Prayerful
greetings of Dukhrana!
We are
at the threshold of yet another Dukhrana; the commemoration of the
martyrdom of St Thomas the father of our faith. For us members of
the Society, it is a time to retrospect and analyse the intensity
of our love and zeal for Christ. The feast invites Us to renew our
missionary' commitment and work fearlessly for Christ.
The passage
in John 11,16 "...Let's also go'that we may die with him" was an expression
evolved out of Thomas' deep love for Christ and it seems to be a meaningful
utterance in the context of our missionary life and activities. 'Let
us also go' was a spontaneous expression of Thomas that showed his
solidarity as well as his warmth to his apostolic community. Actually
here Thomas motivates the whole team and reminds of their duty and
purpose for which they are called and set apart. It unfolds his willingness
and commitment to go with His Master even at the risk of his life.
It also points towards a sense of mission to go wherever one is sent
not alone but with Jesus. The second part of Thomas' exhortation 'To
die with him' may be seen as the strongest expression of his solidarity
with Jesus. Thomas' intimate love for Jesus dispels his fear and reacheshim
to a stage of self-sacrifice. Thus qukhrana is anticipated even during
his life time when he expressed his wish to die with Jesus.
At the
core of this self-sacrifice lies the fact of his resurrection experience
and faith proclamation 'My Lord and My God' (In 20, 28) which motivated
him to traverse the oceans, crossing distant alien lands and different
people. He became a great witness to Jesus in this unknown land and
offer~d himself through his great martyrdom. His wish to die with
Him while he is alive is actualised in his martyrdom at Mylapore.
For us
MSTs, our patron's life ever remains an inspiring source of our missionary
commitment. It should enkindle in us the love and solidarity with
the missionary team and the Master, Jesus. As St Thomas gave witness
to Christ, we the missionaries, traversing strange lands, adapting
to adverse circumstances, learning new languages, customs and new
way of life must be the ambassadors of the love of Christ.
It is
true that modem world with its sophisticated modem equipments, lifestyle
and pleasure seeking efforts remain a stumbling block as we tread
on through the path of simplicity, self-sacrifice, poverty and kenosis.
Modem worldview and its by-products like consumerism, materialism
and hedonism are not suitable for earnest missionaries. Unless we
are fully focussed and committed to the missionary cause we may lose
the original missionary spirit and enthusiasm for the Lord. MSTs'
criterion to measure the true spirit of discipleship must be made
against the challenge of Jesus"... if anyone wants .. to become my
follower, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow. me"
(Mt 16,24). The spirit of simplicity and self-emptying aspects highlighted
by Jesus are lessons to. learn while we celebrate the feast of Dukhrana.
If we
lose the true missionary dimension of living the self-emptying spirit
of Jesus, it would be hard to bear witness to Jesus in the midst of
hard realities of life. Unless and until we keep up the spirit of
simplicity, love for the poor, orphans and needy, we may not be living
a meaningful life as missionaries. Therefore let the celebration of
the feast of Dukhrana influence us to become transformed apostles
of Christ. I would like to recall a line from MST prayer: 'Lord we
may serve others without being served and become ransom for many so
that in the midst of utmost difficulties we may become contemplatives
and preachers of your Word of God.'
Fr
Kurian Ammanathukunnel
