmony, not into unison. There is a difference between the two concepts. "Reconciliation is not making everyone 'sing' in unison. It is to enable everyone to 'sing' in harmony. Reconciliation doesn't erase differences; it seeks to bring them into a workable accord. The individual contributions and needed correctives can be brought into harmony - where differences, strengths, uniqueness, and distinctions can be blended into melodic composition." If you would like to learn more please join us in our worship on Sundays at 11:00 AM.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
May 25, 2025 DISCIPLES TOGETHER
Our gospel reading for this Sunday is from St. John 14:23-29, here we see John is recording the story of Jesus parting. Jesus and the disciples are gathered in the upper room just prior to his betrayal, arrest and crucifixion. It will all happen quickly one after another. The atmosphere is tense; the disciples know that something threatening is about to happen. They are troubled and at a loss for words. With characteristic compassion, Jesus lays aside his own intense feelings and reaches out to comfort his followers.
We read in verses 25 and 26, "These things I have spoken to you, while I am still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” Please remember the good news here is that God will not forget us. God tells us that we are somebody and in baptism God calls us by name. God puts God's mark upon us and makes us God's own. God sends us the Holy Spirit, to comfort and to counsel us in our life.
In verse 27 we read “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” The peace of which Jesus speaks is not simply the end of conflict nor lack of inner struggle.
Jesus wanted his disciples to know that they belong to him. Jesus gave them a new identity and a sense of inner peace that the world could never take from them. And that's what he wants to give to us: a sense of peace, a new identity, and a new direction for living, so that our footsteps will not wander onto the roads to hell.
The peace of God is an internal strength and tranquility, which exists despite turmoil whether in the world around us or deep within us. We not only have trouble understanding what Jesus means by peace, we also tend to view peace as a requirement of faith. In other words, instead of seeing peace as a gift, we see it as a command. If you are a Christian, you will have peace! I am also leaving you with something to remember me by - a farewell gift. It is precious beyond all measure.
Don't be troubled. Don't be afraid. I am giving you the gift of peace; Jesus then goes on to say that the world doesn't really understand the kind of peace he is giving. When we think of peace we usually think of the absence of war between nations, or the ending of hostilities between persons. Even though the Cold War continues, some politicians speak of our time as a period of peace. Jesus, in offering peace, does not say, "I'm here, the Holy Spirit's here and God is here, now be at peace!" The peace that Jesus offers cannot be had simply by desiring. The peace of God is a gift, it can only be received as a by-product of faith. That's why the world is largely a stranger to it.
The peace, which Jesus gave to the disciples, involved very little contentment. They had to endure persecutions, misunderstanding and hardships of every kind. Perhaps that is why Jesus says as we read in St. Matthew’s 11: 28, "Come unto me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest." Notice he didn't say, "Come unto me all you who are contented, who have been able to avoid the tensions and struggles of life." Jesus tells us to come if we are life-weary and he will give us rest. If you want to know more about how to love one another, please join us in our Sunday worship at 11:00 AM.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
Our gospel reading for this Sunday is from St. John 14:23-29, here we see John is recording the story of Jesus parting. Jesus and the disciples are gathered in the upper room just prior to his betrayal, arrest and crucifixion. It will all happen quickly one after another. The atmosphere is tense; the disciples know that something threatening is about to happen. They are troubled and at a loss for words. With characteristic compassion, Jesus lays aside his own intense feelings and reaches out to comfort his followers.
We read in verses 25 and 26, "These things I have spoken to you, while I am still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” Please remember the good news here is that God will not forget us. God tells us that we are somebody and in baptism God calls us by name. God puts God's mark upon us and makes us God's own. God sends us the Holy Spirit, to comfort and to counsel us in our life.
In verse 27 we read “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” The peace of which Jesus speaks is not simply the end of conflict nor lack of inner struggle.
Jesus wanted his disciples to know that they belong to him. Jesus gave them a new identity and a sense of inner peace that the world could never take from them. And that's what he wants to give to us: a sense of peace, a new identity, and a new direction for living, so that our footsteps will not wander onto the roads to hell.
The peace of God is an internal strength and tranquility, which exists despite turmoil whether in the world around us or deep within us. We not only have trouble understanding what Jesus means by peace, we also tend to view peace as a requirement of faith. In other words, instead of seeing peace as a gift, we see it as a command. If you are a Christian, you will have peace! I am also leaving you with something to remember me by - a farewell gift. It is precious beyond all measure.
Don't be troubled. Don't be afraid. I am giving you the gift of peace; Jesus then goes on to say that the world doesn't really understand the kind of peace he is giving. When we think of peace we usually think of the absence of war between nations, or the ending of hostilities between persons. Even though the Cold War continues, some politicians speak of our time as a period of peace. Jesus, in offering peace, does not say, "I'm here, the Holy Spirit's here and God is here, now be at peace!" The peace that Jesus offers cannot be had simply by desiring. The peace of God is a gift, it can only be received as a by-product of faith. That's why the world is largely a stranger to it.
The peace, which Jesus gave to the disciples, involved very little contentment. They had to endure persecutions, misunderstanding and hardships of every kind. Perhaps that is why Jesus says as we read in St. Matthew’s 11: 28, "Come unto me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest." Notice he didn't say, "Come unto me all you who are contented, who have been able to avoid the tensions and struggles of life." Jesus tells us to come if we are life-weary and he will give us rest. If you want to know more about how to love one another, please join us in our Sunday worship at 11:00 AM.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
May 18, 2025 IMAGINE
The gospel lesson for this Sunday is taken from St. John 13:31-35 where Jesus is talking about the new commandment. As we read in verse 34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another”. Jesus says love one another. What does He mean? How am I to love? Why am I in love? Who am I to love? Once we start thinking about this word love, all kinds of things start happening within ourselves.
When we think about “Love”, questions, doubts, wonderment, values, ideas, relationships, all come into our mind. Yes, this four-letter word L-O-V-E seems simple enough, but it is the most difficult thing to follow and the most difficult concept we can encounter. I would like to look at this commandment of Jesus in two different ways. First, seeing why we are called by Jesus to love one another. Why did Jesus give us this commandment in the first place, then secondly, to ask ourselves what can we do to show your love and my love?
But first, why did Jesus give us this commandment? Did you know that Jesus gave only two commandments in the New Testament? One about loving God and the other about loving each other. The commandments are written in different versions in different places in the New Testament, but essentially, they are one and the same.
Jesus "commands" us to love. But the word "commands" is difficult for us because we believe that we live not by the demands of the law, but by the grace of God. So, why does Jesus command us to love? Why does he order us to love? Notice who Jesus was addressing when he gave this commandment? He was addressing his disciples, who were already part of his family, they had experienced his grace, and they were in a relationship with him.
The new command has nothing to do with life or becoming a child of God. Christ has forgiven us and given us life before we even thought of obeying him. The new commandment does not tell us, "Do this if you want to be saved," but rather, "Do this if you want to glorify God". Do this if you want to praise Cod, do this if you want to serve God? It is thus not a commandment to qualify us for the kingdom. It is a commandment to us as members of God’s family.
Only here we see Jesus addressed his disciples as "little children. Jesus is speaking to the disciples as part of the family, not as people who are seeking admission. He is not telling them how to become members but how we are to act as family members. As parents, we give instructions to our children. If they don’t listen to us, we are sad, hurt, but we don’t throw them out of the family. Obedience doesn’t make us members of a family as birth does. Likewise, we become members of God’s family not by obeying his commands but by receiving the new birth he gives us. Our obedience is how we glorify God.
As part of the family, Jesus tells us how we are to give Glory to the father of the family, that is by loving one another. Jesus is saying, if it is your intention to glorify God, to give praise to God who has made you a member of his household. If you want to respond to God’s grace in your life, if you want to respond to God’s love in your life, if you want to be a responsible family member, here is how to do that; obey the commandment of love. Why does Jesus command us to love? because God has loved us so much that we are motivated to reflect his love to others. If you want to know more about how to love one another, please join us in our Sunday worship at 11:00 AM.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
The gospel lesson for this Sunday is taken from St. John 13:31-35 where Jesus is talking about the new commandment. As we read in verse 34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another”. Jesus says love one another. What does He mean? How am I to love? Why am I in love? Who am I to love? Once we start thinking about this word love, all kinds of things start happening within ourselves.
When we think about “Love”, questions, doubts, wonderment, values, ideas, relationships, all come into our mind. Yes, this four-letter word L-O-V-E seems simple enough, but it is the most difficult thing to follow and the most difficult concept we can encounter. I would like to look at this commandment of Jesus in two different ways. First, seeing why we are called by Jesus to love one another. Why did Jesus give us this commandment in the first place, then secondly, to ask ourselves what can we do to show your love and my love?
But first, why did Jesus give us this commandment? Did you know that Jesus gave only two commandments in the New Testament? One about loving God and the other about loving each other. The commandments are written in different versions in different places in the New Testament, but essentially, they are one and the same.
Jesus "commands" us to love. But the word "commands" is difficult for us because we believe that we live not by the demands of the law, but by the grace of God. So, why does Jesus command us to love? Why does he order us to love? Notice who Jesus was addressing when he gave this commandment? He was addressing his disciples, who were already part of his family, they had experienced his grace, and they were in a relationship with him.
The new command has nothing to do with life or becoming a child of God. Christ has forgiven us and given us life before we even thought of obeying him. The new commandment does not tell us, "Do this if you want to be saved," but rather, "Do this if you want to glorify God". Do this if you want to praise Cod, do this if you want to serve God? It is thus not a commandment to qualify us for the kingdom. It is a commandment to us as members of God’s family.
Only here we see Jesus addressed his disciples as "little children. Jesus is speaking to the disciples as part of the family, not as people who are seeking admission. He is not telling them how to become members but how we are to act as family members. As parents, we give instructions to our children. If they don’t listen to us, we are sad, hurt, but we don’t throw them out of the family. Obedience doesn’t make us members of a family as birth does. Likewise, we become members of God’s family not by obeying his commands but by receiving the new birth he gives us. Our obedience is how we glorify God.
As part of the family, Jesus tells us how we are to give Glory to the father of the family, that is by loving one another. Jesus is saying, if it is your intention to glorify God, to give praise to God who has made you a member of his household. If you want to respond to God’s grace in your life, if you want to respond to God’s love in your life, if you want to be a responsible family member, here is how to do that; obey the commandment of love. Why does Jesus command us to love? because God has loved us so much that we are motivated to reflect his love to others. If you want to know more about how to love one another, please join us in our Sunday worship at 11:00 AM.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
May 11, 2025. LIFE GIVING ACT
Happy Mother’s Day:
I wish all the women A Happy Mother’s Day; God bless you all. Whether you are a biological mother, God mother or any woman who has rendered the services of a mother in one way or another, I thank God for all of you. I thank God for my mother, my grandmother and my aunt who cared and provided for us. I thank God for my wife Vatsala who is a good mother to our son.
After two weeks of post-resurrection Easter encounters of Jesus and his disciples, the lectionary always brings us back to pre-Easter events and to Jesus’s teachings about the new life he envisioned for his beloved disciples. It is a gift for us to return to these texts during this season between Easter and Pentecost. Just last week we heard Peter being called, through his love for Jesus, to feed Christ’s sheep, and here we are now, hearing a description of who those sheep are and how Jesus pictures feeding them spiritually.
Our text for this Sunday St. John 10: 22-30, begins as Jesus was at the temple in Jerusalem walking in Solomon's portico. It was a cold day as John says it was winter. Winter in Jesus’ day meant that the wind came in from the east and it was raw and cold. As Jesus walked, prayed and meditated, a group of Jews came to him and asked as we read in verse 24 “So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” Tell us plainly "If you are Christ?" They wanted him to come right out and say who he was, the Messiah.
Further Jesus says in verses 26 and 27, “but you do not believe because you do not belong to my sheep. My sheep hears my voice. I know them, and they follow me”. You might have noticed in this Sunday's Gospel reading, the second reading Revelation 7:9-17 and Psalm 23 all speak to us about the sheep.
Sheep are the most dependable animal in the world. They seek the security of the flock and blindly follow the lead of the shepherd. When several flocks are grazing together in a field, the sheep are still able to distinguish the voice of their own shepherd and follow his movements like, clap, voice, etc., Sheep need a leader not because they are dumb, but because they know they can't do it alone. They need someone to lead and guide them.
Jesus the shepherd wants to take care of his sheep. I come from the countryside; I have always noticed the sheep would often wander off into the rocks and get into places that they couldn’t get out of. The grass on the hills and mountains is good for the sheep and the sheep like it, and they will jump down ten or twelve feet into the valley, and then they can’t jump back again, and the shepherd hears them bleating in distress. The shepherd will put a rope around him, and he will go over and pull that sheep out of the jaws of death.
Jesus, who is our shepherd, understands how foolish we can be trying to save ourselves instead of listening to his words of salvation. Jesus wants us to hear his words; he wants us to understand who he is in our lives. He wants us to know and believe that he is our shepherd, and we are his sheep. He wants us to follow his voice; he wants us to hear his words of peace and comfort for our lives. But sometimes you and I have a difficult time hearing.
Jesus is like the shepherds leading the sheep and we must be like those sheep in following Jesus. The sheep knew the voice of the shepherd! One of the things Jesus is asking us to understand about our risen Christ, is that we need to hear his voice and follow Him. But I think you and I are too easily distracted in the rush of the modern world.
Maybe we are not deaf to the words of Jesus, maybe we don’t have a hearing problem as much as we hear what we want to hear, and we tune out Jesus and tune in on all the sounds and words of the world as it rushes by. Maybe part of our problem is we don’t have a trusting relationship with Jesus to listen intently to his words, and maybe the other part of the problem is we only listen to what we want to listen to, and far too much of our listening is centered on the world and not on Jesus.
Christ came to those of us who were a lost sheep. He has spoken to us through the power of His words and deeds. His miracles point out His divine nature and display His power. They show that Christ and God are the same. Jesus has opened our eyes and ears just like he opened the eyes of the blind and the ears of the deaf. We have our faith in Christ. Our salvation is secure because Christ has secured our salvation through His death and resurrection. No one can take it away from us. No earthly power is stronger than Jesus is, and He will not allow any such power to prevail against us. His power and His divinity do the work that is appropriate to accomplish salvation for His people. If you like to learn more about Jesus our Shepherd, please join us in our worship on Sundays at 11:00 A.M.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
Happy Mother’s Day:
I wish all the women A Happy Mother’s Day; God bless you all. Whether you are a biological mother, God mother or any woman who has rendered the services of a mother in one way or another, I thank God for all of you. I thank God for my mother, my grandmother and my aunt who cared and provided for us. I thank God for my wife Vatsala who is a good mother to our son.
After two weeks of post-resurrection Easter encounters of Jesus and his disciples, the lectionary always brings us back to pre-Easter events and to Jesus’s teachings about the new life he envisioned for his beloved disciples. It is a gift for us to return to these texts during this season between Easter and Pentecost. Just last week we heard Peter being called, through his love for Jesus, to feed Christ’s sheep, and here we are now, hearing a description of who those sheep are and how Jesus pictures feeding them spiritually.
Our text for this Sunday St. John 10: 22-30, begins as Jesus was at the temple in Jerusalem walking in Solomon's portico. It was a cold day as John says it was winter. Winter in Jesus’ day meant that the wind came in from the east and it was raw and cold. As Jesus walked, prayed and meditated, a group of Jews came to him and asked as we read in verse 24 “So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” Tell us plainly "If you are Christ?" They wanted him to come right out and say who he was, the Messiah.
Further Jesus says in verses 26 and 27, “but you do not believe because you do not belong to my sheep. My sheep hears my voice. I know them, and they follow me”. You might have noticed in this Sunday's Gospel reading, the second reading Revelation 7:9-17 and Psalm 23 all speak to us about the sheep.
Sheep are the most dependable animal in the world. They seek the security of the flock and blindly follow the lead of the shepherd. When several flocks are grazing together in a field, the sheep are still able to distinguish the voice of their own shepherd and follow his movements like, clap, voice, etc., Sheep need a leader not because they are dumb, but because they know they can't do it alone. They need someone to lead and guide them.
Jesus the shepherd wants to take care of his sheep. I come from the countryside; I have always noticed the sheep would often wander off into the rocks and get into places that they couldn’t get out of. The grass on the hills and mountains is good for the sheep and the sheep like it, and they will jump down ten or twelve feet into the valley, and then they can’t jump back again, and the shepherd hears them bleating in distress. The shepherd will put a rope around him, and he will go over and pull that sheep out of the jaws of death.
Jesus, who is our shepherd, understands how foolish we can be trying to save ourselves instead of listening to his words of salvation. Jesus wants us to hear his words; he wants us to understand who he is in our lives. He wants us to know and believe that he is our shepherd, and we are his sheep. He wants us to follow his voice; he wants us to hear his words of peace and comfort for our lives. But sometimes you and I have a difficult time hearing.
Jesus is like the shepherds leading the sheep and we must be like those sheep in following Jesus. The sheep knew the voice of the shepherd! One of the things Jesus is asking us to understand about our risen Christ, is that we need to hear his voice and follow Him. But I think you and I are too easily distracted in the rush of the modern world.
Maybe we are not deaf to the words of Jesus, maybe we don’t have a hearing problem as much as we hear what we want to hear, and we tune out Jesus and tune in on all the sounds and words of the world as it rushes by. Maybe part of our problem is we don’t have a trusting relationship with Jesus to listen intently to his words, and maybe the other part of the problem is we only listen to what we want to listen to, and far too much of our listening is centered on the world and not on Jesus.
Christ came to those of us who were a lost sheep. He has spoken to us through the power of His words and deeds. His miracles point out His divine nature and display His power. They show that Christ and God are the same. Jesus has opened our eyes and ears just like he opened the eyes of the blind and the ears of the deaf. We have our faith in Christ. Our salvation is secure because Christ has secured our salvation through His death and resurrection. No one can take it away from us. No earthly power is stronger than Jesus is, and He will not allow any such power to prevail against us. His power and His divinity do the work that is appropriate to accomplish salvation for His people. If you like to learn more about Jesus our Shepherd, please join us in our worship on Sundays at 11:00 A.M.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
May 4, 2025. THE WAY FORWARD
The gospel passage for this Sunday St. John 21:1-19, narrates the story of Jesus meeting some of his disciples on the shore of Galilee. In verses 1 and 2 we read , "After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tibe′ri-as; and he revealed himself in this way. 2 Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathan′a-el of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zeb′edee, and two others of his disciples were together".
The Apostle John shares with us that seven disciples have traveled back to the region of the Sea of Galilee. John refers to it as the Sea of Tiberias which is what the Romans wanted it to be called in honor of Tiberias Cesar (who reigned from 14 AD to 37 AD).
Jesus had already appeared to several people. He had appeared to Mary Magdalene and the other two of the disciples going towards the city of Emmaus. He had appeared to the disciples twice. The first time on the day of His Resurrection and eight days later to help Thomas understand His Resurrection. But those appearances were not a normal day-to-day experience. You just never knew when Jesus was going to show up or to whom He was going to appear. It was all a mystery.
The disciples were back in the area of Galilee because that is where Jesus told them to go as we read in St. Mark 16:7 “But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.” Jesus told the disciples to go to Galilee and wait. They were waiting for further orders and instructions. But waiting is hard. Waiting is hard if you have been used to getting up early every morning ready to do something with Jesus. For the past three and half years, the disciples were with Jesus and that had been their life. Every morning they had found Jesus either right beside them or at least somewhere close by praying.
The disciples got used to getting up early in the morning and following Jesus wherever He wanted to go. Jesus was their leader and they were His disciples. It was their job to obey His commands and follow His directions. One day it might mean going down to the city or Jerusalem or down to the city of Jericho. Another day it might mean going north towards the city of Capernaum. It might even mean going over to the area of the Gadarenes or the area of the Samaritans.
At times it meant they would all get in a boat and travel around the Sea of Galilee. Jesus would stop at different points and either go on land to teach, heal and free people from demons or He would stay on the boat and preach to the crowds that gathered. Sometimes it would be them going out to teach, preach and heal. Every day was an adventure. You just never knew where Jesus was going to take them or what He was going to have them do. Their job was to listen, obey and follow Jesus.
All the disciples knew was that over the past few days Jesus had not shown up and I am sure they were getting quite bored. They were no doubt wondering what they were going to be doing next. Jesus’ mission had been fulfilled. As Messiah He had come down from Heaven above and had given His life for His people. The penalty of sin had been paid for and the power of sin had been broken.
I am sure that the disciples had a lot of different thoughts going around in their mind. What would we think about with all the things that had gone on the past few weeks; the Triumphal Entry, the Last Supper, the Trial, the Crucifixion, the Burial and the Resurrection? How would all that affect us? What would we do while we wait?
For most of the disciples they were back home. They had been united with their families and loved ones. I am sure that their children, their spouses and their parents were glad that they were back home, safe and sound. I think they were also wondering what was coming next. They had watched their loved one’s step away from their normal lives and travel around with Jesus for the past three and half years. What was next? Would there even be a next?
Now we read in verse 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat; but that night they caught nothing. Peter steps forward and states that he is going fishing. He is tired of just waiting around the house. Jesus has not shown up and so instead of just sitting around he is going fishing. If you would like to know more about the way forward, please join us in our worship on Sunday at 11:00 AM.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
April 27, 2025. RESURRECTION WITNESS
The gospel reading for this Sunday is taken from St. John 20:19-31. In this reading we see Jesus meeting the disciples for the first time and providing them first the comfort, and then the disciples are commissioned, in return the disciples give their personal commitment to Jesus.
“Peace be with you” is the common greeting and probably the one Jesus had spoken to the disciples many times. But in this situation, it was more than a greeting. It was a message! It is some kind of comfort for fear filled disciples. Jesus suddenly appeared in the upper room when all the doors were locked. The disciples had already been in fear over what the religious leaders might do to them. That’s why their doors were locked in the first place.
Suddenly Jesus appeared and the disciples were scared. Jesus calms their fears by saying “Peace be with you.” That was certainly something they needed. We see Jesus provided the disciple’s comfort.
In II Timothy 1:7 we read “God has not given us the spirit of fear but of love and of power and of a sound mind.” Fear will always torment, and these disciples were being tormented by thoughts and vain imaginations. Have you ever been fearful of what might happen next in your life? I have had strange feelings at times when I would suddenly feel my gut tighten with fear. I couldn’t even associate it with any event. But I did know where it was coming from. I get strength when I remember the verse “God has not given us the spirit of fear...” That’s what the devil wants to give us fear. As Christians we are authorized to resist.
A strange thing has happened in the upper room that was locked. Jesus the Prince of Peace has come to them, and they were afraid. Jesus is the very one who can calm all their fears. Jesus already told them before his death, as we read in St. John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid”. But here we see the disciples are very afraid. Jesus proves to them that he is not a spirit, not a ghost. Jesus shows them his hands and side. They see clearly that this is indeed the resurrected Christ.
At that moment of Jesus' revelation to the disciple’s fears were gone. Their sorrow is turned to joy. Their hopes are revived. This is so amazing how the presence of Jesus can turn our world around? Maybe we should remember the promise in the scripture as we read in Hebrew 11:5. “I will never leave you nor forsake you” The disciples awakening to Jesus' presence is what turned their world around. Are you aware of Jesus' presence in your life today? Are you mindful of Jesus as you go through your daily routine in your life?
We may discover more peace in our lives if we learn to nurture our awareness of Jesus' presence. The more we partner with him during the day, the more we commune with him in our spirit, the more we depend upon him for guidance and strength, the more conscious we become of his presence with us. Jesus says to his disciples, “Peace be with you.” That is a powerful revelation of his heart toward disciples and as well as us.
Jesus had chosen the twelve and he was in their presence for more than three years. Jesus had cared for them and taught them. When they found themselves perishing on an angry sea Jesus came and rescued them. The disciples had told Jesus how much they loved him and would even die for him. But then when the pressure got on, they wouldn’t even pray with Jesus for an hour. Jesus asked them to pray but instead they slept. When the authorities came to arrest Jesus, he made sure they were safe and not arrested. Jesus was about to be brutally beaten and crucified. One disciple betrayed him. One openly denies knowing of him. All the disciples have run away and left him to deal with the problem alone.
How would you feel about friends like that? After Jesus victory over the enemy, his comforting word to the disciples is, “Peace be with you”? If you would like to know more about the "Resurrection Witness", please join us in our worship on Sunday at 11:00 AM.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
The gospel reading for this Sunday is taken from St. John 20:19-31. In this reading we see Jesus meeting the disciples for the first time and providing them first the comfort, and then the disciples are commissioned, in return the disciples give their personal commitment to Jesus.
“Peace be with you” is the common greeting and probably the one Jesus had spoken to the disciples many times. But in this situation, it was more than a greeting. It was a message! It is some kind of comfort for fear filled disciples. Jesus suddenly appeared in the upper room when all the doors were locked. The disciples had already been in fear over what the religious leaders might do to them. That’s why their doors were locked in the first place.
Suddenly Jesus appeared and the disciples were scared. Jesus calms their fears by saying “Peace be with you.” That was certainly something they needed. We see Jesus provided the disciple’s comfort.
In II Timothy 1:7 we read “God has not given us the spirit of fear but of love and of power and of a sound mind.” Fear will always torment, and these disciples were being tormented by thoughts and vain imaginations. Have you ever been fearful of what might happen next in your life? I have had strange feelings at times when I would suddenly feel my gut tighten with fear. I couldn’t even associate it with any event. But I did know where it was coming from. I get strength when I remember the verse “God has not given us the spirit of fear...” That’s what the devil wants to give us fear. As Christians we are authorized to resist.
A strange thing has happened in the upper room that was locked. Jesus the Prince of Peace has come to them, and they were afraid. Jesus is the very one who can calm all their fears. Jesus already told them before his death, as we read in St. John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid”. But here we see the disciples are very afraid. Jesus proves to them that he is not a spirit, not a ghost. Jesus shows them his hands and side. They see clearly that this is indeed the resurrected Christ.
At that moment of Jesus' revelation to the disciple’s fears were gone. Their sorrow is turned to joy. Their hopes are revived. This is so amazing how the presence of Jesus can turn our world around? Maybe we should remember the promise in the scripture as we read in Hebrew 11:5. “I will never leave you nor forsake you” The disciples awakening to Jesus' presence is what turned their world around. Are you aware of Jesus' presence in your life today? Are you mindful of Jesus as you go through your daily routine in your life?
We may discover more peace in our lives if we learn to nurture our awareness of Jesus' presence. The more we partner with him during the day, the more we commune with him in our spirit, the more we depend upon him for guidance and strength, the more conscious we become of his presence with us. Jesus says to his disciples, “Peace be with you.” That is a powerful revelation of his heart toward disciples and as well as us.
Jesus had chosen the twelve and he was in their presence for more than three years. Jesus had cared for them and taught them. When they found themselves perishing on an angry sea Jesus came and rescued them. The disciples had told Jesus how much they loved him and would even die for him. But then when the pressure got on, they wouldn’t even pray with Jesus for an hour. Jesus asked them to pray but instead they slept. When the authorities came to arrest Jesus, he made sure they were safe and not arrested. Jesus was about to be brutally beaten and crucified. One disciple betrayed him. One openly denies knowing of him. All the disciples have run away and left him to deal with the problem alone.
How would you feel about friends like that? After Jesus victory over the enemy, his comforting word to the disciples is, “Peace be with you”? If you would like to know more about the "Resurrection Witness", please join us in our worship on Sunday at 11:00 AM.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
April 20, 2025 RESURRECTION JOY
Dear Brother and Sisters in Christ Happy Easter:
Yes the Lord is Risen!
As Christians we believe that love carried Christ to the cross, the crucifixion without the resurrection grants no forgiveness. But the Bible insists that this Jesus who is crucified, dead, buried and rose from the dead is the personification of God’s Love. Paul writes in I Corinthians 15:14 “And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith”.
The gospel lesson for this Easter Sunday is taken from St. John 20:1-20, this is the best news anyone could ever hear. The resurrection of Jesus is a kind of news: life-changing truth. There are many thoughts that come to my mind for our meditation, I would like to share one of my thoughts below. We Must Accept the Resurrection Because It Is True (John 20:1-10): The gospel narrates that Peter and John run to the tomb after Mary’s report of a missing body. John arrives first and stops at the doorway. Peter plunges into the cave, then John follows. They see something surprising: the burial cloths.
God provides much evidence of the resurrection: the testimonies of his apostles, the reports of hundreds of eyewitnesses, the changed character of the disciples, the manuscripts which offer many proofs of their historicity and reliability. We could also study how these accounts have marks of first-hand truth – a lack of fabricated uniformity and the willingness of the writers to admit their own weakness and failings. But let’s pay special attention, today, to the evidence of the empty tomb.
In verse 5 we read that John “saw the linen cloths.” In Greek there are several words for “seeing”; this is the most general one – John simply saw. Verse 6 tells us that Peter also “saw,” but here is a different word. More than mere observation, this includes comprehension or understanding. John saw the cloths; Peter somehow perceived they meant something. Then John enters the tomb, and (at the end of verse 8) “saw and believed.” This is a third word for “see,” and can include the idea of experiencing what is observed. What happened to John; he saw and believed – he got it, because it is true! But what precisely did John see that made him believe in the resurrection?
First, John saw the “linen cloths.” Bodies were prepared for burial first by coating them with sticky spices (including myrrh) then wrapping them tightly in cloths. Second, he saw the face cloth folded in a place by itself. Unlike the body wrappings, covered as they were with a pitch-like glue, the face and head cloth were not treated with burial spices. That cloth was clean. So, after the resurrection, Christ (or an angel) carefully folded it up.
Here is an act of deliberate, calm, and orderly behavior. Jesus is leaving clues that cannot be mistaken by any thoughtful observer. The body cloths, sticky and piled in one place, indicate that the body materialized outside of the wrappings. And the head cloth announces that this was no hurried act of theft, but the careful actions of someone leaving a trail of breadcrumbs for the disciples to find and follow. And John walks down the path in his mind, putting the pieces together, and believes. This is the resurrection Jesus spoke of; this is what the prophets meant. This Jesus Resurrection is true.
For us to be Easter people means that more than the day of celebration, it is the resurrection that is true. More than calendar observances, it is the daily realization that the very power of God, which raised Jesus from the dead, is also the very same power, which flows in and through us as followers of the Risen Lord. If you would like to know more about “Resurrection Joy” please join us in our worship on Sunday at 11:00 AM.
May the peace and grace of our resurrected Lord Jesus Christ be with you all!
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
Dear Brother and Sisters in Christ Happy Easter:
Yes the Lord is Risen!
As Christians we believe that love carried Christ to the cross, the crucifixion without the resurrection grants no forgiveness. But the Bible insists that this Jesus who is crucified, dead, buried and rose from the dead is the personification of God’s Love. Paul writes in I Corinthians 15:14 “And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith”.
The gospel lesson for this Easter Sunday is taken from St. John 20:1-20, this is the best news anyone could ever hear. The resurrection of Jesus is a kind of news: life-changing truth. There are many thoughts that come to my mind for our meditation, I would like to share one of my thoughts below. We Must Accept the Resurrection Because It Is True (John 20:1-10): The gospel narrates that Peter and John run to the tomb after Mary’s report of a missing body. John arrives first and stops at the doorway. Peter plunges into the cave, then John follows. They see something surprising: the burial cloths.
God provides much evidence of the resurrection: the testimonies of his apostles, the reports of hundreds of eyewitnesses, the changed character of the disciples, the manuscripts which offer many proofs of their historicity and reliability. We could also study how these accounts have marks of first-hand truth – a lack of fabricated uniformity and the willingness of the writers to admit their own weakness and failings. But let’s pay special attention, today, to the evidence of the empty tomb.
In verse 5 we read that John “saw the linen cloths.” In Greek there are several words for “seeing”; this is the most general one – John simply saw. Verse 6 tells us that Peter also “saw,” but here is a different word. More than mere observation, this includes comprehension or understanding. John saw the cloths; Peter somehow perceived they meant something. Then John enters the tomb, and (at the end of verse 8) “saw and believed.” This is a third word for “see,” and can include the idea of experiencing what is observed. What happened to John; he saw and believed – he got it, because it is true! But what precisely did John see that made him believe in the resurrection?
First, John saw the “linen cloths.” Bodies were prepared for burial first by coating them with sticky spices (including myrrh) then wrapping them tightly in cloths. Second, he saw the face cloth folded in a place by itself. Unlike the body wrappings, covered as they were with a pitch-like glue, the face and head cloth were not treated with burial spices. That cloth was clean. So, after the resurrection, Christ (or an angel) carefully folded it up.
Here is an act of deliberate, calm, and orderly behavior. Jesus is leaving clues that cannot be mistaken by any thoughtful observer. The body cloths, sticky and piled in one place, indicate that the body materialized outside of the wrappings. And the head cloth announces that this was no hurried act of theft, but the careful actions of someone leaving a trail of breadcrumbs for the disciples to find and follow. And John walks down the path in his mind, putting the pieces together, and believes. This is the resurrection Jesus spoke of; this is what the prophets meant. This Jesus Resurrection is true.
For us to be Easter people means that more than the day of celebration, it is the resurrection that is true. More than calendar observances, it is the daily realization that the very power of God, which raised Jesus from the dead, is also the very same power, which flows in and through us as followers of the Risen Lord. If you would like to know more about “Resurrection Joy” please join us in our worship on Sunday at 11:00 AM.
May the peace and grace of our resurrected Lord Jesus Christ be with you all!
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
April 13, 2025. INTO JERUSALEM
Dear Sisters and Brothers I believe generally human life demands a leader to be in control. Every person and every group of persons needs someone in charge. A country needs a king or a prime minister or a president. An athletic team must have a captain; an army needs a general; a ship needs a captain; a business needs a manager. Church needs a pastor. Every person needs someone in charge, someone to look up to for guidance. Without a King-God, people are confused and disorientated. Without a king, everyone does as he or she pleases. Pluralism takes over because there is no one right way to be a leader, this problem prevails in our society today.
A recent poll indicates that only thirteen percent of Christians would risk their lives for their religion. Many of us lack a king in our lives. Our gospel text St. Luke 19: 28-40, in verse 38 we read “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest heaven!” This verse tells us that our king is coming to us. As Christians we believe that the king has already come by the birth of Jesus". We can remember and recollect that during the birth of Jesus the Wise men who came from the East were asking as we read in St. Matthew 2:2 " Where is he who has been born king of Jews? Yes, Jesus has, but he needs to come to each generation. The big question is whether we in the world will receive him as our king. Our gospel text shows us Jesus is a king worth having in our life.
My first thought for this Palm Sunday is Jesus Christ is a winning King: Jesus Christ is a king worth having because he is a true king who always wins. In Zephaniah 9: 9 we read "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on an ass, on a colt the foal of an ass". Jesus is a victorious king. Because of his divine power over nature, he overcame the forces of nature: Water was turned into wine, a storm at sea was quieted with a command, people blind from birth were given sight, and incurable leprosy was healed. Jesus was a victorious king in a way far greater than power over natural forces. Jesus had a victory over the spiritual world.
Jesus’ love conquered hatred when in his dying hour he prayed, "Father, forgive them ..." When Jesus suffered, he was the victor by his patience. He was mocked, ridiculed, falsely accused, spit upon, and tortured with a scourge. Yet Jesus opened not his mouth to protest or complain. His spirit overcame the flesh. His greatest victory was his resurrection. Sin was defeated, Satan was put to rout, and death was swallowed up. There could be no greater conqueror than him. No other had ever defeated death, man’s last and greatest enemy.
When Christ is our king, we as his subjects share the victory. His conquest becomes ours by the same spirit. Nothing - no suffering nor adversity - can get us down permanently. Being on Christ’s side, we live on the winning side of life. As Christians, we also conquer sin. Jesus broke the power of sin for us. It is not that we as Christians do not sin. Everyone knows for a fact that daily we sin in thought, word, and deed. Because of Christ’s victory on the cross, we have victory over sin in that we will not be condemned for our sins. Christ has paid the price of our sins.
In like manner, we are victors over our death. Of course, it is not a victory over physical death, for it is appointed for every person to die. The death we have conquered in Christ is death as separation from God. By his sacrifice, Christ has reconciled us to God, and Paul says nothing can ever separate us from the love of God. Death, then, has no hold on us. For Christians death has no sting for us and fear of death is non-existent. Thanks be to God for the victory we have in Christ. Please join us to worship during Holy Week.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
Cell: 917-743-1574
Dear Sisters and Brothers I believe generally human life demands a leader to be in control. Every person and every group of persons needs someone in charge. A country needs a king or a prime minister or a president. An athletic team must have a captain; an army needs a general; a ship needs a captain; a business needs a manager. Church needs a pastor. Every person needs someone in charge, someone to look up to for guidance. Without a King-God, people are confused and disorientated. Without a king, everyone does as he or she pleases. Pluralism takes over because there is no one right way to be a leader, this problem prevails in our society today.
A recent poll indicates that only thirteen percent of Christians would risk their lives for their religion. Many of us lack a king in our lives. Our gospel text St. Luke 19: 28-40, in verse 38 we read “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest heaven!” This verse tells us that our king is coming to us. As Christians we believe that the king has already come by the birth of Jesus". We can remember and recollect that during the birth of Jesus the Wise men who came from the East were asking as we read in St. Matthew 2:2 " Where is he who has been born king of Jews? Yes, Jesus has, but he needs to come to each generation. The big question is whether we in the world will receive him as our king. Our gospel text shows us Jesus is a king worth having in our life.
My first thought for this Palm Sunday is Jesus Christ is a winning King: Jesus Christ is a king worth having because he is a true king who always wins. In Zephaniah 9: 9 we read "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on an ass, on a colt the foal of an ass". Jesus is a victorious king. Because of his divine power over nature, he overcame the forces of nature: Water was turned into wine, a storm at sea was quieted with a command, people blind from birth were given sight, and incurable leprosy was healed. Jesus was a victorious king in a way far greater than power over natural forces. Jesus had a victory over the spiritual world.
Jesus’ love conquered hatred when in his dying hour he prayed, "Father, forgive them ..." When Jesus suffered, he was the victor by his patience. He was mocked, ridiculed, falsely accused, spit upon, and tortured with a scourge. Yet Jesus opened not his mouth to protest or complain. His spirit overcame the flesh. His greatest victory was his resurrection. Sin was defeated, Satan was put to rout, and death was swallowed up. There could be no greater conqueror than him. No other had ever defeated death, man’s last and greatest enemy.
When Christ is our king, we as his subjects share the victory. His conquest becomes ours by the same spirit. Nothing - no suffering nor adversity - can get us down permanently. Being on Christ’s side, we live on the winning side of life. As Christians, we also conquer sin. Jesus broke the power of sin for us. It is not that we as Christians do not sin. Everyone knows for a fact that daily we sin in thought, word, and deed. Because of Christ’s victory on the cross, we have victory over sin in that we will not be condemned for our sins. Christ has paid the price of our sins.
In like manner, we are victors over our death. Of course, it is not a victory over physical death, for it is appointed for every person to die. The death we have conquered in Christ is death as separation from God. By his sacrifice, Christ has reconciled us to God, and Paul says nothing can ever separate us from the love of God. Death, then, has no hold on us. For Christians death has no sting for us and fear of death is non-existent. Thanks be to God for the victory we have in Christ. Please join us to worship during Holy Week.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
Cell: 917-743-1574
April 6, 2025. SOMETHING NEW
Our gospel story for this Sunday is from gospel of St. John 12: 1-8, is located within the context of a transition in John’s gospel. Whereas the first 11 chapters of the book are concerned with Jesus' ministry for a span of about three years. From chapter 12 onwards, roughly the second half of John's gospel is focused on the last days of Jesus’ life.
More than any other Gospel, John’s account takes us into the intimate setting of Jesus’ final interactions with his disciples. This is particularly a suitable Scripture lesson for the Lent. We, just as Jesus’ first disciples, are trying to understand what it means to worship a Lord who has set his mind on death and rising from the grave. To understand the significance of the account of the gospel passage we need to know some back-story.
John reminds us that Lazarus was the one whom Jesus had raised from the dead. If you are familiar with chapter 11, you know that Lazarus had fallen ill with a mortal sickness. Lazarus sisters Martha and Mary had summoned Jesus to come heal him. When Jesus arrived Lazarus had already been dead for four days. Despite Martha’s apprehensions, Jesus commanded the rock that sealed Lazarus’ tomb to be moved. Then, in order to demonstrate that he was the Christ, he called Lazarus back to life and asked the onlookers to untie Lazarus from his burial clothes which signifies humanity being involved in the recreation of life by God. Then Lazarus reunited with his family.
The day Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead marks the transition in the gospel that I mentioned at the beginning. For some who witnessed the miracle it was an occasion for new belief in Jesus. For the chief priests and Pharisees it was a driving force for devising a conspiracy to put Jesus to death, lest, in their words, chapter 11:48 “everybody would believe in him and bring the Romans down upon us and ruin our nation.” On the same day in Bethany is Jesus’ last evening before entering Jerusalem and submitting himself to their lethal plans? And it is Mary who provides the occasion for the shift from celebration to deathly anticipation.
Mary took a bottle of perfume, about the size of a twelve-ounce bottle, which was worth a year’s wages – 300 denarii for them, and poured it all over Jesus’ feet. We are fascinated by large sums of money; we are with it because of the potential that it represents. Recently my wife Vatsala has visited some stores in Manhattan and on her return she had one very small sample bottle of perfume, which will cost minimum $500.00 for eight ounces. Certainly it is a one year salary in Asian countries. Mary felt her precious perfume was meant to be on Jesus’ feet. Mary poured it out on Jesus' feet. Judas raises the question, as we read in verses 4 & 5 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was to betray him), said, "Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?" We can be quick to dismiss Judas’ words simply because John has already incriminated him as the one who will betray Jesus, and because none of us have inherited greed as a virtue.
The fact of the matter is that we do not know why Mary anointed Jesus’ feet the way she did. Perhaps it was gratitude for returning her brother to life. Maybe it was sheer adoration. She never explains herself; she never says a word in the whole story. If you think about it, there is probably nothing she could have said that would have justified her before Judas’ critique. Christ had consistently demonstrated to them his preference for the poor, the outcast and the marginalized.
So, it is very much a surprise that it is Jesus who defends her. Jesus defends her by assigning a meaning to her action that transcends whatever significance Mary considered it to have. In effect Jesus says, “Before a body is buried it is prepared with perfume. Just as Lazarus was dead only a few days ago, so I will be dead only a few days hence. Mary has observed our custom, it is permissible.” Mary gave the devotion, Jesus gave the meaning.
As Christians we are called to give our devotion. That is what we are doing now, by gathering together for worship. We give our devotion when we partake together of the Lord’s Supper, when we baptize a child, when we tithe, pray, study and perform services in our community. These are the nuts and bolts of spiritual life. Let’s be honest, it is work, to do these things. It is not easy to discipline oneself to attend church consistently. It is tiring to work on a ministry committee. And it is scary to make a financial commitment like tithing. If you would like to know more please worship with us on Sunday at 11:00 AM.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
Our gospel story for this Sunday is from gospel of St. John 12: 1-8, is located within the context of a transition in John’s gospel. Whereas the first 11 chapters of the book are concerned with Jesus' ministry for a span of about three years. From chapter 12 onwards, roughly the second half of John's gospel is focused on the last days of Jesus’ life.
More than any other Gospel, John’s account takes us into the intimate setting of Jesus’ final interactions with his disciples. This is particularly a suitable Scripture lesson for the Lent. We, just as Jesus’ first disciples, are trying to understand what it means to worship a Lord who has set his mind on death and rising from the grave. To understand the significance of the account of the gospel passage we need to know some back-story.
John reminds us that Lazarus was the one whom Jesus had raised from the dead. If you are familiar with chapter 11, you know that Lazarus had fallen ill with a mortal sickness. Lazarus sisters Martha and Mary had summoned Jesus to come heal him. When Jesus arrived Lazarus had already been dead for four days. Despite Martha’s apprehensions, Jesus commanded the rock that sealed Lazarus’ tomb to be moved. Then, in order to demonstrate that he was the Christ, he called Lazarus back to life and asked the onlookers to untie Lazarus from his burial clothes which signifies humanity being involved in the recreation of life by God. Then Lazarus reunited with his family.
The day Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead marks the transition in the gospel that I mentioned at the beginning. For some who witnessed the miracle it was an occasion for new belief in Jesus. For the chief priests and Pharisees it was a driving force for devising a conspiracy to put Jesus to death, lest, in their words, chapter 11:48 “everybody would believe in him and bring the Romans down upon us and ruin our nation.” On the same day in Bethany is Jesus’ last evening before entering Jerusalem and submitting himself to their lethal plans? And it is Mary who provides the occasion for the shift from celebration to deathly anticipation.
Mary took a bottle of perfume, about the size of a twelve-ounce bottle, which was worth a year’s wages – 300 denarii for them, and poured it all over Jesus’ feet. We are fascinated by large sums of money; we are with it because of the potential that it represents. Recently my wife Vatsala has visited some stores in Manhattan and on her return she had one very small sample bottle of perfume, which will cost minimum $500.00 for eight ounces. Certainly it is a one year salary in Asian countries. Mary felt her precious perfume was meant to be on Jesus’ feet. Mary poured it out on Jesus' feet. Judas raises the question, as we read in verses 4 & 5 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was to betray him), said, "Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?" We can be quick to dismiss Judas’ words simply because John has already incriminated him as the one who will betray Jesus, and because none of us have inherited greed as a virtue.
The fact of the matter is that we do not know why Mary anointed Jesus’ feet the way she did. Perhaps it was gratitude for returning her brother to life. Maybe it was sheer adoration. She never explains herself; she never says a word in the whole story. If you think about it, there is probably nothing she could have said that would have justified her before Judas’ critique. Christ had consistently demonstrated to them his preference for the poor, the outcast and the marginalized.
So, it is very much a surprise that it is Jesus who defends her. Jesus defends her by assigning a meaning to her action that transcends whatever significance Mary considered it to have. In effect Jesus says, “Before a body is buried it is prepared with perfume. Just as Lazarus was dead only a few days ago, so I will be dead only a few days hence. Mary has observed our custom, it is permissible.” Mary gave the devotion, Jesus gave the meaning.
As Christians we are called to give our devotion. That is what we are doing now, by gathering together for worship. We give our devotion when we partake together of the Lord’s Supper, when we baptize a child, when we tithe, pray, study and perform services in our community. These are the nuts and bolts of spiritual life. Let’s be honest, it is work, to do these things. It is not easy to discipline oneself to attend church consistently. It is tiring to work on a ministry committee. And it is scary to make a financial commitment like tithing. If you would like to know more please worship with us on Sunday at 11:00 AM.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
March 30, 2025. EMBRACING LOVE
The gospel reading for this Sunday is taken from St. Luke 15:1-3,11-32, in which we read about the parable of the prodigal son and this parable has three main characters. The father, the older son and the younger son. First, let us look at the father in this story and his rebounding love. The father represents God, our heavenly Father. The Father gives us the freedom to do what we like. The father God is compassionate but not controlling.
In this story when the youngest son approaches the father asking for his portion of the wealth, the father does not stop the son from taking advantage of him. He does not try to keep him from leaving home, nor do anything that would harm the younger son’s ambitions and desires. The father allows the son to do what he wants to do. When the younger son asks for the estate to be settled before the father’s death, which is a great insult to the family in the Jewish culture; the father says nothing. He gives him what would have eventually come to him in the estate.
God gives us such freedom in life. We can choose to live with Him and love him or go on in our own way to love and live as we like. The Bible tells us Adam and Eve were given by God the same freedom. God does not step in and stop us from doing what is wrong. We hear people say, “Why can’t God do something about the evil in the world? Why can’t He stop people from hurting other people or doing evil things?” But God has given us the awesome gift of free will. If He interfered in any way, it would no longer be free will. And we would no longer be human but puppets. Sometimes, we would like God to be more controlling when people do the right things and stop them from doing wrong things.
But when we want to do something we like, we do not want anyone, including God, to control us. We want freedom. The Father knows that the moment He forces us to do something, it won’t be from a willing heart and therefore it means nothing. If obedience is something that happens because we are forced, then it is pointless. If we do God’s will willingly from the heart, this gives Him great pleasure and God is happy. The father in this story did not want his son to stay home if the son did not want to stay.
And the father certainly did not want his son to be there just waiting for him to die so that he could get his hands on the inheritance, but the father let him go. The father did not give in out of weakness, but he was not being a permissive parent. The father was giving the son what the son wanted with the hope that someday the son would learn that it was a bad choice.
The son must learn some things on his own. Only if he saw the emptiness of living away from the father, would he want to return to the father willingly. Only if he experienced what it was like to be away from the father’s love, then would he long to return to that love. When we read the whole story, we can see that the younger boy is foolish. We should remember if we are away from the father, we are lost without a guide, we are exposed to harm without any protection. That is what the young son found out.
In the story, the father does not go to the distant country in search of his son. He will not rescue him against his will. He will let him go until the son has discovered for himself that the world is not the great and wonderful place it seemed to be. But the father is always open, and the father is longing for his son to return. It is obvious that he loves his son, and he has been looking out for him. Every day he checks the horizon for some sign that his son is on his way back home. And when his son’s shadow finally does appear in the distance, the father recognizes it immediately and runs towards him. The father can hardly wait to throw his arms around him. There is not the slightest hint of a lecture or ridicule from the Father. The father showed the son the Embracing Love, if you would like to learn more about the love of God the Father, please join us in our worship on Sunday at 11:00 AM.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
The gospel reading for this Sunday is taken from St. Luke 15:1-3,11-32, in which we read about the parable of the prodigal son and this parable has three main characters. The father, the older son and the younger son. First, let us look at the father in this story and his rebounding love. The father represents God, our heavenly Father. The Father gives us the freedom to do what we like. The father God is compassionate but not controlling.
In this story when the youngest son approaches the father asking for his portion of the wealth, the father does not stop the son from taking advantage of him. He does not try to keep him from leaving home, nor do anything that would harm the younger son’s ambitions and desires. The father allows the son to do what he wants to do. When the younger son asks for the estate to be settled before the father’s death, which is a great insult to the family in the Jewish culture; the father says nothing. He gives him what would have eventually come to him in the estate.
God gives us such freedom in life. We can choose to live with Him and love him or go on in our own way to love and live as we like. The Bible tells us Adam and Eve were given by God the same freedom. God does not step in and stop us from doing what is wrong. We hear people say, “Why can’t God do something about the evil in the world? Why can’t He stop people from hurting other people or doing evil things?” But God has given us the awesome gift of free will. If He interfered in any way, it would no longer be free will. And we would no longer be human but puppets. Sometimes, we would like God to be more controlling when people do the right things and stop them from doing wrong things.
But when we want to do something we like, we do not want anyone, including God, to control us. We want freedom. The Father knows that the moment He forces us to do something, it won’t be from a willing heart and therefore it means nothing. If obedience is something that happens because we are forced, then it is pointless. If we do God’s will willingly from the heart, this gives Him great pleasure and God is happy. The father in this story did not want his son to stay home if the son did not want to stay.
And the father certainly did not want his son to be there just waiting for him to die so that he could get his hands on the inheritance, but the father let him go. The father did not give in out of weakness, but he was not being a permissive parent. The father was giving the son what the son wanted with the hope that someday the son would learn that it was a bad choice.
The son must learn some things on his own. Only if he saw the emptiness of living away from the father, would he want to return to the father willingly. Only if he experienced what it was like to be away from the father’s love, then would he long to return to that love. When we read the whole story, we can see that the younger boy is foolish. We should remember if we are away from the father, we are lost without a guide, we are exposed to harm without any protection. That is what the young son found out.
In the story, the father does not go to the distant country in search of his son. He will not rescue him against his will. He will let him go until the son has discovered for himself that the world is not the great and wonderful place it seemed to be. But the father is always open, and the father is longing for his son to return. It is obvious that he loves his son, and he has been looking out for him. Every day he checks the horizon for some sign that his son is on his way back home. And when his son’s shadow finally does appear in the distance, the father recognizes it immediately and runs towards him. The father can hardly wait to throw his arms around him. There is not the slightest hint of a lecture or ridicule from the Father. The father showed the son the Embracing Love, if you would like to learn more about the love of God the Father, please join us in our worship on Sunday at 11:00 AM.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
March 23,2025 OPEN INVITATION
The Gospel lesson for this Sunday is taken from St. Luke 13:1-9, wherein we see Jesus is among a group of people, at that time someone comes to Jesus telling him about a horrible event that happened in the temple. This was about a group of Galileans who were murdered by Pilot for not paying taxes. This happened in the temple court, evidently at the time when the sacrifice was being made. Jesus' response as we read in verse 2 “And he answered them, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered thus?”
Jesus responded to them by saying that the judgment is coming. He clearly states that the circumstances, no matter how horrible it was, were not an indication of the righteousness of the people that suffered and died. People of Jesus' time believed that bad things happen to bad people. God knows how we act and when something bad happens and someone is affected. Did God punish them, no? Bad things happen to perfectly good and righteous people all the time. In fact, it seems that this is probably a clear statement that God does not use punishment and tragedy to directly get our attention. God will use those opportunities to raise our awareness and dependence on him.
From verses 6 to 9 Jesus continues with a parable to explain God’s actions. He tells of a vineyard that has a fig tree growing that bears no fruit. Vineyards are for grapes, not for fig trees. So, for the fig tree to have been there in the first place it was probably planted there. In the culture of Jesus day’s people raised fig trees for food. The first three years they were grown in a protected place and then transplanted. The next three years any fruit which might come, that should be given as an offering to God. It was not until the 7th year that you would expect to start personally enjoying fruit from the tree.
In Jesus' parable, probably this would have been the 7th year that the tree has been cared for by gardeners. It has received water and perhaps a little fertilizer. It must have looked healthy, just not producing the expected fruit. Fig trees being in a vineyard were not too uncommon, because they did grow strong, and you could use the branches and the trunk to let the Grape vines grow. The owner wants to cut his losses. Enough was already wasted on this unproductive tree.
When we look at this parable and see who the characters are? God as the vineyard owner, Jesus as the Gardner, humankind or each one of us as the fig tree. A fig tree does not produce grapes, it produces figs, if it is healthy and if it has the right nutrients. The question for us this morning is what kind of fruit we are to bear? If we are in a relationship with the vineyard owner (God), we are expected to do as we are designed for something productive.
You are in God’s vineyard because he wants you to be. And because God wants us to be healthy and grow and bear fruits. God is always willing to offer a grace period. A time when we focus on our roots and get nutrients. Jesus is telling people that they as a nation and as individuals are in the grace period when the Gardner will do everything in His power to help them to bear fruits.
Our God has offered a Gardner Jesus Christ who tends His creations. We are only expected to do what we were created to do. What is our fruit as a church? We wish we knew exactly. What is our fruit? What is God telling you? If you would like to know more about how to bear good fruits, please join us in our worship service at 11:00 A.M on Sunday.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
The Gospel lesson for this Sunday is taken from St. Luke 13:1-9, wherein we see Jesus is among a group of people, at that time someone comes to Jesus telling him about a horrible event that happened in the temple. This was about a group of Galileans who were murdered by Pilot for not paying taxes. This happened in the temple court, evidently at the time when the sacrifice was being made. Jesus' response as we read in verse 2 “And he answered them, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered thus?”
Jesus responded to them by saying that the judgment is coming. He clearly states that the circumstances, no matter how horrible it was, were not an indication of the righteousness of the people that suffered and died. People of Jesus' time believed that bad things happen to bad people. God knows how we act and when something bad happens and someone is affected. Did God punish them, no? Bad things happen to perfectly good and righteous people all the time. In fact, it seems that this is probably a clear statement that God does not use punishment and tragedy to directly get our attention. God will use those opportunities to raise our awareness and dependence on him.
From verses 6 to 9 Jesus continues with a parable to explain God’s actions. He tells of a vineyard that has a fig tree growing that bears no fruit. Vineyards are for grapes, not for fig trees. So, for the fig tree to have been there in the first place it was probably planted there. In the culture of Jesus day’s people raised fig trees for food. The first three years they were grown in a protected place and then transplanted. The next three years any fruit which might come, that should be given as an offering to God. It was not until the 7th year that you would expect to start personally enjoying fruit from the tree.
In Jesus' parable, probably this would have been the 7th year that the tree has been cared for by gardeners. It has received water and perhaps a little fertilizer. It must have looked healthy, just not producing the expected fruit. Fig trees being in a vineyard were not too uncommon, because they did grow strong, and you could use the branches and the trunk to let the Grape vines grow. The owner wants to cut his losses. Enough was already wasted on this unproductive tree.
When we look at this parable and see who the characters are? God as the vineyard owner, Jesus as the Gardner, humankind or each one of us as the fig tree. A fig tree does not produce grapes, it produces figs, if it is healthy and if it has the right nutrients. The question for us this morning is what kind of fruit we are to bear? If we are in a relationship with the vineyard owner (God), we are expected to do as we are designed for something productive.
You are in God’s vineyard because he wants you to be. And because God wants us to be healthy and grow and bear fruits. God is always willing to offer a grace period. A time when we focus on our roots and get nutrients. Jesus is telling people that they as a nation and as individuals are in the grace period when the Gardner will do everything in His power to help them to bear fruits.
Our God has offered a Gardner Jesus Christ who tends His creations. We are only expected to do what we were created to do. What is our fruit as a church? We wish we knew exactly. What is our fruit? What is God telling you? If you would like to know more about how to bear good fruits, please join us in our worship service at 11:00 A.M on Sunday.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
March 9, 2025. WILDERNESS COMPANIONS
Today is the first Sunday of the Lenten Season, a 40-day period, in which we can reflect on our lives and make changes. During the Lenten Season we as Christian’s exam our relationship with God? King David lifestyle and his relationship with God is a right example for us during the Lent. We read in Psalm 40:1-2 “I waited patiently for the Lord, and he heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire, he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.” Daivid also stated in Psalm 103:4,5 “[He] redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and good things.”
The Holy Gospel for this First Sunday in Lent is taken from Luke 9: 28-36, we read about the temptation of Jesus Christ. We do not know precisely how all the three temptations did come to our Lord. However, we do know that our Lord was tempted all through his life. Of all those temptations, the most troublesome ones had to be the kind of temptation he experienced in the very beginning of his ministry.
The very first thing Luke records is that our Lord was involved in this encounter with Satan, because he was Led by the Spirit. The Spirit was the force of God's presence in the lives of heroic people. It was the same Spirit God had conferred upon his creatures at the creation. In the life of Jesus, the Spirit of God was operating with full force and with power as God had intended God's Spirit should have been operative in people.
The second observation Luke mentions is that "the Spirit led Him (Jesus) out into the wilderness." The wilderness recalls that the Children of Israel were in the wilderness. That suggests two different kinds of experiences. On the one hand, the wilderness was the scene of God's revelation to his people. In the wilderness God had made a covenant with his people at Sinai. In this wilderness was the place where God cared for and fed his people with manna.
The wilderness was the land where God forged his people into a strong nation who could go up and take the Promised Land. At the same time, the wilderness was the scene of many open rebellions against God. The wilderness was the arena where one could sense dramatically the presence of both God and Demon. The wilderness was a huge set where the desert storm of the battle of the godly and the demonic could take place. That is precisely why Jesus was driven by the Spirit into the wilderness.
Luke cites the fact that Jesus was in the wilderness "forty days." More than likely, what comes to your mind is the fact that the Children of Israel were in the wilderness forty years. The forty days could, therefore, be reminiscent of those forty years and symbolic of that era of God's grace for God's people. What is probably more significant is the fact that Moses had been in Mount Sinai for forty days. Likewise, Elijah's flight from Jezebel lasted forty days when he went to Mount Horeb. In each of these cases these men of God emerged from their experience and greatly strengthened.
Luke reports quite simply, Jesus "was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by the devil, that there were three major temptations. Having been commissioned by the Heavenly Father for his ministry, Jesus had to determine in what form he would carry out this ministry. Having received the approval of his Father, "This is my beloved Son," Jesus had to contemplate how he could best continue to please his Heavenly Father. It took the full forty days to think through and imagine what kind of entanglements he was likely to face.
In the first temptation, Satan tells Jesus to turn stones to bread. There is nothing wrong with wanting to take care of our hunger. But what Satan was asking Jesus to do was to use divine power to care for his hunger. In the second temptation Satan asks Jesus to worship him. Here Jesus was to turn His back on the Father to worship Satan. Jesus reminds us of the importance of this when He quotes Scripture to Satan saying, "Worship the Lord your God, and serve only Him." The third temptation was for Jesus to throw himself from the highest point of the temple, because God would rescue him. Satan wanted Jesus to test God. Jesus knew that. Each time Satan comes to Jesus with a temptation, Jesus responds by quoting Scripture. If you would like to learn more please join us in our worship service at 11:00 A.M. on Sundays.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
Today is the first Sunday of the Lenten Season, a 40-day period, in which we can reflect on our lives and make changes. During the Lenten Season we as Christian’s exam our relationship with God? King David lifestyle and his relationship with God is a right example for us during the Lent. We read in Psalm 40:1-2 “I waited patiently for the Lord, and he heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire, he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.” Daivid also stated in Psalm 103:4,5 “[He] redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and good things.”
The Holy Gospel for this First Sunday in Lent is taken from Luke 9: 28-36, we read about the temptation of Jesus Christ. We do not know precisely how all the three temptations did come to our Lord. However, we do know that our Lord was tempted all through his life. Of all those temptations, the most troublesome ones had to be the kind of temptation he experienced in the very beginning of his ministry.
The very first thing Luke records is that our Lord was involved in this encounter with Satan, because he was Led by the Spirit. The Spirit was the force of God's presence in the lives of heroic people. It was the same Spirit God had conferred upon his creatures at the creation. In the life of Jesus, the Spirit of God was operating with full force and with power as God had intended God's Spirit should have been operative in people.
The second observation Luke mentions is that "the Spirit led Him (Jesus) out into the wilderness." The wilderness recalls that the Children of Israel were in the wilderness. That suggests two different kinds of experiences. On the one hand, the wilderness was the scene of God's revelation to his people. In the wilderness God had made a covenant with his people at Sinai. In this wilderness was the place where God cared for and fed his people with manna.
The wilderness was the land where God forged his people into a strong nation who could go up and take the Promised Land. At the same time, the wilderness was the scene of many open rebellions against God. The wilderness was the arena where one could sense dramatically the presence of both God and Demon. The wilderness was a huge set where the desert storm of the battle of the godly and the demonic could take place. That is precisely why Jesus was driven by the Spirit into the wilderness.
Luke cites the fact that Jesus was in the wilderness "forty days." More than likely, what comes to your mind is the fact that the Children of Israel were in the wilderness forty years. The forty days could, therefore, be reminiscent of those forty years and symbolic of that era of God's grace for God's people. What is probably more significant is the fact that Moses had been in Mount Sinai for forty days. Likewise, Elijah's flight from Jezebel lasted forty days when he went to Mount Horeb. In each of these cases these men of God emerged from their experience and greatly strengthened.
Luke reports quite simply, Jesus "was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by the devil, that there were three major temptations. Having been commissioned by the Heavenly Father for his ministry, Jesus had to determine in what form he would carry out this ministry. Having received the approval of his Father, "This is my beloved Son," Jesus had to contemplate how he could best continue to please his Heavenly Father. It took the full forty days to think through and imagine what kind of entanglements he was likely to face.
In the first temptation, Satan tells Jesus to turn stones to bread. There is nothing wrong with wanting to take care of our hunger. But what Satan was asking Jesus to do was to use divine power to care for his hunger. In the second temptation Satan asks Jesus to worship him. Here Jesus was to turn His back on the Father to worship Satan. Jesus reminds us of the importance of this when He quotes Scripture to Satan saying, "Worship the Lord your God, and serve only Him." The third temptation was for Jesus to throw himself from the highest point of the temple, because God would rescue him. Satan wanted Jesus to test God. Jesus knew that. Each time Satan comes to Jesus with a temptation, Jesus responds by quoting Scripture. If you would like to learn more please join us in our worship service at 11:00 A.M. on Sundays.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
March 2, 2025. SIGN OF THINGS TO COME
This Sunday is the Transfiguration Sunday - a day that we celebrate and see how God reveals His glory - to the disciples on the Mount of Transfiguration. As we look at this Sunday’s gospel text, St. Luke 9: 28 - 36 and meditate on how God reveals His Glory; it is interesting to note that in the Scriptures we see in many ways God reveals Himself.
In the gospel of St. Matthew, Jesus simply calls this transfiguration as a vision as we read in St. Matthew 17:9 “Tell no one about the vision”. This Transfiguration experience is very important that Mark has put it at the very center of his gospel. Luke tells in a different way that Jesus went to the mountaintop to pray. It follows the high hour and a low hour of Simon Peter in particular. In Luke gospel the transfiguration is the supreme movement of identification, validation, and confirmation of Jesus as Christ. What follows this mountaintop experience is a dark journey for Jesus to Jerusalem and His death.
We are surely intended to see in the transfiguration a prefiguration of Jesus’ resurrection. Mark says clothes were whiter so that anyone on earth could bleach. We also ask why only Moses and Elijah why not Father Abraham or king David? Our future is shaped by our pasts, how memory and hope are inseparable, and how the meaning of tomorrow is best seen against the backdrops of yesterday. Just as our lives are stories, with parts that must remain connected, so also is God’s involvement with the world. It is a story in which the past, present and future are connected. That is why Moses and Elijah appear at the transfiguration.
Judaism has two sources of authority, the Law and the prophets. It was prominent in the Jewish mind that Moses personified the Law and Elijah the prophetic tradition. The vision of Jesus’ glorification in the company of Moses and Elijah was a profound confirmation of his messianic identity and mission. It was also a dramatic expression of the unity and consistency of God’s purpose throughout the history of redemption.
The transfiguration shows us that what God is doing, and what God will do, is of a piece with what God has been doing all along. This is why the Old Testament is so important to our Christian faith. The apostle Paul, for example, did not discover the idea of salvation by grace through faith. He rediscovered it.
Peter James and John, the three disciples apparently closest to Jesus were on the mountaintop. James and John have a smaller part, Peter has an outstanding role. If Moses and Elijah represent God’s word in the past, Peter stands for the future of God’s purpose. We see Peter always majoring in enthusiasm rather than in insight. He was borderline out of control most of the time. Peter suggests pitching three tents as a dwelling place for Moses, Elijah and Jesus. Peter personified the church as Moses and Elijah personified Law and prophets. Jesus has told Peter on this rock I will build the church. Jesus also asks Peter after his resurrection to take care of his sheep.
Transfiguration is the history of redemption compressed into a transcendent and resplendent moment, and it is God’s own unveiling of Jesus, not just as the Messiah but as redemptive history’s being fulfilled. Jesus said it was the time of silence; the disciples were to tell no one about what they had seen. Jesus was following God’s timetable and was not working with a divine sense of timing, which involved mysteries the disciples were not prepared to understand. Jesus probably didn’t want these three to start talking until they had some idea what they were talking about. We are called to be Christ proclaiming church and must look to Christ’s own Spirit for guidance. If you would like to learn more about the love of Jesus Christ, please join us in our worship on Sunday at 11:00 AM.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
Cell: 917-743-1574
This Sunday is the Transfiguration Sunday - a day that we celebrate and see how God reveals His glory - to the disciples on the Mount of Transfiguration. As we look at this Sunday’s gospel text, St. Luke 9: 28 - 36 and meditate on how God reveals His Glory; it is interesting to note that in the Scriptures we see in many ways God reveals Himself.
In the gospel of St. Matthew, Jesus simply calls this transfiguration as a vision as we read in St. Matthew 17:9 “Tell no one about the vision”. This Transfiguration experience is very important that Mark has put it at the very center of his gospel. Luke tells in a different way that Jesus went to the mountaintop to pray. It follows the high hour and a low hour of Simon Peter in particular. In Luke gospel the transfiguration is the supreme movement of identification, validation, and confirmation of Jesus as Christ. What follows this mountaintop experience is a dark journey for Jesus to Jerusalem and His death.
We are surely intended to see in the transfiguration a prefiguration of Jesus’ resurrection. Mark says clothes were whiter so that anyone on earth could bleach. We also ask why only Moses and Elijah why not Father Abraham or king David? Our future is shaped by our pasts, how memory and hope are inseparable, and how the meaning of tomorrow is best seen against the backdrops of yesterday. Just as our lives are stories, with parts that must remain connected, so also is God’s involvement with the world. It is a story in which the past, present and future are connected. That is why Moses and Elijah appear at the transfiguration.
Judaism has two sources of authority, the Law and the prophets. It was prominent in the Jewish mind that Moses personified the Law and Elijah the prophetic tradition. The vision of Jesus’ glorification in the company of Moses and Elijah was a profound confirmation of his messianic identity and mission. It was also a dramatic expression of the unity and consistency of God’s purpose throughout the history of redemption.
The transfiguration shows us that what God is doing, and what God will do, is of a piece with what God has been doing all along. This is why the Old Testament is so important to our Christian faith. The apostle Paul, for example, did not discover the idea of salvation by grace through faith. He rediscovered it.
Peter James and John, the three disciples apparently closest to Jesus were on the mountaintop. James and John have a smaller part, Peter has an outstanding role. If Moses and Elijah represent God’s word in the past, Peter stands for the future of God’s purpose. We see Peter always majoring in enthusiasm rather than in insight. He was borderline out of control most of the time. Peter suggests pitching three tents as a dwelling place for Moses, Elijah and Jesus. Peter personified the church as Moses and Elijah personified Law and prophets. Jesus has told Peter on this rock I will build the church. Jesus also asks Peter after his resurrection to take care of his sheep.
Transfiguration is the history of redemption compressed into a transcendent and resplendent moment, and it is God’s own unveiling of Jesus, not just as the Messiah but as redemptive history’s being fulfilled. Jesus said it was the time of silence; the disciples were to tell no one about what they had seen. Jesus was following God’s timetable and was not working with a divine sense of timing, which involved mysteries the disciples were not prepared to understand. Jesus probably didn’t want these three to start talking until they had some idea what they were talking about. We are called to be Christ proclaiming church and must look to Christ’s own Spirit for guidance. If you would like to learn more about the love of Jesus Christ, please join us in our worship on Sunday at 11:00 AM.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
Cell: 917-743-1574
February 23, 2025. LOVE YOUR ENEMIES
The gospel passage for today is taken from St. Luke 6: 27-38, in which we read Jesus is telling his disciples to love your enemies, bless your enemies, and pray for your enemies. For our meditation I will be focusing on Love, Mercy and Giving. Luke Chapter 6 is some of the difficult chapters to follow, but if we are true followers of Jesus Christ, the teaching in this chapter can be practiced.
My first thought will be to understand how we can show “Love in action”. We read in verses 27 & 28, "But I say to you that hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you”. The truth is that it is impossible to love our enemies. We tend to find satisfaction in hating our enemies and we like to enjoy that hatred, the less likely we are to desire to love our enemies.
As we all know it is impossible for light and darkness to exist together, it is impossible to love those we hate. But all things are possible if we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Jesus tells us the only way to love our enemies is to forgive them. Once we learn to forgive, we can love anyone.
We all know, it was not enough to just say you love someone, Jesus explained to the disciple’s that love is an action. During the time that Jesus taught this lesson to His disciples, the Jewish people were being oppressed by the Romans and therefore they hated them. When Jesus told the people to love their enemies, many could not do it and chose to stop following Him. It is much easier to hate than it is to love. But we must understand that Jesus was not talking about having “affection” for enemies, He was talking about an act of the will.
Please note love is a choice, an act of our will. Just as we can choose to hate, we also make the choice to love, and this is what Jesus was talking about. We cannot simply follow this kind of love; we should make a conscious effort. Loving our enemies means acting in their best interest. While forgiveness is a requirement of God to live obediently for Him in this world. The greater the wound and the pain, the longer it may take to forgive and forget. Yet we do not get tired of carrying this on our back? We do not get weary of stepping around this.
The first step is to ask God to help you have a change of heart toward the person or persons that we conflict with. The person(s) that you need to forgive. Jesus says in Matthew 6:15 “But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
Of all the things Jesus commanded, loving our enemies is perhaps the most difficult. I may not love God like I should, but I am determined to get a handle on it. I may not love my neighbor as I should - but I have nothing against trying. BUT love my enemy? How many of you have had enemies? How many of you would find it difficult to love them?
Of course you have difficulty loving them, they are your enemies! If you could love them, they would not be your enemies anymore, now, would they? They have hurt you. They have spoken out against you. They have threatened your self-worth, your standing in community, your finances, and your job. They have subjected you to mental cruelty and perhaps even caused you bodily harm.
If there is a change of heart in you, forgiveness will begin to freely flow. It is the kind of change that will allow us, through the power of God. I am reminded of the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi: "Lord make us instruments of your peace, where there is hatred, let us sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. All we need to allow and obey God as we need to and let Him have His way in our heart and life today. If you would like to learn more about the love of Jesus Christ, please join us in our worship on Sunday at 11:00 AM.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
Cell: 917-743-1574
February 16, 2025. SURPRISING TEACHING
The gospel lesson for this Sunday is taken from St. Luke 6:17-26. Many theologians debate whether this sermon is another version of the Sermon on the Mount which is recorded in the gospel of St. Matthew chapter 5. We see many common themes in both these gospel passages. If we compare these two sermons of Jesus, the one St. Matthew's account is longer, in detail and on a mountain, which is termed as “Sermon on the Mount”. The sermon recorded by St. Luke is brief and on the plain land, which is called Sermon on the Plain.
This sermon seems to have been delivered in the proximity of Lebanon, as we read in verse 17 “And he came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases;”
The Sermon on the Mount gathered people from Galilee, Judaea, Decapolis and people from the other side of Jordan. So, we can see that we are talking about two different locations and two different groups of people, what is in common is that both Jews as well as Gentiles had come to hear Jesus and to be healed by Him.
Jesus, who had prayed all night on a mountain and had come down to a level place. The text goes on to say that Jesus was healing. He was healing those who were possessed by unclean spirits. The people in the crowd came up and tried to touch Him. When they did touch Him, power was coming out of Him, and they were all healed. Jesus always considered His teaching to be more important than His ministry of healing. He came to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD. We see that the desire to hear Him precedes these miracles of healing an exorcism.
It is interesting to know that this sermon is addressed by Jesus to his disciples and not to the crowd which had come. Many people might have heard the words of Jesus who were not his disciples. This did not concern Jesus, only those who were truly disciples could understand the meaning of the words of Jesus. The same is true today. Many think that they have heard the words of the gospel, but without faith, all those who hear are nothing but words.
People take the words of Jesus in all kinds of ways. To some, Jesus is the ultimate person to establish peace and justice. To others, Jesus is a victim of religious prejudice. To others, Jesus is the supreme liberator who overthrows the rich. The Sermon on the Plain is a favorite of those who seek economic justice. People read the words of Jesus and come up with all kinds of different ideas of what Jesus was about. If they are not disciples of Jesus Christ in the judgment of God and not of man, they do not understand Jesus at all.
Jesus begins with a series of blessings. Luke has only four of them, which is less than the Sermon on the Mount. The Sermon on the Mount begins with the Beatitudes. The first of these blessings is quite like the first beatitude in Matthew. The difference is that Matthew says, “poor in spirit” and Luke simply says, “the poor.” Is Luke talking about the economic poor? Are all poor people going to heaven? Is it a blessing to be impoverished?
In verse 20 we read “And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples and said: “Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God”. So, it seems better to understand that Jesus is referring to our attitudes about wealth and not the wealth itself. It is the love of money that is the root of all evil, not money itself. Hoarding wealth and depending upon it for one’s sense of security rather than the LORD is what is sinful. In the Christian context, physical wealth goes along with spiritual gifts as means by which the Christian church was to care for each other. If you like to learn more about the teaching of Jesus please join us in our Sunday Worship at 11:00 AM.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
Cell: 917-743-1574
The gospel lesson for this Sunday is taken from St. Luke 6:17-26. Many theologians debate whether this sermon is another version of the Sermon on the Mount which is recorded in the gospel of St. Matthew chapter 5. We see many common themes in both these gospel passages. If we compare these two sermons of Jesus, the one St. Matthew's account is longer, in detail and on a mountain, which is termed as “Sermon on the Mount”. The sermon recorded by St. Luke is brief and on the plain land, which is called Sermon on the Plain.
This sermon seems to have been delivered in the proximity of Lebanon, as we read in verse 17 “And he came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases;”
The Sermon on the Mount gathered people from Galilee, Judaea, Decapolis and people from the other side of Jordan. So, we can see that we are talking about two different locations and two different groups of people, what is in common is that both Jews as well as Gentiles had come to hear Jesus and to be healed by Him.
Jesus, who had prayed all night on a mountain and had come down to a level place. The text goes on to say that Jesus was healing. He was healing those who were possessed by unclean spirits. The people in the crowd came up and tried to touch Him. When they did touch Him, power was coming out of Him, and they were all healed. Jesus always considered His teaching to be more important than His ministry of healing. He came to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD. We see that the desire to hear Him precedes these miracles of healing an exorcism.
It is interesting to know that this sermon is addressed by Jesus to his disciples and not to the crowd which had come. Many people might have heard the words of Jesus who were not his disciples. This did not concern Jesus, only those who were truly disciples could understand the meaning of the words of Jesus. The same is true today. Many think that they have heard the words of the gospel, but without faith, all those who hear are nothing but words.
People take the words of Jesus in all kinds of ways. To some, Jesus is the ultimate person to establish peace and justice. To others, Jesus is a victim of religious prejudice. To others, Jesus is the supreme liberator who overthrows the rich. The Sermon on the Plain is a favorite of those who seek economic justice. People read the words of Jesus and come up with all kinds of different ideas of what Jesus was about. If they are not disciples of Jesus Christ in the judgment of God and not of man, they do not understand Jesus at all.
Jesus begins with a series of blessings. Luke has only four of them, which is less than the Sermon on the Mount. The Sermon on the Mount begins with the Beatitudes. The first of these blessings is quite like the first beatitude in Matthew. The difference is that Matthew says, “poor in spirit” and Luke simply says, “the poor.” Is Luke talking about the economic poor? Are all poor people going to heaven? Is it a blessing to be impoverished?
In verse 20 we read “And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples and said: “Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God”. So, it seems better to understand that Jesus is referring to our attitudes about wealth and not the wealth itself. It is the love of money that is the root of all evil, not money itself. Hoarding wealth and depending upon it for one’s sense of security rather than the LORD is what is sinful. In the Christian context, physical wealth goes along with spiritual gifts as means by which the Christian church was to care for each other. If you like to learn more about the teaching of Jesus please join us in our Sunday Worship at 11:00 AM.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
Cell: 917-743-1574
February 9, 2025. SURPRISING CATCH
The gospel passage for this Sunday is taken from St. Luke 5: 1-11. In this passage we see Jesus calling his disciples ordinary people to do the extraordinary work. This is the story of the call of Peter, John and his brother James. Later Peter John and James become Jesus’ inner circle. As we learn from this passage, they were simple fishermen. They were not men of great learning, they were not men of wealth and power, not men of any particular importance as far as the world was concerned, but just simple fishermen.
As we meditate on this passage, I want us to examine Jesus Christ’s invitation to Peter and to the others to follow Him, and especially Peter went through various stages to accept Christ’s invitation. If you are planning to change your career, like Peter, you may find yourself at the end of one of those invitations to follow the Lord Jesus Christ into some deeper place of service.
According to Luke, as Jesus taught the people, they crowded Him to the point where He was teaching from the banks of the Sea of Galilee. The Bible doesn’t say how large this crowd was, but it was large enough to press upon Jesus. As He is teaching, let us see what these fishermen are doing. They were out in the water by the boats washing their nets. They didn’t drop their work and listen to the teaching. They did not put their nets up and thought they could clean them later. They kept on working.
The first thing I wanted to bring to our attention is doubt in the mind of Peter. Jesus decided to teach from the bow of Peter’s boat. Of course, it was no accident that the Lord chose Peter’s boat. If Peter was not that interested in Him then Jesus would come to Peter, see something that Peter did not even see. Putting up his clean nets, he thrusts out so the Lord might continue His teaching.
We read in Verse 4, Jesus saying, “And when he had ceased speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” I like Peter’s response: “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and have not caught anything…” Can you imagine what must have been going through his head? Maybe Peter is thinking “What do you know about fishing? You’re a carpenter!”
Do you honestly think Peter felt any differently? They had been working at it all night. They knew that lake better than anyone and here’s a preacher telling them how to fish, so you can hear the doubt in Peter’s voice when he said, “nevertheless at your word I will let down the net.” “We’ve been working at this all night, but if you say so.”
Listen, this is not just about fish. How many times have we thought we knew better than God? I know it won’t work! Whether it’s marriage, raising kids, finance, work relationships, issues of integrity and honesty or a multitude of other things, we doubt what God says. “You can’t love your enemies! I tried that many times, and I remember every time I just got hurt and worse.” “You can’t just forgive people that hurt you. They will take advantage of you.” “You can’t be honest and make it in business. That’s a good way to starve.”
I know. There are a thousand ways we express our doubt, but just as the Lord engaged Peter that day by entering his boat and stretching him, Jesus is here today trying to engage you as well. Today He says to you, “Launch out into the deep!” And while everything in you wants to say that you have toiled all night and have not been successful yet, why not just say, “nevertheless, at your word I will let down the net?”
The second thing is Belief. When Peter put that net down, he was thinking to himself that he was wasting his time and would rather have been getting rested for the next night, but it wasn’t long before he changed his mind! Whatever he thought about Jesus when they cast off was completely changed now.
We read in verse 6, which is amazing! “And when they had done this, they enclosed a great shoal of fish; and as their nets were breaking (RSV).” They caught so many fish that they got the other boat to come to help them, and then the catch nearly sank both boats! If you like to learn more, please join us in our worship on Sunday at 11:00 AM.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
Cell: 917-743-1574
The gospel passage for this Sunday is taken from St. Luke 5: 1-11. In this passage we see Jesus calling his disciples ordinary people to do the extraordinary work. This is the story of the call of Peter, John and his brother James. Later Peter John and James become Jesus’ inner circle. As we learn from this passage, they were simple fishermen. They were not men of great learning, they were not men of wealth and power, not men of any particular importance as far as the world was concerned, but just simple fishermen.
As we meditate on this passage, I want us to examine Jesus Christ’s invitation to Peter and to the others to follow Him, and especially Peter went through various stages to accept Christ’s invitation. If you are planning to change your career, like Peter, you may find yourself at the end of one of those invitations to follow the Lord Jesus Christ into some deeper place of service.
According to Luke, as Jesus taught the people, they crowded Him to the point where He was teaching from the banks of the Sea of Galilee. The Bible doesn’t say how large this crowd was, but it was large enough to press upon Jesus. As He is teaching, let us see what these fishermen are doing. They were out in the water by the boats washing their nets. They didn’t drop their work and listen to the teaching. They did not put their nets up and thought they could clean them later. They kept on working.
The first thing I wanted to bring to our attention is doubt in the mind of Peter. Jesus decided to teach from the bow of Peter’s boat. Of course, it was no accident that the Lord chose Peter’s boat. If Peter was not that interested in Him then Jesus would come to Peter, see something that Peter did not even see. Putting up his clean nets, he thrusts out so the Lord might continue His teaching.
We read in Verse 4, Jesus saying, “And when he had ceased speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” I like Peter’s response: “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and have not caught anything…” Can you imagine what must have been going through his head? Maybe Peter is thinking “What do you know about fishing? You’re a carpenter!”
Do you honestly think Peter felt any differently? They had been working at it all night. They knew that lake better than anyone and here’s a preacher telling them how to fish, so you can hear the doubt in Peter’s voice when he said, “nevertheless at your word I will let down the net.” “We’ve been working at this all night, but if you say so.”
Listen, this is not just about fish. How many times have we thought we knew better than God? I know it won’t work! Whether it’s marriage, raising kids, finance, work relationships, issues of integrity and honesty or a multitude of other things, we doubt what God says. “You can’t love your enemies! I tried that many times, and I remember every time I just got hurt and worse.” “You can’t just forgive people that hurt you. They will take advantage of you.” “You can’t be honest and make it in business. That’s a good way to starve.”
I know. There are a thousand ways we express our doubt, but just as the Lord engaged Peter that day by entering his boat and stretching him, Jesus is here today trying to engage you as well. Today He says to you, “Launch out into the deep!” And while everything in you wants to say that you have toiled all night and have not been successful yet, why not just say, “nevertheless, at your word I will let down the net?”
The second thing is Belief. When Peter put that net down, he was thinking to himself that he was wasting his time and would rather have been getting rested for the next night, but it wasn’t long before he changed his mind! Whatever he thought about Jesus when they cast off was completely changed now.
We read in verse 6, which is amazing! “And when they had done this, they enclosed a great shoal of fish; and as their nets were breaking (RSV).” They caught so many fish that they got the other boat to come to help them, and then the catch nearly sank both boats! If you like to learn more, please join us in our worship on Sunday at 11:00 AM.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
Cell: 917-743-1574
February 2, 2025. PROPHET ON THE EDGE
Last week’s gospel reading gives us an account of the arrival of Jesus into the Synagogue, he chose his own reading from a passage from Isaiah. We heard that Jesus was basically introducing himself as the long-awaited messiah stating what he was about to do, and his mission. This passage is also called Jesus's “Nazareth Manifesto: Jesus’ Mission Statement”.
The reading for this Sunday is from St. Luke 4:21-30. We will be focusing on Jesus's sermon which proceeded from last week's reading; a sermon not recorded in full, but with just enough to give us an idea, what Jesus was basically saying, is that “He is God’s salvation to the world”. Back then, this is not what the people wanted to hear.
Yes, as we read in St. Luke 4:22 they “all spoke well of Him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth”, at first, but this is not how it ended. Because somewhere in Jesus’s sermon he really annoyed them, to the point where he enraged them fully, and to get people that angry Jesus must have spoken with authority. He must have belittled or humiliated them, and he must have said something that hurt them to the core.
Yes, I am sure Jesus spoke confidently, and I am sure His sermon was good, but I am also sure it was radical, a sermon unlike they had never heard, for some reason, their eyes were suddenly turned to the fact that this was Joseph’s son, the carpenter, the kid they had watched grow up, and now that kid, was a man, and he was telling them, that he was the son of God.
We can imagine how they felt, as they stood there looking at him, seeing nobody special; just a carpenter with his regular appearance, in fact the bible tells us in Isaiah 53, “that Jesus did not have any external features or beauty that would attract or draw people to Him”. So, to them He was simply ordinary.
When Jesus said he was the Messiah, they were all looking at a young man they had known all his life, a man who had no army, nor wealth, instead he had 12 ordinary, probably dirty looking men who followed him. So you cannot blame the people when they began to question Jesus as to who he really was, particularly after he told them that he was going to bring God's salvation to earth, and only through him.
They just could not see how this could be, just like many people today. You see, most people, particularly the shallower ones, (and that is the majority), generally look at the physical, and make judgments based on what they see. Some people can see beyond the physical, and see the soul of a person, you know the intellect, the mind, the will, and the emotions of a person, and then make judgements based on that.
But very few people look at the spiritual side of a person, and see the powerhouse behind them, and that was what Jesus had, that was where his strength lay, why? We all know the answer, Jesus had the Holy Spirit in him, and there is nobody more powerful as I have said a few weeks ago. This is what the crowd did not get; because there was no way the people could see he is the Messiah, or know he is the Messiah but that is God’s plan, to work through the common, ordinary things of life, from which he reveals the spectacular.
God takes pride in working through the ordinary things in life. He does not need great wealth, or a big army, he does not need fame nor presence, and he just knows where to tap the right thing, at the right time, without making a show of it. All God needs are the ordinary people in life, with ordinary things like water, and bread and wine, from which he can do amazingly powerful things, like bringing true forgiveness of sins from which captives can be set free. If you would like to know more about it, please join us in our Sunday worship on Sunday at 11:00 A.M.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
Last week’s gospel reading gives us an account of the arrival of Jesus into the Synagogue, he chose his own reading from a passage from Isaiah. We heard that Jesus was basically introducing himself as the long-awaited messiah stating what he was about to do, and his mission. This passage is also called Jesus's “Nazareth Manifesto: Jesus’ Mission Statement”.
The reading for this Sunday is from St. Luke 4:21-30. We will be focusing on Jesus's sermon which proceeded from last week's reading; a sermon not recorded in full, but with just enough to give us an idea, what Jesus was basically saying, is that “He is God’s salvation to the world”. Back then, this is not what the people wanted to hear.
Yes, as we read in St. Luke 4:22 they “all spoke well of Him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth”, at first, but this is not how it ended. Because somewhere in Jesus’s sermon he really annoyed them, to the point where he enraged them fully, and to get people that angry Jesus must have spoken with authority. He must have belittled or humiliated them, and he must have said something that hurt them to the core.
Yes, I am sure Jesus spoke confidently, and I am sure His sermon was good, but I am also sure it was radical, a sermon unlike they had never heard, for some reason, their eyes were suddenly turned to the fact that this was Joseph’s son, the carpenter, the kid they had watched grow up, and now that kid, was a man, and he was telling them, that he was the son of God.
We can imagine how they felt, as they stood there looking at him, seeing nobody special; just a carpenter with his regular appearance, in fact the bible tells us in Isaiah 53, “that Jesus did not have any external features or beauty that would attract or draw people to Him”. So, to them He was simply ordinary.
When Jesus said he was the Messiah, they were all looking at a young man they had known all his life, a man who had no army, nor wealth, instead he had 12 ordinary, probably dirty looking men who followed him. So you cannot blame the people when they began to question Jesus as to who he really was, particularly after he told them that he was going to bring God's salvation to earth, and only through him.
They just could not see how this could be, just like many people today. You see, most people, particularly the shallower ones, (and that is the majority), generally look at the physical, and make judgments based on what they see. Some people can see beyond the physical, and see the soul of a person, you know the intellect, the mind, the will, and the emotions of a person, and then make judgements based on that.
But very few people look at the spiritual side of a person, and see the powerhouse behind them, and that was what Jesus had, that was where his strength lay, why? We all know the answer, Jesus had the Holy Spirit in him, and there is nobody more powerful as I have said a few weeks ago. This is what the crowd did not get; because there was no way the people could see he is the Messiah, or know he is the Messiah but that is God’s plan, to work through the common, ordinary things of life, from which he reveals the spectacular.
God takes pride in working through the ordinary things in life. He does not need great wealth, or a big army, he does not need fame nor presence, and he just knows where to tap the right thing, at the right time, without making a show of it. All God needs are the ordinary people in life, with ordinary things like water, and bread and wine, from which he can do amazingly powerful things, like bringing true forgiveness of sins from which captives can be set free. If you would like to know more about it, please join us in our Sunday worship on Sunday at 11:00 A.M.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
I January 26, 2025. GOOD NEWS, GOOD WAY
The gospel passage for this Sunday is from St. Luke 4: 21-30, Jesus was in a Synagogue, took the scroll of Isaiah and after reading, he expounded on the passage. This passage is also called Jesus's “Nazareth Manifesto or Jesus’ Mission Statement”. We will be focusing this Sunday on what Jesus was basically saying, “He is God’s salvation to the world”.
We heard that Jesus was basically introducing himself as the long-awaited “Messiah” stating what he was about to do in His ministry and mission. As we read in verse 22 “all spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth”. But this is not how it ended. Because somewhere in Jesus’ sermon he really annoyed them, to the point where he enraged the people in the Synagogue fully, and to get people that angry Jesus must have spoken with authority. He must have belittled or humiliated them, and he must have said something that hurt them to the core.
Yes, I am sure Jesus spoke confidently, and I am sure his sermon was good, but I am also sure it was radical, a sermon unlike they had never heard, for some reason, their eyes were suddenly turned to the fact that this was Joseph’s son, the carpenter, the kid they had watched grow up, and now the same kid, was a man, and he was telling them, that he was the son of God. We can imagine how they felt, as they stood there looking at him, seeing nobody special; just a carpenter with his regular appearance, in fact the Bible tells us in Isaiah 53, “that Jesus did not have any external features or beauty that would attract or draw people to Him”. So, to the on looker on that day, Jesus was simply ordinary.
The second part of Jesus' message is made clear, Jesus reminded the Jews (his audience) that all people on this earth were to receive God’s salvation, note all people, and not just the Jews. Jesus reminded them of the Old Testament stories where Elijah and Elisha brought food and healing to a widow and to a leper, both of whom were not Jews. Now this may sound innocent enough, and shows compassion, but in context, there was a great famine throughout the land of Israel at that time, with many Jewish widows and lepers going hungry and dying. Many Jews saw God was ignoring them and bringing food and healing to the Gentile widow and a Gentile leper.
And the Jews knew this story well, they did not like this story, and Jesus reminded them of this story, because it really hit their nerve; after all, they were God’s chosen people, and not these gentiles who they always looked down on. This story really angered the Jews, in fact it angered them so much that they all drove Jesus out of town to a cliff, where they tried to kill him.
Jesus was saying that God wants salvation for all people, and Jesus wants all people to understand his gospel. I think as we look at this passage and try to see how this passage fits our situation in life. We need to dwell not on the fact that Jesus surprised his synagogue audience with the remarkable statement that he was God’s salvation, but today I think we need to concentrate on what it means that Jesus is our salvation, which is the gospel truth.
The gospel is to be preached to all, so that all can hear the good news; and there is so much more good news in the Bible that we are called to share. If you would like to know more about it, please join us in our Sunday worship at 11:00 AM.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
Cell: 917-743-1574
The gospel passage for this Sunday is from St. Luke 4: 21-30, Jesus was in a Synagogue, took the scroll of Isaiah and after reading, he expounded on the passage. This passage is also called Jesus's “Nazareth Manifesto or Jesus’ Mission Statement”. We will be focusing this Sunday on what Jesus was basically saying, “He is God’s salvation to the world”.
We heard that Jesus was basically introducing himself as the long-awaited “Messiah” stating what he was about to do in His ministry and mission. As we read in verse 22 “all spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth”. But this is not how it ended. Because somewhere in Jesus’ sermon he really annoyed them, to the point where he enraged the people in the Synagogue fully, and to get people that angry Jesus must have spoken with authority. He must have belittled or humiliated them, and he must have said something that hurt them to the core.
Yes, I am sure Jesus spoke confidently, and I am sure his sermon was good, but I am also sure it was radical, a sermon unlike they had never heard, for some reason, their eyes were suddenly turned to the fact that this was Joseph’s son, the carpenter, the kid they had watched grow up, and now the same kid, was a man, and he was telling them, that he was the son of God. We can imagine how they felt, as they stood there looking at him, seeing nobody special; just a carpenter with his regular appearance, in fact the Bible tells us in Isaiah 53, “that Jesus did not have any external features or beauty that would attract or draw people to Him”. So, to the on looker on that day, Jesus was simply ordinary.
The second part of Jesus' message is made clear, Jesus reminded the Jews (his audience) that all people on this earth were to receive God’s salvation, note all people, and not just the Jews. Jesus reminded them of the Old Testament stories where Elijah and Elisha brought food and healing to a widow and to a leper, both of whom were not Jews. Now this may sound innocent enough, and shows compassion, but in context, there was a great famine throughout the land of Israel at that time, with many Jewish widows and lepers going hungry and dying. Many Jews saw God was ignoring them and bringing food and healing to the Gentile widow and a Gentile leper.
And the Jews knew this story well, they did not like this story, and Jesus reminded them of this story, because it really hit their nerve; after all, they were God’s chosen people, and not these gentiles who they always looked down on. This story really angered the Jews, in fact it angered them so much that they all drove Jesus out of town to a cliff, where they tried to kill him.
Jesus was saying that God wants salvation for all people, and Jesus wants all people to understand his gospel. I think as we look at this passage and try to see how this passage fits our situation in life. We need to dwell not on the fact that Jesus surprised his synagogue audience with the remarkable statement that he was God’s salvation, but today I think we need to concentrate on what it means that Jesus is our salvation, which is the gospel truth.
The gospel is to be preached to all, so that all can hear the good news; and there is so much more good news in the Bible that we are called to share. If you would like to know more about it, please join us in our Sunday worship at 11:00 AM.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
Cell: 917-743-1574
January19, 2025. EXTRAVAGANT SIGN
This Sunday’s gospel passage is from St. John 2: 1-11, the story of Jesus turning water into wine is narrated and this is the first recorded miracle Jesus ever performed. If we want to analyze the meaning of a miracle, I believe and think that God, through infinite wisdom, created natural processes. Like a seed grows into a plant, which then bears fruit, which contains seeds, which can then produce another plant. This is considered a ‘natural’ process, and I believe it was instituted by God. By natural I mean that there are certain laws that govern nature that God has set in order.
What are miracles? I believe that a miracle is when God intervenes in the natural process He created and makes something supernatural. This is what is so intriguing to many people about miracles, they cannot be studied because they break scientific laws.
The miracle at Cana is one of my favorites in scripture, not so much because it was Jesus’ first, or that He was ‘keeping the party going’, but because the miracle of turning ordinary water into perfectly fermented wine is a great picture of the many other miracles found within the scriptures.
The miracle first relates to the “Creation miracle”, many scientists contest the story of creation because of the time factor. They argue that it would be impossible for the world to be created in six days because it takes time to form elements and cells and matter
I often use the miracle at Cana to rebut this argument. Does it not take time for wine to age? In fact, the older the wine, the more valuable it is. Jesus took ordinary well water and, in an instant, He produced perfectly aged wine
Coincidentally He also used six clay pots, and there were six creation days. Jesus, who we know according to John’s gospel made all things, proves His power over the natural elements with a simple miracle, which had a profound meaning. I think where scientists fail when looking at the creation story is that they forget that the God of this universe created natural laws and is not bound by them. Jesus, who is God the Son, proved time and time again throughout His ministry, that He was not bound by scientific laws.
God did not have to take ‘time’ to create anything. He spoke all things into existence. First light, then the firmament, then the land, then the herbs and trees, then the sun, moon and stars, fish, and birds, then the cattle, creeping things and beasts
In fact, the only thing God did not ‘speak’ into existence was man. The Word of God declares that man was fashioned from the dust of the ground. Genesis 2:7 “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul” The word ‘formed’ is the same word used in scripture to describe a potter shaping pots. Though God spoke the worlds into existence in an instant – He took the time to fashion man according to His own image.
The miracle at Cana not only represents the creation miracle, but also Christ’s Miracle: Christ used six water pots, which not only parallel for the days of creation. We can take an allegorical look at the water pots and imagine ourselves as being them. Man was created from the dust of the ground, much the same way as the clay pots came into being. Romans 9:21 refers to us as ‘vessels of clay’: “Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?”
Jesus did not change the pots on the outside; He changed what was inside. Jesus took that ordinary water and instantly changed it into the best wine. This is a picture of what Christ does in our lives. He takes ordinary people and gives them a changed life. II Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come (RSV).” Please join us in our worship on Sundays at 11:00 AM.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
This Sunday’s gospel passage is from St. John 2: 1-11, the story of Jesus turning water into wine is narrated and this is the first recorded miracle Jesus ever performed. If we want to analyze the meaning of a miracle, I believe and think that God, through infinite wisdom, created natural processes. Like a seed grows into a plant, which then bears fruit, which contains seeds, which can then produce another plant. This is considered a ‘natural’ process, and I believe it was instituted by God. By natural I mean that there are certain laws that govern nature that God has set in order.
What are miracles? I believe that a miracle is when God intervenes in the natural process He created and makes something supernatural. This is what is so intriguing to many people about miracles, they cannot be studied because they break scientific laws.
The miracle at Cana is one of my favorites in scripture, not so much because it was Jesus’ first, or that He was ‘keeping the party going’, but because the miracle of turning ordinary water into perfectly fermented wine is a great picture of the many other miracles found within the scriptures.
The miracle first relates to the “Creation miracle”, many scientists contest the story of creation because of the time factor. They argue that it would be impossible for the world to be created in six days because it takes time to form elements and cells and matter
I often use the miracle at Cana to rebut this argument. Does it not take time for wine to age? In fact, the older the wine, the more valuable it is. Jesus took ordinary well water and, in an instant, He produced perfectly aged wine
Coincidentally He also used six clay pots, and there were six creation days. Jesus, who we know according to John’s gospel made all things, proves His power over the natural elements with a simple miracle, which had a profound meaning. I think where scientists fail when looking at the creation story is that they forget that the God of this universe created natural laws and is not bound by them. Jesus, who is God the Son, proved time and time again throughout His ministry, that He was not bound by scientific laws.
God did not have to take ‘time’ to create anything. He spoke all things into existence. First light, then the firmament, then the land, then the herbs and trees, then the sun, moon and stars, fish, and birds, then the cattle, creeping things and beasts
In fact, the only thing God did not ‘speak’ into existence was man. The Word of God declares that man was fashioned from the dust of the ground. Genesis 2:7 “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul” The word ‘formed’ is the same word used in scripture to describe a potter shaping pots. Though God spoke the worlds into existence in an instant – He took the time to fashion man according to His own image.
The miracle at Cana not only represents the creation miracle, but also Christ’s Miracle: Christ used six water pots, which not only parallel for the days of creation. We can take an allegorical look at the water pots and imagine ourselves as being them. Man was created from the dust of the ground, much the same way as the clay pots came into being. Romans 9:21 refers to us as ‘vessels of clay’: “Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?”
Jesus did not change the pots on the outside; He changed what was inside. Jesus took that ordinary water and instantly changed it into the best wine. This is a picture of what Christ does in our lives. He takes ordinary people and gives them a changed life. II Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come (RSV).” Please join us in our worship on Sundays at 11:00 AM.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
January 12, 2025. AFFIRMED BY LOVE
Our gospel lesson for this Sunday is from St. Luke 3: 15-17, 21-22, it is the story of Jesus’ baptism. As Jesus used this event to understand his ministry - his mission among us. The first lesson from Isaiah 43: 1-7, and the second reading from Acts 8: 4-17, are a commentary on the life of Jesus as he was seen as the servant of God among the people calling them into righteousness and hope. The Baptism of the Lord reminds us to be faithful to his calling. In Jesus’ ministry, he calls all people into a relationship with him. He calls them as equals into a fellowship of brothers and sisters in Christ, and then asks each one to live responsibly as they seek to love Him and their neighbor.
We are going to see what it means to be in the baptized community of faith, what it means to be brothers and sisters in Christ. As baptized children of God, we can say about ourselves that God has included all people as his children. Each of us are in God’s picture of salvation, not by our merits but by his request, his claiming us in baptism.
After this event, our lives are a response to God’s saving grace in baptism. A response, not an insurance policy. Baptism brings us into God’s picture of salvation, but unlike real paintings, we can take ourselves out of the picture by living a life, which does not respond to God’s act of grace. God brought us into salvation by His power through our baptism. It is a picture of beauty however we can make salvation something less than beautiful if we remove ourselves from it by rejecting God, his word, his supper, his grace by removing ourselves from the community of faith.
Baptism is not an insurance policy to heaven, but baptism is our boarding pass to a lifetime with Jesus. Baptism begins a relationship with Jesus, which is nourished, fed, strengthened, enriched, and kept alive by faithfully availing oneself to God’s means of grace, the word and the sacraments, especially communion. Our journey through life with Jesus needs the encouragement, the strength, and the lasting power of a faithful presence in and with the community of believers.
Along with being included and wanted in God’s family, baptism allows us equal access to God’s grace. The good news of God through Christ, God is no respecter of persons. In God’s eyes all are equal.
Because we are brothers and sisters equally in Christ, as the faithful community of Christ we care, help, pray for, support, those brothers, and sisters in the community as if they are indeed "blood relatives." Also, we pray for, minister to, and evangelize those who are not members of the body so they might know the love and grace we have experienced in Christ. We do not hoard the good news of Christ but give it freely to others.
We are in the Epiphany season where we emphasize the light of Christ, the light, which shines in the darkness. Christ is a light which shines in our individual lives and at the same time a light, which is spread to others. Think about a candle for a moment. A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle. In fact, it gains, because there are now two candles in which to see in the darkness. Instead of one light piercing the darkness, now there are two. Each light gives strength and courage to the other. Each soul, each person in the body of Christ gives strength, courage, faith, and hope, to the others as they walk together in the darkness of this world.
Our light does shine in the darkness of this world. Our baptism which we have seen includes each person and is equally given to us to be responsible to each other as we walk the journey of faith. The body of Christ, the church, the community of faith is God’s gift to us through Baptism. Because it is a gift, we have no right to limit God’s gift, or restrict it, or somehow believe that it is ours. The body of Christ, the church knows no bounds. It is the gift of God to those who have experienced God’s grace in Baptism as our faith and trust in God’s grace might grow and mature. Join us in our worship on Sunday at 11:00 AM.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
Our gospel lesson for this Sunday is from St. Luke 3: 15-17, 21-22, it is the story of Jesus’ baptism. As Jesus used this event to understand his ministry - his mission among us. The first lesson from Isaiah 43: 1-7, and the second reading from Acts 8: 4-17, are a commentary on the life of Jesus as he was seen as the servant of God among the people calling them into righteousness and hope. The Baptism of the Lord reminds us to be faithful to his calling. In Jesus’ ministry, he calls all people into a relationship with him. He calls them as equals into a fellowship of brothers and sisters in Christ, and then asks each one to live responsibly as they seek to love Him and their neighbor.
We are going to see what it means to be in the baptized community of faith, what it means to be brothers and sisters in Christ. As baptized children of God, we can say about ourselves that God has included all people as his children. Each of us are in God’s picture of salvation, not by our merits but by his request, his claiming us in baptism.
After this event, our lives are a response to God’s saving grace in baptism. A response, not an insurance policy. Baptism brings us into God’s picture of salvation, but unlike real paintings, we can take ourselves out of the picture by living a life, which does not respond to God’s act of grace. God brought us into salvation by His power through our baptism. It is a picture of beauty however we can make salvation something less than beautiful if we remove ourselves from it by rejecting God, his word, his supper, his grace by removing ourselves from the community of faith.
Baptism is not an insurance policy to heaven, but baptism is our boarding pass to a lifetime with Jesus. Baptism begins a relationship with Jesus, which is nourished, fed, strengthened, enriched, and kept alive by faithfully availing oneself to God’s means of grace, the word and the sacraments, especially communion. Our journey through life with Jesus needs the encouragement, the strength, and the lasting power of a faithful presence in and with the community of believers.
Along with being included and wanted in God’s family, baptism allows us equal access to God’s grace. The good news of God through Christ, God is no respecter of persons. In God’s eyes all are equal.
Because we are brothers and sisters equally in Christ, as the faithful community of Christ we care, help, pray for, support, those brothers, and sisters in the community as if they are indeed "blood relatives." Also, we pray for, minister to, and evangelize those who are not members of the body so they might know the love and grace we have experienced in Christ. We do not hoard the good news of Christ but give it freely to others.
We are in the Epiphany season where we emphasize the light of Christ, the light, which shines in the darkness. Christ is a light which shines in our individual lives and at the same time a light, which is spread to others. Think about a candle for a moment. A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle. In fact, it gains, because there are now two candles in which to see in the darkness. Instead of one light piercing the darkness, now there are two. Each light gives strength and courage to the other. Each soul, each person in the body of Christ gives strength, courage, faith, and hope, to the others as they walk together in the darkness of this world.
Our light does shine in the darkness of this world. Our baptism which we have seen includes each person and is equally given to us to be responsible to each other as we walk the journey of faith. The body of Christ, the church, the community of faith is God’s gift to us through Baptism. Because it is a gift, we have no right to limit God’s gift, or restrict it, or somehow believe that it is ours. The body of Christ, the church knows no bounds. It is the gift of God to those who have experienced God’s grace in Baptism as our faith and trust in God’s grace might grow and mature. Join us in our worship on Sunday at 11:00 AM.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
West Center Congregational Church
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, NY 10708
January 5, 2025 ANOTHER ROAD
On this Epiphany Sunday, we see the promise fulfilled in the story of the Wise men. The Wise men are our examples of discernment. They believed the promise from Isaiah 60:1"Arise, shine, for your light has come." They saw the star and followed it. They went first to Jerusalem, where they were disappointed. The newborn king was not in the capital city.
Epiphany is the Gentile feast of faith. We celebrate not only the faith of the Gentiles, as symbolized by the Wise men; we also celebrate the mission to the Gentiles. But who are the Gentiles today, now that the church is a Gentile church? The Gentiles are the ones on the outside looking in, the ones who are powerless, the ones who are shunned and scorned. If our light has come, it is a light to be shared, not hidden.
We are to stand in solidarity with people who are poor, powerless, and excluded, to dispel the thick darkness, which covers their lives. We are to fulfill our baptismal promise as we read in Matthews 5:16: "Let your light so shine before others that they may see your good works and glorify your father who is in heaven." Nowhere is the truth of Epiphany more evident than in the Eucharist. We gather around the Lord's Table as members of the same body of Christ, heirs together of the promises of the gospel. We see the faces of our fellow Christians, and we see the light of Christ.
The festival of the Epiphany of Our Lord is a celebration that has reminded Christians since the second century that the light has already reached us. The light has already come in Jesus Christ. His light has vanquished the dark nightmares in our souls. "Arise, shine;" declares Isaiah, "for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you". Nightmares exist. Evil lurks around darkened corners of our lives, "but the Lord will arise upon you and his glory will appear over you". Did you catch the language of both Christmas and Easter here? The Light has come. The Glory of the Lord has risen.
It is no coincidence that early Christians selected this text to be read on Epiphany Day, the day on which the appearance of the Light of Christ is celebrated. The Light, born in Bethlehem, rises and shines brilliantly from the empty tomb outside Jerusalem. Epiphany, the Day of Light, connects birth, passion, and resurrection in the Church year. The Light has reached us. The Light shines in our lives today and everyday.
One of the things I love about Christmas is that it is traditionally a time of celebration. For some reason, at Christmas time, people suddenly start thinking about family and friends and love and peace, about giving and sharing and helping those in need. I am not sure why we wait until December to begin being this way, but that’s the way it is. When you go to the stores and restaurants, it seems that people in general are friendlier and more cheerful. When I think of all of it, I cannot help but wish that people were like that all year round.
The gospel passage we are going to read this Sunday, is a passage of celebration and a passage of worship. We are going to follow the journey of the wise men as they seek this newborn King of the Jews. As we follow them, there are some lessons I think we can learn from their experience, and the result should be the same as theirs.
God will lead those who are truly seeking Christ: The gospel lesson St. Matthews 2: 1, of our text says that there were wise men who had traveled from the east. The word from which we get wise men is the word magi, from which we get the word magician. Most people assume there were three of them, an idea that probably came from the fact that there are only three gifts mentioned, but the fact is that we don’t know how many of these wise men there actually were. There could have been two, a dozen, or several dozen.
These Wise men had come from the east, from the area in or around Babylon, which is present day Iraq. While we do not really know where they got their information, I think it is safe to speculate that they had the writings of Daniel as a guide. Remember that Daniel had been in Babylonian captivity most of his life, first as a servant of the king, but as the Lord blessed and prospered him, he became one of the wise men of Babylon – one of the magi. As Daniel wrote and studied, he left important information that would later, several hundred years later, guide these magi to the King of the Jews! In fact, Daniel’s prophecies practically told them when the Messiah would be born – it just didn’t tell them where. If you like to learn more please join us in our worship on Sundays at 11:00 AM.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
On this Epiphany Sunday, we see the promise fulfilled in the story of the Wise men. The Wise men are our examples of discernment. They believed the promise from Isaiah 60:1"Arise, shine, for your light has come." They saw the star and followed it. They went first to Jerusalem, where they were disappointed. The newborn king was not in the capital city.
Epiphany is the Gentile feast of faith. We celebrate not only the faith of the Gentiles, as symbolized by the Wise men; we also celebrate the mission to the Gentiles. But who are the Gentiles today, now that the church is a Gentile church? The Gentiles are the ones on the outside looking in, the ones who are powerless, the ones who are shunned and scorned. If our light has come, it is a light to be shared, not hidden.
We are to stand in solidarity with people who are poor, powerless, and excluded, to dispel the thick darkness, which covers their lives. We are to fulfill our baptismal promise as we read in Matthews 5:16: "Let your light so shine before others that they may see your good works and glorify your father who is in heaven." Nowhere is the truth of Epiphany more evident than in the Eucharist. We gather around the Lord's Table as members of the same body of Christ, heirs together of the promises of the gospel. We see the faces of our fellow Christians, and we see the light of Christ.
The festival of the Epiphany of Our Lord is a celebration that has reminded Christians since the second century that the light has already reached us. The light has already come in Jesus Christ. His light has vanquished the dark nightmares in our souls. "Arise, shine;" declares Isaiah, "for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you". Nightmares exist. Evil lurks around darkened corners of our lives, "but the Lord will arise upon you and his glory will appear over you". Did you catch the language of both Christmas and Easter here? The Light has come. The Glory of the Lord has risen.
It is no coincidence that early Christians selected this text to be read on Epiphany Day, the day on which the appearance of the Light of Christ is celebrated. The Light, born in Bethlehem, rises and shines brilliantly from the empty tomb outside Jerusalem. Epiphany, the Day of Light, connects birth, passion, and resurrection in the Church year. The Light has reached us. The Light shines in our lives today and everyday.
One of the things I love about Christmas is that it is traditionally a time of celebration. For some reason, at Christmas time, people suddenly start thinking about family and friends and love and peace, about giving and sharing and helping those in need. I am not sure why we wait until December to begin being this way, but that’s the way it is. When you go to the stores and restaurants, it seems that people in general are friendlier and more cheerful. When I think of all of it, I cannot help but wish that people were like that all year round.
The gospel passage we are going to read this Sunday, is a passage of celebration and a passage of worship. We are going to follow the journey of the wise men as they seek this newborn King of the Jews. As we follow them, there are some lessons I think we can learn from their experience, and the result should be the same as theirs.
God will lead those who are truly seeking Christ: The gospel lesson St. Matthews 2: 1, of our text says that there were wise men who had traveled from the east. The word from which we get wise men is the word magi, from which we get the word magician. Most people assume there were three of them, an idea that probably came from the fact that there are only three gifts mentioned, but the fact is that we don’t know how many of these wise men there actually were. There could have been two, a dozen, or several dozen.
These Wise men had come from the east, from the area in or around Babylon, which is present day Iraq. While we do not really know where they got their information, I think it is safe to speculate that they had the writings of Daniel as a guide. Remember that Daniel had been in Babylonian captivity most of his life, first as a servant of the king, but as the Lord blessed and prospered him, he became one of the wise men of Babylon – one of the magi. As Daniel wrote and studied, he left important information that would later, several hundred years later, guide these magi to the King of the Jews! In fact, Daniel’s prophecies practically told them when the Messiah would be born – it just didn’t tell them where. If you like to learn more please join us in our worship on Sundays at 11:00 AM.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister