We Christians are foremost as regards observances, pious practices and celebrations. We are second to none in the knowledge of Christ and the Church. Ours is a history of establishing institutions and running them efficiently. For this purpose people of various castes, dioceses and religious congregations vie with one another. There is an unending procession to retreat centres and pilgrim shrines to seek salvation. The faithful are in search of seers and visionaries to find a solution to their problems. If we consider all these as signs of an increase in faith, we shall be making a grave mistake, because a good percentage of believers, while proclaiming with their lips that Jesus is the only Saviour, and shouting, "Praise the Lord" that reach the heavens, worship in their hearts several other lesser gods. Alcoholism, drug-addiction, Satanism, consulting the horoscope, palmistry, looking for an auspicious time, sorcery, witchcraft, luxurious living, extravagance, bribery, corruption, levying unjust interest-these are the demi gods we serve. In short, the number of those who have their foot in both camps is on the increase in the Church and in society. If the retreats we conduct and the money we spend with reformation of life as the purpose, do not produce a considerable change in our family and social life, it is necessary to discover where the deficiencies lie and adopt corrective measures. Prayer and action should not go in two different directions. Rather, the effect of a life of prayer should be reflected in the daily events of life.

On July 3, we celebrate the feast of St Thomas, the disciple of Jesus and the first Apostle of India. We often take pride in the fact that we are the children of the great Apostle Thomas. Good! This great saint gave up country and family, undertook hazardous journeys, came to this far-off land, sowed the seed of faith and shed his blood for it, in order to share with others his experience of having seen and heard and touched Jesus. The saint must be happy to be known as our father. What St Paul told the Corinthians in his first letter, chapter 4, verses 15&16, can be told in all justice by St Thomas to us: "For though you might have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers. Indeed, in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. I appeal to you, then, to be imitators of me". We will listen to his advice if we are truly his children.

The fact that even after two thousand long years since the word of God has been sown in our motherland, only a small minority, that is, two and a half percent of the population have known Jesus, is anything but a matter of pride for us. Of this two and a half percent, how many are the true followers of Christ? Out of the six lakhs of villages in India, Jesus Christ is still unknown in five and a half lakh villages. Who is responsible for this? Each one of us, of course. Though the light of faith was kindled in our country right from the beginning of the Christian era, we have not tried to share it with others. We hid it under a bushel. We did not give any life witness. On the contrary, very often we gave counter-witness. We shall certainly have to give an account of it on the day of judgment, "If I proclaim the gospel, this gives me no ground for boasting, for an obligation is laid on me, and woe to me if I do not proclaim the gospel" (1 Cor 9:16). Let us, therefore, become aware of our heavy responsibility and attain freedom from our slumber and sloth, "Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep, for salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers" (Rom 13:11).

Let us share our Christ-experience with others with new vigour and zeal. Proclaim Christ through prayer, good example, wealth, talents, publications and other media. Let not a single day pass without our speaking to atleast one person about Jesus. Borrowing the words of the world famous Reinhard Bonnke we can say, "The Church is not just a boat meant for a pleasure trip. Its members should know to row and there is no place in it for passengers." Evangelisation takes place only when those who are in Christ bring others to him. Until then the evangelisation of India will certainly remain a mirage.