[In a parallel universe of course...]
Lord, let me start with a disclaimer. I am frail, M’Lord. That’s because I am human, M’Lord. I falter, M’Lord. That too because I am human, M’Lord. I err, M’Lord. That’s human too, M’Lord. M’Lord, I am blinded by ignorance and arrogance and this myopic condition is further aggravated by my prejudices; I am human.
I was ordained a priest in 1967 at the age of 27. I was appointed Bishop of Manner in
1992. I’ve seen a lot in my life and in
my ministry. There was a lot that I saw
and there’s a lot that I described. And
yet, Lord, there was much more that I was silent about.
Lord, you see all, you hear all. You even hear our silences. You notice our frailties and the error of our
choices. I know it is not mine to
question and I ought to know that I am being tested. But Lord, I forget. I slip.
In my anger, ignorance and arrogance I forgot that we are
all your children, that is myself, my congregation, those who share my faith
and ethnic identity as well as those who don’t.
They are your children too, those that people I call ‘friends’ call
‘enemy’. I judge when that’s what you
have to do.
Forgive me Lord for my
presumptions.
I have borne false witness, Lord. I’ve lied about my neighbor. Indeed I’ve lied
about my friends. I’ve employed rhetoric
and half-truths to cover up for their crimes.
I should call those who fish, fishermen; I should call those who are
harmless, lambs; I should call those who hack children and pregnant mothers to
death, butchers. I have not, Lord, and
that’s because I chose to focus on the crimes, perceived or real, perpetrated
by ‘others’. I forgot Lord that in your Kingdom there are no ‘others’. I forgot Lord that charity begins at
home. Forgive me, Lord.
I know about abductions of children and conscription of same
for military purposes. I did not name the abductors ‘child-snatchers’ and I did
not point them out either. I did not object.
I know that some 300,000 civilians were corralled into restricted spaces
and used as a human shield. I never once called them ‘hostages’. Instead Lord I poured invective on those who
eventually rescued these innocents at great cost too. Those whom I deliberately misnamed ‘boys’
shot those who tried to flee and even sent little children with explosives tied
to their person so they could explode at points where the fleeing were
received. I did not object. I did not even admit to myself that these
were acts that you Lord would abhor.
Forgive me, Lord.
I knew all along Lord that the Government, INGOs, UN
Agencies and diplomats of powerful nations worked tirelessly to get food,
medicine and other essential supplies to the people held hostage. I know that if there was any intention of
killing civilians, the Government need not have bothered to do all this. I know that the ‘boys’ pilfered these
supplies and starved those in whose name they claimed to be fighting. I didn’t utter a word of objection. Forgive
me, Lord.
I know that over 11,000 ‘boys’ were released by the security
forces. I know that this is unprecedented. You know Lord that the United States
of America and other countries raising concern about how the Sri Lankan
security forces operated during the war would never even entertain the thought
of releasing prisoners. I have not had
the grace to acknowledge all this; I’ve not had the humility to acknowledge
error. Forgive me, Lord.
I lied about the numbers, Lord. You know.
I need not elaborate.
I have not forgiven those who I claimed were trespassing
even when they were not, but forgive my trespasses Lord. Empower me Lord with that which I lack, make
tender that which anger has made hard within me, hone me Lord more closer to
your image, give me the humility of your Son, grant me the strength to submit
to your Commandments, receive me again and again with your incomparable
love. Forgive me, again and again, so I
could also learn to forgive, to forgive myself.
Oh ! Lord! Finally i wish to add a postscript to what was presented through the Editor of The Nation, and that is as given below.
ReplyDeleteI have seen,read through and it was true from the beginning to the end.But, I will say to the world that I never saw such a thing or pretend that I do not know about such. But, you know everything and you pardoned me right through.I know that you are testing me and the rest of the world.Please continue doing so as you do not want the world to know, as a part of your testing.
There's a lot that you see and a lot that you describe; and a lot that you are silent about too, Malinda.
ReplyDeleteFr Joseph is not alone in his prejudices.
He is not alone. But he is particularly virulent and has a huge impact too. Makes a difference.
ReplyDeleteMaybe. But that doesnt excuse our own
ReplyDeleteprejudices and silences. We tend to point fingers at others while we ignore our own faults. Silence has an impact too.
yours is a recipe for silence. i state my prejudices often enough. haven't heard many people do that and certainly not the reverend.
ReplyDelete@sajic
ReplyDeleteDid you say "Maybe." to Malinda's assertion "But he is particularly virulent and has a huge impact too."? You are not convinced? Are you saying Malinda should not criticize this priest?
This guy is not a priest - he is the devil in disguise. It is only the devil who will set people against each other. A good priest, on the other hand, will try to bring people together. Come on, use common sense to work out the who is behind the mask.
ReplyDeleteRyappu Joseph has the license to commit a crime and later ask for forgiveness. This is the weakness in the Catholic religion, as people like Joseph take mean advantage of this silly belief that sins can be washed away through confession. This is like the South African Truth Commission, where the USA orchestrated the washing away of crimes committed over generations.
ReplyDelete