Subject: 'austraLasia' #265

ECCLESIA IN INDIA

Fr. Lukose SDB, Guwahati

History marches on inexorably to its final fulfilment.

Even though it progresses linearly and purposefully to the

Omega Point, repetitious parallels are also noticeable in

its course. The present day happenings in India are very

much like what transpired in the history of the Israelites at

the time of the messianic ministry of Jesus. Among them

were the Pharisees and the Sadducees (read the High

Castes) who were worried about preserving their social

structures and rituals (read Hindutva ideology).

For centuries Israel had been under the domination

(read colonialism) of Babylon, Persia, Greece and the

Romans (read the Portuguese, the French, the British).

Since many ‘aliens’ in their land had brought in new ways,

customs and economy, the Jews felt threatened.

Fidelity to the Torah, the Mosaic Law (read Manu’s Law)

according to the Pharisees, was the means to shield

themselves from this danger. The Pharisees were

intolerant of the so-called ‘aliens’(read Christians).

The conservatives Sadducees, however, clung to

the most ancient Hebrew customs and rejected novelties

of belief or ritual. At the same time they sought a

compromise with the Romans to maintain their

power and wealth.

The ‘zealots’ (read RSS, VHP, Bajrang Dal, the

fundamentalist fringe) went a step further. In the name

of religion and pride of culture, they resorted to violence.

In all their zeal they hoped to restore the Kingdom of

Israel (read Ramrajya)

But majority of the people were poor and lowly.

They were looked down upon by the Pharisees as

"the crowd ignorant of the Law and who are cursed"

but others respectfully called them "anawim"

(read Harijans, Dalits, Tribals) , the poor of the Lord.

It was the role of the ‘Scribes’(read fundamentalist

journalists, ministers) to formulate the requirements of the Law.

Then came Jesus, the so-called law -breaker,

(read Christians, Christian missionaries). He came

to fulfil the law with his new interpretations. He was the

liberator of the captives. He was perceived as the

ultimate threat. The Jews desperately eliminated him

(read Staines, Aruldoss, A.T. Thomas). But then their

victory was a hollow victory. He rose again in glory

leaving an empty tomb behind!

But near Jericho (read Manoharpur, Hazaribag,

Bhubaneswar, Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta, Guwahati etc.)

there was a group of men called Essenes (read men of

good will). They awaited the coming of the Kingdom in

adoration!! THY KINGDOM COME!!!

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