RELIGION MUST STRENGTHEN PEOPLE TO COPE WITH PAIN OF EXISTENCE
Today as Christians
all over the world commemorate Good Friday, they reflect, meditate and pray over
the agony and anguish of Jesus Christ. Good Friday is a day to remember the
crucifixion of Jesus Christ which was preceded by all kinds of suffering that
was inflicted upon Him by ambitious, scheming and evil-minded
people. Jesus experienced prejudice,
rejection, injustice, hate and envy which brought about His death on the Cross.
His suffering was not just physical
but also psychological and spiritual.
However, what is at the heart of Jesus’ suffering is that He
courageously and willingly faced up to it.
Thus His suffering is a confluence of infliction and acceptance. He said ‘no one can take my life from
me. I lay down my life and I take it up
again.’ He also said ‘a grain of wheat
must die. Only if it dies, then it will fructify in many grains.’ Jesus
described the purpose of His life saying ‘I have come to serve and to give my
life for the salvation of mankind’. Thus
at the end of it all, the suffering of Jesus was an act of His supreme
freedom. He teaches us that we must be
ready to cope well with suffering. This
is at the heart of religion. Religion
must teach people to learn to handle suffering which accompanies us from womb
to tomb.
The pain of existence can be handled well and fruitfully only by spiritual
power and strength which only religion can provide which is its specific
function.
Indeed, life in this world is a vale of tears. Schopenhauer, Jean Paul Sartre, Albert Camus and many other
contemporary philosophers have spoken of
the pain of existence.
Religion must empower people to live happily and with
hope in this present life. Karl Marx was
off the point when he said religion is the opium of people . Jesus did not did
not offer any palliatives to his people.
He called upon his followers to take up their cross and follow Him. He
gave people the light, strength and hope
to deal with suffering.
In India, there are so many religions,
temples and places of worship, but have people, who are proud of their religions,
learned to live with suffering?
Suicides, addictions, despair, family breakups and social tensions are
only manifestations of weak souls, unable to grapple with problems and
challenges of life . All this shows that religions have not been effective in inspiring people to deal
with suffering. Thousands of people commit suicide every year in India.
Politicians must solve the material and economic
problems of the people. But their role is limited. We need spiritual strength, power
and light to cope with suffering .And only religions can do it. That is the
task of all religions. May this Good Friday help us all to cope with the pain
of existence.
Message delivered by
+Thomas Dabre
Bishop of Poona
On 29th March, 2013
Sacred Heart Parish, Pune
