Christian Perspectives

‘God became Man’

J. I. Rosairo

And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain, you are yet in your sins (1 Cor. 15-17)

The disciples of Jesus were at all times perplexed and were questioning among themselves, the veracity of His Power and Authority.

No doubt, it was commonplace witnessing the many miracles that Jesus performed almost daily, some of which were beyond human understanding. The restoration of sight to the blind, the cleansing of the lepers, raising the daughter of Jarius, who was pronounced dead and the classic case of Lazarus, the most profound of them all. Lazarous, as we know, was dead for four days, decomposing, comes out of the tomb, at Jesus’ authoritarian command; “Lazarus come forth!” (Jn 11.43)

Disciples

They, the disciples and the ordinary people, more so the pharisees, were witnesses to these. Yet, they were perturbed and perhaps even scandalised, so to say at the unbelievable miracles that Jesus was performing. For a moment their thoughts may have been that here was yet another prophet for prophets were a common species then but never the messiah, whose coming had been foretold. The nation of Israel was looking forward for someone formidable, mighty and powerful who was to liberate the Jews.

Some of those who held contradictory views of Jesus’ healing powers were at time prone to believe that He was using the devil for His ends. Jesus fully knowing their thoughts said to them, “Every kingdom that is divided against itself is brought to desolation...... and if Satan casts out satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? (Matt. 12 25-36).

Jesus’ first miracle at Cana was fresh in the minds of His disciples, but they did not seem to have made any significant headway. Being illiterate fishermen, the life of Jesus would not have had any impact on them. Being feeble and fickle, their belief in Jesus was noticeably wavering and waxing. One day Jesus puts a question to His disciples; “Who do men say that I, Son of Man is? They replied, “Some say that Thou art John the Baptist, some Elias, others Jeremias or one of the prophets. Throwing the question directly to Peter, Jesus asks, “Simeon Peter! Whom say ye that I am? Peter, may be with a gusto, exclaimed, “Thou art Christ, the Son of the Living God.” (Matt. 26 14-16). This reply is somewhat intriguing, because, one day, when both Jesus and Peter were in a boat, a storm is said to have arisen and when Jesus calmed the sea and waves, Peter is supposed to have exclaimed, “What manner of a man is this, for even the wind and sea obey Him. (Jn. 8 24-25).

Human and the divine

Jesus’ two natures - the human and the divine, were all too puzzling to His followers. At Gethsamane, Jesus suffered immensely mental agony, prior to His impending suffering and finally death. Here Jesus’ human nature is manifested clearly. He prayed, saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from me.................” Then an angel appeared to Him from Heaven, strengthening Him.” (Lk. 22 42-43). After His arrest and trial, Jesus carried a heavy cross, fell thrice, but rose up and while hanging on the cross, Jesus feels utterly dejected and cries out to the Father as a man of sorrows, but unconditionally resigning to the will of His Father. Christ remembers His Mission, “Thou sayest that I am a king? To this end I was born and for this cause came I into the world that I should bear testimony to the truth. (Jn. 18.37). His Divine nature is manifested here.

Rebuilding the temple

Jesus was greatly misunderstood or was it a ploy to apparently misunderstand Him so that He could be ultimately brought to trial and executed. Jesus reached out, both to poor and sinners. Nevertheless, He was equally stern and firm to those who abused and misused power. For the poor sinner who was convicted of adultery, Jesus dispensed unconditional mercy, “Go and sin no more!” he said, but to the priests and pharisees, he addressed them as ‘whited supulchres’ and ‘brood of vipers’. Jesus did not mince words. He dispenses each one according to his deserts.

Jesus foretold of His death and resurrection in a language that the ordinary Jew did not seem to understand. ‘By destroying and rebuilding the temple in three days, what Jesus meant was that His earthly body would die and in three days it will be resurrected in all its glory. The pharisees gave this prophesy a literal meaning and with Jesus’ claim to the sonship of God was the main charge against Him. They said, “We have a law and by that law He ought to die because He made himself the Son of God.” (Jn. 19.9).

When Jesus breathed His last on the Cross, strange things happened. The rocks were rent, graves were opened and many bodies of the saints rose and went into the Holy City. Holy Scripture tells us, the true identity of the Messiah was revealed only when on the cross. Immediately following Christ’s death, a pagan centurian openly proclaimed Him to be the Son of God, those His own failed to understand Him.

Resurrection

The disciples would have now that since Jesus was dead, it was the end for them. The so-called resurrection and the empty tomb claimed doubts of His rising from the dead.

However, some claimed to have seen Him and it was only when Jesus appeared to the two on their way to Emmeaus, talking to them of all the things that had happened, did they recognise Jesus in the breaking of bread and this was further confirmed when Jesus appeared to the disciples. Thomas who was with Him at the time was when told, refused to believe. A few days later when Thomas was with them, Jesus comes and greets them and picking Thomas, he says. “Reach hither thy finger and behold my hands and reach hither thy hand and thrust into my side and be not faithlessness but believing...... Do you now believe me Thomas? Blessed are they that have not seen and yet believed.” Thomas exclaims, “My Lord and my God.” (Jn. 27-29)

From then onwards, by the power of the Holy Spirit, the disciples began to believe and to preach Christ with renewed vigour and fervour. Christ’s birth, death and resurrection have all been foretold in startling detail by the prophets many centuries ago.

The coming of Christ into this world was a divine plan to redeem mankind from the sin of disobedience committed by our first parents. God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have life everlasting.

The Holy Cross and Catholicism

The cross is perhaps the most powerful of all Catholic symbols. The Catholic tradition places the body of Jesus on the wooden cross which is called a crucifies. For all Catholics the cross and crucifixion are symbolic of the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the great mystery of our faith that we ponder and celebrate during holy week and easter.

The cross however also offers Catholics a meaning that is very personal and perhaps easier for all to grasp. The cross is the instrument on which jesus was nailed on Good Friday. The cross today has become the common Symbol of Christs followers the world over. Once it was hated by the Jews as it was the form of execution by the Romans but today it is venerated throughout the world by more than one billion Christians as the sign of their salvation.

The cross is one of the most familiar signs to the Catholics. But for catholics it should be more than a sign and a word. For Catholics it is a source of power and a closest relief. (1 Cor 1:18) says; The message of the cross is the power of God to those who believe’.

For St. Paul the cross was the topic of his sermons to early christians just after his historic conversion resulting from his rendezvous with the risen Christ on the road to Damascus four years after Jesus’s death on the cross. That infamous gibbet was hated by the Jews, Paul included.

He even referred to the Wisdom of the cross. He went on to assure that ‘Jesus was hung from a tree as one cursed so that we might escape the curse of the law (Gal. 3:13) At another time St. Paul wrote that Jesus’ body exposed on a cross in the likeness of sinful flesh allows God to condemn sin in the flesh (Rom. 8:3) Again and again St. Paul evaluates the cross saying that (By the blood of the cross God reconciled all things to himself) (Col. 1:20). It is the cross alone that stands between the two testaments.

The simplest example Catholics can present to show the closeness of the cross is their act of making the sign of the cross. Whenever Catholics pass a church they make the sign of the cross. Whenever Catholics go out of their homes or when they are in trouble they make the sign of the cross which is the sign of Catholic assurance. It is obvious how the cross is near to all Catholics. In the season of lent the cross is a prominent figure to all Catholics which symbolizes various ideas and messages very prevalent to the season. Thus lent is a compendium of the messages by the cross to all Catholics. The cross is the place where our redeemer shed his very last drop of blood after a massive agony to bring salvation to us the sinners. Thus we are redeemed sinners. The cross was an instrument not only of torture but of shame and disgrace even for the chosen people of God. As the scripture says; ‘Cursed is he that hangeth on a tree, But subsequent to Jesus’s resurrection it has been elevated to glory. On a later day St. Paul would say of it: ‘We preach Jesus crucified, a scandal to jews and folly to pagans (1. Cor 1:27) crucifixion was the death penalty for the slaves of Greece and Rome.

What an irony then that what was meant to be an instrument of death brought life to all men after the saviour offered himself to his heavenly father on it. For all Catholics the season of lent is a period of preparation for the season of Easter. To all Catholics it is a privileged time for the conversion of sinners whose return the Father awaits in order to establish them in their dignity as his children, forgiving them through Christ. The threshold of lent is the Ash Wednesday and that day is marked by all Catholics through holy ashes.

According to a Sri Lankan context Catholics get these Ashes by burning the blessed crosses of the previous Palm Sunday. Simply even on Palm Sunday all Catholics, out of Palm leavers make crosses and hang them in their homes. This is due to the simple faith of all Catholics. Throughout the 40 days of lent Catholics contemplate on the agony of our saviour through the Way of the Cross. According to Pope St. Leo the Great ‘The cross of Christ is the source of all blessings the cause of all graces. Through the cross the faithful receive strength from weakness, glory from dishonour, life from death. Let all Catholics glorify in the cross of the Lord. Let all Catholics not boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Miran Perera

Christian life

Christian life commences from God. God always used to change our lives. Sometimes we have to face some problems when He changes our lives according to His model.

We should identify God’s acts if we like to be His sons and daughters. God always anticipate our internal change at all times. During this season of Lent we acknowledge our sins and shortcomings. Not only that, we must strive to refrain from doing sinful things.

God sent us to this world because of His desire and after the death He wants to get the man near Him. Our temporary lives are testing of God.

We do like to adopt good qualities into our lives. In our lives we should accept our problems and give them in to the hands of God.

Always we do ask the Holy Spirit to overshadow our feelings, emotions, happiness and everything what we have. As Christians we should be vigilant always. Devil tries to victimize us every moment. By the death and resurrection of Jesus we became easter Christians and the people of light.

As Christians we must praise God. God had given us many things. But sometimes we forget our duties as Christians. By praising God, we redeem from our problems.

Not only that but we can obtain inner peace by praising God. God wishes to mould our lives according to his image. Therefore, we should realise it in toto during this season of Lent and fulfil our obligation as Christians.

Malintha Bopearatchy, Kadawata

Lent invites us to sit in the ashes and shed our tears

Sometimes the etymology of a word can be helpful. Linguistically, Lent is derived from an old English word meaning springtime. In Latin, lente means slowly. Etymologically then Lent points to the coming of spring and it invites us to slow down our lives so as to be able to take stock of ourselves.

That does capture some of the its traditional meaning, though the popular mindset understands Lent mostly as a season within which we are asked to fast from certain normal, healthy pleasures so as to better ready ourselves for the feast of Easter.

One image for this is the biblical idea of the desert. Jesus, we are told, in order to prepare for his public ministry, went into the desert for 40 days and 40 nights during which time he fasted. As the Gospel of Mark tells us, he was put to the test by Satan, was with the wild animals and was looked after by the angels.

Lent has always been understood as a time for us to imitate this, to metaphorically spend 40 days in the desert like Jesus, unprotected by normal nourishment so as to have to face “Satan” and the “wild animals” and see whether the “angels” will indeed come and look after us when we reach that point where we can no longer look after ourselves.

For us, “Satan” and “wild animals” refer particularly to the chaos inside of us that normally we either deny or simply refuse to face - our paranoia, our anger, our jealousies, our distance from others, our fantasies, our grandiosity, our addictions, our unresolved hurts, our sexual complexity, our incapacity to really pray, our faith doubts and our moral secrets.

The normal food that we eat, distracted ordinary life, works to shield us from the deeper chaos that lurks beneath the surface of our lives.

Lent invites us to stop eating whatever protects us from having to face the desert that is inside of us. It invites us to feel our smallness, to feel our vulnerability, to feel our fears, and to open ourselves up to the chaos of the desert so that we can finally give the angels a chance to feed us. That’s the Christian ideal of Lent, to face one’s chaos.

To supplement this, I would like to offer three rich mythical images, each of which helps explain one aspect of Lent and fasting:

In every culture, there are ancient stories, myths, which teach that all of us, at times, have to sit in the ashes.

We all know, for example, the story of Cinderella. The name itself literally means, the little girl (puella) who sits in the ashes (cinders). The moral of the story is clear: Before you get to be beautiful, before you get to marry the prince or princess, before you get to go to the great feast, you must first spend some lonely time in the ashes, humbled, smudged, tending to duty and the unglamorous, waiting.

Lent is that season, a time to sit in the ashes. It is not incidental that we begin Lent by marking our foreheads with ashes.

The second mythical image is that of sitting under Saturn, of being a child of Saturn. The ancients believed that Saturn was the star of sadness, of heaviness, of melancholy. Accordingly they weren’t always taken aback when someone fell under its spell, namely, when someone felt sad or depressed.

Indeed they believed that everyone had to spend certain seasons of his or her life being a child of Saturn, that is, sitting in heaviness, sitting in sadness, waiting patiently while some important inner thing worked itself out inside the soul.

Sometimes elders or saints would put themselves voluntarily under Saturn, namely, like Jesus going into the desert, they would sit in a self-induced heaviness, in the hope that this melancholy would be means to reach some new depth of soul. That too is the function of Lent.

Finally there is the rich image, found in some ancient mythologies, of letting our tears reconnect us with the flow of the water of life, of letting our tears reconnect us to the origins of life.

Tears, as we know, are salt water. That is not without deep significance. The oceans too are salt water and, as we know too, all life takes its origins there. Hence, we get the mystic and poetic idea that tears reconnect us to the origins of life, that tears regenerate us, that tears cleanse us in a life-giving way, and that tears deepen the soul by letting it literally taste the origins of life.

Given the truth of that, and we have all experienced its truth, tears too are a desert to be entered into as a Lenten practice, a vehicle to reach new depths of soul.

The need for Lent is experienced everywhere: Without sublimation we can never attain what is sublime. To truly enter a feast there must first be a fast. To come properly to Easter there must first be a time of desert, ashes, heaviness and tears. Courtesy:

Western Catholic Reporter

Public lecture on Church/Science conflict

An in-depth review of the Church/Science conflict in the Galileo/Darwin Controversy to coincide with the 400th anniversary of Galileo’s use of the telescope and Darwin’s 150th anniversary of the publication of the Origion of the Species, which launched the theory of evolution will be held on March 15 at the Aquinas College of Higher Studies from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. The guest lecturer will be very Rev. Fr. Mervyn Fernando, former President of the Sri Lanka Astronomical Associaiton.
 

Agnes Karunanayake, a 105 year old parishioner of the Moragoda St. Sebastian’s Church who had rendered yeoman service to the Sacred Heart Society as a member for the last 86 years was felicitated at a thanksgiving service held in her honour at the Moragoda St. Sebastian’s Church recently. Here she is with Perish Priest Rev. Fr. Ravin Sandasiri Perera who officiated in the presence of the members of the Sacred Heart Society and all other priests from the parish. Picture by Nimal Jayasinghe, Gamapaha Roving Corr.

The newly constructed home science laboratory of the Sacred Heart Convent, Galle, was opened recently under the patronage of most Rev. Fr. Harold Anthony Perera, Bishop of Southern Province Catholic diocese. Vicar General Rev. Fr. Nihal Nanayakkara, Director, Caritas SED Galle Rev Fr. Damien Arasakularathne, Rev Sister Paul Elizabeth, Mayor of Galle Methsiri De Silva, Southern Provincial Councillor Wijepala Hettiarachchi and Assistant Secretary of the SP Ministry of Education S. Ariyawansa participated. Mahinda P. Liyanage - Galle Central Special Corr.