Modern-day Pharisees and Scribes

  Christians are not behind anyone in fasting and praying. They make it a point to observe 40 days of fasting and attend Holy Mass daily during Lent. Not only this, Christians also do lot of tithing. Very good. Is that enough?
 No. Some of us are modern-day Pharisees and Scribes.
  Some of us forget many other things. Do you pay bribe? Yes, some of us Christians do that. They also give bribe to get things done. Though I’m not sure about European and American Christians, in India, it’s common. Yes, Christians who pay bribe to get contract jobs. Christians in official positions who take bribe for clearing a contract or issuing a certificate to a citizen which should have come to him gratis.  
 What I was trying to say is it’s meaningless to observe Lent, go to Holy Mass daily and at the same time, maintain all kinds of outward appearances that impress others and follow corrupt ways. There’s a lack of sense of sin among people: what’s a sin and what’s not. We care two hoots about it. For many, taking and giving bribe is still not sin.      
Yes, it’s a grave sin to use God as a cover for injustice. It’s more important to get rid of such sinful activities than fasting for 40 days. If you avoid non-vegetarian food and alcohol but indulge in bribery, corruption and other inducements, there’s no meaning in observing Lent.  
 According to a report by Susy Hodges, Pope Francis highlighted the example of somebody who goes to Mass every Sunday and receives communion but then asked: does that person pay his or her employees in cash under the table, maybe a salary below the going rate and without making the necessary social security contributions? 
Our corrupt ways keep us away from God. If we call out 1000 times “Ohh Lord, my God” but continue with our evil practices, Lord is not going to listen to our prayer.  
 Pope said during his homily at morning Mass celebrated in the Santa Marta residence: “So many men and women of faith, have faith but then divide the tablets of the law. ‘Yes, I do this’ – ‘But do you practice charity?’ – Yes of course, I always send a cheque to the Church’ – ‘Ok, that’s good. But at your home, within your own Church, are you generous and are you fair with those  who are your dependents  - be they your children, your grandparents, your employees?’  You cannot make offerings to the Church on the shoulders of the injustice that you practice towards your dependents.  This is a very serious sin: using God as a cover for injustice.”  
 The pontiff went on to explain how during Lent Christians should be reaching out to those who are less fortunate, be they children, old people without private health insurance who may have to wait eight hours to be seen by a doctor  and those who have erred and who are now in prison.
Christians, especially during Lent, should not confine themselves to outside signs of piety like fasting and charity and instead must reach out to those in need. More than that, Christians should look within themselves and see whether they need to extend the fasting to other spheres of life. It can be anything, not necessarily bribe or corruption. It can be excessive anger, jealousy, lust, slander, deceit and unforgiveness. Or anything that keeps us away from God. Otherwise, we will end up like Pharisees and Scribes during the time of Jesus.

Modi summons Delhi police chief Bassi after Christian school attack

By Andrew MacAskill

Reuters

NEW DELHI, February 13,


 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday summoned Delhi's police commissioner after a sixth attack on a Christian building in the capital in the last two months, fuelling concerns that religious minorities are being targeted.
Suspects broke into a Christian school in south Delhi on Friday, stole some money, damaged closed-circuit television cameras and ransacked parts of the building. Police say they suspect the case is one of burglary rather than intimidation.
"The prime minister expressed his concern and said this case must be solved immediately," said Delhi’s police commissioner, B. S. Bassi. "He said that security must be foolproof so that attacks don’t re-occur."
Political rivals have accused the ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party of exploiting religious divisions since taking power last May. Hundreds of Christians clashed with police last week, demanding better government protection.
Religious intolerance in India would have shocked freedom fighter icon Mahatma Gandhi, U.S. President Barack Obama said last week. India's success depended on its not splintering along religious lines, Obama said on a visit last month.
Even after a spate of attacks, Modi, a self-proclaimed Hindu nationalist, has yet to publicly comment on the violence.
In a statement on Friday, Modi said he summoned the Delhi police commissioner to express concerns over the "rising crime rate in the capital." There was mention of attacks on churches.
Incidents of arson, vandalism and burglary have been reported from at least six Christian buildings since December.
The most serious incident was a fire that gutted a church in north Delhi, which church leaders said had been set deliberately, because of a strong smell of kerosene.
Credit: Reuters

The intolerance of tolerance

Christianity under attack
 When US President Barack Obama, who made a high-profile visit to India recently, described the country as an "incredible and beautiful" place, "full of magnificent diversity", not many were surprised. But his next observation on India -- the land of multitudinous cultural, religious and social medleys -- had top government leaders in Delhi squirming in their chairs. "It's a place where, in past years, religious faiths of all types have, on occasion, been targeted by other peoples of faith, simply due to their heritage and their beliefs -- acts of intolerance that would have shocked Gandhiji, the person who helped to liberate that nation," Obama said.
 The India government has not officially reacted to Obama's observations. Narendra Modi might have least expected this from Obama after walking shoulder to shoulder at Raj Path, the ceremonial boulevard in New Delhi. For many in Delhi's corridors of power, it's like alluding India is also a land of religious bigots.
 Gandhiji might be turning in his grave, seeing the way the country's secular fabric is being smashed to smithereens. The Christian community has been at the receiving end for the last nine months. A bevy of crimes of hatred and desecration of holy places of worship have angered and hurt the Christian community across the country. 'Ghar wapasi' programmes (reconversion),  saffronisation of education and culture, the demands for a Hindu Rashtra and desecration of holy places are again posing big challenges to the secular ethos of the nation in general and causing fear and consternation in the Christian community in particular.
 Church leaders have not taken things lying down.
 On February 6, 140 Latin-rite bishop who came to attend the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) in Bangalore led a candle-light rally of hundreds of priests, nuns and faithful.  Fr Stephen Alathara, CCBI deputy secretary general and Fr Laurence Culas, CCBI Convener, PR Committee, said in a statement that the Church leaders decided to hold the procession to express "their anguish and concern over the threats to peace and communal harmony in the wake of "the various untoward incidents in different parts of the country." Hardly a day has passed off in recent months without reports of attacks on Christians, churches and Christian institutions from across the nation. "Churches have been torched even in the national capital while reports of ‘ghar waspsi' and blatant threats to hold mass reconversions are causing anxiety to the Christians scattered in the far corners of the nation," the CCBI statement said.
 Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI), the body representing bishops from all the three rites, has strongly come out against the prejudice and bigotry towards Christians. "The unfortunate incidents that happened in the past few months in various parts of our country have hurt the sentiments of the Christian community and has shaken the faith in the secular fabric of our nation. The shocking incidents that have taken place against churches, clergy and laity in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi have caused great concern for the Christian community," CBCI said after a special consultation.
 The CBCI special consultation was presided over by the CBCI President Cardinal Baselios Cleemis Catholicos and attended by Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Cardinal Telesphore Toppo, Cardinal George Alencherry and other religious leaders. The church leaders are a worried lot. They are concerned about the vitiated atmosphere that prevents people from practicing their religion without fear and coercion.
 CBCI's view is that "the recent controversies in the name of religious reconversions portray a negative image about India. Communal polarization and the bid to homogenize India are posing threat to all minorities - women, dalits, and all linguistic, cultural and religious minorities". When we remain mute spectators to the acts of persecutors, we are standing in the way of the people to express their freedom of religion. In India, the Christian community, which has a history of 2000 years, has been in the forefront of caring for the poor through education, healthcare and better living conditions. They spread the message of love and comfort the afflicted. They never entertained intolerance or hate crimes.
 On February 5, a delegation of Indian Christian leaders gave a memorandum to the Prime Minister demanding security for Christians, their places of worship and details of a wave of violence against Christians in the last one year. However, the situation has not improved at the ground level. Another attack on a Christian institution in Delhi after the election results shows that the powers-that-be haven’t learnt their lessons.
 "The recurring assaults and vandalism against Christian targets in different parts of country and failure of the guardians of law to bring the culprits to book have only worsened the air of impunity. The silence of those responsible for upholding our Constitutional Rights and their failure to protect the community are indeed baffling," said the statement signed by CCBI President Oswald Cardinal Gracias and others. The new-found bravado of the perpetrators of crimes against Christians appeared more than a bluster. "Much of the violence took place after the new government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, came to power in May 2014. Violence reached its highest level between August and October, with 56 cases, and has continued in 2015," the memorandum submitted to the Prime Minister says.
 Two Vatican bishops were denied visa by the Indian government recently. Archbishop Arthur Roche, secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, and Archbishop Protase Rugambwa, secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples and president of the Pontifical Missionary Societies had to drop their plan to participate in the CCBI meeting in Bangalore.
Constitution of India guarantees freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion. "Subject to public order, morality and health and to the other provisions of this Part, all persons are equally entitled to freedom of conscience and the right freely to profess, practise and propagate religion," says India's Constitution.
 This guarantee seems to have been thrown to the wind if the incidents of atrocities towards Christians are any indication. The ghar wapasi programme was squarely denounced by the CBCI leaders as "a political process, carried out by the powerful exponents of religious nationalism - much against the principle of Secularism". It does not even have the legitimacy of freedom of political expression, they said.
 The acts of intolerance in India are not very different from the sectarian war in Syria or the murder of Muslims and Christians in Nigeria, religious war in the Central African Republic, a rising tide of anti-Semitism and hate crimes in Europe. In short, to be a Christian is becoming a big challenge as faith is being perverted and twisted by bigots. The intolerance of tolerance is breaching all limits.
 Why do these things happen? Whither the love, compassion, empathy and concern among people. Why are hate groups gaining strength? The intolerance towards other religious minorities in a modern world with all the advancements in technology and outlook leaves much to be desired. These hate groups use social media tools like Facebook and Twitter accounts to further their interests and keep their flame of intolerance raging. Their reach is enormous.
 There's no doubt that people should speak up against religious oppression and bigotry. Nobody, not even religions, can say that God will forgive and condone religious oppression. All of us desire a peaceful nation with the religious majority and minorities leading a life of mutual respect and support. The nation will develop only in such an atmosphere. When viewed in a spiritual context, it may be time to sharpen our faith and fan it across the world. Yes, the same flame of faith which was ignited by none other than Jesus Christ 2000 years ago

How Lord frees us from stress, tension, worries, concerns

By Simmy Joshy

 When we read Psalm 105, we come to know how King David was totally dependent upon the Lord.

 “Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always,” says Psalm 105:4. Again in Psalm 119, David’s total dependence on the Lord is conveyed very clearly. In Old Testament, we see how Jeremiah and Isaiah experienced special blessings as they lived their lives in total dependence on the Lord. 

 Yes, our Lord expects us to depend on him completely and unconditionally at all times. That is, we need to trust him in all our life situations. Then Lord’s grace needed for successfully dealing with any circumstances would definitely flow through and strengthen us. Instead, if we depend on our own strength, money, health, speech, knowledge, skill or any of our or earthly resources, then we would most probably be struggling to accomplish the end, in the most appropriate way.

 Complete dependence on the Lord invariably frees us from any form of stress or strain or tensions or worries or concerns, etc that we might encounter in different life situations. “If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen” (1 Peter 4: 11 NIV).

 We need to trust him for simple to complex things in life. Trusting in the almighty has to become a habit for the believers. He expects such kind of relationship from his chosen people. Are we growing in that direction?

  I think, one would most probably rely on the Lord only when all other options seem impossible or beyond the reach. Perhaps one such impossible situation would have made us realise the freedom and joy we experience through trusting completely in the lord. For example, everyone will rely on the Lord when one is terminally ill and have not enough medication or access to a medical practitioner. Such experience with the Lord should not remain as a mere standalone one but make it regular and experience the power and grace of the living god in our day to day lives.

  “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm” (Psalm 20: 7-8 NIV). Life becomes much more peaceful, wonderful and enjoyable if we depend on the Lord for everything, despite having all the resources for conducting the task. “But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (Isaiah, 40: 31 NIV). That is, those who rely on the Lord would remain powerful to the end even under extreme circumstances as they have the Lord with them.

  In today’s world, people of different ages complaint of having stressed out or feel that they have reached a stage where everything appears bleak. In order to avoid such horrific experiences in life we need to depend on the Lord for everything. God has promised wonderful gifts for those who depend on him. To all who are willing to trust in the Lord, Lord offers everlasting peace and capability to remain fruitful even in the midst of adversities.

  “But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him.  They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit” (Jeremiah, 17: 7 – 9 NIV). Through trusting God we are completely freed from all the worries, issues and problems in life and we could approach life as it comes in a very peaceful and joyful manner. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13 NIV).

  Just like a little baby depends and trusts his or her parents for getting his or her things done, Christians or believers need to look to the Lord at all times, no matter how resourceful we are. Of course everyone would be experiencing Christ and his power, especially during the most difficult life situations, but we need to understand the need and worth of depending on the Lord for everything. “For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength” (1 Corinthians 1:25 NIV).

 This clearly shows the need for depending on God and not one’s own capabilities, knowledge or strength. Our lives are designed by God to rely on him and so we can be perfect only if we trust the creator in its entirety. So why wait for any longer?

(The writer is a marine biologist based in Cochin)