With “Big Faith In Action” we Leap into the Independence…
There is a Zen story of a disciple who went with a filled cup of tea for his master. The master in turn asked him to empty it as a process of learning. If it’s not emptied it cannot be filled. Something has to be pained in the process of being gained. Paradise has to be lost in order to be regained. Independence Day simply means the celebration of pains and gains. It reminds every citizen to realize the cost at which he or she has bought the celebration. Because struggle for Freedom, justice, equality is an ongoing process and not an end.
While the nation welcomes the remarkable independence of her this year, she has the satisfaction that all the people living here are breathing a lot easier. She has stabled herself amidst the Economic set backs of the globe. Thus one could trace out hundreds and hundreds of similar other setouts of Great gains and growth. Purely they all are a gain by itself. Yet this gain had its pain too – pain of religious fundamentalism in Gujarat and Orissa, pain of degrading of women by slaming the young girls down the roads of Mangalore in the name of culture, terrorism of Mumbai, Politicization of the Srilankan issues etc.
Have we to go through these pains to celebrate Independence Day? In fact, this story of Gain still remains an issue of discussion by its ratio - The ratio between the pains and gains has to be considered. My independence Day cannot be at the pain of my fellow country wo/men. My culture of Gain cannot justify the pain and the loss of neighbor. Simply it means the “Whole” cannot justify its victory at the cost of “Part”. Majority cannot breathe freedom at the sluggish slavery of the minority.
So, how and what is the deal to match up this ratio of Gain and Pain? The answer is simple -It is by faith. A faith in me and my fellow countrymen – A faith in my country and country in me that we devoid ourselves of these pain. It is by this faith and trust we happily could leap into the Independence. Yet, this faith needs a leap (action).
Meanwhile as Christians we celebrate the Assumption of Mother Mary too. As we celebrate the Independence of our country this is very meaningful – Because it is a celebration of FAITH that has leaped into Heaven. Yes it’s her ‘Big Faith” that took her to the heights of Heaven. Even heaven opened herself to her in an unusual manner. But this FAITH did not remain as mere faith instead it was sung through her life as Magnificat. Yes, Her “Big Faith” is a process into Magnificat. For a “faith” which has not been exercised into action (Magnificat) cannot open the doors of Heaven. Yes, By faith alone can one not open the doors of Heaven. But with the “faith in action one could even move the Heavens as Mother Mary did.
When we don't act, there are terrible consequences. Martin Neimoller was a Lutheran pastor in Germany during World War II, who following the war, tendered this poem to the official body of his church. It is entitled "Declaration of Guilt":
In Germany, the Nazis first came for the Communists,And I didn't speak up Because I was not a Communist.Then they came for the Jews, And I did not speak up Because I was not a Jew. Then they came for the Trade Unionists,And I didn't speak up Because I wasn't a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Catholics, And I was a Protestant So I didn't speak up. Then they came for ME… By that time There was no one to speak up for anyone.To make sure this doesn't happen again, the injusticeTo anyone Anywhere Must be the concern ofEveryone Everywhere.
This view was not merely a 20th century invention either. In the Bible, the letter written by one of Jesus earliest followers, James, wrote this call to action: “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.
So the moral and learning is obvious: Every citizen of India is called for that “Big Faith in Action” to look to their future here and in heaven above. But miles to go in faith and in fact at every dawn of the day …The Independence day.