Puja Sacrifices

A sacrifice is something offered to a higher power in order to appease their anger, receive forgiveness for  sins, incite blessings, etc.  People all over India can be seen worshipping and offering sacrifices to idols at temples and their own homes, especially during this time (Friday is Diwali...festival of lights).  What many people outside India don't know is the cost involved (especially to the poor).

Sophie talked with a woman yesterday who said that the gods she worships are greedy...they demand many sacrifices - oil, incense, foods, flowers...often things poor people must steal in order to sacrifice.  Our night guard will now come from 8:30pm to 8:30am over the next few days in order to watch for thieves who will steal bananas, flowers, and other fruits from our yard.  Even this morning when I returned from walking with Sophie, there were two Nepali women who had buckets of flowers.  I said, "Good morning" and as soon as I passed them I realized they were taking flowers from people's yards (I'm assuming for Puja).

Sophie was able to share with the woman that our god is a Living God and desires our heart, not our physical sacrifices.  At this explanation of the gospel, the woman started to cry and asked Sophie to pray for her, as she would consider this God of mercy who BECAME the one and only sacrifice for us.  Now that is radical.

"For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings." (Hosea 6:6)