Christian Perspectives

‘We are called to serve, be apostles, fight evil’

E. WEERAPPERUMA

Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith invited the Catholics to be the messengers of God and be saviours among those with whom they live in communion in the neighbourhood.

‘We are a chosen people. We need not fear as God is with us. We did not choose Him, but God in His Goodness has chosen each one of us from eternity to be with Him, to be ‘sent forth’ and to fight against evil and that is the role of the Apostle,’ he said delivering the homily, at the concelebrated holy mass offered at Welisara St. Jude’s Church, Mattumagala, Wattala.

The Catholic community at Welisara, Mattumagala celebrated the silver jubilee of St. Jude’s Church, October 23, Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, the Colombo Archbishop was the chief guest and officiating celebrant.

Ven. Kerawalapitiye Sumedha Thera, the incumbent monk of the Welisara Moolagandhakuti Viharaya and a few samaneras were present to welcome His Eminence along with the Catholic clergy and devotees at the temple premises. They were also present at the commencement of the Jubilee celebration being witness to the amity and brotherhood existing within that area.

The boundary parapet wall of the temple facing the Colombo-Negombo Road, was decorated with banners and posters depicting St. Jude and a picture of Cardinal Ranjith, a very seldom and rare sight in Sri Lanka.

Delivering the homily as the chief celebrant officiating at the Holy Mass Cardinal Ranjith underscored the fact that the presence of God makes a place, a blessed place.

‘As God is present among us and within us, God is also present in the Holy Eucharist. The Church, the abode of God built by our ancestors is a holy place and is a great blessing for us,’ he reminded the devotees at the Church grounds to celebrate the feast of their Patron Saint, a close relative and an apostle of Jesus Christ.

His Eminence said that a church was a great blessing for a village. The church was the place to feel God’s love first hand. From the times of human history the devotees continued to build Deva Maliga (churches) with that understanding. The Church in Jerusalem is a good example. God’s people, Israelites lived in the desert for well over four decades, with Moses as their leader, being saved from the clutches of slavery in Egypt, they wondered through the desert for 40 long years until they came to the promised land. Holy Scripture records that God had accommodated them to live in this land - the Holy Land.

God’s people living in the houses in the promised land, found it demeaning to see their God, living in a tent and they decided to build a suitable dwelling place for God.

The Holy Scripture describe in detail how a magnificent Church came up in Jerusalem during the reign of King Solomon. The scribe goes on to say that the king invited the people into the Church he built, to proclaim God’s power. As they were praying in the church with King Solomon, God appeared in the Church in the shape of a cloud, and it was a major blessing. This most Holy Place became the place to venerate God and the people made it a habit to visit this church at least once a year.

This Holy Church was not built in a large plain, but on top of a mountain. The moment when people see the Church they immediately kneel down and kiss the earth. In that manner people have shown immense respect and honour to the church and to God, the Cardinal said.

This is how God came closer to the people. God identified them by the name ‘Emmanuel’. In Hebrew, Emmanuel, Em denotes God and Manuel is meant to be among us. What is important is that god is living with His people. The meaning of Emmanuel therefore is that God is among us and with us. The Holy Church is the place where God lives and it is a great blessing for us.

Cardinal Ranjith reminded the devotees that even in our country, our ancestors had protected the churches,they built and people in good numbers visited churches to praise God, to open their hearts and minds seeking deliverance from all types of worries, hardships, difficulties and agonies they experienced.

The Church dedicated to St.Jude is a great blessing not only for the Catholic community of Welisara but to all those who seek God and deliverance in their own way.It is yet a moment of great happiness to the Catholics as they celebrate the silver Jubilee of their church.

Ven Kerawalapitiye Sumedha Thera, the chief monk of the Welisara Moolagandhakuti temple, in his anusasana before the Holy Mass, made reference to his meeting with a blind man, a decade ago who came to pluck coconuts free of charge at a temple compound, in a very remote village.

The monk observed that he was astonished to learn from the man, an ordinary blind coconut plucker by profession expressing his deep and living faith in his God. He had told the monk that he never lost the touch and presence of God in his heart, though he could not do like those who could see, going to the church for various religious services. That man, assisted by his young child in leading him from one tree to another, had told the monk, that his will was strong, though blind, he had well understood humanity. Though he plucked coconut in the temple compound voluntarily, he never took even a young coconut for his child. This was because he felt the touch of the divine, the monk added.

Rev. Fr. Tony Pontius Perera, the present parish priest of Mattumagala Mission said that the church had the support of all men and women living in communion in the area though adhering to different faiths, in celebrating the feast of the Saint in a very fitting manner.

Fr. Tony added that he appreciated very much the assistance he received from the chief incumbent of the temple situated adjoining the church premises and from the Buddhists of the area in organizing the silver jubilee of the church. Welisara is part of the Wattala electorate of Gampaha district within the Western Province and is situated at a distance of 12 kilo meters to the Colombo metropolitan, the economic hub of the country.

The present Welisara St. Jude’s Church was a chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Providence on March 19, 1951, and was used as a place of prayer, meditation and veneration by the Franciscan Sisters serving the Welisara Chest Hospital at that time.

As the government in power at the time discontinued the services of the religious nuns of the Catholic Church, the chapel was turned into medical-store, housing all kinds of medicine and medical equipments of the Chest Hospital. It remained in that capacity until it was rededicated in 1986, to St Jude, the Apostle, by late Rev. Fr. Tudor Wanigasekera, as parish priest of Mattumagala Sacred Heart Church. It is on record that Vey Rev.Fr. Ignatius Gamlath had offered the first Festival High Mass in the new church.

Christian Thought for the Week

Joel, 2. 1-6

‘Blow the trumpet, sound the alarm on Zion. God’s sacred hill

Tremble, people of Judah: The day of the Lord is coming soon.

It will be dark and gloomy day, a black and cloudy day.

The great army of locusts advances like darkness spreading over the mountains.

There has never been anything like it, and there never will be again.

Like fire they eat up the plants. In front of them the land is like the Garden of Eden. But behind them is a barren desert.

Nothing escapes them. They look like horses, they run like warhorses.

As they leap on the tops of the mountains, they rattle like chariots,

They are lined up like a great army ready for battle’.

Parable on the text

God calls the people of Zion to His sacred hills, sound the alarm of impending destruction. He warns of a dangerous epidemic spreading over the mountains.

There had never been a horror of this kind and never will be in the future. The locusts that invade the city would devour all plants and shrubs that appear like the Garden of Eden which in fact is a barren desert.

Nothing will stop them. They are so terrified to look at and appear like war horses as they leap and jump over the mountains, frightening the inhabitants.

They rattle and make such noises such as from chariots and are poised as an army. But the coming of our Lord will vanquish these terrors and save His people.

This is the word of God.

Gwen Herat from the Holy Bible

Weekly Devotions:

Jesus’ teachings on Kingdom Principles - Beatitudes

Matthew 5:1-10

The word Beatitudes means ‘blessedness’ and the word ‘Blessedness’ is more than happiness, it has more depth than happiness which somehow indicates the circumstance surrounding ‘happiness’ is good whereas Blessed means even if the surrounding circumstances are bad, since it is based on God’s care and love upon one, as we strive to keep our lives in line with His teachings we will be blessed, because it becomes a ‘heart matter’ and not an outward ritual, or being religious, and God sees that and is able to bless us for it.

In order to receive the Beatitudes and what it demands you must first be a disciple of Christ and thus you qualify to acquire the citizenship of the Kingdom of God.

We see in these readings that crowds were gathering round Jesus, I am sure He wished to be alone with His disciples, teaching them what was expected of them, now that they belonged to the Kingdom of God - but oh no! people came to see Jesus - He was the talk of the town and there was no getting away from them.

Jesus goes up a hill to be in full view of the people and the disciples gather around Him, these teachings are directed mainly towards the disciples and not the crowd - the disciples had to learn about the Kingdom Principles, Jesus knew His time was short with them and they had to be taught in order that the disciples themselves will teach others, when He parted from them. Crowds will come and go and cheer and jeer but the Son of Man had come to finish His work on earth - the time, being very short.

Jesus never wanted to impress crowds, but His Sermon on the Mount had a purpose and direction. The few who believed and followed Him had to be taught the Kingdom Principles - they were contrary to the rules of the world - these were difficult to follow unless they learned that God’s blessings were there for them which extended even beyond death, if their heart was in it, God’s strength was there for them to follow it.

So, He taught the disciples saying Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.

Isaiah 57:15

For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

The only way to reach out to God is to realize we are sinful and be broken and humble before Him. When it comes to spiritual matters, we do have a shortfall, and have to realize this and constantly depend on the Holy spirit to teach us spiritual ways that are acceptable for Godly living.

Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted

Isaiah 61:1-4-prophetic message re Jesus

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek, he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.

There is a blessing for those who are concerned about ungodliness and unrighteous behaviour - those who are saddened in their hearts and cry unto the Lord will be comforted by Him.

The ungodly and the worldly people on the other hand try to gain happiness at any cost - they don’t care how many people they hurt to achieve this - but the Kingdom of God recognizes those who pray and are concerned for other people’s feelings.

Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the earth.

The world chooses its leaders differently to the Kingdom of God. If you are well educated, and stand tall among the others - have a good physique, look strong and confident and are endowed with materialistic blessings, these seem to qualify one to be promoted and cheered - but not so in the Kingdom of God, it is the meek, who allow other people’s interests take priority and of a non-argumentative nature and are tolerant and accommodating who are rewarded, by being the one’s to inherit the earth. God looks at your heart, the inside of you and not the outside as humans often do.

Psalm 35;7-9

Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.

For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness - for they shall be filled.

ISAIAH 11:4,5- prophetic message re. Jesus

But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.

And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.

The world we find hunger and thirsts to achieve its own needs at whatever it takes - not so in the Kingdom of God, one must want righteousness to prevail - this should be a driving force within you where you labour for righteousness to be brought about. One must remember the world views righteousness differently to God - and what is spoken here is Chirst’s righteousness, which can be ours by our spending time in His presence, then and only then can we receive this as a gift imparted to us - we cannot work for it, but hunger and thirst after it like a deer pants for water.

Blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy. Psalm 41:1 Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble.

The world shows strength without feeling - not so in the Kingdom of God - people who show mercy will be rewarded by God Himself being merciful to them. The poor have a special place in God’s heart- whilst the world chooses to give prominence to the rich and the well to do, we who belong to the Kingdom of God should give a special place to the poor - how many of us welcome the poor in our churches and call them to come in front? You will touch Christ’s very heart if you do so. We must behave like Kingdom People.

Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.

Psalm 24 :3,4 and 5

Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.

The world accepts deception and white lies to proceed in life - not so in the Kingdom of God. We accept the fact that we are sinful and there are struggles within to do the right thing - however God looks into your heart and sees all this, your motives should be pure - if you slip up, do not hide it from God, but ask Christ’s help - He did not come to condemn you, but help you - as you spend time with Him you will get better and better - that is all He asks of you.

Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God. Our God Jehovah is the source of peace - His very name proves it. Jehovah reveals Himself to Gideon as Jehovah Shalom - God of Peace.

As God’s incarnation Jesus Christ Himself was called Prince of Peace

Romans 15:33

Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

Both these names of God indicate that as His children, this quality or characteristic of God should be reflected in us, His children. People should recognize the Kingdom People reflecting this beautiful quality of God, and as we bring about peace in situations, God blesses us and we shall certainly be called ‘sons of God’.

The world will pursue personal peace without concern for others - as Kingdom people we should follow the example of Christ being prepared to lay down His life to bring about peace with God.

When we bring about peace this is well pleasing to God as we truly behave like Him and will be blessed as sons of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake for theirs’ is the Kingdom of heaven.

Isaiah 53:12- prophetic message re Jesus Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors, and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Unlike the world we cannot look to our own rights and then shrink back when we are persecuted.

Our Lord Jesus was committed to God fully in order to fulfil His purpose for which He was sent. The kingdom of God reflects a high sense of commitment to Christ our Adoni (Master)and our ministries to serve Him, which in some instances may require us to be persecuted intensely and unreasonably - we have to stand up to these as Jesus clearly said His kingdom is not of this world but it is yet to come - and we look forward to the coming of our King to establish His kingdom. May we be faithful to Him as He is and always has been, to us.

Prayer

Jesus, I pray that your Kingdom come - we long to see you and be part of your Kingdom. Help us in every area that there is unbelief. Oh, Lord, be merciful unto us and help us to be that person you want us to be, reflecting your beautiful nature in our life. Thank you for teaching us the Beatitudes today and Father, grant that we may truly grasp the Kingdom requirements to reflect you in our lives,and may we be faithful daily so that we too will partake and be participants of your Kingdom. Come Lord Jesus. Amen.

Sunitha Sahayam