|
CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVES
Are we to prepare ourselves in the season of Advent?
Fr. Indra R. Fernando Parish Priest of Batagama.
Once we focus our attention on this period, I would personally feel
that it is apt at first, to be well aware of its historical setting.
Awareness of the historical background of anything as we know is very
healthy as far as the task which is entrusted is concerned.
The word Advent derives from the Latin term Adventus which means the
arrival of the Emperor to a region of his empire. In fact, the arrival
or presence of the emperor paved the way for the subjects to be happy
and content. In the same way, the season of Advent does celebrate the
arrival of Jesus Christ; the king of the whole cosmos. In other words,
as Christians we are got to invite Him in to our lives, thereby a
rapport is being nurtured and fed. Once we think of the term Rapport,
this undoubtedly leads every Christian to be more and more authentic in
our dealings with others.
The recurrent theme which is echoed throughout the season of Advent
is 'Come Lord Jesus'. This is derived from the book of Revelation 22/20.
Indeed this reminds us about our Redemption and the Second Coming of the
Lord in a victorious manner.
This season is not that penitential as in the season of Lent. Deep
invitation for repentance is not at all depicted here. Yet specific
consideration is given on the preparation of celebrating Christmas and
thus a deep emphasis is paved for a thorough understanding of the Second
Coming of the Lord. We are got to expect the Lord in to our midst.
The habit of prayer is being lost in our Catholic families, thereby
the sense of familial bond is in a way broken. The need to pray as one
family is not felt due to other superficial causes. Youngsters hardly
attempt to experience the power of prayer, also in other words, they are
not properly motivated from their childhood.
Reflection on the sacred mysteries is very much discouraged in the
present structure. Recitation of the Holy Rosary and thereby to reflect
upon the life of Jesus is considered out-dated in the presence of very
advanced technological discoveries which comfort the human life
outwardly.
Most of the time spiritual nourishment which nurtures man to live as
an authentic human being is neglected and further rejected. Thus, the
sense of devotion to the Blessed Mother is to a considerable extent,
faded away. When considering all such existing atmosphere, I do very
personally feel that the blessed season of Advent is a very valuable
opportunity gifted to each one of us to make this period very fruitful
and substantial. This is what is meant when we do discuss in the realm
of preparation.
Blessed Mother Mary is understood as the patron for Advent, she even
at present, teaches the virtue of being humble.
"Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to
your word" (Lk. 1/38). Hymn of gratitude gives thanks to God "...my
spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has looked with favour on the
lowliness of his servant" (Lk. 1/47). In fact, she being a true mother
thought of her own son; Jesus. Even at the feast at Cana, she played a
great role before her Son Jesus in asking the favour for others.
As usual, the fourth Sunday of Advent, comes out with the Marian
themes in which the faithful are specially invited to be in the view of
Marian attitudes even in our daily life. In the story of the
Annunciation to our Blessed Mother by the angel Gabriel (Lk. 1/26-38),
very well proves that her life is nothing else but humility. The Divine
Plan was intermingled with the human cooperation in the way God Himself
willed.
The Divine Will through a human intervention was implemented. The
assurance given to Abraham, Isac, Jacob and Joseph was also given to
King David
"...go do all that you have in mind; for the Lord is with you" (2
Sam.7/3). Thus, King David chosen by god to reign His people is today in
a way understood a patron for Advent and thereby his name is seen very
often in the sacred scriptures.
As Fr. Wilfred Harrington, OP, mentions "David is a complete human
being, with human weaknesses, thus supported by the Lord". He stands as
a model of courage, "your servant has killed both lions and bears, and
his uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, since he has
defied the armies of the living God" (1 Sam. 17/36). The noble virtue of
humility which is derived from him is to remind the faithful to
inculcate the seed of humility in their lives.
The life of John the Baptizer could be also viewed a patron in this
season, his involvement in the whole process is vital as the forerunner
of the Lord. Most of the time he spent in the desert, yet he was able
attract people by his vehement preaching,
"Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him,
and all the regions along the Jordan, and they were baptised by him in
the river Jordan, confessing their sins." (Mt. 3/5). His life was a role
of preparation of others to believe and accept Jesus. Even Pharisees and
Saducees, the leaders of the people listened to him,
"but when he saw many Pharisees and Saducees coming for baptism, he
said to them, you brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath
to come?" (Mt. 3/7). We are told in the scriptures that even Harold
liked to listen to him,
"for Harold feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy
man, and he protected him. When he heard him he was greatly perplexed;
and yet he liked to listen to him" (Mk. 6/20). His pointing out Jesus to
his followers
"and as he watched Jesus walked by, he exclaimed, look here the Lamb
of God!". (Jn. 1/36). This is what the Living God expected from John the
Baptizer. He paved the way to the Lord. In this way God completed His
plan of preparing the people to welcome His own Son in to their midst.
Four eras (4) were selected in this process of preparation, from the
time of Patriarch, Judges and Kings to the period of prophets. God
Himself was very active in this joyful moment where He Himself was
incarnated; took the form of a man, man like us, but sin. Symbolically
we do commemorate this factual situation through the lighting of four
candles of the Advent Wreath in accordance with the liturgical norms.
Perhaps we may mistakenly comprehend that only John the baptizer
prepared the way to the Lord. As far as the preparation is concerned,
all roles were channels of God's hands of implementation; mystery of
Incarnation is very deeply rooted in the history of salvation. God's
love to the mankind was gradually revealed, yet He revealed Himself
fully in His own Son (Heb. 1/1-2).
Most of the readings taken for our reflection do envisage a
considerable number of prophesies from Isaiah. He is directly connected
with the message of the whole season. "The spirit of the Lord God is
upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; He has sent me to bring good
news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty
to the captives, and release to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of
the Lord's favour" (Isa. 61/1-2a).
The Lord's Earthly Ministry is revealed for us to meditate, it is
mentioned in the scriptures that the Messiah has come and the time is at
hand for a transformation of the pattern of behaviour.
We are baptised into the Paschal mystery of the Lord, we are got to
make a sincere attempt to be powerful witnesses in His Proclamation. The
example set by Lord Himself is in fact, a positive challenge for us in a
faith-fading atmosphere like today. Come Lord Jesus or Maranatha, sung
joyfully in this season as much as to embrace the time fulfilled with
Jesus.
The life of Simeon is also presented as an important role in the
season of Advent, "In one's old age, one can meet Jesus and rejoice in
Him, we tend to think of discipleship as being for the young. John and
Andrew who leave John the Baptist for Jesus are just lads.
It is the rich young man who comes to Jesus and on whom Jesus looks
with love (Mk. 10/21). Today the people who read the gospels so
enthusiastically are nearly all young people. Simeon and Anna represent
the other extreme of humanity, those who come to Jesus not with the hope
of a life ahead of them, but with the accomplishments of a life spent in
faithfulness and expectation." (Bulletin on Liturgy. vol. 6, November,
1973).
Hence, let us try our best to make this season of Advent very
meaningful, not as another season which we find in the liturgical
calendar, but a period immensely transforms our attitudes, way of
thinking and means of behaviour.
Let us be united with one another irrespective of caste, race and
standard of living as children of the same father, who constantly do
struggle to live under one roof; the roof of humanity.
As the new liturgical year begins with the dawn of Advent, we are
hereby got to prepare ourselves to be more and more authentic in our way
of conduct.
 Golden
Jubilee
Rev. Bhareti and Noeline celebrate 50 years in
matrimony
Rev. Canon Padmasiri Bhareti and his wife Noeline completes 50 years
of married life. Both are children of English trained teachers - Aelian
Bhareti of St. John's Panadura and Peter Fernando of St. Joseph's
Maradana. Both teachers happened to be in the first batch of trained
teachers at Maharagama and they were married on the 26th of November
1958 and have 3 children Priyantha, Nilmini and Malini.
Rev. Padmasiri was earlier attached to the Department of Meteorology
from where he retired in 1966 having received a call for the Ministry
through the prayers of his children. Rev. Padmasiri led the 150th
celebrations of the Mission in 1973 when over 3,000 Anglicans were
hosted for the day with the Rt. Rev. Lakdasa de Mel, the Metropolitan of
India, Pakistan and Burma presided at the public meeting that evening.
Rev. de Mel was at one time the Vicar of Baddegama.
A service of thanksgiving has been arranged at the Union Church,
Welisara to be held at 8.30 a.m. on Saturday, November 29. All friends
and relatives are invited to join.
Antonians in appreciation of Most Rev. Bishop Dr. Joseph Vianney
Fernando
His Lordship Bishop Joseph Vianney Fernando, Bishop of Kandy,
celebrated the Silver Jubilee of his Episcopal Ordination on May 21 at
the Kandy Cathedral where he had spent ten years as the Vicar General
and prior to that as a schoolboy at the adjacent premises of St.
Sylvester's College. The birth of St. Anthony's College Kandy in 1854,
took place at these very same premises and prospered for 74 years before
moving to its present home at Katugastota.
Many appreciations and tributes were written and published during and
after the Episcopal Silver Jubilee highlighting the spiritual,
intellectual and humane achievements of this wonderful servant of God,
Bishop Vianney Fernando. This reflection however is to set down the huge
role of influence His Lordship has had on the growth and sustenance of
St. Anthony's College Kandy and to express gratitude and appreciation of
all Antonians, young and old.
Initially it was as Vicar General for the Diocese of Kandy that the
then Rev. Fr. Vianney Fernando began his association with St. Anthony's
College. Those were turbulent times when the then Bishop of Kandy was
compelled to hand over the educational section of this institute to the
Government. As this was a unique situation, it demanded extra ordinary
measures to be set in place for future governance, and Rev. Fr. Vianney
Fernando had a role to play in structuring an administrative policy
between the Government and Church. Nearly thirty years on, these
policies are still in force resulting in St. Anthony's College being the
only Government Boys' school that has continued to have a Catholic
Priest as its Principal.
It must also be said that even prior to his ordination as a priest,
two very prominent Antonian personalities were the influential forces
behind his chosen vocation. His mentor was Rev. Fr. Lawrence Hyde, OSB,
the first Principal of St. Anthony's College after the shift to
Katugastota, who was also an Old Antonian. Then the great builder at the
Katugastota premises, Rev. Fr. Theophane Wickramarathne, OSB, was
responsible for sending him to the seminary to become a priest. The fact
that he was consecrated Bishop at the grounds of St. Anthony's College
was a fitting tribute to these two very Revered Priests.
After his Episcopal Ordination in 1983, Bishop Vianney, by virtue of
his capacity as Bishop of Kandy, became the overall Church authority in
the joint management of St. Anthony's College with powers to appoint or
remove the Principal in conjunction with the Ministry of Education.
Dubbed the "Gentle Giant of Kandy", he has built a solid base over the
last twenty-five years for a satisfactory administrative process between
all parties involved in running the school, commanding respect from all.
The Old Boys' Associations of College have found him to be their
guiding-hand in all matters. The Colombo Branch of the OBA in
particular, has worked very closely with His Lordship who is also the
Patron of the Association. Despite his many commitments in Sri Lanka and
abroad, he has always found the time to meet with delegates of the
Association and give ear to their suggestions and proposals or even
grievances and advice or support them accordingly.
The OBA (Colombo Branch) has played a vital role in the development
of infrastructure and facilities for the young Antonians, none of which
would have been possible without the guidance and support of His
Lordship, Bishop Vianney Fernando.
In 2004, when the College celebrated 150 years, he was a major source
of encouragement to the Principal, staff, students and old boys, being
involved from the inception in planning and setting out an appropriate
programme of events and being present at all of them. His guidance and
contributions were also great attributes in the successful production of
the 'Sesquicentennial Publications' by the Colombo Branch.
In appreciation of the major contributions he has made to the success
of both our Association and our Alma Mater, the Colombo Branch of the
OBA has arranged a 'Thanksgiving Service' to celebrate the Silver
Jubilee of his Episcopal Ordination, at St. Theresa's Church
Thimbirigasyaya on the December 1, 6. 30 p.m.
From Parishioners to Parish Priest
To Rev. Fr. Gregory Fernando,
Parish Priest,
Our Lady of Purification Church, Nayakkanda
Dean of the Wattala Deanery
On your Birthday
God Almighty shower His blessings on Father immensely,
Rewards in prayer, we offer for everything you did brilliantly,
Every Parishioner, young and old wishes you happy Birthday,
Good Luck, we plead to the Lord to keep you Happy and Gay,
On this day all of us have gathered around you to make you feel,
Right throughout the past we all know how loving you had been,
You had done so much to this parish, you made us feel the Godly touch.
Parishioners of Nayakkanda |
