Gift

Know the Gift of God and Pass it on Rt Rev Dr Joseph Pallikkaparambil

Below is an extract from the address given by Rt Rev Dr Joseph Pallikkaparambil, Bishop of Palai, at the inauguration of the Bible Convention in connection with the centenary celebrations of the Vadayar Infant Jesus Church of Ernakulam Archdiocese.

Today we are celebrating the centenary of this Church of Infant Jesus. It was built in one thousand AD and has been standing as a witness to Jesus for the last one thousand years. In the gospel of St John, chapter four, there is the account of the experience of a woman who encounters Jesus. "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, 'give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water"(Jn 4:10). On this occasion of the centenary, all the Christians who partake of the celebrations should try to understand better what this great gift of God is.

Europe and North and South America, which call themselves Christian continents, do not have an apostolic tradition like us. We are second to none. At the same time we have great responsibilities to shoulder. This faith which we have preserved for two thousand years should help us to listen to God's voice.

When I was rector of Vadavathur Seminary in Kottayam, the chief guest at the YMCA conference in December 1972, was Mahatma Gandhi's grandson, Rajmohan Gandhi. Referring to the 3rd chapter of the first book of Samuel, he said, "The boy Samuel was asleep in the temple with his guru Eli. In sleep he heard someone calling out to him. He said to Eli. 'Here I am. Did you not call me?' 'I did not call you. Go back to sleep', ensured Eli. Samuel went back to sleep. The Lord called Samuel again but the boy did not know it was a divine call. He went again to Eli who gave the same answer. When the strange voice was heard for the third time, Eli told Samuel that in case he was called again, he should say, 'Speak Lord, for your servant is listening'. The Lord called Samuel again and the boy responded, 'Speak Lord, for your servant is listening.'

"Today's world will say, Lord, listen, your servant is speaking". Today no one has the time to listen to God's voice or to wait looking at his face". So said Rajmohan Gandhi on that day.

This Bible convention led by Fr Augustine Mundackat is organized here in order to listen to God and regulate our life accordingly. I have come to know that Fr Mundackatt had gone as far as China in very unfavourable circumstances. The Lord has commissioned us to go to all the world to be his witnesses.

During Advent we mostly remember those who listened to the word of God and lived by it-Zechariah, the father of St John, Mary, the mother of Jesus and John the Baptist. Of John was said, "He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. With the spirit and power of Elijah he will go before him, to turn the hearts of parents to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord"(Lk 1:16-17). We are called to prepare a nation; it is a big responsibility that we have. The people in China are waiting to listen to the voice of the Lord. In Eastern Europe there is no possibility of preaching the Word of God. We have the freedom to do it. Not they. We have the great responsibility of preparing the people for the second coming, to give Jesus to the world of today. The responsibility of presenting Jesus to the modern world has to be through a life of faith.

When Mary and Joseph received the message of God to take the Child and flee to Egypt, they obeyed atonce without doubting. Here was God asking for help from two people-to save the King of Kings from the hands of a king; to save the Creator from a creature. God is today asking us for the same help. It is a great moral responsibility. Each one of us has to protect the Son of God.

The message the angel gave the shepherds was; "I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people. To you a Saviour is born..."(Lk 2:10-11). The good news for all nations was given to shepherds. Why not to the Roman Emperor? He would have sounded the trumpet and with kingly pomp, proclaimed it authoritatively throughout the empire. God's ways are strange. He is one who does great things with insignificant people. As on that day God sent the shepherds, he is now sending us. As the Father has sent Jesus, Jesus sends us. We must go to the ends of the world. We have to become his witnesses. The world is thirsting for the knowledge of Christ. The world has a right to do so.