Christian Perspectives

St John the Baptist - Precursor of Jesus Christ

J I ROSAIRO

“For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink, and he shall be filled by the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.” - Lk 1-15.

The feast of the nativity of St John the Baptist, who is considered great among the saints of the church, or perhaps the greatest, will be celebrated with much pomp and ceremony on June 24, this year, at the church dedicated to him at Nagoda, Kandana. A powerful saint, he was, that even Christ described him thus: “Among them that are born of women, there has not arisen one greater than John the Baptist.”

The life and times of the Baptist was even foretold in the Holy Scriptures, hundreds of years prior to his birth. The Prophet Isaiah has this to say of John: “The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” Indeed, as the precursor of Christ, John paved the way for His coming.

Not much is found in the scriptures about his birth, except that Elizabeth was barren and stricken in age, but God having heard her prayer and that of her husband, Zacherias, informs Zacherias, through the Angel Gabriel, that his wife had conceived and shall bear a son and his name shall be called John. Meanwhile, Mary, who was also with child visits Elizabeth, her cousin who lives in the hill country of Judea. When Elizabeth sees Mary and hears her salutation, the babe in her womb is said to have leapt for joy. Elizabeth thereafter filled with the Holy Spirit cries out in a loud voice. “Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb and whence is that the mother of my Lord should come to me.” (Lk. 1.42,43)

After John grew into maturity, he began to preach, calling all to repent, do good and shun evil. John also had the privilege of baptising Christ in the River Jordan. Like Christ, John was a much misunderstood man. Very outspoken, he earned the wrath of Herod Antipas, the ruler at the time. John, fearless as he was, had the audacity to speak up to Antipas, telling him where he stood and on the instigation of Herodias, his brother's wife, with whom Antipas had built up a relationship, John was imprisoned in a dungeon. The story goes that when Herod Antipas's birthday came round, a grand party was thrown in at the palace, for which leading personalities were invited. Herodias's charming daughter, Salome danced so beautifully that Antipas, in a drunken stupor and captivated by her performance, asked the dancer to make a request of what she would like to have from him.

New clothes, wealth, a palace or even part of his kingdom. Salome runs to her mother and comes back to Antipas with a request for the head of John. Antipas is horror stricken and stupefied - a request he had least expected. Nevertheless, the wish is granted and so comes the tragic end of John, a noble death. He stood for what was right, speaking out fearlessly not counting on the consequences. The feast of his death is celebrated in some churches.

Now coming to the parish of Nagoda itself, our energetic and dedicated pastor, Father Ranjan Silva, has brought about sweeping changes and innovations to the church and parish. More important than all, he has brought about visible changes in the lives, attitudes and thinking of his large flock - a change of heart is what is now evident everywhere. Father Ranjan who has infused fresh blood, so to say into his people, is extremely happy at the noticeable changes that has and is taking place.

The church, now overflows at all services, including daily and Sunday Masses, with people from other areas as well. All these augur well for the Catholic community of Nagoda.

He taught us to pray

Siripathy JAYAMAHA

In his three years of preaching, our Lord Jesus Christ changed the world, broke traditions. He spoke on the wages of sin, forgiveness, humility, good neighbourliness, love and peace. He healed the sick. Brought back to life many. He enlightened the simple folk with His parables. His Beatitudes are for all time.

Then the most stupendous and most loving utterance. Yes! He taught us to pray to His Father and ours.

Please permit me to take you, my blessed readers to that memorable day some 2,000 years back.

“Lord,” said the multitude, “Teach us to pray.” He gracefully acceeded to their request. He sees His sweet mother among the crowd. Walks up to Her. Salutes her in the traditional manner. Touches her face, smiles and bows. His tender mother caresses His face, touches His hand and smiles. Jesus walks on to an elevated mound. All eyes are on Him. Mother feels that something wonderful is about to take place.

Jesus raises His hands up to Heaven. Looks up. “Our Father in Heaven, holy be Your name. Thy kingdom come.” The crowd is silent. Even the birds of the air, the leaves of the trees and the clouds seem to be giving ear. His shoulder length cascading hair and the garments wafts gently with the wind.

“Your will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven, give us this day our daily bread.” He looks at the very still multitude. Smiles in His own inimitable manner. “Forgive us our sins, as we forgive them that sin against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.”

This then was the prayer. Simple. Almost all the Commandments of His Father have been summarised into this unique prayer.

He speaks of the kingdoms of His Father. Both on earth and in Heaven. Says that God is aware of what is destined for each one of us. That all victuals are gifts from Him. He tells us to forgive our wrongdoers and that we should also seek forgiveness. His prophetic words on temptation brings together seven Commandments of God. Namely taking away of life, stealing, sins of the flesh and covetousness.

The Lord's Prayer is recited by all true Christians of the world. In many many languages. Some recite with hands raised in supplication. Some, holding the hands of those on either side. A gesture of love and fraternity. It is recited more than a billion times a day. It is the prayer at Baptisms and when one is laid to rest. Between the two, this prayer is recited when we trek up Calvery with Him, during Holy Mass, when being united in wedlock, and on many other occasions.

It is a prayer taught to us by a beloved master, redeemer and friend. So many have found comfort in these words, so many are and we know that many will be comforted in the future.

What a teacher - what an enlightening and everlasting prayer.

Punchi Palliya to be rebuilt

The age-old Methodist Church at Katubedda, known as Punchi Palliya is to be rebuilt by the Methodist Council with the support of the devotees and other donors.

Clergyman in charge of the Church Rev. Sarath Hettiarachchi said the foundation stone was laid for the proposed new church by Rev. Sumith Weeramunda of the Methodist Council's Southern Division at a ceremony held on June 3 attended by the clergy of all religions including Ven. Pallewela Wimaladhaja Thera of the Moratuwella Buddhist Centre, Sri Sivasubramania Kurukkal of De Soysapura Hindu Kovil, Mowlavi Alhaj Mubarak and Rev. Fr. Tyronne Fernando, Parish Priest of Rawatawatte Queen of Angels Church.

Several people belonging to other religions including Bhikkhus and Hindu and Islamic clergymen donated a stock of bricks to be used in the construction work.

Two Lasallian stalwarts celebrate their Diamond and Golden jubilees

Rev Bro Philip of Jesus and Rev Bro W George B R de Silva respectively celebrate their Diamond and Golden jubilees.

Rev Bro Philip of Jesus was born on May 23, 1934 at Kurukulawa, Ragama. His parents were S D Philip and Dona Welbina Jayawardena. He had his initial education at RC Kurukulawa and later admitted to De Mazenod College, Kandana. In January, he joined the Juniorate and was admitted to De La Salle College, Colombo 15. In 1984, he was selected to go to Penang to be a Brother. While he was in the Scholasticate, he completed O-L and A-L (London). In 1957, he followed a course in Agriculture at the Peradeniya University. In the same year he made his Perpetual Profession. In 1963, he was attached officially to Diyagala Boys’ Town, Ragama.

After 12 years he was awarded a scholarship for higher studies in the UK where he completed his Bsc in Bio Science. Deviating from Boys’ Town structure, he was requested to teach at De Mazenod College, Kandana and later at St Sebastian's College, Moratuwa.

The peak of his school work was terminated being the Director of St Benedict's College, Colombo 13 from 1989 to 1994. He holds a MA in Education from the La Salle University of Manila and was the President of the Gampaha District Basketball Association and a member of Exco of Basketball Federation of Sri Lanka 20 years ago. He was an enthusiastic in promoting the game of basketball in schools and outside. Presently he is attached to Mawathagama Estate, a branch of Diyagala Boys’ Town, as the Managing Director.

Coming to the Golden Jubilarian Rev Bro George de Silva who hails from Kotahena, was born to parents W S de Silva and Mrs Don Mabel Liyanage on October 8, 1943. He was recruited from St Benedict's College to the Juniorate in 1958 and while continuing his formation there, he attended St Anthony's College, Wattala. Then De La Salle College, Mutwal and again at St Benedict's College. He professed his First Vows in Penang in 1964 after completing his Novitiate. After his Scholasticate he was streamlined to get into the school teaching. He taught at De Mazenod College, Kandana and was a famous soccer coach while teaching at St Sebastian's College, Moratuwa.

For his religious formation he attended a programme called Sangre in St Francisco, in the USA. He officially retired from school service on October 8, 1998. He is a Trained Teacher (Mathematics) from the Maharagama Teacher Training College. He obtained SLEAS Class II in 1992. He is a Diploma Holder in Scripture, Philosophy and Sociology. As Principal of St Mary's College, Chilaw and St Anthony's College, Wattala, he was a capable administrator, producing outstanding results in A-L at St Mary's, with the highest number of students entering the university. Presently he is the Supervisor of the A-L section at De Mazenod College, Kandana.

Hearty congratulations to the two jubilarians!

Rev Bro

Vernon Perera FSC

[Weekly Devotion]

Exodus 16 - Wilderness experience

The Israelites come out of Elim on the 15th day of the second month that they set out of Egypt. In our previous study we learned how the Israelites got all impatient, concerning the water problem in Marah, and failed to wait for the Springs of water that God had prepared for them in Elim.

Now, their fleshy attitude longed for the round pots of meat in Egypt and the food of their choice. Their worldly ways rebelled against what God had to offer and be content. Then the Lord said to Moses ‘ I will rain down bread from heaven and people are to go out and gather what is needed for that day, in this way, I will test them whether they will follow my instructions'. The instructions were given to the Israelites as the Lord had commanded Moses, and Moses in turn instructs Aeron to tell the people to come before the Lord for He has heard their grumbling.

The glory of the Lord is seen in the cloud and the Lord gave them Manna from heaven and quails to satisfy their fleshy needs and hoped the miracle food will make them realize that He is their Lord their God who provides for them, looks after their needs and guides them through the pathway planned by His own hands, if they yield to Him.

The Lord also gave them specific instructions to gather double portions on the 6th day, so that no gathering of Manna would take place on the Sabbath Day. When they followed the Lord's instructions, the Manna kept well - it did not smell or get rotten the next day. The Lord specifically told the Israelites, no Manna will fall from heaven on the 7th day, being Sabbath. However, some of them were greedy and went out on the 7th day and as the Word of God said, no Manna was found. Then the Lord said to Moses ‘How long will you refuse to keep my commandments and my instructions'?

The Lord instructs Moses to take an Omar of Manna and keep it in a pot as a remembrance that He fed them from heaven with Manna so that the future generation might know and understand how God provided in the days of their desert experience for 40 years until they came to the Promised Land.

Life Applications to us Christians from what took place between the Lord an the Israelites during this 40 years of Wondering.

As we Christians separate ourselves from the world as the Israelites separated themselves from Egypt - God wants us to depend on Him totally. Our focus should not be on what we shall eat or what we shall put on - these are fleshy things - they are worldly items that will hinder our progress with our walk with God. Again and again, we find the Israelites focusing on fleshy, worldly things. God blessed them with a miracle each time so that they will marvel at God's provision for them, and look upward towards Him for such mundane matters - although the glory of God was revealed to them, both through miracles and His awesome presence, we see it in the clouds, or as a pillar of light in the night and as a pillar of shade during the day - somehow the Israelites did not see the glory of God and it did not impress them as it should have. It amazes me that their life did not turn out to be a life of worship daily, as God's revelation was so awesome during the period of exodus from Egypt.

So, we Christians too must be careful that we do not repeat this mistake that the Israelites made. God in His mercy has given us tools to recognize and follow Him if we so desire. We have the Word of God in its fullness, giving us the pathway of salvation in knowing Christ and being able to follow daily through the scriptures and His presence that was shown to the Israelites, according to the period they were in, i.e. before the advent of Christ. Jesus also clearly told us that the Holy Spirit is here with us as He was ascending to heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father to intercede for us.

Israel in not seeing and following God's instructions invited upon themselves the desert experience of going round and round in circles for forty years to come to Cannan, which today when we look at the map find that it was only a few days journey. God allowed this wilderness experience upon them, hoping they will grasp and learn to trust Him and show obedience to His word - which in God's eyes are two important matters we humans must accept and be willing to do. A whole generation of Israelites was wiped out except for Joshua and Caleb as a result, unable to reach the Promised Land.

As we learn to focus on God, following His way of doing things in our lives, ie studying the Word of God diligently and welcoming the Holy Spirit daily into our lives, depending on His love and direction, we can avoid the wilderness experience of Israel and follow the pathway that our Gentle Shepherd is able to guide us through.

On the other hand, if we choose to ignore the Word of God and the Holy Spirit and are attracted to fleshy, worldly, enticing, insatiable things of this world, then we too will end up going in circles and never reach the Cannan that has so lovingly been prepared by God for a beautiful life with Him.

So we find even our prayers demanding certain desires if fleshy might be answered by God, even through miracles - but receiving such answers and going behind miracles might ultimately lead you nowhere, unless you see the glory of God and His revelation that has been so clearly offered to us, even through these miracles.

Again the choice is between worldliness and Godliness - one has to turn away from the world and all that it has to offer and give priority to having a walk with God and being spiritual. May God bless you with the right desire of knowing Him and following Him.

Prayer:

Loving, heavenly Father - change my heart to turn away from fleshy, worldly things and focus on the salvation plan that you have offered to me through Jesus Christ, my Lord and Saviour. Help me to understand the pathway that worldliness ultimately takes me through, even as it did to the Israelites of old, though such wonderful revelations of you was given to them. Help me to probe and find you, as your word says ‘If you search, you will find me'. Help me to find you and walk with you until I reach the land filled with milk and honey that you have so lovingly prepared for me. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Sunitha SAHAYAM