LUMEN FIDEI - II

Part 1: The Introduction or Prelude (1-7)

The first section is not sub-titled but the purpose is very simple, a presentation of the encyclical's situation, background and the context that necessitates the theme.

Pope Francis explicitly places on record with gratitude the contribution of Benedict XVI in the encyclical and says that he has merely added his contribution to the "fine first draft" prepared and handed on by his predecessor(7). And he underlines the occasion that serves as the backdrop of the encyclical - the year of faith proclaimed, again, by his predecessor to commemorate the 50th year of the initiation of the great Vatican Council II, which he calls rightly, "Council of Faith" (6). 

The term 'light' in the theme 'Light of Faith' does not serve an aesthetic end, but it brings out essentially the quality of faith that the Church wants at this juncture to underscore - the illumining nature of faith! The Modernity has found this light childish and only for the weak and the ignorant. It is here Nietzsche is quoted as skeptically suggesting to his sister, "if you want peace of soul and happiness, then believe, but if you want to be a follower of truth, then seek" (2). It is as if to suggest that faith and seeking are two opposed dimensions of human knowing. And as a result of this, "humanity renounced the search for a great light, Truth itself, in order to be content with smaller lights which illumine the fleeting moment yet prove incapable of showing the way" (3). This is the context within which the light of faith is presented by the Church as a guiding beacon. 

The teaching founds itself on the conviction that "once the flame of faith dies out, all other lights begin to dim" (4) and declares that "faith is born of an encounter with the living God who calls us and reveals his love, a love which precedes us and upon which we can lean for security and for building our lives" (4). Faith is a light, both from the past and from the future. From the past, because it is inspired by the foundational memory of the life and death of Jesus Christ. From the future, because Christ has risen and he draws us to life, to life eternal (4).

Presenting these as the fundamental premises for us to position ourselves, the encyclical proceeds to bask in the light of faith, from the past and from the future. (to be contd.)

THE MAN, THE MESSAGE, THE MESSENGER...

7th July, 2013: 14th Sunday in the Ordinary Time  

The history of salvation is one long process by which the Almighty has continually tried to reveal to humanity, who God is and what human beings are in relationship to God! As the letter to the Hebrews declares it clearly, "Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son", the Son who personified Godhood, yet participated in the humanity to the full. One who was like us in everything except sin. He was a Man, a Man who was the Incarnate Son of God. And when he set about to reveal God to us, he revealed in terms that no one else had done so far and no one else could do thenceforth. 

He was the Lord, not the Messiah in the sense that the Jews of his time wanted, but the Lord of the Cross and the Lord of Consolation! He came to bring Consolation to the last, the lost and least... as Isaiah promises in the First Reading. He said, I came to call the sinners, ate with them, moved with them, worshiped with them and spoke to them of the boundless forgiving love of God and gave them an immense consolation. That was his mission, as Luke says 'the consolation of Israel'(Luke 2:25). But that was not all, he was also the Lord of the Cross! The mission of liberation, the act of salvation, the moment of consolation, he accomplished through the Cross! It is not just about the wood on which he hung pouring out his last drop of blood and water, but the whole life - a life filled with rejections and ridicules, contradictions and conflicts, plotters and traitors! That is the life he chose for himself, suffered but remained faithful to his mission - that of announcing the Reign of God! 

That was his Message - the Reign of God! The message of hope and light to the humanity. While there is so much of Crisis and Cruelty, so much of Selfishness and Pride, so much of Injustice and Pain, the message of the Reign of God- assures happiness, serenity, fullness of life, justice and prosperity. All this on condition that we place God first and foremost. A situation where humanity adheres to God, listens to God's will and strains itself to take God's project forward. This Message is first to be Received by us, that is welcomed in our hearts and lived in our days. Not just receiving but the Message has to be Recounted, that is passed on to the others. And that is what Jesus was particular about! When his disciples accepted his message, he did not stop with that he sent them forward, to go and to announce, to recount their story of having found the Messiah, their experience of having tasted the Reign in the person of Jesus Christ.

The Messengers, those whom he sent were not just to announce in words but primarily through their lives. And that is why Jesus gave them so many directions as to how to conduct their lives; he forms them into his model of discipleship - characterised by Total Dependence on God and Utmost Respect for Human Liberty. The Church today carries out the same mode of evangelisation - total dependence on God and utmost respect for human liberty. The Messengers were first of all asked to be the Medium, that is they were to be worthy of the message that they carried. Secondly, they were asked to be the message itself! As Jesus who came to reveal God and he was God himself, we are today called to manifest Christ to the World and be like Christ ourselves.

We are the Messengers today, who are first of all called to listen to the Message that Christ has for us, believe in that Message and transform ourselves! As transformed believers we are called to take that message to others through our own lives, founded on Christ; thus becoming the presence of Christ to the others, true to the name that we assume - Christ-ians.

LUMEN FIDEI - I

Part 0: My Initial Feelings...

We are in wonderful times! That was my initial feeling as I saw today (5th July, 2013) the Holy Father Pope Francis, accompanied by the Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, stand on the lawns of the Vatican Gardens and address the media, presenting the first encyclical of his Pontificate! As "brothers in faith" - that is how Pope Francis refers to himself and his predecessor - they stood there witnessing to the real concept of service of authority, within the portals of the Church.

Lumen Fidei (The Light of Faith) comes to complete the Trilogy begun by the former Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI. Of his three encyclicals, two were reflections on the  Cardinal Christian Virtues of Love and Hope. The present encyclical comes to complete the reflection, offering to dwell on the virtue of Faith. Deus Caritas Est, published in 2005, on Christian Love and Spe Salvi, published in 2007, on Christian Hope, are the two of the Encyclicals which have been complemented with the present one signed by Pope Francis on 29th June, 2013, the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul. The significance of the feast of the two saints and the encyclical being written by two - one signed and one unsigned- authors, seem to be more than a coincidence.

My another feeling of "Wonderful Times" came from the fact that I was able to read the encyclical the very day that it was presented by the Holy Father to the World - thanks to the advancement of the Social Media and the presence of the Church in the world of Media. Beginning with this note, I intend to post here, my first glance of the encyclical. I wonder how far a theological reflection it could be, however I don't wish to claim that this would be so! All that I propose to do is present a personal initial summary on the Encyclical in parts, deferring a theological reflection for another moment. 

There are certain 'firsts' that mark this encylical and its context, a list of that can be interesting.

- obviously, it is the first time an encyclical has been written by two persons! Pope Francis and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. However, it is signed by only one - for we have One Pope and there is no confusion about it.

- for the first time, a Pope and his predecessor present an encyclical standing together, side by side as brothers in faith.

- for the first time an encyclical quotes the likes of Nietzsche (for some who consider themselves traditional or conservative, this can be brain-jammer!!!)

- and ofcourse for the first time, I am reading an encyclical on the first day of its release!(how significant is that for you, anyway!)

Some Intial Details of the Encyclical:

Lumen Fidei, is a rather short encyclical on Christian Faith, with just 60 articles, divided into four chapters with a prelude and a closure. The prelude (1-7) is a general presentation of the encyclical with the introduction to the theme and the last three articles (58-60) as always, present the theme in relation to the Blessed Mother, the Mother of the Church and seeks her intercession for a renewal of faith. The remaining 50 articles are divided into four chapters, namely, We have believed in Love (8-22); Unless you beleive you will not Understand (23-36); I delivered to you what I also received (37-49); and God prepares a City for them (50-57). 

As Pope Francis himself acknowledges the major contribution of Benedict XVI, we can well notice the theologian's reflections dominating the first three chapters while the final chapter changes its tone into more pastoral, indicating the change of hand. However, the beautiful transition that is not only in the text but in the whole Church and its happenings, is so admirable to witness. (to be continued...)

WORD 2day

6th July, 2013

Cursed be everyone who curses you and blessed be everyone who blesses you! To be God's "predilected" child(if i can use that term) is an incredible honour; and that is what we are. (How beautifully John expresses this in 1Jn 3:1-3!) In the corrupt culture of the day, it is pretty easy to understand this predilection...  a VIP's son or daughter, or a person who has the backing of a key personality in the society gets above anybody and everybody else to win favours in the society! Jacob was the chosen one, he was the one picked to bring forth the 'predilected' people of God. And because he was chosen, everything works in his favour. Unjust! Unfair! Undeserved! - we might say all that and all that is true! God's love that is 'poured' into us (Rom 5:5: not just given but poured into our hearts); it is unjustly given, unfairly lavished, undeservedly heaped on us. What a way to communicate that truth via the story of Jacob - a cheater yes, but who becomes an identity for God on earth - God refers to Godself as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and God of Jacob! This logic is totally different! This logic will not fit into the usual logic of the give-and-take, the cause-and-effect; this is a totally different logic of God's love, God's prodigal love for each of us. And if we try to fit this into the normal logic we will be frustrated, like pouring new wine in old skin, or old wine in new skin or stitching a new cloth to an old shrunken one! The call is to be drenched in this entirely unconditional love of God, and to understand how privileged i am to receive this love; and the most important of all, to exhibit that awareness in concrete, day to day actions and attitudes. 

WORD 2day

5th July, 2013

Mercy not Sacrifice! Mercy and Sacrifice actually stood for two paradigms that were in confrontation as a result of Jesus' life and teaching. God and one's relationship to God was explained purely in terms of sacrifice, sacrifice which stood for fulfillment of the requirements based on regulations and customs. The challenge is alive even today - that we do not make our spirituality a sacrifice-based spirituality. Fulfillment of the precepts, keeping the commandments, making vows and carrying out the same, offering suffrages and being faithful to our prayers to be 'said'. Mercy, instead is fundamentally a relationship. I remember our Scripture professor explaining the meaning of the hebrew word for mercy - rahamim (or rachamim) which comes from the root, rehem (or rechem) which means "womb". Biblically, as Jesus uses, mercy thus refers to a compassion one feels to a child in the womb or a bond very intimate that arouses a warm feeling towards the other! Far from, doing something to help the other or giving something to someone in need, Mercy is to feel one with the other, specially to someone who is really in need. That is why the statement of Jesus that follows, I have come not to call the righteous but the sinners - a feeling one with the needy! When we really feel one with someone in trouble, or difficulty, or temptation, or a struggle, much before branding that person a 'sinner' or a 'weakling' or a 'traitor' or a 'infidel', we would try to stay close to him or her, find out what actually is going on and share moments of solidarity that would walk that person right out of that situation. That is what Jesus did and that is what he expects of you and me!

WORD 2day

4th July, 2013

Abraham and his story has reached its climax today! An episode that escapes all rational discourse on God, God's will, God's mercy and Faith. If it is so difficult for us today as we read and reflect, it is not difficult to imagine the perplexity of a man who could possibly in Abraham's shoes. He would have been battling in his mind as to what really God wants from him, why does God give and why does God want to take it away so prematurely! Perplexities are more for one who believes more and one who believes more is prepared for more perplexities. Abraham personifies this fact - but in all his perplexities - he gives us a definition of what means Obedience of Faith (that later becomes a key word for St.Paul in his letters). Obedience of Faith, in simple terms is putting God first. Placing God's will before anything else, before my will, my desire, my plans and projects, my dreams and my treasures! It is perfect submission to God's will, even when I really do not understand what that actually is. Abraham never understood what God's will was, just as the pharisees and the Scribes never understood who Jesus was. But the difference was, Abraham was ready to submit but the latter did not want to. They held on to their judgments and prejudices, which did not allow them to see God's presence and action unfold right in front of their eyes. The year of faith, invites us to make this loving leap of faith in God as did Abraham, without doubting the presence of the Lord at any point of time. Faith is a total, loving and unquestioning submission to the Divine Will.

HE CAME... HE DIED...!!!

ST. THOMAS THE APOSTLE

The one who said, "Let us also go, that we may die with him" (Jn 11:16)...

went all the way in his life for his saviour...

and upto India, he came, and he died!!!

Inspire us St. Thomas during this Year of Faith...

to live our life of faith all the way...!!!

WORD 2day

3rd July, 2013: FEAST OF ST. THOMAS, THE APOSTLE

The first reading celebrates the unity we have as a community of faith, with the Apostles. The Apostles are the foundations of our faith says the reading and the liturgy proclaims the same truth too! Celebrating St. Thomas today, the diverse legends not withstanding, we thank God for this great Apostle, specially for having brought Christian faith to the South of India. "Bringing Faith", "Passing on Faith", "Transmitting or Communicating Faith" - these terms puzzle me. Faith is a gift from God, a grace, an inspired response given by a person to the Self-revealing God! If so, can faith be 'brought', 'passed on' or 'transmitted or communicated'? The question does not in anyway negate the process that is referred to here with gratitude and recognition of history; instead it offers an opportunity to bring forth a nuance that dazzles within it. Transmitting faith or Communicating faith, means primarily testimony of one's faith, that inspires faith in others! The testimony of one's personal response to God, that inspires the others to respond likewise! The Apostles' way of transmitting faith was that, they responded to the God who revealed God's self and in that response they challenged all who were around to respond to the same Lord! The story told of St. Thomas and his evangelising activity in the the southern India, is basically a testimony lived and held out as a challenge. The Challenge is not merely to accept the testimony, but to become a testimony ourselves and continue being the salt and the light of the earth! May St. Thomas inspire us!

WORD 2day

2nd July, 2013

Fire and brimstone all over, but Lot and his family in perfect safety... all because of, says the scripture, one man who walked in the presence of the Lord - Abraham! It was on Abraham's account, due to his faithfulness to God and his unswerving decision to live in the presence of the Lord, that Lot is saved! Even there, nothing could prevent the perishing of his wife, a typical representation of the category of persons who have lost their heart and soul to overly attachments. How closely parallel the scene is to that of the Gospel today - storms and waves all over, but disciples in perfect safety... all because of one person who was the presence of the Lord - Jesus the Son of God! They had nothing to fear, for the Lord was with them. But there was panic and desperation, for their heart and soul was not focused on the Lord who was with them... they were focused on themselves and their problems and their dying prospects. When Jesus rose, he first rebuked the disciples; only then the storm and the sea. Today, don't we find ourselves in a similar situation too? Problems and Weariness all over, but we are in perfect safety... all because the Lord's presence is with us! The Lord journeys with us, lives with us, and acts on our behalf... all that we need to do is like Abraham, "Be Still and Know" that God is!

WORD 2day

1st July, 2013

The first reading of today is a bit confusing! It presents a scene which looks as if God is waiting to destroy and Abraham is trying to appease the wrath of God. Though apparently that is how it is narrated, the message communicated is quite different. Sodom and Gomorrah were cities filled with filth and sinfulness, wickedness and devilishness and on account of these, they were cities that were running themselves into destruction! It is like the ecological crisis and the nuclear risks that we have created today! One day or the other we are to reap its fruits! The Wisdom of God in warning against this and pointing the right way is either rejected or belittled. The natural law and the divine law that is imprinted on our spirits, is the only guarantee towards a peaceful life. But we have ruined our prospects disrespecting and discarding any law that comes from God! When Jesus discourages one from following him and chides the other for not following him, he knows exactly what is good for each of them. God has set laws and order, keeping in mind the needs, wants and requirements for peaceful living of the entire humanity. In human pride, irrational greed and ruthless selfishness, we have made a mess of the world entrusted to us. The warning is to all of us today, if we do not mend our ways and return to the ways of the Lord, we are leading ourselves and our world into destruction. As he did with Abraham, the Lord is negotiating with and through every good willed person even today!