Kohine Sunday (Departed Clergy) 8th Feb 09

[admin]

Reading: From the Gospel according to St. Matthew 24: 42-51

Dear and Respected Brethren,

May I invite your attention to the 18 days gap (Pathinettida) between the beginning of the 3 days Lent and the beginning of the great (50 days Lent). As we all know the 18 days gap is the time for preparation to observe the great Lenten season ideally and most beneficially. During this period we come across two Sundays and on the first Sunday we remember all the departed clergy and on the second Sunday we remember all the departed souls. All Lents are observed by the Church and the individuals are joining the activity of the Holy Church. When we say about the Church, we should not forget the fact that the heavenly group, departed souls and the living faithful are participants of the events undertaken by the Church. When the Holy Church is fasting, it means all the three groups, the components of the Holy Church are fasting together. Our Lord and savior, Lord Jesus has shown us the fasting as a powerful weapon to fight the Satan and the evil forces who often try their best to distract us from the heavenly atmosphere. We do seek the support and help from the departed clergy and all the souls of the departed, to conduct the war against the evil powers effectively. When we might pass through these days, we must realize the importance of each day and utilize the opportunities available for the speedy growth and development of our spirituality.

We find our Lord's sincere effort in exhorting His followers to wait for the arrival of the Savior or what we call His second coming. He has made it clear several times that no one knows the time of His arrival. Our Lord compares His second coming to the attack of a robber. If the housekeeper knows the time of the robber's arrival, definitely he would not allow the robber to loot the house. So he is supposed to wait the entire night with much care and attention. Likewise we are not sure of our Lord's arrival and hence we are supposed to wait for Him. In verse 44 and 45 we listen to our Lord's words; "therefore you also be ready, for in such an hour as you think the Son of man comes. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his Lord has made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season."

We all desire to hear the call "Faithful and wise servant" from our Lord God. The clergy as a whole, desire to be a faithful and wise servant. And this is the only prayer about our clergy. In the Holy Church we pray to God to enable all the priests to listen the call from God, "thou faithful and wise servant". Our clergy are blessed enough to partake the Holy mysteries in the sacraments instituted by our Lord Jesus and in a way they perform the great salvation processes with God. The clergy are the servants and administrators of the Holy Sacraments. The Holy Eucharist is always revered as the crown of all sacraments. In the Holy Eucharist our clergy participate all the important events in the life of Lord Jesus for the sake of salvation of the entire mankind. They handle the divine body and blood of our Lord and savior and they distribute them to the faithful with their own human hands. That is the greatest honor granted and enjoyed by the clergy. The celebrant and the participants have to maintain a very meaningful and deep understanding and mutual care during a worship of the Holy Eucharist. The mutual prayer is very important. From the very beginning the celebrant prays for the congregation and like wise the congregation has to pray for the celebrant. We must notice how many times the celebrant is wishing peace to the congregation, taking from the divine mysteries on the Altar. Immediately the congregation would wish "with thy spirit too". If we do not maintain such a mutual care and prayer, we cannot expect the perfect indwelling of the Holy Spirit during the sacrament. We often forget about this fact and behave irresponsible during almost all sacraments. Whenever and wherever we might attend a sacrament, we must be alarmed of the seriousness of the event and the indwelling of the Holy Sacrament. We often utilize the occasions of the Holy Matrimony and Holy Baptism for meeting our friends and relatives and to spend the time in merriment. Whenever we are attending the sacraments, we must attend them standing in the Church with prayer and meditation. We should not wander in the Church premises meeting friends and relatives.

We must always feel our responsibility to pray for the clergy and we will have to pray for them every often. We must make use of the separate canonical prayers in the books for the Holy Church and the clergy. May God Almighty bless our clergy to perform their assignments in a better way. So also let Him bless us to love, respect and care our clergy.

May God bless us all.

Jose Kurian Puliyeril.