Speech at the Bible Society’s Onam Celebration – 2025
You visit the earth and water it; you greatly enrich it.
The river of God is full of water;
You provide the people with grain, for so You have prepared it.
You water its furrows abundantly, settling its ridges,
softening it with showers and blessing its growth.
You crown the year with Your goodness,
and Your paths overflow with abundance.
The pastures of the wilderness overflow,
the hills are clothed with joy,
the meadows are covered with flocks,
and the valleys are mantled with grain;
they shout for joy and sing.
This is a song written about 3,000 years ago. We have just read it in prose, but it was originally composed as poetry to be sung. The Psalms are, in fact, ancient hymns of praise. When translated into our languages, they became prose, which is the language of thought. But originally, they were songs—the language of the heart and meditation.
This psalm is essentially a harvest song. You may wonder, “How can we call this an Onam song when it was written in Israel 3,000 years ago? Isn’t Onam unique to Kerala?”
The truth is, harvest festivals are not unique to Kerala. They have been celebrated all over the world for thousands of years—probably for the last 10,000 years. In different regions and cultures, the festival has had different names and traditions, but the essence was the same: when people received a good harvest, they celebrated together with feasts, songs, and dances.
In agrarian societies, most people depended on farming. Because of droughts, floods, and natural disasters, they often faced crop failures. So when they received a good harvest, it was seen as both fortune and divine blessing. They expressed their gratitude with celebration and community feasting. Over centuries, these celebrations took on unique names and stories—Diwali, Vishu, Pongal, and Onam in our land.
The Jews also had three great harvest festivals—connected to barley, wheat, and grapes. These were known as Passover, Pentecost, and the Feast of Tabernacles. The psalm we read today was likely sung during one of those joyful harvest gatherings.
The Israelites imagined the world as God’s great farm, with God as the farmer. Rain was seen as God watering His field, and all living beings—humans and animals—were His crops.
But today our world is no longer primarily agricultural. Only a small percentage of people are directly involved in farming. Most are engaged in industry, commerce, education, healthcare, and countless other fields. With modern technology, humanity has achieved the ability to produce enough food for the whole world.
So why should we continue to celebrate harvest festivals like Onam today? Is it just a tradition passed down from our ancestors?
I believe it still carries meaning. Even if we no longer experience harvest in the same way, Onam can be a festival of joy and thanksgiving. Think of the joy when two friends meet after a long time—how much greater is the joy when an entire community gathers together!
We must understand the importance of joy in human life. Food, clothing, and shelter are often described as our basic needs. But even more fundamental is the need for joy. Without joy, life loses meaning, and despair takes over. Despair, in turn, leads people toward self-destruction.
The Bible says:
“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.” (Proverbs 17:22)
The story of the prodigal son illustrates this. When he lost everything and even longed for the pigs’ food, he must have been in deep despair—perhaps even tempted by thoughts of ending his life. But then he realized he could return home, even as a servant. When he met his father again, it was an overwhelming moment of joy.
In our society, suicide is a painful reality. In Kerala alone, statistics say that about 25 people end their lives every day. That should move us deeply. Let us be watchful of our friends and loved ones. Sometimes a simple smile or a word of kindness can lift someone out of despair.
And we must also guard our own hearts. The Apostle Paul reminds us: “Rejoice always.” Joy is not a luxury—it is the very energy of life. Each morning when we rise, let us consciously choose joy. Each night before sleeping, let us ensure our hearts are at peace. As the psalmist says: “My soul, be still before God.” When our restless thoughts quiet down and we simply gaze upon God, joy fills our hearts.
So let this year’s Onam be truly a festival of joy—for you, for your families, and for our entire land.
Happy Onam!
1 comment:
Well said Sir !
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