Book Review-2: Thoughts for the Trying Times…….. Page 13

the so-called demoniacs are found sitting and speaking with a sane mind. They have to thank God when “Sauls” become “Pauls”. The reversal motifs in Mary’s Song of Praise (Lk.1:46-55) speak to the human conscience again and again. “The Lord works vindication and justice for all who are oppressed” (Ps.103:6). The vision of Isaiah is to be realized towards a unitive vision: “In that day Egypt and Iraq (Assyria) will be connected by a highway, and the Egyptians and the Iraqis will move freely back and forth between their lands, and they shall worship the same God. And Israel will be their ally; the three will be together, and Israel will be a blessing to them . . . The Lord will say, ‘Blessed be Egypt, my people; blessed be Iraq, the land I have made; blessed be Israel, my inheritance’” (Is 19:23-25).

Are we makers or breakers of Peace?

“God weeps over the world” (Bishop Desmond Tutu). The UN-International Day of Tolerance on November 16 is really a gesture for peace making and peace building in a world torn apart with negative feelings. The time has come before us to ask whether we are breakers or breakers of peace. Do we make the world, hospitable to peace and justice?” Peace on earth-understood in terms of forgiveness and reconciliation or vice versa is a divine agenda. It is not addressed to any religion as such. It is a gospel for the survival of all that breathe (Ps.150:6)! We need men and women who pray and work for peace in the world. “Prayer of the lowly pierces the clouds and he will not be consoled until it reaches the Lord; he will not desist until the Most-High visit him and does justice for the righteous and executes judgment” (Sir.35:17). The kingdom of God on earth manifested in eternal values –such as satyam(truth), sivam(order) and sundaram(beauty) – urges all of us to hold the banner of truth which heralds: Satyam meva jayathe. The words of wisdom uttered by the Mystic of the 13th century, Jalalu Din Rumi, are worth recalling when we are asked to look beyond the margins: “The lamps are different but light is the same. If you keep looking at the lamp only, you are lost. Then arises the number and plurality. Fix your gaze upon the light.” How many precious hours have been wasted in looking at the lamp stand rather than the light? The message of love as forgiveness, peace building and harmony in nature is quite visible around us. The lamentation of a tree in our courtyard is quite revealing “You could not have cut me, if I had not given you the handle!” “Have I not given you shade even when you were cutting me down?” “When you throw stones at me, I give you my fruits, not stones!” What a great gesture of forgiveness and reconciliation in God’s order of creation!

The gospel of forgiveness and reconciliation is an unseen leaf in all the religious books of the world. They are hidden and kept in the clouds. We need to beseech the winds as a faith community to bring it down to the four corners of the earth. It should get rooted in human hearts with the three pillars of spirituality: faith, hope and love. This is the call of the Spirit in each age for the sake of the gospel. It is the mission agenda of the Church. In our search for reconciliation and unity, we need to ask ourselves the questions for self-discovery and metanoia (repentance) in a borderless world for the glory of God revealed in Christ. As the theme for the 9th assembly of the WCC (“God in your Grace, Transform the World”), the work of transforming the world is the task of not only of Christians, but also of all groups of people on earth. But the Church being the people of God as the salt and the light, has a special relation to the peoples of God imparting the transformative power of discipleship.

Revd Dr. M. J. Joseph, Kottayam, A member of the editorial board of the FOCUS

An Additional Editorial Note:

Having the knowledge of our history allows us to learn from our mistakes and avoid repeating them. It gives us a chance to understand where we came from and so, we can create a better God-centred tomorrow. Therefore, an understanding of the successes and failures of the past is important if we are to grow and make progress going forward. If we do not learn from our past mistakes, we are bound to repeat them. The Pulitzer and Noble Prizewinning author Paul S. Buck wrote: “If you want to understand today, you have to search yesterday.” History also should teach the vital importance of reconciliation and unity to overcome the difficulties that we are facing today. Therefore, we bring the article on ‘Digital Archiving of Kerala Christian Heritage’ by Dr. Cherian Samuel to your special attention and action.

For the Editorial Board

http://www.issuu.com/diasporafocus http://www.scribd.com/diasporafocus Web Site: www.facebook.com/groups/mtfocus E-Mail: mtfousgroup@gmail.com

Published by Lal Varghese, Esq., Dallas for and on behalf of Diaspora FOCUS

Disclaimer: Diaspora FOCUS is a non-profit organization registered in United States, originally formed in late Nineties in London for the Diaspora Marthomites. Now it is an independent lay-movement of the Diaspora laity of the Syrian Christians; and as such FOCUS is not an official publication of any denominations. It is an ecumenical journal to focus attention more sharply on issues to help churches and other faith communities to examine their own commitment to loving their neighbors and God, justice, and peace. Opinions expressed in any article or statements are of the individuals and are not to be deemed as an endorsement of the view expressed therein by Diaspora FOCUS. Thanks.