The Power of Change


The Power of Change

Cl. Mario D’Couto SDB

The Greek philosopher Heraclitus once stated that no one can cross the same river twice and that is to say, no one can actually or physically experience a particular event in the same way as before. Gautam Buddha would speak on similar lines where he states that nothing is permanent. Everything is in a flux.
            Change is important. If change did not take place, then we would have stagnated in the long run. Change signifies a new breath and a new life. Xavier E. Mananath, CMF highlights this aspect in his editorial of the 7th volume of Sanyasa (issue No.1) where he says that for a long time, we have been living by the norms of the past. Not that it was bad but perhaps its relevance may not just be appropriate enough in today’s context, especially in our belief systems or formative patterns. Hence, what we require is that we need to re-think our value system and put it within new dimensions, within a new framework, a framework that will provide a new vigour and an impetus for all our pastoral activities. In this particular volume, there are numerous articles on religious life that speak about the new movement, some of which we will be dealing with at this moment.
            It is but obvious that in today’s situation, it is tough to understand and be devoted to the study of the Bible. The materialistic trend has become so strong that is just not possible to separate people from corruption, manipulation and so on.
            However, deep within each person is a thirst for the meaning of life. All of us want to live for something and if we don’t have a reason to live, most people find another alternative – SUICIDE.
            As Christians, we have the obligation of living out our Christian commitment faithfully. It’s hard but we have the obligation of bearing witness to the eschatological world. To many people, this will not make sense but all the same, as Maria Anto, CMC writes in her article, “Consecrated Life: A sacrament of Eschaton”, even if we cannot see it, touch it or feel it, that does not in any way imply that there is no “After life”. This is how she puts it,

The attempt here is to emphasize the heaven-oriented mission of the consecrated. One should not ignore the ‘not yet’ aspect of the Kingdom of God. It is an absolute mystery and no one can make any extravagant claim about the incomprehensible mystery of God…….. Yet we cannot rule out the Scriptural revelation that those who die in God’s grace and friendship live like God forever, for they see Him as He is, face to face, just as it is written in the first letter of St. John (1 Jn 3:2)

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