Christian Perspectives

Christian faith and the new life

Professor Anton Meemana

Faith is absolute trust in God when everything looks hopeless, dark and somber. Humanly speaking, when we have lost trust in everything then only we can begin to cultivate faith. Human life is absolutely impossible without faith. Christian faith has concrete historical consequences. Faith asks something of us concretely.

Faith is never politically or economically neutral. There is a value judgment in faith. Faith is never indifferent to human suffering. Faith is never passive, nor does it slumber. Faith always seeks and desires the greater good for all.

Credibility

Faith interrupts the status quo and demands greater credibility from it. Judgments born out of faith are the most accurate and objective because it does not serve any political ideologies but challenges them all. God does not desire suffering for the innocent. God wants to abolish all kinds of sufferings.

Faith exposes ruthlessly and mercilessly the nakedness of every political ideology for what they really are. Faith is both a great asker and a seeker. Faithless life is an aimless life. The depth of one’s faith is the depth of one’s commitment life. Faith is sustained Christian praxis. To have faith is to become faithful to God’s commandments. The vision of faith is the most comprehensive vision for it harbours no ideological agenda or follows no party line.

Faith is active all the time. Faith must radiate through one’s character, lifestyle and relationships. Faith and character cannot be separated. Faith yearns for greater clarity of vision about life. Faith makes distinctions and nuances.

Dispels darkness

Faith clarifies but never confuses. Faith brings light and dispels darkness. Without faith, we become neurotic, narcissistic and cruel. Without faith one can hardly function as a normal human being Lack of faith leads to lack of compassion, sympathy and empathy.

One’s conduct reveals one’s faith and one’s faith nourishes one’s character and integrity. Without the gift of faith, we cannot cultivate and sustain hope. Hope is faith directed towards future.

One’s hope is in proportion to one’s faith. Faith leads us to hope and brings us hope even in hopeless situations. As we ought to grow in faith, we need also grow in hope. Faith and hope are intimately interlinked. Faith is not a static or a stagnant reality.

It is dynamic and ever activate, giving life a sense of mission and purpose. As we grow older, we must also grow in faith. So that by the time we die, we die in faith. Facing one’s death is also an act of deep faith in God.

True happiness in life comes from faith. The greater our faith, the less anxiety we have and the less our faith, the greater our anxiety and restlessness. Faith purifies our intentions and brings a greater depth to one’s conduct in life.

Faith makes us treasure of our friends and without the vision of faith, this world is too cruel, brutal and broken to inhabit. In the midst of all the despair and growing anxiety, faith sustains our hope for a better tomorrow. Faith tells me that life is meaningful in spite of all the suffering, pain, difficulties and hardships. Faith encourages me to love all including my enemies and appreciate even the little good my enemies possess. Nobody is totally evil or bad or malevolent in this world.

Faith is never pessimistic about human nature. If my faith in others is too little, then my capacity to love them is seriously hampered. We need to trust God more and more and in proportion we must also trust our fellow human beings.

To have faith in God is also to have faith in the humanity’s capacity to do good. Faith asks us the grand question: Are we freely capable of loving a Hitler while condemning his evil deeds? Faith makes a distinction between a sinner and sins. It condemns the sins uncompromisingly while restoring and healing the humanity of the sinner.

Facilitates healing

Faith facilitates healing, wholeness and vitality in life. Faith cleanses our hearts and it is a free gift from God and therefore we must inspire people to ask for the same gift from God. God never disappoints people.

Faith purifies reason and is never an enemy of it. Faith is the most sensible thing on earth. Faith is never blind. Faith is the most purified form of reason. Faith is the zenith of rationality.

It brings greater clarity to human mind. Blind faith is not real Christian faith, but emotional immaturity. Faith is neither childish nor naive. It encourages us to trust the universe more and more for the right reasons and hence faith does no wrong to a neighbour. Faith challenges all sorts of evil and wrong perspectives about the universe.

Faith takes away our selfishness, our me-for-me-mentality and ego centredness. It destroys our bloated ego and restores humility which is our true identity. Faith whispers to me that the truest part of my character is my humblest part. Without faith we cannot become a blessing to others.

Perfect faith

To have faith is to become a person like Jesus. To sustain faith is to live like Jesus. Jesus was the happiest man ever on earth because He had the perfect faith.

The deeper one’s faith, the greater one’s service to humanity. As Mother Teresa of Calcutta says that our task here is to be faithful not successful. Faithfulness means stability of the hearts. Only such people become loyal to their spouses, theirs professions, vocations, friends, country and convictions.

To take one’s christian faith seriously is the beginning of a new life in God.

Weekly devotions

Sarah

Wife of Abraham and half sister through his father. The meaning of the name Sarah is ‘princess’ and she was re-named by God. Her original name meant ‘my princess’ - Sarai. The renaming princess meant princess of a race.

She is mentioned as an example for wives to be submissive to their husbands as she was. Even when Abraham asked her to pretend to be his sister, to the Egyptian king, Abimelech , Sarah was willing to take this risk. I am sure many women of today would not have tolerated that.

However, it goes to show that even if a wife takes this risk in order to follow God’s instructions of what a Godly family should be, i.e, wives be submissive to your husbands’ God Himself will intervene to protect her even though the husband makes a mistake.

Sarah makes quite a few mistakes in her life

1. God had promised Abraham that he will bless him with a son and multiply his seed like the sand. Abraham also received confirmation from God that this blessing will come through his seed and not through his slave Eliezer. Sarah gets impatient as the promise took so long - even past her child bearing age - and she instructs Abraham to be intimate with her Egyptian servant, Hagar, and have his seed blessed this way.

Although initially, her plan seemed to work, then jealousy takes over as she notices Hagar’s attitude towards her change as she was with child. Sarah becomes so wicked towards Hagar that she runs away from home , but is instructed by God to get back to her mistress and submit herself, and God promises to increase Hagar’s descendants. Gen 16:10-12

We find that Hagar gives birth to a son Ishmael (Genesis 16). Sarah herself, at the ripe old age of 90 gives birth to Isaac. Then things begin to go wrong as Ishmael was found mocking Isaac, at which Sarah wants Hagar and Ishmael out of her life, and gets Abraham to get rid of them by asking them to leave the home. Although Abraham was distressed, God asks him to fulfil Sarah’s wishes in this matter Genesis 21:8-13.

We find Sarah pleased God, although it was a battle for her to initially believe that a child would be borne by her - she is mention in the Bible as the first woman listed in Hebrews 11 list of faith.

Through all her disbelief that God would bless her with a son she did get there!

She was a good mother and a submissive wife - again women are asked to follow her example of being a submissive wife in 1 Peter 3:6 Just like Abraham she too left everything and came to a new city - as she too trusted God.

The lessons that we can learn from her life, is that God will respond to faith even though we fail Him.

Nothing is impossible with God. When we focus on outward signs and not in His promise we can fail, but He can make even the barren to bear children, He is God and everything has to bow down to His command. If God proclaims something He will do it, although our common sense says ‘it is impossible’.

Do not try to help God, you will usually end up with added problems - use your energy during the waiting time in His presence as He will reveal His plans. Do not be impatient.

Prayer:

I thank you Lord that you give us so many chances to trust and believe in you. Help us to look unto you and not our circumstances. Help us to learn from Sarah’s mistakes and not dabble with things to help you and bring about problematic situations but humbly bow down to your will and seek you and be in your presence. Teach us to be patient Lord, as this is a lesson that all your children have to learn and you will impart this virtue to us, however, long it takes.

Teach me your ways Lord and direct my path I pray. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Sunitha Sahayam

St. Philomena’s Church in Mysore

When you go to Mysore, India you can see a most attractive and largest church situated in the city of Mysore, consecrated to St. Philomena. It was 175 feet in height and built in the Neo Gothic Style. The floor plan of the cathedral resembles a cross. The long part of the cross is congregation hall. The two arms of the cross are transepts. The part containing the altar and choir is the crossing.

The cathedral has a crypt that houses a statue of St Philomeno. The hall can seat upto 800 people and contains stained glass windows depicting the scenes of birth of Christ last supper, Crucification, Resurrection and the Ascention of Christ. It is a most oldest church in Mysore and over 200 years old.

There is an exquisite marble altar which the statue of St Prilomena is placed.

The story of St Philomeno dates back to the 3rd century AD. Philomeno is a daughter of Monarch of a small state in Greece.

When her parents were childless, they prayed to God and asked him to bless them with a child and promised to convert to Christianity, if their wish was granted.

The next year Philomena was born to them. She was very pretty and even if her childhood she showed signs of piety. When Philomena was 13 years old her father took her to Rome to obtain the favour of Emperor.

The Emperor was enthraled by her beauty and wanted to marry her. She refused and vowed to give herself to God. As she refused to marry the emperor, she was tortured and beheaded in Rome. The Greek princes martyred in 4th century.

Her blood relics was found on 24th May 1802, The Secretary of Maharajah named Thamboo Chetty brought her blood relics from Rome and handed over to Rev. father Cochet. He approached the King to assist him in reconstructing this church in honour of St. Philomena.

The new church was strongly and securely built upon a double foundation in honour of St. Philomena.

The reconstruction was completed under the supervision of Bishop Rene Fengas. It is the most attractive and largest church in Asza and has become a major tourist attraction in Mysore, India.

Padminie Nanayakkara National Catholic Writers Association.

Salesian Rector Major visits Lanka

Quintus Perera

Rev Fr Pascual Chavez Villanueva, Rector Major, Salesian Don Bosco (SDB) Worldwide, arrived in Sri Lanka from Rome for an official visit to Sri Lanka. Salesin chapter last week and delivered the homily at the Thanksgiving Holy Mass offered at Salesians Sri Lanka Headquarters at Dungalpitiya, Negombo. Fr Chavez said that the resurrection of Jesus Christ could be viewed as the most significant event in the human history.

During his visit to SDB Sri Lanka he would assess the progress made by the Vice Province and discuss the other matters with the Sri Lankan Don Bosco Salesians led by their Provincial Superior Rev Fr Anthony Humer Pinto.

Fr Chavez said the celebrations of the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most significant event. It was unbelievable where even his own disciples suspected and St Thomas’, one of his disciples believed the resurrection only after he put his fingers into the wounds of Jesus.

He said that Jesus was refused by his own people and further he was abandoned on the cross and after his death he was buried in the sepulcher. But his triumph from the dead enabled the everlasting salvation of mankind.

Fr Chavez was ushered as the Rector Major, SDB after his election at the 25th General Chapter held in Rome on April 3, 2002. He is the ninth successor to St John Bosco. Mexican by birth, his last assignment in the congregation was that of regional councillor for the Inter-American region. He is a doctor in Biblical Theology and has been involved in formation. As a superior of the Mexico-Guadalajara Province he consolidated and re-launched the oratories on the border of his nation.

Iraq Christians defy threats to erect Rio-like Jesus statue

The Christians of northern Iraq have chosen to defy mounting attacks by extremists by erecting a statue of Jesus modelled on the giant Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro.

The sculpture is only a tenth of the size of the 40-metre (130-foot) iconic statue that towers over the Brazilian city, but it has become a popular site for visitors in Hamdaniya, the north’s largest Christian town.

“The idea of the statue is not to say Christians were here in case we leave,” said Bashar Jarjees Habash, the city’s coordinator of Christian affairs.

“But the idea of building the statue of Jesus opening his arms is to send a message of peace to everyone to say that we want to live in peace with all,” said the 48-year-old.

“The people of this area have always tried to live in peace with everyone, even those who fight and threaten them.”

In February, Human Rights Watch called on Iraq’s government to do more to bolster security and protect Christians after a string of deadly attacks on the community ahead of last month’s elections.

The brick and plaster structure is in the middle of Hamdaniya, a city populated by 45,000 mostly Syriac Christians as well as a Kurdish Muslim community that makes up about 10 percent of the inhabitants.

Its construction was initiated and carried out by two local security guards who also have artistic skills. Using their bare hands, it was a labour of love.

“With the help of 20 volunteers, we built the statue in less than a month and we spent about 150,000 dinars (128 dollars),” said one of them, Alaa Naser Matti.

“It is built to last over 30 years. We painted it white, which is the colour of peace, and we will restore it each year.

AFP

Pope Benedict XVI arrives to celebrate a Pontifical Mass on the Granaries on April 18, 2010 in Floriana, Malta. AFP

An Easter Passion play was held at St. Sebastian’s Church, Moragoda, Gampaha recently. Here, Chathuranga Fernando playing as Christ in the play. Picture by Nimal Jayasinghe, Gampaha Roving Corr