The Celebration
of the Holy Matrimony
Mat. 19:3-6
Message by Rt. Rev. Joseph Mar Barnabas
This is a
special week, where we commemorate three special events.
First, this
week we meditate on the celebration of the sacrament of marriage. The sacrament of marriage was initiated by God
Himself at Eden. In the Syriac liturgical tradition, the order of marriage is
termed as Takso d’ Suvogo, which means to join together. It is allegorically
compared to joining two tamed bulls, under a yoke. In our church by the
sacrament of marriage we are emphatically proclaiming the relationship between Christ,
the bride groom and the church, the bride. However, it is a sad part that we have changed
our focus from this celebration of the sacrament of marriage to dissolution of
the relationship.
Second, is
the lent of fifteen days, which is observed from Aug 1 to Aug 15. This second event is the commemorating of the
obedience of Virgin Mary and the Holy Saints. People ask questions like, “Do we
have such a lent?” Are we actually
praying to Virgin Mary? The answer is, we use this occasion to remember the
life and commitment of Virgin Mary and all the saints. Through this lent we are
praying to God to enable us to follow in their footsteps. Our Holy Qurbana
starts with the chant “born of Virgin Mary., baptized by John”. Mary has played
an important in Jesus’ life. Without Virgin Mary there is no Jesus. There is also
no one who understood Jesus as Virgin Mary. The following pondering questions, “What will
this child become?, who shall he be?”, Mary treasured everything in her heart. There are two very important events associated
with the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church connected with this lent. It was on
1st August 1836, the starting day of this lent period, Kaithaiyil Geevarghese
Malpan used the translated liturgy in Kollad MTC. Also, it was on 15th Aug 1836, the
day when the lent ended, Abraham Malpan used the translated liturgy for the
communion in Maramon church. Therefore,
15 day lent is the time when we commemorate the re-dedication the Church in
orthodoxy (right faith).
Third, is the commemoration of the event is a
Transfiguration of the Christ. Transfiguration of Christ is connected to the
events that happened before it. Six days back Peter declared in Caesarea
Philippi that Jesus is the Messiah. But when Jesus presented his death and suffering
and then the resurrection before the disciples, Peter tried to oppose Jesus. It
is the event of Transfiguration that made Peter proclaim after the resurrection
that cross was important for Christ. In the Transfiguration event, Jesus was on
the mountain with his three disciples. Jesus got transfigured. Moses and Elijah appeared along with him.
Moses and Elijah strengthened Jesus for the impending crucifixion and confirm
him. Moses who could see only the backside of YHWH on Mt. Sinai sees God face to
face in the Transfiguration event. Peter on seeing this event is excited as
well as confused, he asks Jesus to build three tents for them. Tents are very
significant here. We cannot go down to the valley and work unless tents are
built on the mountain top. i.e., without experiencing God and seeing him face
to face we cannot go down to work among the others. Transfiguration event
radiates out the Glory of Jesus as well as confirms the fact that he is
complete God as well as complete man.
Today, as
clergy when we celebrate this three events let us point out the transforming
Christ to others. Let us bring changes in the parish, whole Church, and the
society just like salt brings out its flavor, by being faithful in small
things, following the footsteps of the saints, to show the people through our
actions that there is life in Church.
Message by
Rev.
Mathew P Thomas
During
a funeral service, a young man was inconsolable. He was crying bitterly for his
father. People were sympathetic, at the same time, they wondered why he felt so
sorrowful over his Father’s demise. On their enquiry, the young man replied, “When
my younger sister was born, my mother lost her mental stability. She used to
shout and do many unwanted things. She would get violent and several times
tried to kill my father. In spite of
being tormented by her, my father accepted her and her condition and severed
her”. This is a testimony of the bond of love among the parents by a Son.
In
this above mentioned Bible portion, the Pharisees put the question of divorce
to trap Jesus. There were two beliefs prevalent during that time. One group permitted
divorce if the wife is unfaithful. Another group maintained that a man could divorce
his wife for any small reason. i.e., in Judah divorce could be done very
easily. Also in the prevalent Roman culture, prostitution was very common. The role
of women was just limited to take care of the legitimate descendant. It is in
this context Jesus leads their attention to the time when God had made Adam. The creation accounts state that after God made
all the animals and birds man could not find one of them as a suitable
companion for man. It is then that God puts man into a deep sleep and from man
he takes one of his ribs and makes a woman. She becomes the suitable companion
for man. In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve had no alternative. God joined man
and woman and hence man is not allowed to break it.
I
our Holy Matrimony liturgy, it is stated that “you are joined together, till
death parts you”. In the letter of Paul to Ephesians, he tells “a man must love
his wife as much as he loves his own body”. It has to be a consistent
relationship. There is a sacrificial element involved. A man must love his wife
just as Christ the bridegroom loved the bride, i.e. the Church. Marriage is a
consecration in Hebrew, it means dedication. That means to submit oneself as an
exclusive property of the other. There is no space for selfishness. The best
example is being that of Joseph and Mary. It is mentioned that Joseph did not
have sexual relationship with Mary until Jesus was born. Can we see such a sacrifice among our people?
There is an advocate Mr. Thomas Mathew, a Marthomite. He left his job to serve
his wife who contracted a disease quite suddenly. He mentions how he felt
satisfied to see his wife pass away peacefully with hope.
Marriage
involves nurturing and care by both the partners. Love is the foundation for
it. There is an incident which goes as follows. A woman was suffering with
stroke. The husband took care of all her needs and he never leaves by her side.
One of the people who came to visit him asked, “Why don’t you hire a nurse to
take care of your wife?” The husband
replied, “she might not know me, but I know her very well”. Every partner is responsible for the growth of
the other. In our modern culture, where
“live together, live in” is molded. Let we all, as Christ’s body show through
our relationship in our marriage as well as with our Christ like life a model
for others which they can imitate.