By Rons Bantwal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai (SB)
Mumbai, Oct 20: “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven”, emphasized bishop George Alencherry.
He was speaking on the theme of the day – You Are the Light of the World at the Eucharist celebrations by Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil in the Syro-Malabar rite during the Prabhu Yesu Mahotsav at the St Pius College, Goregaon in Mumbai, recently. “The evangelist Mathew gives three images to explain the missionary role of those who follow Jesus. They are, to be the salt, light and a city built on a hill. As salt they have to sanctify, purify and preserve the world in its relationship to God. As light they have to illuminate the world. Like a city built on a hill the Church as a whole must be seen as a community that lives out visibly the relationships proclaimed in the beatitudes,” explained Bishop Alencherry.
In the New Testament, Jesus has made his followers the light of the world. It is in him, in the strength of his word and love, that we have to enlighten the world, through direct and indirect preaching, through catechesis and education services, through art, architecture, literature, through the media, through health and pro-life services, through development works, through ministries to the poor, the marginalized, and the prisoners, the bishop stressed.
He said, light makes us see things as they are. When the light of God is in us, when the light of God manifested in Jesus is in us, we see everything in the light of God, according to the values of the Gospel and give witness to them. This is our mission, our work of evangelization. The disciples of Christ as individuals or as the Church do not impose anything on others, needless to say that they do not force others to get them converted to Christian faith, said and added that a true Christian preaches and professes what he believes namely the truth of the Gospel that has already converted him to God’s love.
Over 1,500 delegates from all over India were gathered on the occasion.