By George Pattery
Kolkata, June 20, 1924: It’s disgusting, to say the least, to read the arguments and counter-arguments from ‘apostolic tradition,’ claims of access to and support of Vatican officials in the Oriental Congregation, and of being the beloved of the Pope, of being a self-governing sui juris church.
Yet the inability or unwillingness to conduct Synod (Bishops only!) meetings with synodality and discernment, is glaring, in spite of the frequent meetings. Syro-Malabar hierarchy stands exposed in this self-inflicted crisis on the mode of celebrating the Eucharist. In fact, Synod seems to be entrusting itself to the mercy of political powers to resolve the crisis.
All these happening to a land and people – who are otherwise rightly credited by international agencies with high ranking on indices of social progress, health and education, and a beautiful landscape that is the envy of the rest of the world! – ‘god’s own country’, ruled by Marxists who could easily be considered atheists or theists, depending on one’s perspective!
When Tradition becomes an unbearable, enslaving baggage.
Today NT scholars across the world agree that the central teaching of Jesus of the gospels was on the ‘reign of God’, and Jesus was focused on teaching and enacting that kingdom. Scholars also agree that the Jewish community of the time of Jesus was led by ‘purity-pollution’ theories, much as in the ancient Brahmin community in India.
Jesus in the Gospels fiercely critiqued ‘ritualism, dogmatism and self-righteousness’ of religious leadership of the time who enforced ‘purity/pollution’ theory in order to assume and maintain power over people, especially the poor.
Jesus reconstructs the notion of kingdom by eliminating the religious, social and cultural boundaries among the people of God. We recognise the impact of his radical acts if we grasp clearly what socio-cultural-religious boundaries are doing to peoples’ lives. The boundaries of cleanness within Judaism focused on places, people, things, and times.
For example, for Judaism, the land of Israel was holier than any other land; the temple was holier than the land; the Holy of Holies was more holy than the other parts of the temple; the high priest (who alone has access to the Holy of Holies) was purer than priests, who were purer than Levites, who were purer than Israelites.
Animals and people with blemishes or deformities were unclean. Body fluids such as spit, blood, and semen were unclean because they belonged inside the body. A woman was unclean because of her menstrual period. Lepers were unclean because their bodies broke out in fluid that belonged inside.
Most of these boundaries – cosmological (God on earth is located in the Holy of Holies), social (Jew vs. Gentile, male vs. female, orthodox vs. sinner), and bodily (abstinence from certain foods, avoiding contact with certain people, and ritual worship) – were consciously rejected by Jesus.
It is in this context that the Table fellowship of Jesus assumes importance, and the reason for the ruling religious class of the Jewish community to resist it. Jesus’ table-fellowship was an open commensality, where people from the north, south, east and west – sinners and publicans, could join in, and be part of an open table-fellowship, without purity/pollution theories.
This was one of the most radical acts of Jesus, and most resisted by the ruling class. It brings forth the universal dimensions of the first Exodus from Egypt, but transformed into a new community that does not discriminate, and exclude; rather takes up the basin, washing the feet of one another, and letting be the sign and symbol of total self-offering on the cross. All these happening not in the sanctuary of the Jerusalem temple, but in a rented upper room, and in god-forsaken Golgotha – meant for blasphemers and traitors.
Such a radical, self-gifting life of Jesus, was intended to bring about the formation of a community, reflecting the unconditional, boundary breaking out-reach of the Father. Jesus summed it up on the cross. The Eucharist embodies this radical redefining of the people of God. (Cf. W. Randolph Tate; Soares-Prabhu, George; Moloney, J.Francis; Crossan, D.John et al).
Patriarchal slaughter. (Poems by Diarmuid O’Murchu).
The night before Passover time anticipates a feast,
While the women sieve the harvest flour and add the rising yeast,
With fruits and herbs to drink, the table now prepared,
In the blessings of abundant life discipleship is shared.
The Patriarchal slaughtered lamb has no more blood to shed,
This is the New Jerusalem – Resurrection lies ahead.
And the women who prepared feast
With birth-pangs of the rising yeast,
Must carry forth what food sustains,
For slaughtered lambs leave scant remains.
They’ll meet again, as male disciples sink in doubt,
Proclaiming to the world that Risen hope has broken out!
………..
The earth is imbued with a power to renew,
The breadth and the fire of the Spirit,
Long before the human did ever evolve,
God’s earthly embrace was the heart of true love,
Be at home in the earth and its beauty.
In solidarity with …
Take courage my friends, especially of Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese (and many more in other dioceses, unable to openly support); Jesus was a marginal Jew, who was easily eliminated by the religious and political leadership of the time. But Jesus broke all the enforced-dehumanizing boundaries by embracing the borders; and is still on his way to Emmaus, to meet us again and again, at the breaking of bread.
Let us walk with the unknown ‘guest’ and learn to listen, to look into each other’s eyes, tired and weak though, and discover with joy, that our hearts are burning within us! Let us continue sharing that refreshing story, even when we are getting excluded! Let us walk ahead, on the road, at the sea-shore, knowing that the tombs are empty, that the hell is empty.
Let us join O’Murchu in singing:
Imagine a world where war is no more,
Nonviolence will break through at last.
Beyond the resentment and grudges we hold,
And the war games so brutally cast.
Imagine a planet where all feel at home,
The blessing of God’s re-creation.
I make all things new – forever proclaim:
Imagine…Imagine…Imagine!