Fr. Francis Scaria

One evening a little boy rushed into my presbytery. He was in tears. When inquired, he said that his drunken parents chased him out of the house. Visiting the house I found the parents not in a position to talk to as both father and mother were badly drunk. The boy had to be kept with the neighbours for the night. A tragic incident indeed! Even more tragic is the situation when the children in their senses sending the parents away in their old age.

The Church is referred to as ‘house of God’ and ‘family of God’ in the Scripture. The greatest tragedy in the Church is that of keeping God out and away from the Church. Ekklēsia is an assembly called out by God. It is He who gives her purpose and direction. Bu it is not seldom that the children of God try to keep Him away.

There is a strong human tendency to ‘be in command’. In the Church only God can ‘be in command’. The leaders and faithful in the Church are to be equally led by the Lord. We are all living stones to be placed in the hands of the Lord as he builds His Church with us. St. Peter says, “Come to him...” (1 Pet 2:4-5)