"What Should We Do?"
Fr Jacob Eranat
Here is an incident in the
Bible. The curtain drops on the Old Testament and rises on the New. John
the Baptist stands on the banks of the river Jordan like the morning star
that heralds the rising sun. John is proclaiming the advent of Jesus Christ,
the Saviour of the world, standing on the other side of the river. John
is clad in camel's skin and in his hand is the long staff, the sign of
a shepherd. Round his waist is a leather girdle. All are listening to John.
The prophet of the wilderness is addressing a crowd of people from different
walks of life - to give up the works of darkness and be immersed in the
works of light, to receive the Saviour of the world who is to come after
him. John is exhorting the people to repent and be converted (cf Mt 3:1-12;
Lk 3:1-13). Quoting the word of prophet Isaiah, he says, " A voice cries
out: 'In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the
desert a high way for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every
mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and
the rough places plain"(Is 40:3-4). He even addresses his audience and
exhorts them to bear fruits worthy of repentance and escape from the wrath
of God.
The people were aghast seeing
and listening to John. They looked at each other, whispering. They realized
there was no way to be saved except through repentance. What did they do?
In the society of the time there were chiefly three categories of people.
First, the common people. Second, the officials who had to collect the
tax for the Roman emperor. Third, the soldiers who had to keep watch over
the Jews so that they may not revolt against Rome . All those three classes
of people went forward in groups and asked John: "What should we do?" To
the common people John said, "Whoever has two coats must share with anyone
who has none; and who ever has food must do likewise." To the tax collecters
he said, "Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you." To the soldiers
he said, "Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation,
and be satisfied with your wages."
We can say that these categories
that approached the hermit John two thousand years ago, were representatives
of the different sections of today's society. It is the same advice or
the exhortation that John then gave them that still resounds in our ears
today.
Our present society is charged
with the grossest injustice and evil. One group of people is making every
effort to build high cost posh mansions and enjoy unlimited pleasures.
At the same time next door are the poor who are in agony, unable to purchase
some khajans or tiles to thatch their huts. One section is dressed up in
finery, decked with jewelry like show pieces while another is struggling
to buy even necessary clothing. One stratum of society is feasting on delicacies
and the most expensive liquors and revelling in luxury hotels while another
is suffering from starvation or semi- starvation day and night. It is here
that Christian sharing becomes relevant. That this sharing be done voluntarily,
those who are wealthy, should go into the midst of the have-nots with enthusiasm.
In the place of the tax-collectors
of those days we have today officials and political leaders. They have
made favouritism, bribery, deception and corruption their life-style. It
is impossible to describe the numerous kinds of exploitation, terrorist
activities and wickedness they are engaged in.They are in need of a total
conversion. They must, of their own accord, be ready for it. It is in places
where they are not ready for it, that revolutions and rebellion break out
and shedding blood becomes the order of the day.
The military and the police
who are the custodians of the law and excise officials were represented
by the soldiers during the time of the Baptist. Though a good section of
the police are righteous, there are quite a number who are wicked, cooking
up false cases, and supporting corrupt practices. They produce or abolish
various types of rackets, and they adopt a double policy towards smugglers,
hoarders and black-marketeers.
Let us turn inward into
ourselves. We are situated on some rung of the social ladder. Are we dealing
with our environment in an ideal manner? Are our footsteps following the
right path? Are our hands doing the good acts we should be doing? Are our
relationships at any time becoming illicit? Are our tongues speaking only
what is good? Do our eyes always fall only on what should be seen? Do our
ears hear only what is good enough to hear? In our correspondence is there
anything others will be ashamed to read or any scurrilous matter that harms
another's reputation?
Listen to the exhortation
St Paul gave the ancient Romans: "Let love be genuine;hate what is evil,
hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo
one another in showing honour. Do not lag in zeal,be ardent in spirit,
serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in
prayer"(Rom 12:9-2). Saul the zealot who with his companions was speeding
on his horse to Damascus to capture the Christians and bring them to Jerusalem
to torture them, miraculously fell off his horse by a stroke of lightning
and was struck blind. He heard the voice of Jesus and responded, "Lord,
what do you want me to do ? " Let us ask the same question, understand
the will of God in our regard, repent and live accordingly.