Christian Perspectives

Jesus, the greatest lover and forgiver

Professor Anton Meemana

Jesus hates hating and loves loving. Jesus stood for life, cared for life precisely because God is the God of life. He is the God of the living. Jesus did not live for himself alone but for others too for nobody can live for oneself. Likewise Christianity is not for itself, nor for its own sake, but for non-Christians too. There is a need for Christianity to go beyond Christianity. The true quality and measure of Christianity is how genuinely, deeply and self-sacrificingly Christians love, serve and die for non-Christians.

Jesus is the truth. He is the absolute truth. There is nothing beyond Jesus. Jesus is everything in this universe. We cannot kick Jesus out of history (which is what some anti-Christians are trying to accomplish in Sri Lanka nowadays) simply because God is in and with him. God has already, decisively and absolutely sided with Jesus. God took the side of Jesus all throughout his life and mission and by so doing God said Jesus had been right through and through.

Death and real living

By living for others, he truly enjoyed his life. He took delight in life to the fullest. True joy stems from a life lived for others. By totally emptying himself, he lived fully. Had he not totally emptied himself, He would not have been fully alive. He is truly alive amongst us now because of the way he died. Had he not died loving us, he would have been long dead and forever forgotten. But he is absolutely alive and memorialisable now.

Does our fear of death keep us from truly living? Are we not, most of the time, dead men and women walking? Are we not walking cadavers? Unless we die unto ourselves daily, we will not grow spiritually. In order to grow, we need to kill our bloated egos. The pettier and more insecure we are, the more bloated and monstrous our ego becomes. The true holiness, the authentic sanctity is a result of daily death of our ego. The death of ego is the birth of holiness.

Jesus is the saviour par excellence. Salvation is only in Jesus, through Jesus, by Jesus, from Jesus, with Jesus and within Jesus. Human existence has no meaning whatsoever without him. Without Jesus, life is an absurdity, a useless passion, an aimless search, a pathless land, a trackless forest, a bottomless abyss. The most meaningful life one can have is to live as a friend and follower of Christ.

Faith and values

To cultivate faith in Jesus is to become a man like Jesus. To sustain faith in Jesus is to live like Jesus. Jesus was the happiest and the most joyful man ever lived on earth for he had the perfect faith. The deeper one’s faith is, the more exuberant one’s deep-seated joy becomes. Faithfulness means the stability of the heart and only such people can become deeply loyal to their spouses, friends, country, church, creed, culture, convictions and vocations.

Faith is toiling, labouring, sweating and suffering without expecting immediate results during one’s life time. Faith is its own reward for we may not be able to see the fruits of our own toiling in our life time. Faith assures me, guarantees me, promises me that it will bring forth fruit thirtyfold, sixtyfold and a hundred fold unbeknownst to us.

Faith will shatter, scatter and litter our conventional and complacent ways of thinking and our frozen lazy, cozy and rosy habits. It challenges our neat and ready-made categories about what is to be human.

Faith is the transvaluation of all our cherished human values. Faith transforms, purifies and deepens our conventional cultural values. Jesus donated his life totally, utterly, completely and voluntarily out of love for us. He is the Lord of life. He in fact made a conscious decision to donate his life for us so that we may continue to live fully and joyfully. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly (John 10:10).

Giving and receiving

The more we give, the more we receive. The when we stop giving and sharing, we also stop receiving and growing spiritually. Giving and receiving become the same in the final reckoning. Whatever is not shared with others will be lost permanently. What is lost is the real cost of life. Whatsoever is so lost due to our selfishness can never be recovered or redeemed.

What do we do when we receive a gift? Do we hide it, keep it to ourselves or throw it away? Or do we not break it open, unwrap it, expose it and share it with others? To share it is to bless it and be thankful for it. In that way, we could truly do justice to the gift received.

When we receive a gift we receive much more than a gift. A gift is a symbol of a bigger reality; that is, the gift makes us get in touch with the Giver, the Giver of all gifts and all good things. Life is a precious gift from God and therefore we do not own our life. It has been given to us as a gift to be broken, blessed, given away and shared with others.

To live is to share and to live fully is to share fully. As long as there is no giving of oneself, there is no real giving. Oneself as a gift is the real giving and the real gift.

Jesus lived his whole life, from birth to death, as a gift from God. By totally donating his life, he totally gained it. Whatever is given away is retained and it is one of those paradoxes in human life. Love and Forgiveness

The unconditional love of God for us and forgiveness of our sins are the two sides of the same coin and Jesus is the embodiment, emblem and concrete manifestation of that covenantal relationship.

The one who loves forgives and the one who forgives loves too. To love is to forgive and to forgive is to promote life. Forgiveness is the natural fruit of love. Love and forgiveness took flesh in Jesus and made manifest and concretised on the cross on Good Friday.

Forgiveness is, theologically speaking, the genetic make-up of the universe. The universe is structured according to divine mercy and clemency. Forgiveness is the DNA of human existence and proper human relationships.

We are also invited to a laying down of our lives for others, so that there will be life the way Jesus lived it. Ultimately all the suffering, all the hardships, pain, difficulties, frustrations we undergo have a meaning in Christ. Our daily struggles are neither senseless, nor useless, nor meaningless. God exists, God matters and hence human life, pain, emptiness, suffering and difficulties too matter.

There is no human predicament or human condition that Jesus does not comprehend or understand. Jesus is closer to us than we are to ourselves. He lives more intimately in us than we can ever recognize. Christ is the source of our happiness and the very end of all our aspirations and inspirations.

With the coming of Jesus into our world, God has no future apart from human beings. God’s life is necessarily and decisively tied up with us humans in and through Jesus. God can never abandon us now no matter how sinful or pathetic we become. This is the Good News Jesus brought to us, that is, the Creator of the universe cannot come up with any future plan by forgetting or neglecting us.

So now, is there any reason for us to be afraid of our future? Apocalyptic anxiety about our future is not a Christian virtue.

True life and Intimacy

I become more of myself, my true self, my real self, my original self, my authentic self in Jesus. I attain my true humanness in and through Jesus. We are absolutely nothing without Jesus. Christ is deep inside us, deep within us, so near us, so closer to us, with us, within us, in front of us, beside us, above us, underneath us, around us, before us, behind us and beneath us. There is no way we can escape his presence. He is deeply and intimately present when we feel his absence. His apparent absence is his presence. Christ is everywhere like air. If he is literally absent, then the entire universe would collapse back to its original infinite singularity.

‘Go and bring forth fruit, that should remain’

The sermon preached by Ven Godwin Weerasuriya at the service of Episcopal ordination of the 15th Bishop of Colombo Ven. Dhiloraj Ranjit Canagasabey on May 14

“You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you and ordained you that you should go and bring forth fruit and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever you shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it to you.” John 15:16

“Today is an important day in the life of our Diocese, when the Episcopal ordination of the 15th Bishop of Colombo will take place in a short while. An important day it must needs be, for our brother Dhiloraj Ranjit Canagasabey has been called to be our Bishop and Father in God for all of us – clergy and laity alike in the Anglican Diocese of Colombo in Sri Lanka.

Brother Dhilo, you have been called by God, chosen by the Church and set apart at your ordination for things pertaining to God. In the words of my text Jesus tells you “you have not chosen me but I have chosen you and ordained you that you should go and bring forth fruit and that your fruit should remain.” Jesus said this about all his disciples that they would be known by their fruits. In order to bear fruit we must abide in Christ. “You cannot bring forth fruit except you abide in me.” (John 15:4). However, our fruitfulness will always be according to our faithfulness.

During the past few weeks we have been remembering our brother very especially in our prayers. We shall renew our prayers for him once again on this day that he may be enriched with the sanctifying Grace of the Holy Spirit without which the most sacred desires fail and the most zealous labours come to naught. It is our earnest hope and prayer today, that you will be blessed with a fruitful episcopate in our Diocese and that during the years of service that may lie ahead for you, you may keep clear before you the high ideal.

God calls His Apostles today in the same way He called Peter out of the fishing trade to be a fisher of men, Matthew out of the tax-collecting booth to be an Evangelist, John Newton from the slave trade to be the Rector of a large parish, St Augustine from a professional Chair to be a Bishop in Africa and closer home Dhiloraj Canagasabey from Hotel Oberoi and the Archdeaconry of Nuwara Eliya to be the Bishop of Colombo.

Brother Dhilo, I believe that you are a person called by God and chosen by the Church for a special task in this Diocese - “for the work of ministering, for the perfecting of the Saints, and for building up the Body of Christ.” (Epheasians 4:12). One important question Jesus is asking you today in the same way he asked Peter before he called him to perform a special function for him is “Simon, son of Jonas lovest thou Me?” When Peter answered ‘yes’, Jesus said to him “Feed my sheep”.

The Ministry of the Church to which you are called must always be a pastoral ministry which calls for tender loving care and sympathy. Even the ecclesiastical administration that devolves on you by virtue of your office should be regarded as an expression of pastoral ministration. A Bishop should always be a good pastor – an under Shepherd whose life like that of the Good Shepherd is to be spent in the caring of the sheep.

The CCR – Constitution Canons and Rules of the Church of Ceylon says the special functions of a Diocesan Bishop is “to be a parent in God to all the Christian people and more particularly to the clergy, and to visit, teach, encourage and admonish them as a Chief Shepherd among the Shepherds of Christ’s flock.” All these and other functions of a Bishop envisages that he has to be a man of God – a Chief Shepherd displaying the qualities of the Good Shepherd whose we are and whom we serve. It should be said of him “Truly, this is a man of God that passes by us continually.” (2 Kings 4:8).

Our Christian calling reminds us three things viz - that we belong to - a worshipping Church, a servicing or serving Church and a witnessing Church.

The Church exists for the worship of God. The primary duty of the Church is to give God what He is worth in worship. Archbishop William Temple once said that “the heart of a religion is communion with God.” Disciplined worship is to stand before God silently and look at Him and allow Him to look at us, so that His eyes may penetrate into the inner depths of our hearts convicting us of our sins and convincing us of the need of Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour.

True and meaningful worship equips us for service. Bishop James Chapman the first Bishop of Colombo has said “the vision of God which begins with a call to worship ends with a call to serve - “Here am I, Send Me”.

Secondly we belong to a servicing or serving Church. To a Christian there is no honour greater than that of being of service to a needy person. Such is the example as well as the teaching of Him who came “to serve and give his life a ransom for many.” This then is true greatness, not that “we are ministered to but that we minister, not that we are served but that we serve.” Service is the key to greatness. Archbishop William Temple also bewailed the loss of the sense of vocation in Church and State. Today we in Sri Lanka watch with concern the declining trend in the supply and succession of people who bring a sense of vocation and dedication to their work. People who work with a true devotion and a sacrificial obligation towards their duty. Our service becomes less effective unless it is offered by men and women whose lives are enriched by constant communion with God. In the words of Studdert Kennedy: “prayer isn’t an easy way of getting what we want but it is the only way of becoming what God wants us to be.” To become what God wants us to be should be the goal of every Christian.

Thirdly we belong to a witnessing Church. Along with the obligation of worship and service, we must place the Church’s obligation of witness - “unto the uttermost part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8). The Church to which we belong is Apostolic – sent forth by God with a divine commission. The duty of witness is entrusted to all of us - “that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us.” (I John 1:3). We live in a world where visual aids are used as a methods of teaching. In that sense we are God’s visual aids in this world. The visible life of the Church has to prove and not contradict the audible message of the Church. Our message is often judged by what our actions are seen to be. A divided Church cannot preach peace and reconciliation to be a divided Nation.

The Church should be bold enough to act when the situation demands her to come to the forefront to promote unity, peace, justice, reconciliation and human dignity in our society. The ecumenical movement to which we belong seeks visible unity in the Church to fall in line with the high priestly prayer of Jesus “that they all may be one” (John 17:21) to give credible witness to the message we proclaim. Accordingly the Confederation of Christian Churches we have formed is to envisage a new initiative on our pilgrimage to Christian unity encouraging co-operation in common tasks with a view to the ultimate reunion of Churches.

Finally, it is a fact that the symbol of the cross is central to our religion. A Christian disciple cannot get away from the cross. It is certain that the demands of your office will become heavy at times. He who is called upon to wear the mitre will also be required to bear the cross and be a “partaker of Christ’s sufferings.” (Therefore) “Be strong and of a good courage, be not afraid, neither be dismayed for the Lord your God (who has called you) is with you where ever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)

(Sent by Gwen Herat)

Pope makes first ever video call to astronauts in space

Pope Benedict XVI chatted with astronauts floating high above Earth Saturday as the Vatican linked up with the International Space Station for the first-ever papal video call to space.

“Welcome aboard the Space Station your Holiness,” said Dmitry Kondratyev, Russian commander of the 26th long-duration mission to the International Space Station.

The crews of the ISS and the linked US space shuttle Endeavour excitedly waved to the pope, who smiled and waved back.

Speaking from his armchair in the Vatican library, Benedict said he admired the astronauts’ courage and commitment and described their mission as “an adventure to discover the origins of humanity.”

“Humanity is experiencing a period of extremely rapid progress in the fields of scientific knowledge and technical applications. In a sense, you are our representatives,” he said. AFP

Weekly devotions:

Open the eyes of my heart God

Last week we had a glimpse of God our Creator. Today, let us look at some of His characteristics. We will never know all of it as our human minds cannot take in what ~God is really like~ as He is too big for our small minds to fully understand.

However, just like how we glimpsed at God our Creator, let us also spend some time meditating on God’s attributes.

God is omnipresent:- Do you know what this means? This means that God is present everywhere. You cannot escape His eye. He is everywhere. Isn’t that wonderful? No one can take you away from Him and bully you or penalize you. God sees everything. If we accept God to be our protector and our defense no one can escape His glance. Se we have such security in Him. We can be perfectly protected by Him.

God is also omnipotent. This means He is all powerful. We had a glimpse of His power in relation to creation. Just imagine the sheer power that created the seas, the heavens, earth to say the least. This is our God. He is all powerful. Does not that give you confidence? We are relying on a mega powerful God. Why should we be afraid of anything once God takes over our lives?

God is also omniscience. This means He is ‘all knowing’. He knows all about you and me. Not only that , He knows the post the present and future. I know our mind boggles at the very idea - but it is true - we are talking about God and not man here.

Job 38:17-30 (KJV)

Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death? Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if thou knowest it all. Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof, Knowest thou it, because thou wast then born? or because the number of thy days is great? Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail, Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war? By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth? Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder; To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man;

To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth? Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew?

Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it? The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen. So you see, we are dealing with someone who has super powers Let us not take Him lightly. We must adore Him and treat Him with reverence.

Let us pray:-

Oh God, what supreme power is yours. I am so overwhelmed at your characteristics. I am so thankful that although you are so much higher and bigger than I you still want to know me and love and help me. Thank you Lord.

Jot down some truths you learned about God’s power – how does this influence your life? Sunitha Sahayam