The Journey 277: The Great Presidential Debate

Read: Mathew 5: 13-20

Date: October 3rd, 2012. Time: 9 pm. Millions of Americans yesterday waited for this time. This was the time when they all glued themselves in front of their TV or their digital apps to watch one of the most unique events in American History– The Presidential Debate. The debate yesterday was held at the University of Denver where both President Barack Obama and Republican candidate-Mitt Romney locked horns with each other in a friendly but fiercely contested debate explaining to the people of this nation, what they stand for and why they should be elected as the next President. This debate is the first of its series while the next is on October 16th while the third scheduled on October 22nd. As an Indian, I have never experienced such an event in Indian history, where the Prime Minister of a ruling party and leader of Opposition party debates in front of the people of a nation, what their policies are, and why they should be elected to rule the country when elections draw near. Hence for me it was a unique experience as I sat glued to my television to watch and keenly observe how both Romney and President Obama explained their policies and also counteracted and engaged each other, as they explained and emphasized about their policies, approach and differences. President Obama stressing on what his policies were especially in relation to Obama Care, on tax regulations, on growing tax deficit, unemployment, military spending and so on. Mitt Romney on the other side, seemed to very confident and relaxed as he focused on why as a President, the importance lies in taking care of the needs of middle class, how small business has to be protected and encouraged, how one needs to open up new job avenues, his dreams on energy front and of course his opposition to Obama Care and so on. Every person who watched, I am sure felt good and hopeful of “good future” to this nation, as you had both leaders explaining what their vision and mission for this nation is. It is when I saw this debate that thoughts came to my mind, if the leaders of the nation has a dream and a vision for the country, should not the leaders of the church, and the community of believers also have a mission and vision for the church in general and for the local body of Christ– the parish, in particular? I am reminded now of my Diocesan bishop, Rt. Rev. Dr. Geevarghese Mar Theodotius, of North America and Europe diocese, who presented before the members of this diocese a document titled “Vision 2011”, explaining his goals and objectives about the mission and vision of the Diocese. I feel every parish and diocese also needs to have some sort of mechanism where every member of the parish is made aware why a parish or a diocese exist and what is the mission of the parish and diocese in the extension of God’s kingdom on earth. Do we as believers have a vision for our parish?

In the Gospel of Mathew 5: 13-20, Jesus explains to his disciples what their mission in the world is. As we meditate on our theme “Transformed Living” it is this passage that helps us as a community of believers to understand what our mission and vision in this world is. Jesus uses two terms and they are light and salt and both these are so contextual in every person’s life. What is stressed not only the qualities of light and salt, but what needs to be stressed is the transforming power of both salt and light. Both salt and light transforms an existing condition to a state that is better. A small beacon of light that can penetrate even the most terrible and grisly darkness, a pinch of salt that can transform a tasteless menu to a wonderful gourmet. This is what God expects from us, to be a transformatory power in this world and in the community that we belong, irrespective of how minute and small we are. More than the transforming power is also the self emptying quality of both salt and the lamp, which negates itself to nothingness in its effort to bring light and transform the world. To give up for the sake of transformation rather than preservation of oneself is what light and salt stands for and this is what is expected from us also as believers and as a community of believers– the parish. Can we also have a vision about our life and about our parish so that it reflects the transforming power of the gospel message in the community and the nation that we live?

Rev. Dr. Joe Joseph Kuruvilla,

Popular posts from this blog

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum