Creation Groans for Liberation www.csi1947.com 2 June 2020 Express the Peace of God in Anxious Times EDITOR’S DESK Such as this! reetings to you in the name from God, and not from the world. and improve the present eco- of Lord Jesus Christ! We can always trust Him because standards. When individuals take G He is still on the throne. We may sharp decisions on conserving In the past few months, not always understand the details our environment that gives long people all around the world have of God’s plan, but we know that term results. Many of the practical become familiar with COVID-19 His plans are perfect and has also things we can do are not difficult, and it has caused great fear and experienced it. rather it is beneficial to us and concern by many. While India others. battles the COVID 19, the desert We are challenged to redirect our locust, a voracious grasshopper on focus from anxiety and panic to Our responsibility in raising its part has caused tremendous love and preparation. The present young children in the present havoc. Another incident that crisis presents an extraordinary circumstances: broke our hearts is that in a opportunity to augment our love country claiming to be the first and care for our neighbours, fellow We are blessed to be in a time in the world, to be founded on human beings and nature. We where we can connect each other equality, George Floyd was killed can do this only when we rely on through the technology available, ruthlessly. On the street, his cries God. Such reliance reduces fear, especially when we are called to for help were not answered, but increases faith, and reorients our stay-in and distance ourselves his killing was recorded. His death call to serve others. from others. The COVID-19 has triggered intensive outrage pandemic has forced many even amongst religious leaders and Our responsibility towards sectors to shift their bases online groups. The Bible teaches us to nature in the present including education, where many love our neighbours because we all circumstances: teaching institutions have started are His beloved children, therefore teaching their students through our brothers and sisters. Jesus, We do not know whether the online platforms. the Son of God, when He was on climate change is influencing the this earth he goes to Samaria and spread of COVID-19, but we do In recent days, schools have he sits down at a well. And he know that climate change alters started to take classes using the looks up at a marginalised outcast how we relate to other species on internet and television. In the woman, who was despised by the the Earth and that matters to our Indian context, internet access is religious leaders and asks her for health and our risk for infections. not available to everyone. Already a drink. As we are called to follow Many positive things also have there is a wide gap in providing His footsteps, let our love towards been taken place during this equal opportunities to students other fellow beings penetrate lockdown period. Our continuous studying in State Government irrespective caste, creed and efforts to reduce air pollution syllabus and other syllabuses. In colour. caused by burning fossil fuels like addition to the existing disparities, coal, oil and natural gas also helps digital learning, which has now In such anxious circumstances, keep our lungs healthy will protect been imposed even on Government we are expected to express the us from respiratory infections like school students, will further peace of God. “You keep him in coronavirus. Another measure is divide and widen the gap between perfect peace whose mind is stayed generating electricity sources like the haves and the have-nots. on you, because he trusts in you. wind and solar, thus decreasing Providing education to children Trust in the Lord forever, for the harmful air pollutants that put is the duty of the Government. Lord God is an everlasting rock. - further strains on our health. Once the Government plans to Is 26:3-4”. As our peace comes We are challenged to upkeep provide education through online www.csi1947.com June 2020 3 or distance mode, it should God. In these circumstances, the also ensure that each child responsibilities and challenges of gets access to the education it the facilitators of Sunday School provides. Earlier this month, are further increased. I urge the nation was shocked to hear the Sunday School Directors that a girl in Kerala studying in and Teachers to use creative Class X ended her life allegedly methods to inspire our children because she did not have access to experience God’s presence and to online/television classes. The guidance in their day-to-day lives, underprivileged students from by obeying to His commandments. remote and far-flung areas who lack necessary infrastructure or Church after lockdown facilities will be severely affected by the online learning and it I am sure that we all will join the shall have long-term ill effects psalmist to gladly say I was glad in their career. Because of the when they said unto me, let us uncertainty on the possibility of go into the house of the Lord. lives of people back into normalcy Ps. 122:1. Once the Government after the COVID 19 attack, other permits to re-open the Churches, states also may adapt to the online we will be eager to sprint into the classes for students. Hence, we Church. Considering the present are challenged to take efforts to pandemic situation, which is still bridge the gaps, thus those who in an aggressive mode, we should are deprived with opportunities discipline ourselves by strictly shall be elevated. A highly obeying the norms and guidelines commendable relief work has been provided by the Government. Such done by various dioceses and instructions and pieces of advice local congregations of the Church are for our welfare and should not of South India by providing be viewed differently. We should food, cash, medicines, sharing also adopt new methods in serving hospital wards and institutions the Eucharist ensuring the safety for quarantine etc. during the of the congregational members lockdown. An immediate attention and to avoid communal infections. to the deprived students should be At this crucial period, let us look the next step the Church should to the sovereign God, who has take. We can work along with the promised to be with us at all times state governments to achieve this to guide us. goal. Let me stop this letter with a On the other hand, students who sincere prayer, that the God of have access to the internet for all mercies, be compassionate online education are on the verge towards his people and protect of temptation to use the internet them from all evil. for the pleasures that this world has spread-out. The situation C. Fernandas Rathina Raja being so, it is our responsibility General Secretary, CSI. to train our children to discern between good and not-good. Parents cannot be with them all the time to control what they watch or do. Children, whether alone or with friends, must learn to stand up and say NO to certain things. This attitude can only be developed in children by thorough training and disciplining them according to the Word of www.csi1947.com 4 June 2020 COVID-19 and Beyond 1. Introduction Failure of science to stop coronal is no indication that science has wenty first century humans failed. Those who expect faith and stand helpless before religion to heal all illness on earth Tthe covid-19 pandemic. are entertaining inappropriate Currently, science and medicine expectations. The inability to stop have no preventive and no cure corona simply reveals that both for the disease. Religion, to which science and religion are limited. people turn in crises, also stands Being limited does not make them helpless in preventing Covid. The irrelevant. Finite science may, ‘miracle healers’ in all religions, therefore, work towards a cure who usually promise assured relief or preventive. Religion may help cannot even be traced. Some are humanity cope with the disease. using the opportunity to mock Religion may also help humanity religion and faith by pointing out reflect on the morality and ethics that the community is missing of the way of life of 21st century nothing due to the closure places humans. Raising questions of worship. Science and religion about the appropriateness of the alike are currently caught helpless. philosophy of life of a community, Humans like it when they are and of the morality and ethics of potent and in control. Presently, a community are an important Corona is the victor and humans function of religion. While being are the vanquished. Corona is limited and finite, both science telling us the plain truth that we and religion have contributed are finite and limited beings. Both enormously to human welfare in science and religion are challenged the past. Presently, they both hold to redefine themselves within the the potential to bring relief from boundaries of human finitude. the pandemic in their own different ways. Accepting human finitude 2. Finite Humans are Still and the limitations of science and Rev. Dr. Abraham Resourceful religion protect us from holding Kuruvilla is an ordained inappropriate expectations about minister of the Mar Neither science nor religion can science or religion and consequent Thoma Church, formerly take away human finitude. At the disillusionment. Clergy Trustee of the same time, science and religion Mar Thoma Church may help humanity actualise its 3.