Dec. 28, 2022
Revered Archbishop Andrews,
Greetings
and peace!
I hope you might have seen the just anger expressed by Rev. Valsan, of course, from his own theological perspective - but all the same Christian.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLC2cZO1mu4
This
is the just anger which a thinking Christian would feel - that we are setting
aside Christ and his teaching and are running after ritualism. When
I this, my comment was as follows: I recalled what my maternal
grandfather, who has a son, ordained priest in the Catholic Church, is reported
to have said by way of caution: 'ആരോഗ്യം
രക്ഷിക്കാൻ
പട്ടാളക്കാരിൽ
നിന്നും,
വിശ്വാസം
രക്ഷിക്കാൻ
പട്ടക്കാരിൽ
നിന്നും
ദൂരെ
നിൽക്കുക'.
In spite of being an ordained minister myself, I feel this is becoming very
true, especially the latter part of it. Thank you, Fr. Valsan for expressing
the anguish of a follower of Christ
.
I
request you to be a leader with Christ's mind and set aside the legal structure
of the hierarchical church for some time, and get back to the Jesus who kept
reconciliation, and first step for the same, as preconditions for sacrifice -
that too not if the sacrificer has not been reconciled with someone else, but
(even) if someone else is having bitterness or ill will against you; the same
Jesus who taught us to forgive not 7 seven times, but 70 times, and who forgave
those who insulted and injured him, and asked the father to forgive
them.
Today,
I have very specially prayed for our diocese, you and all other bishops and
priests involved, with a 24 hour of fasting, regular and carbon,
offering my 28th anniversary mass in that intention and also praying the
'latinised un-liturgical prayer devotion' of the rosary (quite unbecoming for
us Zero Christians of Syro Malabar Church).
I
hope Christ our Lord will steer your mind and strengthen your hands to give the
Church the right direction.
In
Christian fellowship,
Dec.
31 A Response to the article of Fr. Jacob Peenikkaparambil CMI in the IC
A
nasty - unchristian leadership - ritualism, bordering idolatry, is its
hallmark, duly assisted by legalism
And
what are we, the inheritors of Chavara doing? Laid back and lethargic - Either
taking a position and insisting on imposing it; or keeping aloof.
Why
are we not in the leadership of reconciliation? We lack elements for
that?
Jan.
2 - A Response to Fr. Prior General's circular on Jan. 2 instructing to fast
& pray for Syro Malabar Church
Rev. Father General,
Greetings
of the feast of St Chavara to you too.
Appreciate
the item no. 3 of your circular, as a spiritual movement, that is the right
note to start. In spite of being assigned to a solitary life, I will join in
spirit and fasting on that day.
But
as a community leader (I thought we were, and we were supposed to be), that is
not enough.
I
suggest irrespective of the stance individuals hold, and while underscoring the
need to be obedient like our master, I still feel, that when fissiparous
tendencies emerge, going beyond the legal, the Christian leadership
ministry has a mandate to seek out, out of the way, those whom they consider
wayward or gone out of the way.
I
hope under your experienced leadership something in this direction will
emerge.
And, as leaders in intellectual formation, our major seminary ought to promote healthy debate and open dialogue on theological and missiological aspects of our traditions and practices, including that of the liturgy. This seems to be miserably missing from DVK. We can't hear them!!
I suggest you incorporate more millets into your diet and that of the PG house - for your own health and that of the planet.
Green
greetings in the year of Millets 2023.
Prasant
CMI
Response
to Fr. Peenickaparambil's article in IC Jan. 16
ritualism,
dogmatism and legalism - these indeed are
the chains by which the hierarchy (hierarchism) in the Church have kept
the people of God chained, instead of 'liberating' them as per the manifesto of
Jesus.
Now
we have managed to make the ritualism more fundamental by making eucharist
almost a 'magical' act - magicalism!
God
save us from this five-headed monster!
Jan.
16 - Letter to the Rev. Bps Andrew, Alenchery and Kariyil
Priya
Pithakkale,
Greetings
and peace on the eve of the unity octave!
As
the Churches, especially the catholic church, I trust, promote Christian unity, and
even unity beyond Christian religion (a unity in Christ)through the observance
of the unity octave, I humbly request you to take a pastoral leadership to bring in
unity and reconciliation.
In
spite of my reservations regarding the way in which our Synod has gone ahead
with the liturgical reforms, I would not in any way condone the steps taken by
those who protest against it, especially the priests. I agree that it is
not in the spirit of Christ.
Even
then, I would request you to kindly set aside the legal enforcement policy, but
see how best there could be reconciliation and unity.
I
am very well aware that you don't have to be told this, and you would know
Christ, Bible, Theology, Law and Common Sense much more than I do. But I
still voice this concern with you, as a concerned Christian and priest,
while assuring you that our Church, the bishops, especially the
three of you, had been in my prayers all these days, and hopefully, will
continue to be so.
Yours
in the unity of spirit of Our Lord's humility that did not consider it
significant to hold on even to his equality with God,
I
am,
Prasant
Palakkappillil CMI
Jan.
17 to Fr Poothaveli
Acha,
though we are not very closely known to each other, we have met, and from a
distance, I held you in esteem.
But
regret to say, I was indeed shocked by the way in which a learned,
intelligent senior priest like you led the scandalous act in the name of
introducing the officially approved Qurbana. Acha, I am not questioning
your stand on Qurbana. To my mind, these are really immaterial, unless
they lead us to a closer following of Christ, closer to Christification of the
community and individuals and the cosmos. Was this act in any way
beneficial in that direction I wonder.
You
could have very easily waited till that Qurbana got over and offered another if
felt like doing that, and also preach to the people the logic of doing
so. But to have done as you had done, I feel was anti-Christ,
unchristian.
Acha,
while still not questioning your stand on the modus of offering the Qurbana, I
feel as a Christian, and an anointed Christian leader, you should tender an
unqualified apology for what you have done in this regard. That, I think
would go a long way in healing the wounds, and leading to reconciliation.
Acha,
this is the time of unity octave, and with remembrance of the great apostle
ahead on 25th, and another apostle of reconciliation and peace, Mahatma Gandhi
on 30th of this month, I request you to take this bold decision to apologise
for your so called ‘desecration’ and initiate healing, perhaps still adhering
to your stand on the issue as such.
(I
felt bad all the more because I have seen the basilica from my childhood, being
present when it was dedicated during the time of Cardinal Parecattil).
Fraternally
yours in priestly fellowship,
Prasant
Palakkappillil CMI
His
response: കഥയറിയാതെ ആട്ടം കാണുന്ന പമ്പര വിഡ്ഢിയാകരുത് അച്ചൻ എന്നേ എനിക്കു പറയാനുള്ളൂ.
Jan
18 Eph 2:14 Jesus as the PEACE - the reference point of
all who claim to be Christians - By his death, he put ENMITY to death! Nations,
religions (even Christianity) kill to bring peace, rather, Lord let me die to
kill enmity & bring peace! May there be peace for Ukraine!
Unity Octave 2:Mk 4:35 presents Jesus in harmony with the
forces of nature - at peace in the storm is His norm. Could we step a little
aside off differing dogmas-rituals & make 'faith 4 earth' a united agenda?
That the climate change driven foodless millions be provided for!
Jan
19 Mk 4:35-41 Jesus at peace when his boat is tossed up & down by the
waves, to me is the yogi in harmony with the elements of nature. He is
often seen in the lap of the nature. The Christian churches and other religions
can set aside their disputes on the nature and definitions metaphysical; and
work unitedly to make the planet tick well! Faith for Earth as the UN suggests
- to be the real stewards of the great garden given to their care. This could
start with individual & collective action towards waste reduction, zero
carbon communities (carbon fasting), greening, in short, responsible
consumption & production (SDG 12).
In
solidarity with the millions deprived of food due to climate change impact the
Russian war!
UNITY
OCTAVE 3: Heb 8:10 Dogma divides, benevolence binds. For the Christians, bogged
down by dogmas & church laws, God promises to have a new law of invincible
goodwill written in the hearts! Focus on Jesus the Unifier, as goodwill
personified, setting aside all other pursuits
Heb
8:10 Dogma divides, benevolence binds - For the Christian churches, getting
bogged down by dogmas and church laws, the divine promise is to have the new
law of invincible goodwill written in the hearts! The new law personified is
Jesus - the one, Churchiness tends to set aside; yet waiting to be written on
the hearts of Christians. May test of our faith be increase in goodness!
UNITY OCTAVE 4: Rom 10:15 The beauty of those who bring goodnews. The primary question before every Christian is whether what s/he shares is goodnews - s/he is goodnews. Goodnews that God cares, God is amidst & within us as shown by Jesus 'who went about doing good' (Acts 10:38).
UNITY OCTAVE 5 ICor 1:13 Paul calls for setting aside differences in belief & practice! Practice of what Christ taught, above the differing traditions of prayers - practice of love in action. Lord, let that alone concern those who claim to follow Christ!
UNITY OCTAVE 5: I Cor 1:13-17 Paul raises a crucial question: Has Christ been divided? Was it A/B/C that was crucified. Could the focus be on Christ and the practice of announcing the goodnews - differences in mode of prayers, way of announcing (but that the announcement is in line with the goodnews, not violating justice, not being self-righteous, not condemnatory) notwithstanding. Christians still have to discover that powerful goodnews hidden, which Gandhi could discover without becoming a member of a Christian religion. May we awaken to that core of the goodnews, and in turn, be transformed into that!
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