Christian perspectives

Lent: the Season of John

Fr. Don Anton Saman Hettiarachchi

The Gospel of John or the Fourth Gospel may be read during the final weeks of Lent and throughout Easter, because, as the Lectionary states, "It is the 'spiritual' Gospel, in which the mystery of Christ is sounded out to greater depths." This has been the age old tradition of the Church, dating back to the ancient Jerusalem Liturgy.

The Third, Fourth and Fifth Sundays of Lent feature three personal encounters of John: the Samaritan Woman (4,4-42); the Man Born Blind (9,1-41); and Lazarus (11,1-44).

These three accounts are so important liturgically that they are read not only in the assigned Year A but also in B and C of the Liturgical Year. The Ordo permits their reading during the week in order to promote Baptismal catechesis.

Raymond E. Brown, 'probably the premier Catholic Scripture scholar in the US' as acclaimed by Time Magazine, calls them, in Reading the Gospels with the Church, from Christmas through Easter (Mumbai 1998) 47: "...the most sacred narratives in the Gospel accounts of Jesus' public ministry."

Why are these singled out Johannine Narratives given such prominence during Lent? It is simply because they are closely akin to the sacred season of Lent, its meaning and theology. Fitted beautifully into the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults), they prepare the catechumens for Baptism. They also serve admirably the already baptized to recall the implications of their Baptismal faith. How closely are the Johannine symbols of water (the story of the Samaritan Woman), sight (the story of the Man Born Blind) and new life (the Story of Lazarus), found in these accounts associated with Baptism, inspiring the faithful to reflect on their Baptismal faith!

Thus one of the elements especially characteristic of Lent: "the recalling of Baptism or the preparation for it", as stated in Sacrosanctum Concilium No. 109, Vatican II, is given greater emphasis in Liturgy.

Theology of life

These three narratives illustrate the Johannine Theology of life. The fullness of life characteristic of God Himself is now incarnate in Christ who communicates it to the believer. It leads the Lenten pilgrim to a better and fuller understanding of the paschal mystery.

These narratives explain how Baptism is the sacrament of life, the beginning of grace. According to the story of the Samaritan Woman, through the waters of Baptism Christ becomes for us a source of life. The story of the Man Born Blind shows how at Baptism Jesus becomes the light and sight of our life. As in the story of Lazarus, at Baptism Christ raises us from death in sin to a new life in the Spirit as He was raised from the dead in His glorious Resurrection on the third day.

These Narratives work out the connection between Baptism and the Resurrection. Every incident is charged with the power of the Risen Lord. The 'life' that He gives is already an 'eternal life'.

Thus, through the experience of individuals like us, the Gospel Writer works out a Theology of Life and Grace.

Theology of faith

The Samaritan Woman and the Man Born Blind represent those who have come to believe in the Person of Jesus Christ. Belief must go beyond the physical - those things we see, touch and drink - and must come to be rooted in Jesus Himself. There can always be a deeper faith experience and growth in faith.

In each of the story, John deals with a different stage of faith. The Samaritan Woman illustrates an 'initial coming to faith' having overcome the obstacles that stand in the way. The Man Born Blind shows that often first enlightenment does not result in adequate faith and illustrates an 'incipient faith' that acquired depth only after difficult testing and even suffering. The Lazarus story illustrates the 'deepening of faith' that comes through an experience of death.

Paschal Mystery

The story of Lazarus is a preview of what will happen to Jesus.

Lazarus had died and been in the tomb for four days. But at Jesus' command, he comes forth from the tomb. Because of this good work, many believed in Him (11,45) but others sought to kill Him (11, 53). It is really ironical that Jesus' gift of life leads to His own death.

Jesus cried out in a loud voice, 'Lazarus, come out' (11,43). In 18,19 the crowds 'cry out' (the same Greek word in 11,43, kraugazo, now used four times) for Jesus' crucifixion. It is really paradoxical that Jesus cries out to give life while His enemies cry out to give death to Him.

Lazarus comes forth with his burial garments for he will need them again when he dies. But Jesus will leave His garments behind in the tomb on that first Easter Sunday. He won't need them any longer.

Lenten pilgrimage

Lent is our journey with Jesus to Jerusalem, the Holy City, where God's plan of salvation would be accomplished. We journey from the ashes to the flames of the new paschal fire - from dust to new life. It is a joyful journey - a journey of anticipatory joy - as the anticipated thrill of the actual contest might infuse an athlete's training for it.On this journey, John inspires our Lenten (and Paschal) catechesis.

The greater we understand John, the greater will be the benefits we will derive from the yearly celebration of Easter, the mother of all feasts.

John 20,31 expresses the purpose of the Fourth Gospel: "But these are written that you may (come to) believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name." Alluding to this conclusion, J. Marsh is right to comment in the Pelican Commentary on St. John (1968): "For all men, it (John) still bears the powerful witness that 'Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God' and enables men 'believing' to have life in his name."

The writer is Dean, Faculty of Theology (English medium), Aquinas University College, Colombo 8.

Religion and faith galvanise our youth

The following is the speech by Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith at St. Joseph's College Prize Day recently.

The Second Vatican Council in its declaration on Catholic Education, 'Gravissimum Educationis', stresses the fact that education plays a vital role in the life of man. It states, "All men of every race, condition and age, since they enjoy the dignity of a human existence, have an inalienable right to an education that is in keeping with their ultimate goal, their ability, their sex and the culture and tradition of their country, and also in harmony with their fraternal association with other peoples in the fostering of true unity and peace on earth.

For, a true education aims at the formation of the human person in the pursuit of his ultimate end and of the good of the societies in which as a man, he is a member, and in whose obligations, as an adult he will share" (GE1). Thus education is truly a sacred task, a grave responsibility, that of helping what is already God given or ingrained in every single child to blossom out so that he or she may live upto his or her fullest potential, that inner call to excellence.

As Christians we believe and the Sacred Scriptures do affirm that man is created by God in His own image and likeness. As the book of Genesis states "God created man in His image, in the image of God He created him" (Gen. 1:27). Indeed it says that God breathed His own breath into man (cfr. Gen. 2:7). Thus the true value of a human life and its inborn dignity are important considerations in Catholic Education. Indeed such dignity was further enhanced when Jesus, the only begotten Son of God, deigned to be born a man and then through his supreme sacrifice on the Cross, redeemed mankind from the sense of slavery to sin and death which plagues it.

For us Christians then, it is in and through Christ that human life has indeed been renewed, freed and disposed to achieve eternity. St. Paul called it the putting on of 'a new self' - a new and eternally disposed existence. He states, "you must give up your former way of being, the old self, whose deceitful desires bring self-destruction.

Renew yourselves spiritually from inside and put on the new self or self according to God which is created in true righteousness and holiness" (Eph. 4: 22-23). Indeed every human being is so uniquely created that God has placed in each one a unique capacity to achieve excellence which we could call 'vocation'. Indeed God Himself addressed Prophet Jeremiah with the following words, "even before I formed you in the womb, I have known you, even before you were born I had set you apart and appointed you a prophet to the nations" (Jer. 1:5).

Being caretakers

Yes dear parents, and members of the academic staff, each child you receive from God or who comes under your guidance is so unique, so gifted and such a treasure that it could bring you much joy and happiness, if only you would cooperate with the creator in allowing that inborn sense of innocence, goodness and rectitude in every single child to flower as you accompany him or her on the journey of life. You are not the owner of the child, but only its caretaker. You do not impart knowledge but accompany the child in such a way that it opens out to God's own perfection and finds excellence in Him.

If you, however, give bad example, make the wrong choices yielding to the wiles of selfishness or disregard God's law in your own life, you would not only thwart His plans for your children, but reap disaster on your own self. It has to be understood that parents are indeed the ones who are first responsible for the upbringing of their children as it was in the case of the parents of Jesus under whose loving care he "grew up in wisdom and age and in divine and human favour" (Lk. 2:52) as the scriptures state.

The Catholic school, an academy of life

The Second Vatican Council is emphatic on this; "parents have the primary and inalienable right and duty to educate their children" (GE 6). And again the same document affirms, "since parents have given children their life, they are bound by the most serious obligation to educate their offspring and therefore must be recognized as the primary and principal educators".

And in fulfilling this task the parents are assisted by the teachers and the school as well as the Church. These secondary institutions are partners of the parents in the formation of their children.

The Catholic school, so to say, is an academy of life, providing the children the atmosphere necessary for achieving intellectual, social, moral and spiritual fulfilment on the basis of the teachings of Christ and thereby help bring to completion that inborn call of God accepted in baptism and nurtured and strengthened in the Church.

In short, the Catholic School is the nursery of faith for each Catholic child where everything that is done should help lead the child to holiness of life, righteous living and total communion with God.

The Catholic school then is not an academy of sciences, but essentially and academy of faith and life. If we forget that we lose track of what is expected of us.

Education and religion

Thus, it is only a profoundly religion and faith based formation that would help galvanize our youth, and consequently society as a whole, against the constant sense of attraction to selfishness and slavery to sentiments of self divinization which plague human life.

According to the book of Genesis, man fell victim to the forces of slavery and death when he wished to become god and then defied Him, walking away from Him. In the first chapters of the Book of Genesis, we see an attempt by man to enthrone himself and dethrone God. Man makes a bold affront, to usurp the place of God. This scenario is seen in the history of man. It is true that man was given a mandate to subdue the earth but he has used his capabilities to put himself up on a pedestal.

The ethos of this age is secularization, pragmatism and profanity. Man and the world are viewed purely from a terrestrial dimension.

The Psalmist in his wisdom says "I trusted in Thee, O Lord; I said Thou art my God, my times are in Thy hands "(Psalm 31; 14 - 15) These words express the absolute simplicity of our dependence on God, which we learn through humbly seeing all people, things and circumstances as having their source and their completion in Him.

Everything has being, because, being comes from God, and there is no being which is not for God and to be given back to God. St. Augustine thus stated: "Thou hast made us for Thyself and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in Thee".

Today's society crystallizes in some way a kind of a-religious or even anti-religious mind set which leads to a rejection of objective moral and spiritual truth relativising everything. Rejection of God has led to kind of "feeling satisfied, with oneself" mind set and thus making man, the ultimate criterion of truth.

This has deprived humanity of an objective moral conscience, making each man feel that beyond him there is nothing that is true or just. That kind of subjectivist, relativist mind set destroys the very roots of human existence and causes objective disorder in society. The end result is social chaos. Instead of opening out to the infinite, it recoils within itself into a world of finiteness beyond which nothing more is visible.

The Western world today is suffering the effects of an exaggerated sense of subjectivism and relativism which is characterized by an intense search for the absolute glorification of man without leaving any room for God, moral and divine law or absolute truth and beauty.

This phenomenon is leading Western societies to the brink of spiritual and moral decadence and to self annihilation.

Religious authenticity

The same seems to be happening in other continents too and now in our own Motherland, Sri Lanka. Religious principles seem to be carrying hardly any weight in the basic political and social options of our own society. Our post independence history has continued to be marred by an increasing sense of subjectivism with regard to ethics and morals. Increasingly objectivity in truth, respect for human dignity, integrity and honesty as well as religious credibility seem to have lost their noble meaning.

That Sri Lankan society, by and large claims to be religious and yet does not care much about the practice of the teachings of these religions, becomes more and more apparent in our society as time goes on, or else how could one understand the increasingly violent, confrontational and indisciplined orientations of our political leadership.

Sri Lankan society seems to have given up moral rectitude and discipline, when it comes to matters of honesty, tolerance, democratic practice and faithfulness to law and order. Now there is this debate on the manner in which the last Presidential elections had been conducted and everything that happened thereafter. We are truly appalled by all this. Yet all of that is a kind of culmination of what has been happening regularly for over 30 years now.

Sri Lanka did have two violent insurrections in the early seventies and the late eighties.

There was the law of the jungle at that time and how many lives were then sacrificed on the altar of self glorification and endless ambition for power by those who led these rebellions and those who suppressed them with cruelty? Special laws and constitutional accommodations were made not so much out of a desire to address the grievances of the disgruntled or to improve political rectitude, but out of a need to hand on to power.

Constitutions were made for this country not on the basis of the real needs of ensuring unity, allowing greater space for democracy, human dignity and acceptance of healthy diversity but to obtain absolute power which gave one person the authority to do anything he or she wanted.

And through these processes the supremacy of specific ethnic or religious groups over the dignity and equality of others was also ensured resulting in the gradual deterioration of the relationship between the Sinhala and Tamil communities that could have easily been avoided or even settled with much less cost to human lives and the country's economic interests. And so all attempts at a consensus on the ethnic issue failed miserably.

Inclusive democracy

Democracy yields best results when it is inclusive and is directed towards a consensual and multi-partisan approach. Violence at election time has been a rising challenge to the religious leadership of this country in the last four decades or so. One dreads to recall the level of violence that characterized every change of government in the past.

If this trend continues we will head for disaster in the future. What is most needed is a sense of give and take, consensus on major orientations and issues among different political and religious groups and the determined re-establishment, of the rule of law in this country.

The executive, legislative and judicial components of Sri Lankan society, should ensure that law and order, justice and the true practice of democracy and freedom as well as ethnic and religious harmony and unity are jealously safeguarded and a sense of transparency and structures that ensure such transparency like the Independent Police Commission, Elections Commission and the Constitutional Council are established without delay. Major issues face this country today.

Among these the need to ensure that the different ethnic or religious communities in this country are made to feel partners in its economic and social progress, that areas destroyed by the 30-year war are developed without delay and their original inhabitants re-settled and that the Tamil community be made to feel very much part of this country after their disastrous adventurer with a terror outfit which left them in penury and a new constitutional arrangement which leaves cope for a more transparent, democratic and unifying consensual government.

Divisive democracy would only lead this country to disaster and perhaps to the resurgence of violent confrontations and eventually to possible political adventurism. Shared authority and vision brings better results always and avoids unnecessary confrontations or feelings of being excluded. A dream shares with others becomes easily realizable.

Unity is strength

Mother Lanka became enslaved to outside forces each time there were divisions and internecine struggles among its kings and nobles. We should learn lessons from our past.

Still some powerful nations are seeking to interfere in our affairs as we saw in the last few days.

The advice I give them is 'physician heal thyself'. In the light of all of this and in order to ensure that we can rise up as a nation, united, disciplined and morally upright, Sri Lanka Society as a whole and its political leaders should anchor themselves strongly on the foundations of the different religious traditions our country is blessed with. Without being touched by that spiritual heritage, we will be exposed to all kinds of dangers as a nation.

And we could in the process barter our freedom too. I appeal then to our political leaders to seek a spirit of genuine partnership in the task of re-building our beloved Motherland. Education too needs to exercise a role in all of this, especially through a stronger presence of religion in schools and universities. Politics should be kept away from such institutions for, there we deal with the sacred duty of forming the future citizens of this country.

As Catholics we pledge our loyalty to Mother Lanka and pray that she may experience a national and authentically religious resurgence.

We are ready to play our own part along with all the other religious communities in order to create a strongly united country, which all the same, allows room for and respects ethnic, religious and political diversity among its citizens.

I appeal to all Catholics to work towards such a spirit of unity, reconciliation and healing in this country.

Courtesy: The Messenger

Pope denounces 'atrocious' Nigeria bloodshed

Pope Benedict XVI on Wednesday denounced the "atrocious" bloodshed in Nigeria after a massacre of Christian villagers, as police said 49 people would be charged over the killings.

As new gunfire added to the tensions around the flashpoint city of Jos, the head of the Roman Catholic Church added his voice to a chorus of international revulsion over the weekend slaughter which police now say left 109 people dead.

About 8,000 Nigerians have also fled their homes around Jos after the violence, the International Committee of the Red Cross said.

In his weekly general audience, the pope offered condolences to the victims of the "atrocious violence causing bloodshed in Nigeria" and urged civil and religious leaders "to work towards security and peaceful co-existence".

"Violence does not resolve conflicts but only increases the tragic consequences," he added.

The three-hour killing spree early Sunday was the latest wave of sectarian violence to engulf the Jos region where several hundred people were killed in Muslim-Christian clashes in January.

The security forces have faced heavy criticism over their failure to intervene to stop the latest killings at a time when a curfew was meant to be in force.

Although troop reinforcements have been deployed, state governor Jonah Jang said security lapses had worsened the carnage.

Jang, a former senior air force officer, told reporters he had alerted Nigeria's army commander about reports of movement around the area and had been told that troops would be heading there.

"Three hours or so later, I was woken by a call that they (armed gangs) had started burning the village and people were being hacked to death.

But in a furious reaction Wednesday, the army headquarters, in an official statement, slammed his remarks as "embarrassing, unfortunate, inciting and inflammatory".

The statement "coming from a chief executive and chief security officer of a state with substantial military background, it is unfortunate that ... Jang has demonstrated an embarrassing naivety in interpreting the dynamics of land operations".

Jang, it said, "resorted to inflammatory statements targeted at rubbishing the army".

Earlier, Human Rights Watch researcher Eric Guttschuss added his concerns over the response by the security forces.

"We are deeply concerned about the failure of the security forces. There's been a slow reaction of the security forces," he told AFP.

Officials initially said more than 500 people, mostly women and children, were killed when members of the mainly Muslim Fulani ethnic group butchered their victims from the Christian Berom clan in three villages.

But the state police commissioner Ikechukwu Aduba gave a breakdown of the list of people killed Wednesday and said the final toll was 109.

"This figure is authentic and undisputed," he said, adding that the larger figure quoted by other officials was fabricated.

Aduba revealed that 49 people were to be charged with homicide and conspiracy and had already confessed to being on a revenge mission. Another 150 suspected Berom were arrested in Mangu town, 60 kilometres (40 miles) south of Jos for unlawful assembly and possession of firearms.

"They took the law into their own hands and mobilised to protect their communitities against any possible attacks," Aduba said.

Residents have said the killings on Sunday were part of a spiralling feud between the Fulani, who are nomadic herders, and Berom, who are farmers, which had been sparked by the theft of cattle.

Meanwhile, Jang late Wednesday declared three days of fasting in the state to "cry to God" for forgiveness and peace.

The fasting period begins on Thursday.

"Our God is a God of justice. I believe He has allowed this (to happen) for a purpose," he stated. The three-hour killing spree was the latest wave of sectarian violence to engulf the Jos region where several hundreds of people were killed in Muslim-Christian clashes in January.

"We should sheathe our sword and work towards achieving peace. Violence cannot be used as a means of resolving conflicts," said Jang. JOS, AFP

Why we need the example of the saints

Rev. Fr. Patrick Perera

Sometimes, people ask the question why we need the example of the saints. Some used to say, Christ is the perfect example, why do we need another? According to Pope John Paul II, they are travel companions, in joy and in suffering, men and women who wrote a new page in their lives and in the lives of so many people. Hence, in his pontificate, he had given 1,338 Blessed and 482 Saints. The late Holy Father, while he was speaking about holiness said; 'Holiness is not a gift reserved for a few. We can all aspire to it, because it is a goal within our capacity." This was already spoken by the 2nd Vatican Council, in the decree lumengentium on call to holiness.

Jesus himself told us to be holy as our Heavenly Father is holy: "You therefore are to be perfect, even as your heavenly Father is perfect (Mt. 5/48).

Heroes and heroines that the world offers to young people are terribly flawed. They leave so empty. The real "stars" are given by God as saints and Blessed. They are very ordinary persons but exemplary Christians. To believe greatness is attainable, we need successful role models to emulate. John Paul II, the late Holy Father, spoke about the call to holiness and vocation to be saints. He told the young people how to become saints.

"Be contemplative, love prayer, be coherent with your faith and generous in the service of your brothers and sisters, be active members of the Church and builders of peace. To succeed in this demanding project of life, continue to listen to His word, draw strength from the sacraments, especially the Eucharist and penance. The Lord wants you to be intrepid apostles of his gospel and builders of a new humanity."

As we know, salt gives flavour to the food, light illumines the darkness, so too, holiness gives full meaning to life and makes it reflect God's glory. We have many saints who loved the Lord and lived good lives, who have become models of life, which the Church has held up for imitation by all.

Jesus says, "Learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart, and you will find rest for your souls" (Mt. 11/29).

"Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect" does not mean that a man-made perfection to be reached, rather it is the heights of divine perfection. Their lives are full of the good virtues that we find in the Sermon on the Mount. The saints have understood the Beatitudes as the essence of the gospel.

The writer is Rector - St. Aloysius' Seminary - Borella

"Peace for All" Service on Sunday

A service will be held at the Cathedral of Christ, the Living Saviour, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, adjoining the (BMICH) Colombo 7 on Sunday, March 14, at 10.30 a.m.

The service is conducted by the "Ministry of Peace for All" and it is open to all.

The Speaker for the service Vijaya Corea will talk on "Could miracles be a reality in the 21st century and if so how?"