Neelakandan treasured the New Testament Bible as a priceless gem, its words gleaming like gold in his hands. In quiet moments, he immersed himself in Matthew’s profound verses, each reading sparking wonder and enthusiasm. Questions swirled within him: Was Jesus divine? Purely human? A rebel? A revolutionary? Perhaps all these woven together? These thoughts thrilled Neelakandan.
Jesus, born to a humble carpenter in Jerusalem, fearlessly challenged the entrenched caste divisions and societal complexities of His time. His bold persona and forthright nature prompted Neelakandan to reflect deeply. He saw a striking parallel: just as the Jews excluded others in the name of religion and fear of God, Travancore’s rulers schemed against the common people, sowing division. This conspiracy became clear to Neelakandan.
Jesus’ teachings resonated deeply, especially words like: “If you have two coats, share with someone who has none; share food with the hungry; whatever you do for the least of these, you do for Me.” These pierced Neelakandan’s heart, stirring his conscience for offering devotion to God while overlooking the hungry. He embraced the noble truth that loving both humanity and God is vital for spiritual fulfillment. He understood that proclaiming faith alone does not open heaven’s gates; actions aligned with God’s will are essential. Only by bearing his burdens and following Jesus’ teachings could Neelakandan find his place in the kingdom of heaven.
Those who wield the Bible for show or indulge in fleeting pleasures hold little significance. True faith is not about causing unrest but rising within the community, standing for the people, and easing their suffering. The path to heaven demands overcoming adversity and enduring hardships for the greater good.
What a profound philosophy! There is no room for pretense or empty displays. Prayer is not a public performance but a heartfelt dialogue with the divine, rooted in dutiful actions and bringing joy by wiping away others’ tears. Was this not the ideal to strive for—to align with Jesus? The thought set Neelakandan’s heart racing. Jesus did not demand endless fasting or prolonged prayers; a single prayer sufficed: “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.”
This prayer, free of greed or pleas for vast wealth, seeks not accumulation but forgiveness—not retribution, but the grace to forgive. As Neelakandan delved deeper into the Bible, he uncovered transformative ideas and seeds of hope capable of igniting revolutions.
In the Jerusalem church, chaos prevailed. Jesus entered to find the temple transformed into a marketplace for Passover offerings, filled with the clamor of bargaining and deceitful sellers. Animals were tethered to pillars, and the scene resembled a battlefield. With commanding authority, Jesus declared, “Do not make My Father’s house a den of thieves,” overturning tables, scattering coins, and driving out merchants and animals. He condemned those selling doves, demanding, “Get these out of here!”
The cheaters challenged Him, asking who He was to act so boldly. Unfazed, Jesus fashioned a whip, cleared the temple courts, and faced their demand for credentials. With fervent conviction, He proclaimed, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”
Neelakandan saw a parallel between this scene and Travancore’s religious practices. Thievery persisted, cloaked as worship, deceiving people and barring the common folk from temples based on caste—a conspiracy to perpetuate poverty and injustice. Reflecting on the scripture, “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” Neelakandan marveled at its divine wisdom.
Inspired, he contemplated following Jesus’ example, wondering why he should not sow seeds of liberation in Travancore and challenge the Namboodiris’ injustices. With his mind alight with these ideas, he sought out De Lannoy.
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