Torch bearers in a dark world
Christians must not be indifferent to politics but participate in political life says IBONIO D’SOUZA
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In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus called upon his followers to be the salt and light to the world around them. Our world today is in darkness. Every day we hear of international terrorism, arms race, burgeoning violence in society, economic exploitation of the poor, hunger, disease, man-made environmental disasters, and so on. We have a mission to fulfil, a responsibility to make our country, and the world, a better place by preserving all that is good as given to us through God’s word. We are to be people not to make others proud of us, but who think and put the “kingdom of God” first. That is what being “salt” and “light” is all about. However, we can only do this if we are prepared. Jesus challenges us to be the salt and light – to influence the world, and to be seen to be doing so. These are his words: “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Mt. 5:13-16).
You are the salt of the earth
By beginning with you, Jesus emphasises to the disciples that they both have the calling and the responsibility to be influencers in the world. Salt is used for seasoning so as to bring out the taste in food. Christians bring flavour and meaning to life in our pleasure-crazed culture, people are finding life dull and boring. No worldly pleasure can satisfy this. Christians reveal to the world that life without Christ is tasteless and unsatisfying. The real meaning to life is in Christ.
Salt makes people thirsty
As Christians we seek to create a thirst in people’s lives that can only be satisfied by Jesus, who said “if any one is thirsty, let him come to me and drink” (Jn 7:37). Salt is used to thaw ice on roads: so it can have the effect of warming hearts that have hardened against the word of God – over time the saltiness of Christians can bring people to know Jesus Christ. Salt is used to prevent decay and putrefaction. The Bible clearly states that the world we live is decaying because of sin. Christians are to be moral disinfectants in the world where work standards are low, constantly changing, or non-existent. Salt was used in Old Testament times as a cleansing agent. Apparently, newborn infants were washed in brine.
Christians have a cleansing effect on the entire world as they bring to the world the water of life, who is Jesus Christ, the Lord. Salt was used to heal wounds and, when applied, brought a biting sting. The Christian tells the message of judgment and the grace of God to all men, and men react, for vulnerable parts of their lives have been touched by the message of Christ. When men respond to Christ, God heals the wounds of sin. We are to remember that when there is no reaction to the message of Christ we are preaching, the true salt is lacking.
The Salt was also employed in Biblical times as a neutraliser in the soil. Farmers cast salt on the ground to stimulate growth. Christians are neutralisers against sin and Satan, and through proclaiming of Christ, there is spiritual fruit for God.
Salt which loses its saltiness is useless
Jesus’ teaching is challenging. There is little room for those who are Christians, but have lost their saltiness, or their “edge”. Without the testimony of lives lived out with integrity and consistency with the principles that Christians claim to follow, the testimony of our lips is useless. But be clear. This does not require us to be perfect: knowing our sinfulness, and knowing our need to confess it and be cleansed of it is a vital part of the Christian gospel. Then as verse 16 says, “let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven”.
You are like light for the world
As “salt”, Christians are to counteract the power of sin. As “light”, we are to illuminate or make visible. Our lives are to be an on-going witness to the reality of Christ’s presence in our lives. When we love others as ourselves, and we do good without growing weary, we are shining lights. It is important, however, to know that it is not our light, but the reflection of the light of the world, Jesus Christ Himself, that people will see in us…
Don’t hide your light:
The Bible proclaims that the world is in a state of gross darkness, and an honest evaluation of the world would prove that this is true. Man, today, thinks himself so enlightened because of the knowledge he has attained. The tragedy of our times has been that we have concentrated solely upon one aspect of knowledge. Our knowledge has been of mechanical things, scientific things and knowledge of life in a biological sense.
But man’s knowledge of the real factors that make life, has not increased at all. Naturally man cannot apply the knowledge he has to the spiritual realm, and the spiritual side of man is the all important part of man. Why the gross darkness? The Bible says the problem is sin and that men love darkness rather than light (John 3:19).
Christian disciples are called to rise and shine. Christians are to be the torch bearers in a dark world. One should not try to hide the light which God has lit in our lives. Rather, we should shine so that others may see our good deeds and praise God. Shining does not mean self-propaganda, self-publicity, self-glorification, but bearing fruit in our life, bringing life and light to others. It is about our deeds in society – in politics, in culture and in social life. Christians are not to be indifferent to politics but must actively participate in the political life of their country. It matters very much which political party rules and which party policies are implemented.
The Bible does not give us a programme for political action, but it gives us a picture of God and His purposes for His creation. In the Beatitudes we see a God who comforts those who mourn, a God who satisfies the needs of the poor and the hungry. To be a light is to follow this God, struggling to bring about social justice in our society, to safeguard human rights and to work for peace and reconciliation.
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The icy, icy eye of the Yennarai
By Francis Rodrigues
Great aunt Priscilla passed away in January. For 30 years, her sorpotel and bebinca had been the talk of New York. Goencars that is. My parrot Cocky and she shared a special bond cemented by the dried sunflower seeds and jackfruit sattam that great aunt spoiled Cocky with. We sprinkled a few on Priscilla’s grave.
Late one fall night, I was woken by an animated conversation. The phone rang. I clicked the speaker phone, only to hear this exhilarating exchange between Cocky and a rum character who appeared to be a bank official.
Official: Bhobe spicking, I amma calling from Goa. Who amma spicking to?
Cocky: Listen Bobby you fag, its midnight in Yonkers, kindly get lost!
Official: Oh, so sorree modom, but it is tan o’ clock in Gova, all banks is opening ten o’ clock here. I amma head clerk Bhobe. I amma not smoking; no fag, yaar…
Cocky: Which part of midnight do you not understand – are you deaf, jackass?
Official: Sorreee modom, I Bhobe, not Jacques. Are you Priscilla Silva, modom?
Cocky: Listen duh-brain, what exactly do you want with Priscilla?
Official: Priscilla modom is having Yennarrai account with our Icy-icy-eye bunk.
Cocky: Icy-icy-eye bunk…? Oh you mean NRI account in the bank… Sheesh!
Official: Dot is wot I aama saying, Priscilla modom, your having yennarrai account.
Cocky: Listen fleabag, I am NOT Priscilla! What do you want with her, Bhobe?
Official: She is a owing fifteen hundred rupees, and monthly balance is climbing!
Cocky: Sorry old fruity, nothing I can do… Priscilla’s dead!
Official: You are Priscilla’s dad? Meet to glad you, sir. I must says you haves the high-pitch voice.
Cocky: You frickin’ bobo – Priscilla is dead, gone to heaven… finished… kabbar… bhair poddlem!
Official: But our money, modom… fifteen hundred rupees still owing…
Cocky: You’re disturbing us at the other side of midnight for fifteen frickin’ hundred rupees…?
Official: What to do, Modom, otherwise we have to turn her case over to death collector now…
Cocky: It’s debt-collector, frog-face! Anyway good luck with that, I mean debt!
Official: Already we are contacted Interpole, since Priscilla modom is yennarai.
Cocky: And what will Interpol do when they find out that she’s dead?
Official: Maybe shend FBI or CIA to trace out our money…
Cocky: Do the FBI and/or the CIA have branches in heaven?
Official: Excuse me, modom, but what did you say?
Cocky: Arre, did you not hear clearly – Priscilla Silva is dead… expired?
Official: Then, Modom, its better you speak to my manager.
[The ICICI branch-manager arrives on the phone.]
Cocky: Listen manager saib or babu, or whatever they call you. Priscilla Silva is dead. She died with zero balance!
Manager: But account was never closed, late fees and charges are still applying!
Cocky: So you want her family or estate to pay you, you little Judas?
Manager: …Unless you can fax us her death certificate…?
Cocky: How about you fax me her debt certificate first?
Manager: Sorry madam, you are confusing the matter even more…!
Cocky: Hey, why don’t you just go on billing her. She’s dead; she don’t care …
Manager: Well, the late fees and charges will still apply….
Cocky: Maybe you would like her new billing address… saar?
Manager: Verry good idea – kindly give it to me, madam!
Cocky: Elmwood Resting Place, West Sand Lake, New York 12196.
Manager: But that sounds like it‘s a… cemetery!
Cocky: What to do? We don’t have a kabrastan here either…
The popat always knows.
[If you just arrived: Langoti ‘Long’ John Silva is a globe-trotting Goencar, always accompanied by his wise-cracking parrot Cocky]
