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into the personal space of any individual without their consent
is clearly a case human rights violation. Why and to whom these
invasions occur is also a point of study. Not all are experienced
invasions into their personal spaces. Power of the invader and
the powerlessness of the victim is one reason. Powerless people
are mostly the group vulnerable to such ‘invasions’. In the Indian
context the marginalized groups such as the Dalits, Adivasis and
Tribals experience such violations and attacks. Women are a
majority in this regard; their bodies have been invaded without
their consent for long period of time, be it sexual harassment
or any other form of domestic or public violence by words and
deeds. Jesus at all times was against invading into one’s personal
space. Jesus condemns Peter’s act of cutting Malchus’ ear saying
“put your sword back into its sheath” (John 18:10). Though
Peter’s act was to protect Jesus, Jesus respected the personal
space of those came to grab him and defended for their right.
It’s about keeping a little distance also. A distance that would
help the other to be safe; a distance that would give dignity to
the other; a distance that would allow the other to express what
they wanted to. Let this Lent season help us to ponder on these
aspects of distance. If we are maintaining distances that creates
‘other’ let us be closer, let us feel the uniformity between the ‘I’
and the ‘you’. If we are not respecting each person’s individual
spaces, then let us keep a little distance so that all get their spaces.
May the Lord help us to redirect our thoughts and retrospect
our actions.

Prayer

Dear Lord, help us to identify the various means that
created a distance and the other feeling. Help us to see that all
are united in you and each other. Lord help us also to find those
instances where we disrespected the other person’s spaces. Help
us Lord not to fall into actions thaate ‘other’ and breach one’s
personal space. In Jesus’ name we.

Rev. Jenu John
Madhya Kerala Diocese
80
Lenten Meditations Re - Imaging People