By George Pattery
Kolkata, Dec 19, 2023: Even as the Major archbishop of Syro-Malabar Church is dethroned on various counts, the sui juris synod is relying on the Rome Visitor to find a way out of the self-made crisis during his second visit!
Is the sui juris status getting compromised?
All these liturgical controversies are in the name of Jesus of Nazareth whose memory is celebrated in the profound Table-Fellowship of radical inclusiveness, is memorialized in the concluding Paschal meal with his perplexed disciples, and is exemplified by the washing of their feet by the Master who seems to be in distress over the impending hostilities of Jewish religious leadership.
In the name of Jesus of Nazareth who denounced the Jewish priesthood and liturgy (on the rare occasions when he went to the Temple), and pitched his tent among the godless on Calvary! – now being adorned with great pomp behind the curtain in the Syro- Malabar Chaldean style!
This memory is thus confined to the ‘sacrifice offered to the Father’ looking towards the East – because Constantine the Roman emperor saw Cross under the Sun (god) as victory sign for is conquest of the kingdoms!
Where is the child of Bethlehem, the ‘Face of the faceless’ especially in this liturgical fight to occupy spaces?
Where is this Face in similar situations in Palestine – Israel conflict, In the now forgotten war in Ukraine, among the numerous children killed in conflicts?
Is this Child, the Face of the faceless, when, for the booming war industry of the rich countries, including the land of Mahatma, wars of different size and colors, are invented with meticulous economic and political calculations?
Is the Child the Face of the faceless in the neglected continent of Africa with many hungry people and warring tribes?
This Child continues to be a sign of contradiction – when a huge number of ‘faceless’ migrants across the globe, wander around, looking for shelter, at the closed borders.
Where and how is Mary’s new born infant, fragile yet evolving in this world of ‘AI’ of new techno-world, all-knowing and all-powerful device?
Or is this the Face of a new world that is not determined by the consumption of fossil fuel?
Is this the Face of a river that runs down caressing the earth, rather than polluting it?
Is this the Face that recognizes the wonder and beauty of a flower?
Can this Face laugh and play in the muddy waters in the courtyard of Mother Earth?
Is this the Face that is wanting a soothing touch while lying in bed, grown old and neglected?
Is this the Face that is avoided intentionally when we greet each other on Christmas night?
Is this the Face that is sought by us, in order to avoid dialogue with genuine seekers?
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Is this the Face that is neglected in our liturgies, and used as a handy tool for its weaponization?
Is this the face that comforts and heals us in our wounded-ness?
Is this the Face that sees billions of galaxies and countless stars glowing for billions of years on a fascinating journey, in the visit of the Magi from the East?
Is this the Face that sang the hymn of peace for all of good will?
Is this the Face that was/is born on the border of nations, religions and establishments, seeking a refuge?
Is this the Face that enabled ‘the outcast to glow in compassion, while the righteous pile rules to obey’?
Is this the Face that would later denounce and unmask the political, social and religious power systems?
Is this the Face that would later ask us: is your guest list complete? What is this feast all about without radical inclusiveness?
“Are we preoccupied with trivialities so trite while millions ache and hunger for the Spirit of new life?’ (D. O’Murchu)
Is this the Face that symbolizes unimaginable transformation of all and everything, in a future that is guaranteed?
Let us recognize this Face that holds no one an outsider.
(Jesuit Father George Pattery is the former president of the Jesuit Conference of South Asia.)
Wow! Thank you George Pattery for that very insightful and deeply touching meditation on the TRUE face of Jesus.
The wise men from the East, having seen his star in the East, travelled to the West. They first came to Herod the king. They needed assistance of the star again to reach Bethlehem. (Mt 2,1-2 & 9-10). We pray that the divine light may guide the “Church in the East”.