Repentance-Good-Life

Repentance is often not possible because its foundation is faulty. We may root repentance into sin, and sin as the cause of all the miserable things we are at. We may be assuming our problems as punishments, curses and other unknown things behind and are thought to be somehow connected to sin. So, repentance is to get rid of all these miseries. Instead, true repentance is our openness to the life of God.

To be in the life of God, the direction given to us is to renounce doing evil and to learn to do good. Why do we do evil? There may be some people intentionally doing evil. They know fully that what they choose to do are evil, but they sacralise those evils as good for the support from others. Many evils we have in our life may have happened by mistake, and we are carrying the burden of it. We regret on them. Many other evils are out of our helplessness. It happens. Often, they may be justified, because there may be hidden pains or injuries that lead to those evils. Often, we may be attached to these evils or the injuries behind them though they are painful. God also may justify them, because God knows what has happened in reality. But God does not want us to remain in them because he knows that they damage us however justifiable they are. God calls us to his life, in which we may be consoled and comforted and experience life. Repentance is this readiness to take this option before us.

Learn to do good is not just doing some good deeds, it includes our views, thinking, our conversations, attitudes to events and people, and of course our actions. The good we are called to possess have a name that is Christ. So, the goal of repentance is to be like him. It is a path of grace. Just like Christ proclaimed the gospel offering us life, where we find an episode of our life within the gospel story. Christ’s life was sacrificial and redemptive, our ‘good-life’ is also to be sacrificial and redemptive. Our memories give us a language to reread our pain and injuries which may hold us in evil. Let us have the language of the gospel to reread and reinterpret our lives. We have the altar to which come with our burdens and sorrows, there is another living altar of Christ at home where repentance becomes fruitful, offering sacrifice and being redemptive for others. It is not about how broken we are or how damaged are our relationships, but it is all about the possibility of our entry into the grace available for us.

Dying

If our communities have lost life, it is because we have chosen not to have a lifegiving death. Willfully we have kept aside the sense of sacrifice, service and death.

Can these dry bones live?

Many problems we may have, and many of them seemingly have no answer. Prophet Ezekiel is addressed with a question, "Son of man, can these dry bones live?" perhaps it is a similar question "can these problems have any answer? The prophet receives a command, "Son of man, prophesy to these dry bones." A prophesy is to open 'truth' before the crisis. Often the problems find no solution because we are not ready to find the truth lying within, what exactly is the issue behind the problem. Rather we might expect God to do magic to solve our problems; to end war, solve climate crisis, resolve family issues etc. when we are ready to put the basic truth, structure, and facts honestly It is a sign that we are ready to receive the grace. Then, the prophesy is to enter into the breath of life. "O breath of life, come from every corner, breath upon the dry bones ..." What breaths more deeply into our death than the life in love. Love involves deliberate choices aiming at goodness ready to face the reality with truth. The breath comes with what we need the most; may be virtues for growth, courage, kindness and care. Breath fully into our deaths, and spread the breath over wherever death has its sign.

If freedom is to be real ...

If freedom is to be real, primarily we need to cultivate a cultural conscience that uphold the values that bring about freedom. If the members of the society are to commit themselves to fulfill their duties and responsibilities, it is essential that there is an environment that is free of any form of domination.

The power to make all to bend their knees and freedom of living with equality and justice cannot go together. Even now the incidents of 'distancing of the untouchables' and cleansing ceremonies after the 'low' people's presence do not speak of a free society that has a potential for growth. The preference of political intentions over the real matters that hinders the growth towards an integral development of the society as a whole cannot be seen as a real love for our land.

The concern over GenZ demands on various matters was the recent phenomenon the country witnessed. Their struggle, their needs, and approaches are not of the same kind; yet they all deserve attention and call for the dimension of true freedom. Perspectival conflicts mostly create a gap because the 'Baby Boomers' and the 'millennials' are applying their theories and values to the real life struggles the GenZ bring to the focus. It may be noticed that the responses were often political responses and criticisms rather than clearly studying or clarifying the matters raised. The required clarity includes policies, scientific explanations, failed tactics and reasons, newer possibilities and their potentials and challenges etc. The falling economies, destabilization of government systems and institutions, alarming climate emergencies will have their impacts globally and locally in various degrees. By dwelling on petty political interests parties are already failing a future that should be truly free.

What should freedom ensure today? We have wasted our time and energy in demonizing and cleansing of the past. We need to construct willfully a culture that can sustain us together, not the ways to solidify power. Such political orientation is a failed system if we look at the needs of the approaching time locally and globally. Should the freedom we uphold not keep alert on issues of clean water, air and safe food? Should all our children not have opportunity to study and rise to their potential? Does our freedom not include surety of trains running on time and not missing a connecting train? All these require cultivating a conscience, not just personal, but cultural and social.

Assumption

Mary was assumed into God's glory. We too may be, by God's mercy, assumed into the same glory. Every moment of grace transforms us into the image of Christ. It also shines with the beauty of its 'blessed fruit. '