Merry Christmas

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Sri Ramakrishna and Jesus Christ

 

Mahendranath Gupta (M): " Jesus Christ, too, wept like an ordinary man at

the suffering of His devotees. "

Sri Ramakrishna: " How was that? "

M: " There were two sisters, Mary and Martha. Lazarus was their brother.

All three were devoted to Jesus. Lazarus died. Jesus was on His way to

their house. One of the sisters, Mary, ran out to meet Him. She fell at

His feet and said weeping, 'Lord, if you had been here, my brother would

not have died!' Jesus wept to see her cry. "

" Then Jesus went to the tomb of Lazarus and called him by name.

Immediately Lazarus came back to life and walked out of the tomb. "

Sri Ramakrishna: " But I cannot do those things. "

M: " That is because you don't want to. There are miracles; therefore you

aren't interested in them. These things draw people's attention to their

bodies. Then they do not think of genuine devotion. That is why you

don't perform miracles. But there are many similarities between you and

Jesus Christ. "

Sri Ramakrishna (smiling): " What else? "

M: " You don't ask your devotees to fast or practice other austerities.

You don't prescribe hard and fast rules about food. Christ's disciples

did not observe the Sabbath; so the Pharisees took them to task.

Thereupon Jesus said, 'They have done well to eat. As long as they are

with the bridegroom, they must make merry.' "

Sri Ramakrishna: " What does that mean? "

M: " Christ meant that as long as the disciples live with the Incarnation

of God, they should only make merry. Why should they be sorrowful? But

when He returns to his abode in heaven, then will come the days of their

sorrow and suffering (and austerities). "

Sri Ramakrishna (smiling): " Do you find anything else in me that is

similar to Christ? "

M: " Yes, sir. You say, 'The youngsters are not yet touched by " woman and

gold " ; they will be able to assimilate instructions. It is like keeping

milk in a new pot: the milk may turn sour if it is kept in a pot in

which curd has been made.' Christ also spoke like that. "

Sri Ramakrishna: " What did He say? "

M: " If new wine is kept in an old bottle, the bottle may crack. If an

old cloth is patched with new cloth, the old cloth tears away. "

" Further, you tell us that you and the Mother are one. Likewise, Christ

said: I and My father are one. "

Sri Ramakrishna (smiling): " Anything else? "

M: " You say to us, 'God will surely listen if you call on Him

earnestly.' So also Christ said: Knock and it shall be opened unto you. "

 

>From " The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna " , p 838