What pride do we show off?
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Whenever I attend a public meeting of the Church, I am taken to a land of dreams, by the eloquence of the speakers, where one after another the achievements of the Church are proclaimed, bishops are glorified, accolades are showered, victory slogans are sung; making me feel proud that I am part of such a great Church of 2000 years and that St.Thomas must be the proudest father among all the Apostles because of us, his legacy, the Indian Orthodox Christians.
But soon, and surely, as it happens with dreams, I am awakened to the rude reality that we are still really an unknown entity even in the part of the world where St.Thomas ministered; and are fast becoming an endangered species even there - with innumerable squabbles, petty clashes and court fights; I am awakened to see the faces of many disillusioned youth and clueless adults walking inside and outside the Church, and to see those outside the Church becoming more and more alien to the name of Christ because of our actions -
and then I wonder - Where is the substance to backup the words? What do we have to boast for after 2000 years? Does India know the Indian Orthodox Church, do we know India? Do we care? And - will St.Thomas forgive us for our casual attitude towards the faith, for which he gave his very life? Can this generation finally do something to bridge the gap between words from the dias and actions on the ground? [These days we remember St.John the Baptist who was beheaded, St.Stephen the deacon, who was stoned - such used to be our leaders and our people once upon a time.] (even when I write this, I am reminded of the many many charity initiatives we have and the little Christs working for them, and thank God for them, those are the only real assets we have, and for St.Thomas to be proud of)
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Even when we give honor to where honor is due, I think we will do well to remember in humility how much more we need to travel to do justice to the faith we have inherited.
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Whenever I attend a public meeting of the Church, I am taken to a land of dreams, by the eloquence of the speakers, where one after another the achievements of the Church are proclaimed, bishops are glorified, accolades are showered, victory slogans are sung; making me feel proud that I am part of such a great Church of 2000 years and that St.Thomas must be the proudest father among all the Apostles because of us, his legacy, the Indian Orthodox Christians.
But soon, and surely, as it happens with dreams, I am awakened to the rude reality that we are still really an unknown entity even in the part of the world where St.Thomas ministered; and are fast becoming an endangered species even there - with innumerable squabbles, petty clashes and court fights; I am awakened to see the faces of many disillusioned youth and clueless adults walking inside and outside the Church, and to see those outside the Church becoming more and more alien to the name of Christ because of our actions -
and then I wonder - Where is the substance to backup the words? What do we have to boast for after 2000 years? Does India know the Indian Orthodox Church, do we know India? Do we care? And - will St.Thomas forgive us for our casual attitude towards the faith, for which he gave his very life? Can this generation finally do something to bridge the gap between words from the dias and actions on the ground? [These days we remember St.John the Baptist who was beheaded, St.Stephen the deacon, who was stoned - such used to be our leaders and our people once upon a time.] (even when I write this, I am reminded of the many many charity initiatives we have and the little Christs working for them, and thank God for them, those are the only real assets we have, and for St.Thomas to be proud of)
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Even when we give honor to where honor is due, I think we will do well to remember in humility how much more we need to travel to do justice to the faith we have inherited.
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