Conflict: Moving towards a solution

                                                                                                >----->Fr. Conrad Saldanha

In the last article, I focused much on the clergy–laity conflict that’s affecting many parishes and Dioceses. There is a leadership crisis; the frustrations are often felt by the laity, because their voices are not heeded by those who rule. In my previous article I have also pointed to some of the evils and the growing trend, in this area of sound doctrine.  The teaching authority of the Church is in crisis and hence the Clergy can no more exercise their leadership in a true Christian spirit.

It is true that one way to move towards a solution is to restore faithfulness to Scripture and tradition. Yet this restoration is not enough if tradition is restricted only to the intellectual sphere. Human confidence is his mind, which is normally set on the flesh and scripture refers to it as carnal and in opposition to God (Rm.8:7).

Today’s trend is, towards a world of knowledge and great emphasis is put on intellectual development.  Self- glory, pride and great accomplishment all attributed to self achievement is the order of the day.  Our education system and formation are oriented in the same direction.

We have begun to believe and that too strongly, that education is the solution to every problem. There are constant self-awareness exercises and programmes conducted by Government, Non-governmental organizations and the Church too has joined the bandwagon. 

Even our seminary formation for priesthood tends strongly in this same direction. The initial emphasis on philosophy and then a comprehensive formula, of including the human sciences, are steps in this direction. Those learning them do not know the significance of it and what role it is supposed to play in their overall formation.  Some even make the seminarians believe that these human sciences are either equal or greater than theology.

Is education a panacea for resolving every human problem?  As we grew up we may have often heard such statements: “You an educated person and behaving like this” or “I gave him a good piece of advice and now he will not behave badly.” Yet, the change in behavior pattern does not take place as intended with this ‘good’ piece of advice.

 In the same vein our world finds it more difficult to accept criminality in educated individuals.  The white collar criminals are treated more humanely than others.

This is written not to undermine the beauty and the great contribution of education, but rather that we may realize the limitations of education, and so do not put an obstacle to other avenues available to us, in the formation of sound character. However this article is written not to offer a perfect solution for character formation, but it definitely aims at an option, which is necessary and primary.  Yet, one must remember, that quite often, character formation in education, is largely accomplished in fear, or hope of rewards, rather than in voluntary acceptance.  I sometimes marvel at the fears that the educated lot manifest and how they sheepishly submit to the carnal desire of self satisfaction.

A correct diagnosis often leads to the right remedy.  Unfortunately, those who are expecting of me a right and perfect solution will stand disappointed. The Christian world view does not offer a perfect solution, in this our lifetime, to a complicated problem called humans.  There are many factors involved, both at the level of the individual and the larger society in they exist.  By offering a perfect solution one could be entering into an ideological arena. There are many in the world and in the church too who are working on this line; because they have failed to understand this reality and to live by the wisdom of the Gospel.  In ideological fashion they are building a kingdom of God; a kingdom of justice, peace and brotherhood. Ultimately ending up as humanistic terrorists, intolerant of the others who oppose their myopic vision of life!

Jesus never offered us a perfect kingdom here on earth nor did he ask his disciples to work for this sort of a kingdom where justice, peace and brotherhood will reign.  “Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division…………….”(Lk. 12: 51-53). If what I write is shocking to you then I am not shocked at this your state. For one often hears it in many sermons and discourses about the need to build a kingdom of justice, peace and brotherhood in ideological zeal.  Does this mean that we work for division? No, rather the truth of the Gospel gains precedence over every human agenda and value. The effect of the transforming power of the Gospel over the individual is such that it creates a situation of divisiveness in society. There are some who will accept it and some who will reject it. Among the some who accept it they will be again some who will accept it whole heartedly and some who will accept it with shallowness of heart. (Sower and the seed: Mt. 13:3ff; Mk.4:3 ff; Lk.8:5ff). Based on this wrong world view some are building kingdoms for God; communities of love by destroying existing communities or suppressing God’s action.  

The greater and eternal good of humanity is in the Gospel. In the immediate vision it may even look bad or evil. We often reject it because our mortal abilities make us see only the immediate good. Our morality and action are based on the immediate good. The principle we live by is this: “the good is the useful”.

What is good is not always good. This requires foresight, and history has shown us that we as humans almost always seek the good that is immediate, even immediate gratification. The immediate good has a long term consequence. For example; the Marxist society was built on a good called equality; a corrupted understanding of the term. But the consequence was this: some became more equal than the others.

Community and unity is not the highest value for Jesus. He is the highest value.  There are some who have made community building and work for unity a priority and in the process have with persecuting zeal, distorted every sound doctrine that concerns Christ and his redeeming action: the reason for Christian unity. Every act of love does not necessarily leads to unity but could be to division. 

The early Christian Community came together on the principle of sharing what they had, with their brothers and sisters in Christ. It was not an imposed action but a voluntary act which was in response to the proclamation of the Gospel of Christ; whereby they became believers first by encounter. Audience which were not, are now made captive through the proclamation of the Gospel and by the action of the Holy Spirit. 

Now this proclamation was not just an intellectual exercise by the Apostles whereby people came together in communities to share. It was an exercise that was soaked in the word and prayer (Acts 6:2-4): an exercise in the power of the Holy Spirit, with signs and wonders.

My experience of learning theology as a layman with theologians, former Rectors and now bishops has only given me a false idea of proclamation.  For them proclamation meant thrusting the message forcibly down some one’s throat. No wonder they have produced some good feminist who are working towards a programme which immediately seems pro-women but is ultimately anti-women.  What community can one be building if their concept of proclamation is not right? What flock will they guide as shepherds?  Pseudo-intellectualism, that is not based on sound theological doctrine but a false concept based on loose sociological principles.  Hence it was a growing trend to send seminarians and even priests for Sociological studies on a priority basis.   Some schooled in it even fooled the masses that the service to which they were called to was social work and this proclamation has always been considered virtuous by the superiors and made them eligible to hold key positions of power by right or through patronage.  If the church has to be guided by these than its future is for all to behold!

The need of the hour is also to understand the difference between teaching (Greek: Didache) and preaching (Proclamation:  Kerygma). The impetus to teaching has always been there, it is the Proclamation element which has been dormant or suppressed and not given its rightful place in the church.  Some have even been fooling the congregation by talking about new and innovative pedagogical methods as having substituted the office of preaching or proclamation.  If the proclamation is understood in its true nature, and due precedence given to it, than it will purify the Church and those who are teachers in the Assembly of God’s holy people.  “for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.”  Matt 7:29. How do our modern day scribes teach?

Remember, what is proclaimed is the good news of Christ and not a dead message. This message is proclaimed in the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit, hence with signs and wonders.  The Church as a whole just can’t hide behind sound doctrine and reject the other element of soundness, i.e. the power of God’s Holy Spirit with us to the end of times. (Mt. 28: 20).  Jesus, when he sends his Apostles, he sends them out to proclaim with power and signs. These signs are signs of the kingdom. It is not just sound character, but is deeds manifest in the power of the Holy Spirit; signs and wonders.

PRAYER: Lord, save your church and bless all those in authority that they may open their eyes to the truth of the Gospel of Christ and proclaim him in the power of God’s Holy Spirit.  May they be servants of the Word, dispensing your word in all its wisdom and power. 

The Clergy-Laity Conflict

                                                                                          >>fr. Conrad Saldanha

The church can never be looked upon as separate from the laity and yet there is almost always a dialectical conflict between the laity and the priests. What constitutes the church is the clergy, religious and laity together.

The possible reasons for such a conflict are:-

The laity seems to have come of age. Thus, we have a laity which is knowledgeable; the feeling being of empowered through learning, some have done some theological courses and also are well equipped with handling the worldly affairs too.

The laity also reasons that the clergy seem to have abused their position and theological learning to subjugate and suppress the lay aspirations.

There are certain laws in the church which in keeping with the circumstance seems to be discriminatory towards the laity. In matters pastoral, the laity have a consultative and not a decision making voice in church affairs.

The priests, as leader of the community are entrusted with the responsibility of animating the community of Christ’s faithful. 

A priest is supposed to be the leader of the community through his ministry as a pastor. He offers the sacrifice of the mass and administers the sacraments, preaches the word and guides the flock. Thus he also makes Christ present to the people. The lay faithful since they belong to the common priesthood can collaborate with the priest but in no way can replace the ordained priest in the functions he undertakes.

To arrive at the possible solution to this conflict we need to understand the nature of the church (ecclesiology). 

The foundational fact: It is true that somebody has to take up leadership in the church of God. From among the first apostles the Lord appointed Peter to lead the community of the inner circle.  The inner circle of apostles is considered as the foundation, the initial stone on which the Church is built. This leads us to the understanding that the Bishops with the Pope as the bishop of Rome are successors of the Apostles. They are the foundation around which the clergy and the entire laity gather as a sign of unity.

Being successors of the apostles they are instruments of service. The higher the office the greater is the responsibility and call to service. The Pope considers himself as the servant of the servants of Christ.  This fact and aspect of service and servant hood is often misunderstood at local levels and thus not put into practice.

The Church primarily serves humanity by the proclamation of that truth that is able to save them. This is the ultimate goal and vision for which the church exists and strives for. It is not an ideology or a mere worldly wisdom which could be based on any human sciences and philosophies but a radical belief in the teaching of Christ: Christ Jesus is the message and there is no other message, not even his values and words have meaning if proclaimed apart from Christ.  The teaching of Christ and his word is still relevant in our time and in our age and is able to lead one into the peace of God’s kingdom. This truth has to be first accepted and believed in order to be effective. It has to be nourished in the crucible of the Christian milieu watered by prayer; a relationship with Christ.  "The priest's relation to the Church is inscribed in the relation which the priest has to Christ, such that the "sacramental representation' to Christ serves as the basis and inspiration for the relation of the priest to the Church" (Apostolic Exhortation, Pastores dabo vobis, 23 Nov. 2001, n. 16)

Some reductionists reduce this message and relegate it to human behavior and witness. ‘Witness by deeds’ is what they proclaim; though this is essential, what we fail to realize is that human beings who see things in limited perspectives need to be enlightened by the light of Christ’s words which is best received through proclamation.  Yet it is never an overnight guarantee that we would become perfect judgers even of the so called good behavior and sound characters of people. History has been witness to peoples and nations who have walked in deception by following leaders who were perceived sometimes even by the majority, to be of sound integrity, yet proved to be quite the contrary. If we have to learn the truth then Jesus teaches us best; “so practice and observe whatever they tell you, but not what they do; for they preach, but do not practice”.  (Matt 23:3) One truth that was evident with the scribes and the Pharisees is this; no matter how badly they behaved they were at least faithful to the law of God in their discourse and Jesus seems to acknowledge that. You compare that with our modern day teachers. They talk about the witness of deeds as primary but they, neither in deed or in word are faithful to the Word of Christ.  In a way Jesus was revealing himself as that perfect leader whom we can and should be following without any hesitation or confusion.     

The situation of the world and solution: A primary service that the Church renders to the world, that is confused and steeped in darkness, is faithful proclamation.  This is manifested through its faithfulness and relationship to the living Word.  It is only Christ the light that dispels the darkness of even the darkest night (cfr. LK. 1:79; Jn. 1:4).  Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."(John 8:12) The apostles of Christ were convinced about it and strove to proclaim Christ as the only light and Savior of the human race. Whereas we would rather meet with people of other religions in the name of dialogue, deceive and lead them further astray by telling them it is only the Protestants who are in the business of proclamation. Shame!

The importance of the Word and one of the reasons for the conviction of the Disciples concerning the necessity of Christ is seen in the Gospel of John. The truth is best brought out in the washing of the feet on Maundy Thursday when Christ washed the feet of his disciples and mandated to them the same: “You also should wash one another’s feet”. This was the symbolic depiction of the cleansing power of the Word of God and the humble cleansing service accomplished by Jesus in his disciples.  “You are already made clean by the word which I have spoken to you”. (John 15:3) Hence, the fraternal correction and the addressing of one another in psalms and hymns and sacred songs are all noble services in the same direction (Eph. 5:19; Col.3:16).  Similarly, the blood of Christ we receive in holy Eucharist is Christ made present to us through the power of his Word proclaimed: Take this….. this is my Body”.  Take this all of you and drink……this is the cup of my blood.  

Are we convinced of the Power of the Word and its relevance in our time? How can we say that, when we hear their (the clergy) worldly wisdom steeped in humanism and modern behavioral and Social Sciences? There was one who even went to the extent to tell me that his Psychology is much more time tested science then Scriptures.  Thanks to his patrons he still continues with his heresies at the seminary.

To explain the relevance of this service, let me relate an incident that took place when I was a regent serving in the Missions. There was a young college going tribal boy whom I had asked to meet me in my office. He did not come to meet me but was expecting me to meet him at the hostel where he was in residence. When I finally did catch up with him at the hostel I immediately asked him why he did not come to see me in my office. He protested by saying; “It is your job to serve us and hence it is you who should be coming to meet me, because you have opted for service”. That sounded wise from a young man influenced in a Marxist milieu. The Marxist and the socialist always sound human and wise but impractical and myopic! After all, by joining the seminary I had made my option to serve.  But the rebelliousness of the young man and his attitude needed correction, lest he carries this flaw through life and so I told him: “You are right in one thing young man, my job is to serve but what you have not realized is this; to teach you what is right and be respectful is part of this service. I suppose this sum up well the whole idea of service; the teaching office of the Church is the primary and the greatest service to mankind. To theologize in a legitimate way and bring forth the truth of the gospel is creative reaching out in the same direction.  So to those in authority I must advice, “don’t make busy bodies of priest’s at the cost of this primary ministry nor train them to be experts at behavioral social sciences at the cost of the Gospel of Christ!”

Today, the church is at the threshold of confusion and disintegration. The gates of hell are at it.  While the truth is suppressed even surreptitiously, many priests, theologians, bishops and cardinals are preaching worldly wisdom and ideologies or encourage the same with benefaction. This is exactly what Mary in her apparition at Fatima had warned.  Pope Paul VI one year before his death had this to say: ‘"There is a great uneasiness, at this time, in the world and in the Church, and that which is in question is the faith. It so happens now that I repeat to myself the obscure phrase of Jesus in the Gospel of St. Luke: 'When the Son of Man returns will He still find faith on earth?'" It so happens that there are books coming out in which the faith is in retreat on some important points, that the episcopates are remaining silent and these books are not looked upon as strange. I sometimes read the Gospel passage of the end times and I attest that, at this time, some signs of the end are emerging. (Pope Paul VI spoke in 1977, one year before his death, and which are recorded in the book, 'The Secret Paul VI' by Jean Guitton."This quote is from page xi of "To the Priests, Our Lady's beloved sons", The Marian Movement of Priests, Fr Stefano Gobbi, 7th Indian edition [Imprimatur by + Donald W. Montrose, Bishop of Stockton]). 

Can you imagine a book full of heresies used as a text book for seminary formation and with a forward by a Bishop? Or so called heretical Bibles with imprimatur's and Nihil Obstat’s by bishops and released by them with great fanfare.  For more than 27 years the heresy of the Small Christian Community has been enforced on the common laity and there is no room for honest feedback or change.  New Age thinking has replaced Christian spirituality, and any objection raised is suppressed. The Centre for community organization (CCO), works with a vision that goes against the very basis of sound ecclesiology, yet it is recommended to be the hub of the Parish decision making body. There are cells and organizations formed and working in our parishes which deviate from sound doctrine. 

From the above one can deduce the reason for the wide and growing conflict in the Catholic Church, since at local levels the Word of Christ has been rejected. The leaders of the community of believers, i.e. the clergy, have no vision because they have rejected the vision of Jesus. “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” (Prov. 29: 18) The very ones who have preached a gospel of rebellion, a social or sugar coated gospel now expect submission from the flock.  How can a person in authority who does not submit to the Word or the Magisterium and teaches other to do the same, now demand submission to them? Though this assertion seems legitimate in keeping with the Word of Christ, which calls for obedience, yet it can never happen because of the seed of rebellion sown in the hearts and mind of the laity, which primarily and much more seriously reigns in the hearts of those who rule.  Allow the truth of the Gospel to animate your life, submit to the magisterium, revive the tradition of sound spirituality and then you will be light of the World and a salt of the earth.  (Mt. 5:13-14). If not then this corruption will be carried forward to other fields of activity too, as is already happening.

The Church belongs neither to the laity nor the clergy but to Christ and each one according to one’s call are stewards of God’s grace. Our positions and power can come from one’s in authority but the real dispenser of the power is Christ himself whom every family on earth must submit.

So who is to be blamed? Can the clergy who once submitted themselves to be formed in the faith be now blamed? Unfortunately, though their training does not make them effective, yet to seek and learn is an option always available to them and more so conscience enjoins upon them to do so. As leaders of the people the responsibility to live by their relationship with Christ and to teach others to do the same belongs primarily to the clergy. If he has not been helped by his formation then they have Christ present with us by the power of his Holy Spirit to guide and teach. This is also enjoined on them through the Church law.  Since the law prevents the Laity and gives the special privilege to preach and teach, though at times the lay man maybe more capable, hence the greater responsibility and burden on the clergy; a responsibility they can’t ignore or take lightly.

Finally, a leader is supposed to be a visionary. Christ mission was to make us leaders with his vision. The Word of God and the countless witness of saints are instruments in that direction. If the priest is trained in theology and has easy access to things spiritual, carries his own vision into ministry, then there is bound to be confusion and anarchy.  The Parish vision mission statements proudly displayed in many of our parishes and officially mandated by those in authority are evidences in these areas; a betrayal of Jesus and his mission. The modern day Judases have sold the church for self aggrandizement and this can only be retrieved when the reign of the Small Christian Community is brought to an end, in its present avatar, as it inches towards the 30 years reign.

Prayer: Lord bless the church and all those in authority that they may act with your wisdom and that we may be truly nourished at your table.  May we grow in that wisdom and grace which leads us to eternity. May we never forget you our Lord and grow in a relationship with you and your saving word. 

THE PRIVILIGE OF BEING A DISCIPLE

   fr. Conrad Saldanha

Easter is also an occasion to rejoice with the newly baptized in Christ. The church rejoices and prays for these newly baptized throughout Easter, especially in the Octave (first eight days). 

Should a non-Christian be encouraged to be baptized in the faith? It is a pertinent reflection because of two reasons.  On the one hand you have non-Christians who have encountered Christ and are living out their faith in Christ Jesus wonderfully without being baptized. They go to church regularly and visit the blessed sacraments, attend prayer and retreat sessions and even keep the holy feasts.  Should this be enough?

On the other hand we have instances of individuals who question the whole doctrine of baptism. Recently, I was told of a situation in one of our populous parishes, where a person approached the Parish Priest in order to receive baptism and of how he was discouraged by the parish priest. These are not new or isolated cases. There are times when one has looked more at the motives rather than using the opportunity to see if they can work on these wrong motives and bring it to conformity; that’s what evangelization is all about.  There has been a case where a particular priest has betrayed his office by baptizing children out of turn, in order that they may be given admission to Catholic schools.  There have been theologians who boast of promoting Gospel values and even making people better in their own religious sphere.

The Archdiocesan Policy on education in the Archdiocese of Bombay has chosen a pseudo-evangelization policy in spite of protest by the then Cardinal Ivan Dias. They opted for a so called proclamation of ‘Gospel Values’ without Christ.  Eyewash! Can Christ be separated from his values? (Read article on this blog site: The great Conversion Debate; 28^th January. 2011, esp. para. 4). There are some who talk of proclamation but only when one listens to them with discerning ears that the deception becomes clear, that the proclamation they talk about is the mere proclamation of gospel values rather than Jesus Christ as the one and only savior.

Though there have been some sections in the church that have been doing a commendable job yet there have been cases where there is a certain compromise while communicating the objective element of the faith. Those who oppose it are often bracketed as fundamentalist.

Recently, I heard that some section of the laity have been demanding that the church should not preach to them the need to evangelize.  They have been talking about maintaining good relationship with their neighbours.  Their demands based on worldly priorities, which they now want to impose on the spiritual minded Christians.  Christian’s yes, but without his mandate!

Is Christ a privilege of the Christians and therefore only their savior?

All can receive from Jesus irrespective of caste, creed, and religion or color, if they are well disposed, but we as Christians, we who are baptized in his name have the advantage of the constant presence of Jesus with us. This presence means encouragement when in pain and despair, and consolation when in sadness and grief.

This is the Easter message, Christ Jesus rose from the dead and now his presence is with us. What is so special about this presence?

It’s a presence, which is the privilege of a disciple. Which means even if the disciple is not praying, nor is faithful to Christ or gone astray, strayed from the straight path and not been true to his calling, yet Christ will be there reaching out to motivate, to strengthen, to encourage, to remind, to convict, to prod like a good shepherd in search of a lost sheep in order to bring them back. (Jn. 10: 1-18)  Whether he succeeds or not is another matter but he will not force us against our will.

In other words, while others may receive by asking or calling upon him, the disciples have his presence in a special way, irrespective. They need not be seeking his presence yet they have it. It’s like having a father by virtue of one being part of the family or better still; it’s like having a teacher by virtue of being part of a school. Otherwise you study on your own.  What a privilege to have God with us, guiding and consoling us in a confusing and painful world.

On our part, what is required of us is a course correction. It’s like a ship on course and realizes a certain danger or lost to its original destination and now realizing its folly seeks that correction which will lead it to its ultimate destination. In the Gospel of John, the post resurrection scene in chapter 21 communicates this truth beautifully. The Apostles who want to go back to their old ways (vs. 3) encounter the risen presence of Jesus in spite of a betrayed action on their part (vs.4-14). They are set on a course correction, especially Peter (15-22). His betraying action is this; he not only betrays the Lord but now he even leads the others astray by his action of going fishing and thus encouraging them too.

In this presence we are not called to pride but rather humbly to seek his purpose and will for us in every presence. I could pride myself for knowing the principal of the school and abuse this privilege or use this privilege to learn the good things from him in personal way. Similarly with Christ’s presence and action in our lives we could pride ourselves and never seek self renewal and transformation. There was a gentleman who once received healing at a retreat centre and from that healing the only message he carried was a message of false justification. He went about telling everyone that it was on account of his righteousness that God had mercy and healed him. You could have Christ’s presence and healing even as a sinful being but this presence and healing is a call for further faith and commitment. A call for a greater responsibility.

All the post resurrection appearances of Jesus reveal this benevolent nature of his love and commitment to his disciples, who are now disoriented, disillusioned, confused, in pain and agony, lost and have even forgotten their original call and some wish to return to their old trade and ways, forgetting Christ and his message totally.  Jesus appearing to them, gently reveals himself, enlightens them, prods them and gives them renewed vision and hopes and encourages them to wait to be empowered by a new presence. He is willing to make use of these sinful instruments provided they are willing to orient themselves to his promptings.

As long as they are his disciples they will benefit much, first by humbly recognizing him and then by recall and repentance, and renewed zeal and strength.

Primarily, all these things could happen to them because they were His disciples. What would happen if Christ makes an appearance or prompts a person who is not his disciple? They would not recognize him at all. They would perhaps not respond the way the disciple would. A true disciple does not even require Christ’s physical presence in order to recognize Him. As he listens, the Word of Jesus burns in his heart, the Eucharist keeps his eyes open and this is enough to send him on a similar mission to make disciples of others.  But to those who are not his disciple these things are meaningless and irrelevant and in extreme circumstances it may be like casting pearls to swine. And there are those pseudo-disciples, baptized as children but never make a renewed response to this constant call. Christ still prods them yet they are as it blinded by the god of this world (2Cor.4:4). For them, these things are only drudgery and a burden. These would find the Word of God, a heavy load on their hearts, and the Eucharist a meaningless ritual and obligation that has to be fulfilled soon, to create feelings of ‘fulfilled obligation.’  There are some in authority who exploit this situation by putting a burning guilt in their heart by accusing them of only praying but not serving.

Yet the warning remains: do not take this privilege for granted. A king’s son can take his privilege for granted and abuse his position only to be dethroned by his father or find his privileges withdrawn by popular demand. He never knows when it could happen but it will. Christ’s faithfulness towards us is constant but yet there are certain actions whereby we break our relationship with Christ; by explicit breaking of God’s first commandment and holding on to unforgiveness and an unbridled life of gratification and debauchery. 

The baptized in Christ are now the privileged members of Christ’s household, and thus his disciples. The more they attune themselves to and respond to each prompting of Christ’s presence, the more they will grow in the grace and privileges of a disciple. Those left out, because of their own foolishness, will only be led to envy and jealousy, and be instruments that seek to persecute the others, all this encouraged by the enemy.

Though the un-baptized could always have Christ’s presence and promptings apart from ritual baptism but the seal of Christ imprinted through baptism on the soul sets one aside from among the people of the world into the household of God (2 Cor 1:22).  A household established and redeemed by the blood of Christ (Eph.1:7). Christ Jesus is the Lord of this household and he holds them as his beloved and seeks them even when lost and brings them back to himself.  On their part they are weak and poor and they know that only Jesus can be their strength at all times. They are always filled with gratitude to God for giving them Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. They rejoice at the Word of Christ with burning hearts, which may even come to them as testimonies of the one’s who have experienced Christ or the glorious fellowship of believers.  Every Eucharistic celebration is a moment for nourishment as they are fed through opened eyes.

Prayer: God our Father, I thank you for sending Jesus your beloved Son to die for us and be with us till the end. May I always seek to know him and his constant presence with me and respond to his many promptings? May Christians all over recognize this presence and respond to it and thus be true disciples of Jesus.  

Osama: the Christian attitude

                                                                      - Fr. Conrad Saldanha

Finally the Americans have caught on with their enemy; Osama bin Laden! The western world is celebrating the nemesis of their foe, the personification of all hatred; that is how the world is made to perceive the man. Has love conquered over hate? Has the battle against evil been won? How Christian is it ultimately to see the death of an enemy?

The Director of the Holy See Press Office, Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J., released the following declaration on the news regarding the death of Osama Bin Laden. The wordings are remarkable and calls on Christian for an appropriate response.

  "Osama Bin Laden, as is known, claimed responsibility for grave acts that spread division and hate among the peoples, manipulating religion to that end. A Christian never takes pleasure from the fact of a man's death, but sees it as an opportunity to reflect on each person's responsibility, before God and humanity, and to hope and commit oneself to seeing that no event becomes another occasion to disseminate hate but rather to foster peace".

In the Old Testament the death of an enemy was often rejoiced upon with great triumph. The Israelites even had a song, an anthem to celebrate the occasion as seen in Exodus chapter 15. So too David’s victory over Goliath the Philistine is celebrated with great pomp and rejoicing (1 Sam. 17-18; 2 Sam.22). The Lord himself promises the Israelites his faithfulness towards them in return for their faithfulness. "But if you hearken attentively to his voice and do all that I say, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries”. Ex 23:22.  God as if going with the judgment of his people; the chosen people have special privilege of God‘s unconditional support. In a way, it was also God’s participation in the human cry for justice, of course under his guidance and protection. Some of these actions in our times could easily come under scrutiny.

This cry for justice arises in the heart of every human being. In real life and even when one watches a movie, where there is justice accomplished, one begins to experience the fire in one’s own heart and is much inspired. The formulae of many action packed movies are based on this innate desire and experience of the human heart. I am sure the so called injustices that irked Osama was based on the inner most cry for justice in his heart too which was heard and still being heard by the many followers of Osama bin Laden all over the Muslim world.

One of the things that bewilders me about the human cry for justice and is a very common factor anywhere in human society is this: The initiator of the first act of injustice could be crying foul when the other reacts, this is followed up by another act and thus the cycle of evil and the feelings of injustices is continually aroused and sometimes leads to damages of huge proportions.

Hence in reality it is not easy to stay unmoved or not rejoice at the downfall of an enemy; it is one thing to make a statement of truth objectively and another thing to live the reality. The existential reality is this: There is a flame of justice burning in the heart of every human being. To those who understand it; a fair judgment on their part is still sown in doubt by those who respect the subjective state of human discernment and in the application of laws by fallible humans. Though there is no perfect justice system and perfect justice cannot be achieved yet there is a certain objectivity we assign to institutions that dispense justice. Yet in the midst of this subjectivity if we give way to this philosophy of subjectivity in the working of the institutions of justice then there can only be chaos and anarchy.  At the same time the making of human law goes by the limitation of our mortal thinking and gathering supportive help in pseudo-cultures, warped religious beliefs, philosophies world views and emotional appeals. There may be a comprehensive debate yet it does not guarantee a perfect law or justice. There are many factors that maybe the reason for such a state.  The human motivation steeped in dishonesty in implementation, wrong judgments, perspectives and world views are all factors for corruption of the processes of law along the way.  In the drafting process of human law there is very little room for emotional attachment or subjective interpretations. Similarly, in the application such actions can lead to unjust situations.  Yet there may be situations where these very factors could trigger the decision making process in judicial or executive activity.

The aim of this article is not aimed at justifying this cry for justice in the hearts of men. This cry is not always based on sound moral principles but is many a time based on fallacy; a narrow world view of self righteous beliefs. Sometimes it could be based on sound justice as per the demands of legality or as per the doctrine of justice but the means used to achieve it could be wrong. The means adopted no way justifies the end. The killing of innocents in order to achieve one’s end does not justify the cause even if it is the noblest cause.  In the Old Testament if you had God on your side you were justified. Similarly, in our time justification seems to be on the side of the mighty and the powerful.  Though there may be some who may look at these things from the side of the oppressed and the weak yet there may be no justification from a Christian point of view. 

The world has its own justice system in place. Yet it cannot achieve perfect justice for the many victims of injustice. One main reason is this; injustice is not measurable or quantifiable easily by any human courts or legal system or human institutions.  There is always a close approximation when justice is done and yet it is still a distant approximation if the overall situation and the emotional make-up of the individual and the upbringing and the causative factors are all taken into account.

In the light of the above it should be clear to us that if Osama has been pursued, killed and justice accomplished then it is purely because of human laws which goes by principle of fairness steeped in limited human reasoning.  These human laws could be the making of a majority yet it can in no way be justifiable.  The greatest limitation and yet a repetitive folly of the human race is this; very rarely we as humans are able to see the long term consequences of those actions in which we see the immediate good.  Why else does history repeat itself, especially its grave folly?

Jesus gives us a different meaning to life and hence his law could be summed-up as a law of love with him as the perfect model of interpretation. This new law is new, may sound impractical and meaningless to humans at times in a world that is torn by strife and rift. It is an act that first begins with a search for freedom and truth in God and hence even one’s cry for justice is subject to God who alone is the arbiter of right justice. This law cannot be imposed on the nations of the earth. It is prone to risk and only a man of faith can live by it. This cry for justice is not like the terrorist’s cry who may have God as the purpose, and perhaps on paper as an all powerful God, who needs to be defended and propagated by force and criminal intimidation by human beings. Looks like, this God of theirs is all powerful and almighty and his power cannot be made visible and tangible apart from me!?!

Sorting out the Osama and Al Qaeda terrorism has no easy solution. The world is at war and perhaps this war will continue. Ultimately, it may even turn out to be a religious war with roots in history and a cry steeped in injustice. Looking into the historical and subsequent evil this may be a prolonged battle in the name of religion between a secular west and the fundamentalist Islam which looks at the secularized west as a Christian entity. Yet the war will go on. For an individual Christian, living the essence of his faith, God as their Savior is the only recourse. He lives his life in close union with him who is able to save him from the snare of the fowler. (2Sam22:6ff; Ps. 91, 23, 34, 38, 69, 116, 124, 140, 141) The boast of dialogue as a means to resolve the issue is steeped in danger. It’s the secular west in dialogue with an ideology that has many and changing voices, but one goal.   Unless you repent you shall all perish likewise (Lk. 13:3-5).  We shall all perish, death is an inevitable reality, yet to perish without Jesus the Savior of mankind is a terrible thing to happen.

In the book of Habakkuk we are given an instruction and learn about the kind of attitude to maintain, let it be our meditation and prayer:   

I hear, and my body trembles,

   my lips quiver at the sound;

   rottenness enters into my bones,

   my steps totter beneath me.

I will quietly wait for the day of trouble

   to come upon people who invade us.

Though the fig tree do not blossom,

   nor fruit be on the vines,

   the produce of the olive fail

   and the fields yield no food,

   the flock be cut off from the fold

   and there be no herd in the stalls,

 yet I will rejoice in the Lord,

   I will joy in the God of my salvation.

 God, the Lord, is my strength;

   he makes my feet like hinds' feet,

   he makes me tread upon my high places     …………. Hab 3:16-19 (RSV).

DIVINE MERCY: The Supreme Devotion.

                                                            --Fr. Conrad Saldanha

Oh no, one more devotion to the list! Are the Catholics to be pitied for the addition of another devotion to the long list of devotions they may have?  We have the various devotions to Our Lady, and then we have the devotion to the Saints, we have devotion to the Blood of Christ, the wounds of Christ and the popular Sacred Heart of Jesus.  The list seems to be endless and there is a constant addition of devotions to the Catholic repertory.   Yet the devotion to the Divine Mercy will always stand out as the supreme devotion.

The most popular devotion in the category preceding the Divine Mercy was the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It has always been popular and widely followed, accompanied with assurances of indulgences granted and special blessings for homes consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.   Many homes still have those huge images or frames with these two images occupying the prime place in a home.  The more ancient the house the bigger the image, some are really magnificent and lovely. Decorated and even embroidered to give it a noble look.     

There have been families and individuals who in keeping with the promises of our Lord to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque diligently keep the first Friday commitment to our Lord and make it a point to go for confession and participate in a first Friday Eucharistic adoration and mass.  The trend to preach about such devotions is less among the clergy, in keeping with the Post Vatican II attitude of many, who rarely venture to speak on this subject. The drift is still worse in India and more so in Mumbai where the Clergy is trained only to promote the SCC’s (small Christian Communities) as a priority without much credence given to the right kind of spirituality and devotion.   Hence you hear of objections to the addition of yet another devotion, especially by liturgists who think that this kind of devotion doesn’t fit in the scheme of things.  

While the devotion to the Sacred Heart is the most appealing devotion in keeping with the love element which arises from the heart of a person, it is nevertheless not enough in keeping with the ineffable mystery of God’s love and the limitedness of human love.  There is always the element of equating God’s love with human action and love.  Human love may imitate God’s love but it can never be the same as God’s love. It is similar but not the same.  It may have elements of compassion, mercy and sacrifice yet it transcends human comprehension (Eph. 3:19).  This very reason God sent his Son so that we may fully comprehend the depth of his love and thus be imitators of this love. 

We hear of situation when people experience deception in the area of love and get carried away by the little love they receive. They never will and may have never realized that they themselves are under an illusion of deception concerning love.  This very reason Jesus says; “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; abide in my love” John 15:9.  This same love we carry in our devotion to God and then there is the aspect of boasting whereby one could always claim that I am the one loving God.  The Divine Mercy reminds us that it is we who are undeserving of God’s love and if we are loved by God and have the capacity and knowledge to love it is precisely because God in his great mercy has made it possible for us. If not for his merciful love then we would not have known God, nor would have sought him, nor carried on in the grace of Christ.   Hence the devotion to the Divine Mercy is devotion for our age which makes much of human achievements and accomplishments. 

This devotion is a reminder of the true status of a human being who is dust and to dust he has to return (the prayer of Ash Wednesday). The journey begins at the beginning of Lent and the accomplishment of this great grace of mercy is on Good Friday when he shed his precious blood to save and redeem us for God.  The preaching of the Gospel is the proclamation of this good news of Christ; the merciful love of God is now revealed to us in Christ Jesus and we can now become acceptable children of the living God through faith in Christ (cfr. Jn. 1:12). “By his great mercy we have been born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3). Hence from the Good Friday action we are lead on to the Easter resurrection and this continues in the great octave of Easter.

If the celebration of the passion, death and resurrection through the Eucharist is never a wrongful act in the Octave of Easter then how can the praying of the Chaplet; offering of the body and blood, soul and divinity be wrong in the Easter season?  We cannot have the resurrection apart from the great sacrificial offering just as you cannot have the fruits of the earth unless the grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies. Rather, the meaning of resurrection is rendered useless without the recollection of the passion, death and resurrection of Christ.  If not, then at least the human mind seeking meaning to life has to go forth in that logical direction.  The resurrected Christ himself leads us in his post resurrection discourse and through his presence to that foundational base (Lk. 24:26,46).

No wonder Pope John Paul II calls St. Faustina, the saint of the new millennium.  The new millennium is the millennium of the laity. The sacrifice once offered by his priest Melchisedech, and then offered by the Levites. Subsequently through Christ the perfect sacrifice offered by the ordained priest is now offered in a new way by the laity in the new millennium through the Chaplet of divine mercy. It is the same offering the ordained priest offered on behalf of the church so that God’s mercy may shine forth in our midst, is now offered by the laity in verbal form to God and thus calling on his mercy that is able to save us.  Hence the Chaplet is also a Eucharistic offering and becomes an extension too of the Eucharist for the laity; the perfect prayer of the church always and everywhere and in all situations.  This truly is lay empowerment in the church of God.

No longer does the laity, who many a times have no say in the spiritual matters of the Church, have to worry much about the many sacrileges committed against the Eucharist by the ordained ministers, for leave that to God. As for the layman they can continue to offer the sacrifice of Christ with reverence, devotion and a clear conscience in the things that the Church permits them by virtue of this great devotion of the Divine Mercy Chaplet.  Similarly, crisis created by the scarcity of priests in many countries and the lack of masses for offerings are eliminated by the new offering by simple and humble lips.  This Chaplet of Mercy in no way fully replaces the complete efficacy of a meaningful Eucharistic service where Jesus is truly made present by the action of the Church as mandated by Christ.

Finally, the Devotion to the Sacred Heart can always leave room for boasting; as if it is our love towards God which makes us devotees of God. And pride can always take over with those who pit one devotion against another. Whereas the Divine Mercy devotion reminds us that it is not our devotion and our love for God that is of prime importance but it is his love for us first, by his great and merciful love, is what enables us and makes even our imperfect love acceptable to God.  In the last Chapter of John’s Gospel we have a beautiful example of God’s mercy when Jesus asks Simon Peter whether he loves him (Gk. Agape = spiritual and selfless) and Peter’s love reply is yes (Gk. Philein = friendship) and yet Jesus does not reject his love. He takes our sincere heart of imperfect love and makes it perfect in his time; thanks to his great mercy Philein progresses to become Agape with God’s help!

     

Prayer: Lord help me to humbly acknowledge your love which is mercy and compassion as I pray: “Eternal Father, I offer you the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ in atonement for my sins and those of the whole world.  For the sake of his sorrowful passion, have mercy on me and on the whole world”! 

To be an Easter people

                                      _*******Fr. Conrad Saldanha                                                                                                          

Imagine yourself watching an exciting game of football or cricket and the situation for the team you are supporting is depressing because of the possibility of losing. I am sure you would either want to run away from the situation or would want to shout your guts out to these guys to better keep at it and not to give-up. What would happen if one of them at the last moment becomes a hero? I am sure your excitement would be far greater than an ordinary win or easy win.  The impossibility of the situation when saved by a great and mighty effort and talent creates an excitement which is exceedingly great.

In a war too, we could face a similar situation or excitement. A victory and it is celebration! Unfortunately many of our young generation have no memory or taste of war. But the partial taste is well experienced in a cricket match between Pakistan and India. If the game tilts in Pakistan’s favour it could make any one feel low but when it tilts in favour of India then the whole country is excited and there is a celebration. This fever of excitement can be so contagious that it gets rubbed on to others, even those who are least interested in the game.

What happens to the guy who is never interested in the game and is many a time oblivious to what is happening on the cricket field or does not understand the game? You may find them going about their daily routine without much botheration.  You ask them the score and they will wonder whether you have used a bad word against them!  Some may ask you to stop, it can irritate.  A housewife may sometime get irritated about the crazy glue effect towards the T.V. set. She keeps wondering what is that this is leading to; whether he is fallen in love with the T.V. set?

A similar but far greater thing happened 2000 years ago, of utmost significance to the whole of the human race. Someone who came to reveal our true situation of a losing battle that could be won with only with his help. Thus this victorious day of Easter was born; the most important and significant feast in the Christian Calendar.  The day when Jesus Christ fully revealed to us what he achieved on that great Good Friday.

Do we really know what Jesus has done for us? We may sometime reap the fruit of an event yet may never know the impact the event can have on our lives. The more we participate in an event the more we are enriched and yet we may never know the significance of the event.

It’s like the man who works all day long, laboring hard, wholly aware that there is someone waiting for him. That someone could be his wife or child or any family member he is working for. The thought of working in order to feed them and look after them gives him that added impetus to put in a little more of that extra effort.  A meaningful goal helps us strive and do better in life; whether the meaningful activity in reality is based on truth does not matter to the individual in order to achieve a particular goal.

Likewise, Christ’s resurrection from the dead is sure guarantee and hope and those well immersed in the truth and experience of the resurrection becomes equipped to face the fragility of life with ease and strength. As St. Paul would puts it in one of his letter; “And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power” (1 Cor 6:14).  This is not just an eschatological experience but an existential reality.  Each time one decides to die to oneself one experiences the resurrection of Christ. The first death is the death of Baptism, the death exercised in faith.  In other words, it is an ongoing dying to our self, to seek the self of Christ who alone is able to save us from all our iniquities.

If a child has a goal to become a doctor and if that goal is clear and well supported then it’s much easier to achieve the goal than to a person who never has had a goal in life. The whole of life is oriented in a direction in which he or she takes.  The reading material, the TV programmes watched and other such extracurricular activities is oriented in the same direction.   In a similar example you have a situation where the child is told that he has inherited a great amount of wealth from his great grandfather and he need not work all his life or his future generation.  The attitude is bound to change his thinking pattern and the way he or she will grow-up. 

The Easter message is similar; Christ Jesus has given us a clear, visible and tangible goal in his resurrection.  Hence the hope that we carry is for one a sure hope which is never going to disappoint us (Rm. 5:5).  He himself in course of human history has given us a concrete example, a sure historical event to show the reality for which we can live for and even die.  Those who hold a job and work for salary at the end of the month may not doubt the receipt of their salary, yet the eternal life that Christ came to assure those who believe is a more sure hope than the salary of working person. For example – For those who have a working career, may place their hope and plans on the month end salary, but the eternal life that Christ came to assure those who believe is a more sure hope than the salary of working person.

Easter is an assurance of an inheritance which is imperishable undefiled and, unfading that Christ has promised (1Pt.1:4). Yet what is offered on a platter as a free gift cannot be enjoyed unless one employs the same attitude to life as Jesus. Life is never easy; it is rather hostile to life as scripture says; “that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God”. Acts 14:22 Living the message of Easter in this life is to live contrary to the values of this world.    “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory”. Col 3:1-4

Prayer: Lord by your resurrection raise me up from my many bondages to sin and decay and help me to live in the power of the Easter victory which you offer to your chosen beloved. Amen.

Alleluia!  Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed!  Alleluia!

WISHING YOU ALL A HAPPY AND JOYFUL EASTER! MAY THE RISEN  CHRIST ENLIGHTEN YOUR MIND TO ALWAYS REJOICE      IN HIS VICTORY!