Press the panic button. 2012 is not far away. The world is going to end on the 21st of December 2012. So says the Mayan calendar of South America. You may have heard of the ancient Inca and Mayan civilizations. But Hollywood’s latest blockbuster “2012” has made the Mayan calendar a household word. What should we do? Is the world indeed coming to an end? Maya in Hindi means illusion. Is the Mayan prediction an illusion, delusion or is it just Hollywood again creating confusion?
What do different people think about the end of the world and time? The three monotheist religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam believe in the end of the world and a final judgement. The Muslims call it Qayamat Ka Din. According to the Bible there will be a final judgement, with the Second Coming of Jesus, and the beginning of a new creation, a new heaven and a new earth (cf Rev 21: 1-2). How and when will that happen? Hinduism does not seem to have a clear-cut definition of a beginning and an end. It leans towards a cyclic form, rather than a linear one. It believes in four eons (yugs) – Satyayug, Trethayug, Dwaparyug and the present Kaliyug. Each yug extends for millions of years. When the present Kaliyug ends we will go back to the Satyayug, and the cycle will begin all over again. How can this be verified?
We also have seers like Nostradamus and Malachy who have prophesied about future events from a very Euro-centric, and often Pope-centric perspective. What do they have to say about “The End”?
Michel de Nostradame (1503-1566), whose name was Latinized to Nostradamus, had made 942 predictions published in his book “Leo Propheties” published in 1555. Like most prophecies, his too are so vague that “post facto” one may try to fit them in anyhow. He does however refer to 3 antichrists, of whom two have already been identified as Napoleon and Hitler. The third antichrist is yet to come. Will his appearance signal the end of the world?
The prophecies of St. Malachy, the 12 Century bishop of Armagh in Northern Ireland are somewhat more specific. They are 112 Papal prophecies. By that count the present Pope Benedict XVI is the 111th one. So there is just one more to go! Too close for comfort? This is what the final prophecy says:
“During the final persecution of the Holy Roman Church, the seat will be occupied by Peter the Roman, who will feed his sheep in many tribulations: and when these things are finished, the seven-hilled city will be destroyed, and the formidable Judge will judge his people. The End.” So Malachy leads us close to judgement day and the end. The end of what - the Church, Christianity, the papacy, the earth, the entire cosmos? Malachy was in no way competent enough to address, let alone answer, such questions.
What does science or astrophysics say? The greatest living astrophysicist, after Albert Einstein, is believed to be Stephen Hawking. I have studied in depth his best seller, “A Brief History of Time”. He quotes the philosopher Immanuel Kant and St. Augustine, who say that time did not exist before creation. In 1929 Edwin Hubble discovered that the universe was actually expanding. From this evolved the Big Bang theory that time and space began about 20 billion years ago. Scientific evidence points to a slowing down of that expansion till it comes to a point where the force of gravity will exceed the diminishing velocity of expansion. This will result in the Big Crunch, the reverse of the Big Bang. And that could take another 10 to 20 billion years! So where do the Mayans, Nostradamus or Malachy fit into those billions of years? Both these seers were Eurocentric. But the entire cosmos has a diameter of 8 billion light years. There are about a hundred billion galaxies, each with a hundred billion stars. Earth is just one of this vast cosmos. And Europe is a small continent on the earth. So Nostradamus or Malachy would be totally out of depth on any cosmic predictions.
What then of the Biblical understanding of the end? Several Christian preachers, especially the evangelicals, quote calamities like earthquakes, floods, famine and warfare from the last book of the Bible – Revelation. They see similarities and arrive at the hasty conclusion that the world is hastening to its end. Biblical scholars, exegetes, differ greatly from the evangelicals on this point.
Exegetes say that it is even unlikely that John the Evangelist wrote the Book of Revelation. It has two focuses – secrets of the cosmos and secrets of the future. It has two approaches – one terrestrial and the other celestial. In the historical perspective it was written at the time of persecution of the Christians, especially during the reign of the Roman Emperor Domitian (81-96 AD). It is a compilation from different sources, and lacks a single literary production, or progress of thought. It is more symbolic than factual. Hence it would be dangerous to make geographical or chronological predictions based on the often confusing symbols mentioned in the Book of Revelation.
Many Christians refer to the Apocalypse. This comes from the Greek word apokalypsis, which literally means lifting of the veil or revealing. Hence the word Revelation, used for the last book of the Bible. In no way does the word apocalypse means the eclipse or the end of the world. No doubt Revelation talks of a new heaven and a new earth. Is this an on going spiritual renewal or a finite moment in time? Definitive conclusions are beyond human perception.
Even the great St. Paul erred when he advised people not to marry, as the “time was limited” and “this world as we know it is passing away” (1 Cor7:29,31). Jesus, the Son of Man, who was limited by time and space, was humble enough to say, “Sky and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. But as for that day and hour, nobody knows it, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, no one but the Father alone” (Mat 24:35-36). Perhaps it was for this reason that St. Paul later admitted that “Now we see only reflections in a mirror, mere riddles, but then we shall be seeing face to face. Now I can know only imperfectly, but then I shall know just as fully as I am myself known (1Cor 13:12).
We could conclude with the wisdom of Cardinal Newman, “The distant scene I do not wish to see. One step at a time is enough for me.” Be it the Book of Revelation, or anything else, we should be more concerned with the words of Jesus that will not pass away, rather than the passing away of anything else. Let us live the gospel of love and service, and leave the cosmic future to the Father, who alone knows. Till then sit back and enjoy watching Hollywood’s fictional “2012”, with our without the Mayan Calendar. Unveil error, and reveal the truth.
Thursday 26 November 2009
“WHEN THE SAINTS GO MARCHING IN”
“Oh when the saints go marching in …
Good Lord I want to be in that number.”
An old song, an even older human aspiration; the desire to get to heaven, to attain nirvana, moksha, jannat, eternal life and bliss. To be counted among the saints.
There are also countless jokes about St. Peter and the Pearly Gates, and who are the surprise entries in heaven and hell respectively. On the other hand there are some smug souls who sing the ditty:
“We are the few the chosen few,
The rest of you be dammed.
There’s place enough in hell for you,
We don’t want heaven crammed”!
Each unto its own. The Catholic Church also has its own idea of sainthood, both canonised and otherwise. I am writing this piece on All Saint’s Day, after having reflected on the day’s readings. They themselves are an indication of the Church’s thinking. The first reading was from the book of Revelation, showing a vast multitude kneeling and adoring God (Rev 7:12). They had been justly rewarded. The second reading from St John’s first letter says that we are children of God, but admits that “what we shall be in the future has not yet been revealed” (1Jn 3:2). The Gospel passage was from the Sermon on the Mount, the eight beatitudes (Mat 5:3-10). What messages do these readings convey?
Bible thumpers who specialise in frightening people about Judgement Day and the end of the world, love quoting from the Book of Revelation. It helps instil the fear of the devil in gullible believers, and stampedes them into the congregational fold. It also helps to loosen their purse strings. Frankly, I am not enamoured of this particular book of the Bible. On the Feast of All Saints we are told, based on revelation, that heaven is akin to kneeling in perpetual adoration before an almighty God! I find this description of heaven abhorrent. Tell this to today’s youth and they will turn around and say to you, “Hey Pop, heaven sounds very boring. Maybe hell would have a lot more excitement.” Does the Church have an answer to that query?
St. John’s observation that the future has not yet been revealed would be a more realistic approach. St. Paul also admits that for now “we only see reflections in a mirror, mere riddles, but then we shall be seeing face to face“ (1 Cor 13:12). Coming to the beatitudes and the Sermon on the Mount, there are many, both old and young, who would find this teaching too hard to swallow. The cost of “sainthood” would not seem to be worth it, more so since the reward or result itself was uncertain or boring! You why should one aspire for sainthood? The answer is simple – Don’t!
True saints like Sts Francis of Assisi or Teresa of Avila never aspired to be “saints”. They didn’t cherish the idea of having their statues placed in alcoves in Churches. Their aspiration was merely the imitation of Christ, following in his footsteps. That was Christian discipleship
This makes much more sense than “sainthood”. This brings us back to Jesus’ teachings, beginning with the Sermon on the Mount. It is infact the turning point in biblical spirituality. The ritual is replaced by the spiritual. Old timers were so comfortable with ritualistic religion that they felt threatened by the paradigm shift espoused by Jesus. It was so much easier to give a donation to the temple coffers, or go through the motions of prescribed forms of dress, food and behaviour. Once one was accustomed to such rituals, one was also inured to them. The goal was achieved.
Jesus’ idea of spirituality was a journey, not an end in itself. It was a continuous process, and a constant challenge. He was giving a new commandment, to walk the extra mile (Mat 5: 42). He said that, “If you love those who love, you, what reward will you get? Do not the tax collectors do as much? And if you save your greetings for your brothers, are you doing anything exceptional? Do not the gentiles do as much? You must therefore set no bounds to your love, just as your heavenly Father sets none to his” (Mat 5:46-48).
Right through the Sermon on the Mount Jesus repeatedly uses two phrases “You have heard how it was said ...”, followed by “But I say this to you …” He is telling us that what we had heard in the past was just not enough. There was now a new way.
The Pharisees, who were comfortable with their rituals, obviously resented this new teaching. That is why Jesus warns his disciples, “If your righteousness does not surpass that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of Heaven “ (Mat 5:20). Jesus seems to emphasise living a good life, more than promising a just reward. “It is not anyone who says to me Lord Lord who will enter the kingdom of Heaven, but the person who does the will of my Father in heaven” (Mat 7: 21).
Jesus is emphatic in his perception of those who will be rewarded with “sainthood”, the surety of a heavenly reward - those who served him in the image of the poor and needy. “In truth I tell you, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me” (Mat 25:40). This emphasis on good deeds is reiterated in the letter of St. James, who says, “faith without good deeds is dead “ (Jas 2:26).
The Feast of All Saints is over. By the time you read this in print we will be at the end of the liturgical year, when the Sunday readings will wax eloquent on the last things, the Last Judgement and more excerpts from the Book of Revelation. The Church’s liturgy goes in annual cycles. No quarrels about that. But life is either a progression or a regression. We either move forward or backwards. We cannot go around in circles.
So let us not aspire to be a saint, a statue with acrylic paint. Rather let us be simple disciples of Jesus, the ideal human being. As we follow in his steps we will come to the gradual realisation that he is more than human. Let our march begin. We will be in that number.
Good Lord I want to be in that number.”
An old song, an even older human aspiration; the desire to get to heaven, to attain nirvana, moksha, jannat, eternal life and bliss. To be counted among the saints.
There are also countless jokes about St. Peter and the Pearly Gates, and who are the surprise entries in heaven and hell respectively. On the other hand there are some smug souls who sing the ditty:
“We are the few the chosen few,
The rest of you be dammed.
There’s place enough in hell for you,
We don’t want heaven crammed”!
Each unto its own. The Catholic Church also has its own idea of sainthood, both canonised and otherwise. I am writing this piece on All Saint’s Day, after having reflected on the day’s readings. They themselves are an indication of the Church’s thinking. The first reading was from the book of Revelation, showing a vast multitude kneeling and adoring God (Rev 7:12). They had been justly rewarded. The second reading from St John’s first letter says that we are children of God, but admits that “what we shall be in the future has not yet been revealed” (1Jn 3:2). The Gospel passage was from the Sermon on the Mount, the eight beatitudes (Mat 5:3-10). What messages do these readings convey?
Bible thumpers who specialise in frightening people about Judgement Day and the end of the world, love quoting from the Book of Revelation. It helps instil the fear of the devil in gullible believers, and stampedes them into the congregational fold. It also helps to loosen their purse strings. Frankly, I am not enamoured of this particular book of the Bible. On the Feast of All Saints we are told, based on revelation, that heaven is akin to kneeling in perpetual adoration before an almighty God! I find this description of heaven abhorrent. Tell this to today’s youth and they will turn around and say to you, “Hey Pop, heaven sounds very boring. Maybe hell would have a lot more excitement.” Does the Church have an answer to that query?
St. John’s observation that the future has not yet been revealed would be a more realistic approach. St. Paul also admits that for now “we only see reflections in a mirror, mere riddles, but then we shall be seeing face to face“ (1 Cor 13:12). Coming to the beatitudes and the Sermon on the Mount, there are many, both old and young, who would find this teaching too hard to swallow. The cost of “sainthood” would not seem to be worth it, more so since the reward or result itself was uncertain or boring! You why should one aspire for sainthood? The answer is simple – Don’t!
True saints like Sts Francis of Assisi or Teresa of Avila never aspired to be “saints”. They didn’t cherish the idea of having their statues placed in alcoves in Churches. Their aspiration was merely the imitation of Christ, following in his footsteps. That was Christian discipleship
This makes much more sense than “sainthood”. This brings us back to Jesus’ teachings, beginning with the Sermon on the Mount. It is infact the turning point in biblical spirituality. The ritual is replaced by the spiritual. Old timers were so comfortable with ritualistic religion that they felt threatened by the paradigm shift espoused by Jesus. It was so much easier to give a donation to the temple coffers, or go through the motions of prescribed forms of dress, food and behaviour. Once one was accustomed to such rituals, one was also inured to them. The goal was achieved.
Jesus’ idea of spirituality was a journey, not an end in itself. It was a continuous process, and a constant challenge. He was giving a new commandment, to walk the extra mile (Mat 5: 42). He said that, “If you love those who love, you, what reward will you get? Do not the tax collectors do as much? And if you save your greetings for your brothers, are you doing anything exceptional? Do not the gentiles do as much? You must therefore set no bounds to your love, just as your heavenly Father sets none to his” (Mat 5:46-48).
Right through the Sermon on the Mount Jesus repeatedly uses two phrases “You have heard how it was said ...”, followed by “But I say this to you …” He is telling us that what we had heard in the past was just not enough. There was now a new way.
The Pharisees, who were comfortable with their rituals, obviously resented this new teaching. That is why Jesus warns his disciples, “If your righteousness does not surpass that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of Heaven “ (Mat 5:20). Jesus seems to emphasise living a good life, more than promising a just reward. “It is not anyone who says to me Lord Lord who will enter the kingdom of Heaven, but the person who does the will of my Father in heaven” (Mat 7: 21).
Jesus is emphatic in his perception of those who will be rewarded with “sainthood”, the surety of a heavenly reward - those who served him in the image of the poor and needy. “In truth I tell you, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me” (Mat 25:40). This emphasis on good deeds is reiterated in the letter of St. James, who says, “faith without good deeds is dead “ (Jas 2:26).
The Feast of All Saints is over. By the time you read this in print we will be at the end of the liturgical year, when the Sunday readings will wax eloquent on the last things, the Last Judgement and more excerpts from the Book of Revelation. The Church’s liturgy goes in annual cycles. No quarrels about that. But life is either a progression or a regression. We either move forward or backwards. We cannot go around in circles.
So let us not aspire to be a saint, a statue with acrylic paint. Rather let us be simple disciples of Jesus, the ideal human being. As we follow in his steps we will come to the gradual realisation that he is more than human. Let our march begin. We will be in that number.
A BISHOP’S CONFESSION
MEERUT: (2nd October): There are some people that you can’t keep down. They are different. So expect the unexpected. Like a bishop making a public confession about his own “sinfulness” before a mammoth congregation! The occasion – his sacerdotal golden jubilee. The man – Bp Patrick Nair, emeritus bishop of Meerut diocese in western U.P.
The organisers of his jubilee had asked him whom he would like to give the homily? Pat came Patrick’s reply, that he would do it himself; because if anybody else did it, it would be an eulogy, and he didn’t want anybody to tell lies. A dozen other bishops, a hundred priests, several hundred sisters, and thousands of villagers from the remote mission stations had come to praise and thank the Lord for Bishop Patrick Nair.
He said that the day he had been ordained a priest, 50 years ago, was the happiest day of his life; and the day he was made a bishop in 1974 was the saddest. The first priest that he looked up to was an Italian Capuchin, Albert, who, despite having cancer, kept serving to the end. He literally died “in harness” while driving his moped, when he just collapsed with exhaustion.
In his homily Bp Patrick dwelt on how he suffered from the sin of scrupulosity, even thinking that it was a sin to sleep or eat, as they were obstacles to his mission. It led him to depression and to contemplate suicide. He would have done so had it not been a sin. It was another priest friend who guided him out of the depths. He advised his fellow priests to always have a priest friend to whom they could turn for guidance and solace in an hour of crisis. It happens to everybody, so it is better to be prepared. Bp Patrick also expressed concern for the growing number of priests dying in road accidents. Was it a reflection of an irresponsible and reckless attitude to life, he queried? He also shared about how he became lonely at the top. Priests would visit him only to seek sanction for funds! He turned this on its head by going to visit them instead.
The most frightening day of his life was when the Papal Pronuncio told him that he had been elevated to the episcopacy. In vain did he express his unworthiness. But the Pronuncio would have none of it, telling him that he was shirking his responsibility, and going against God’s will. That did young Patrick in. He was now at peace with the humble submission to God’s will.
Spiritual crises were followed by physical ones. A keen sportsperson, Bp Patrick lost the vision of one eye on the basketball court. A voracious reader, he later began losing his vision in the other eye too, causing him great distress. He struggled to read, using a magnifying glass. The doctors didn’t give him much hope. Mother Teresa’s blood healed him. When she had an operation for a pacemaker, cotton swabs with her blood were discarded by the nurses. Some devout sisters collected those swabs, and gave one to Bp Patrick. He applied it to his eye, and viola, his vision was restored. The Lord works mightily for the humble of heart.
Besides sports, Bp Patrick is an accomplished singer and musician. Though he enjoys driving, he is even more passionate about cycling. He would tuck up his cassock and cycle all over town.
In his felicitation address, his equally humble successor, Bp Francis Kalist, said that Bp Patrick was known for his straight talk. The word “diplomacy” was not in his dictionary. He had a special love for the poor. Meerut diocese has just 6 English medium schools as against 46 Hindi medium ones. He encouraged local vocations to the priesthood and religious life, thereby building a vibrant local church. Bp Francis said that his predecessor had a deep prayer life and unflinching loyalty to the teachings of the Church. Above all he was a loving father.
Bp Fredrick D’souza of Jhansi, who was with him from his seminary days, said that Bp Patrick was so crazy about sports that even during CBCI meetings he would have his transistor radio on, and would update the other bishops on the cricket score.
Indeed Bp Patrick Nair has scored well on all fronts. He is now 78 not out. His “sin” was his salvation, and the salvation of thousands of others, whose lives he touched in the game of life.
The organisers of his jubilee had asked him whom he would like to give the homily? Pat came Patrick’s reply, that he would do it himself; because if anybody else did it, it would be an eulogy, and he didn’t want anybody to tell lies. A dozen other bishops, a hundred priests, several hundred sisters, and thousands of villagers from the remote mission stations had come to praise and thank the Lord for Bishop Patrick Nair.
He said that the day he had been ordained a priest, 50 years ago, was the happiest day of his life; and the day he was made a bishop in 1974 was the saddest. The first priest that he looked up to was an Italian Capuchin, Albert, who, despite having cancer, kept serving to the end. He literally died “in harness” while driving his moped, when he just collapsed with exhaustion.
In his homily Bp Patrick dwelt on how he suffered from the sin of scrupulosity, even thinking that it was a sin to sleep or eat, as they were obstacles to his mission. It led him to depression and to contemplate suicide. He would have done so had it not been a sin. It was another priest friend who guided him out of the depths. He advised his fellow priests to always have a priest friend to whom they could turn for guidance and solace in an hour of crisis. It happens to everybody, so it is better to be prepared. Bp Patrick also expressed concern for the growing number of priests dying in road accidents. Was it a reflection of an irresponsible and reckless attitude to life, he queried? He also shared about how he became lonely at the top. Priests would visit him only to seek sanction for funds! He turned this on its head by going to visit them instead.
The most frightening day of his life was when the Papal Pronuncio told him that he had been elevated to the episcopacy. In vain did he express his unworthiness. But the Pronuncio would have none of it, telling him that he was shirking his responsibility, and going against God’s will. That did young Patrick in. He was now at peace with the humble submission to God’s will.
Spiritual crises were followed by physical ones. A keen sportsperson, Bp Patrick lost the vision of one eye on the basketball court. A voracious reader, he later began losing his vision in the other eye too, causing him great distress. He struggled to read, using a magnifying glass. The doctors didn’t give him much hope. Mother Teresa’s blood healed him. When she had an operation for a pacemaker, cotton swabs with her blood were discarded by the nurses. Some devout sisters collected those swabs, and gave one to Bp Patrick. He applied it to his eye, and viola, his vision was restored. The Lord works mightily for the humble of heart.
Besides sports, Bp Patrick is an accomplished singer and musician. Though he enjoys driving, he is even more passionate about cycling. He would tuck up his cassock and cycle all over town.
In his felicitation address, his equally humble successor, Bp Francis Kalist, said that Bp Patrick was known for his straight talk. The word “diplomacy” was not in his dictionary. He had a special love for the poor. Meerut diocese has just 6 English medium schools as against 46 Hindi medium ones. He encouraged local vocations to the priesthood and religious life, thereby building a vibrant local church. Bp Francis said that his predecessor had a deep prayer life and unflinching loyalty to the teachings of the Church. Above all he was a loving father.
Bp Fredrick D’souza of Jhansi, who was with him from his seminary days, said that Bp Patrick was so crazy about sports that even during CBCI meetings he would have his transistor radio on, and would update the other bishops on the cricket score.
Indeed Bp Patrick Nair has scored well on all fronts. He is now 78 not out. His “sin” was his salvation, and the salvation of thousands of others, whose lives he touched in the game of life.
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