Greetings in the name of our Lord,

August- the month we gained our freedom. The celebrations and experiences of sixty three post-independence years have made all those who went through the days of turmoil of the freedom struggle lose or fade their memories. Today, the word independence has been re-defined as the right to do anything one likes. Rooted on this new concept of independence, the ‘drama’ of independence is being staged everywhere in the socio- political and religious platforms of the society. In this context it seems to be relevant to analyse our freedom against the freedom gained by a society who were enslaved for more than 215 years during their captivity in the kingdom of Egypt. They enjoyed their freedom in the shade of a Cloud, controlled by Fire and confined in the limitations of certain laws and commandments of God. This is true independence. India has a constitution today, one which was created only after India became free.

It is relevant to have this thought in this month which starts with the ‘Laity Sunday’. The word Laity is deeply connected with the spiritual life of man. The term denotes ‘non- priests’ or those who are not engaged in any skilled job; but does not actually mean those who are not bestowed with any responsibility in life, whatsoever. In general, the term emphasises those who are called upon to fulfil responsibilities of a general nature rather than specific ones. As St. Peter defines, Laities are those who are conferred with titles such as ‘….. a chosen generation, a Royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people”( I Peter 2:9)

In this month, as we celebrate the Day of Bartholomew, the disciple of Christ who became a martyr, we remember the roll of Laity in Christian life. As members of the twelve Apostles, St. Mathew, St. Mark and St. Luke, all refer him as Bartholomew, meaning ‘Son of Thalmai’. But St. John refers to him as Nathaniel. The former three do not call him as Nathaniel. Likewise, St. John never called him Bartholomew. In the four lists of the Apostles, the name Bartholomew is combined with Philip, while in the epistle of St. John, Philip is seen associated with the name Nathaniel. Due to the above reason, it is presumed that both the names Bartholomew and Nathaniel refer to the very same person. It was Philip who brought Nathaniel from Canaan of Galilee to Jesus. Jesus witnesses him as ‘an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile’, the noblest invocation a Laity can ever get. Bartholomew is the role model of Laity Life, a life style of learning of the word of God ‘under the Fig tree.’ I complete 25 years of blessed years since my inception as a Priest. I give thanks to God for giving me an opportunity to serve in a church comprised of Laities who do care, love and respect their Vicars and Missionaries. We are not heirs to the slave, but heirs to the redeemed

May God bless us all,

With warm greetings of independance,

Your Vicar Rev.P.V.Chacko