'Rukha (Ruca)':
Spirit and Force
Now Jesus, full of the
Holy Spirit (Rukha d'koodsha), returned from the Jordan,
and the Spirit (rukha) carried him away into the
wilderness, forty days,
in order that he might be tempted by the adversary (akilkarsa)...
(Luke 4:1-2a, New Testament translated by Dr. Lamsa)
Then the adversary left him alone;
and behold the angels drew near and ministered unto him.
(Matthew 4:11, New Testament translated by Dr. Lamsa)
Rukha
is an unseen mysterious force from God (Alaha), which
effects results in the nature of things. Rukha has
demonstrative effect in the seen and experienced. While personal
reflections and definitions permeate human understanding, rukha
leads beyond the personal and into the wilderness (madbra)...'an
unprotected state.'
We expect a moral life and
right behavior would protect us, shield us from slander (akilkarsa,
the slanderer) and a wilderness of uncertainty. We would expect the
Creator to block any temptation so we are free to feel faith and share
blessings. Yet, here we have Jesus being led by rukha into madbra. This
is the way of the upright. This is the path of those choosing
rukha.
We may feel a tendency to
complain, to bemoan our struggles. We are left powerless and exposed by
slander and doubt. We are 'carried away' and we find ourselves tempted.
Tempted to choose a materialistic solution, a solution ensconced in the
hurried and glittering world of the cities. We are tempted to seek a
magical solution. We are tempted to harm ourselves.
When we accept the leading of
Rukha and depend upon the strength and direction
Rukha d'koodsha provides we endure the hardships of the
wilderness and the slander of the adversary. And when we have come
through this unprotected state we are visited by the angels, the
spiritual instrumentalities of Alaha. The angels minister to us
and we are prepared to face the life ahead of us. We do not see the
angels without the leading of Rukha. The angels come
following upon our surrender to Rukha d'koodsha's work.
Rukha has carried us to this
place. We grow, develop, mature in the wilderness experience, within the
leading of rukha. When we face uncertainties, when our faith is
challenged, we grow.
Father, lead me by your Rukha
d'koodsha and give me strength to face the uncertainties of life. Be
present with me when I experience an unprotected state. Amen.
Ruca shared a placenta with
Nadia and shared the strength and adversity with Nadia in their journey
into this world. Blindly, we followed the path God had chosen for
us through Rukha d'koodsha awaiting to come out on the other side of our
pregnancy with the angels guiding our children into this world.
Such is the miracle that it was!
