During
the time of election, most of us engage ourselves to elect members, both for
state assembly and parliament. These elections are conducted as per the terms
of the respective houses, namely Parliament and State assembly. The different parties, jump into the fray to retain their
seats and acquire more seats with an inclination to form the next government
either at central or at respective states. These elections are the statutory
norms prevailing in our country. The common public expresses their interest and
take part in these elections to vote for their chosen candidates. People gather
to listen to their leaders and appeal them to extend the benefits of various
social welfare schemes and suggest them to incorporate best possible strategies in their
election manifestos so that the selected candidates are in a position to win.
The party members and the functionaries campaign
for their candidates and ensure their victory. In short, it is just not an
equation of politics only and it is pandering to the electorate. With the
advent of religious and the fanaticism
involved therein, and the influence of religious preachers, monks and saints
and when the same are coupled with contemplative prayers and other rituals,
elections assume shade of spirituality also. The poor fraternity can be considered as an epitome of God’s
preferential choice. Our this election can be metaphorically compared to the
election of God also. On God’s election, you have to only serve the privileged
sections of the society and seek His blessings. God’s election in a didactic
metaphor and as per the Biblical explanation, through this type of election,
God is choosing His coworkers. For the purpose of election, God choices and
commissions the youngest, weakest, intelligent and accommodate the people, who
have a strong background with a noteworthy deeds. Biblical heroes Jacob, Joseph
and King David are the youngest and religious minded persons of their
families. Without bothering of the
seniority and hierarchical orders in the family, Joseph is elected as the
governor of Egypt.
The shepherd David is chosen as the king bypassing the real and legitimate
choice of the handsome and beautiful sons of Jesse. God entrusts the
responsibility of choosing a king to Samuel, saying “Do not look at the
appearance or height or stature, for God does not see as men do; they look at the
outward appearance, but God looks within the heart.” We all know how we elect our representatives
or rather force to vote for someone special. If we do not compose the music to
those powerful people’s tunes, the fatal consequences will be thrust upon us;
we all are aware of this fact. But in God’s election, the same is completely
different. In this regard, the story of
most powerful Goliath and little David is to be refreshed once again. Leaving
all the arms and weapons, which were given to David by King Saul, David says,
“I cannot walk with these; for I am not used to them.” When common people like you and me are
bestowed upon with God’s blessings, why they will fear Goliath and this is the
inherent meaning of this preaching. So,
David, like common people challenges
Goliath, “You come with sword and spear; but I come in God’s name,” and smashed
him with a sling and a stone. Like the
heroes of the Bible, there are many women characters also indicated
therein. They are Ruth, Esther, Judith,
and Mary. Our women at earth are the
archetype of these Biblical heroines. They mingle with God mentally to perform
various religious missions. When Ruth
becomes widowed, she did not leave her mother-in-law Judith. In the same way,
when Esther was elected queen out of the Hoi Polloi, she got King Ahasuerus to
save her people. Mary showed her wholehearted devotion to God throughout her
life observing the various ups and downs, including the pathetic crucifixion of
his son Jesus.
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God’s
election was not only limited to the “little ones” individually. But almost all the groups, namely widows,
orphans and aliens were getting special favor from God. Since these sections were without a spouse, parentless and friendless respectively, God
used to show His special mercy to them.
Divine blessings erupt automatically because they were less privileged
and were experiencing lack in their lives. God used to substitute their “lack”
with His love and affection. God used to protect them, guide them, so that
divesting lacking; they can emerge and become victorious. Jesus teaches us that
our salvation depends on our mental frame, attitudinal behavior and response to
God’s children, the poor fraternity. The Hindu religion preachers like Swami
Vivekananda always advocated for the importance of serving poor people. This
extending service with a pure and loving heart to the poor is tantamount to
consider as noble deeds and services to
God and in this way, you can take part in his election. The famous poet Tagore
has written about this service to the poor and the preferential presence of
God, “Here is your footstool and there rest your feet where live the poorest,
the lowliest, and the lost.” Logically,
we take part in the postmortems once the election results are declared and we think,
introspect what went wrong so that we get to defeat. We are also elated to win
and analyze the reasons for our winning sequence. But for all of us, this could be the time to
reflect upon the veracity of truth behind this win or defeat. We must find out the magic of the broom. We,
common people always pass through lacking, but have a longing for more and with
this burden of lack, we continue to survive days after days, months after
months and years after years. When we mentally take part in God’s election means we are reaching out the poor and deprived
sections of the society, we get His blessings and mental satisfaction. In earlier days, our country was dominated by
one party and family. They invariably used to win the election. The sequence
has now changed. Now the election system is on the basis of multi-party systems. People are spontaneously
taking part in the election and express their opinions, as deemed fit to be. But in the election of God, you can only elect
the poor, but weak and the fittest one as God prefers to stay with them all the
time. If you follow this principle in your life, you can choose God and seek
his blessings for ever.
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