Threads of gold lit the Eastern sky and faded into dawn, awakening the slumbering hamlet as birds tweeted and stirred in their nests before they took off to the stretch of golden beach that was the backdrop to St. Anne’s Church in Talawila. The sweeping wind across the blue seas holding back its frothy waves, made a glorious day for the limited number of devotees who made their way to the shrine.
It is in such azure surroundings like this that Jesus preached and blessed his followers from a boat or as he strolled by on the sand to reach all of us. Being a Christian is the beginning of a whole new life, but one must need to grow as a child of God. One must live for others as for himself and accept Lord Jesus as special gift to mortals and learn to live one day at a time; and the Holy Spirit will touch us all. Keeping close to Jesus is being honest in our relationships with others. Jesus always moved with his flock and when he saw a crowd, he went up a hill where he sat as his disciples gathered around him. He began teaching what happiness is:
Happy are those who know they are spiritually poor; the kingdom of heaven belongs to them:
Happy are those who mourn, God will comfort them.
Happy are those who are humble, they will receive what God has promised.
Time has proved his worth through widely varying humane qualities. He strives not for separate cause, but for achieving spiritual love among all. He reminds his sheep the gratitude they owe Jesus and honour such architects that are convictions underlying the Spirit.
One such Shepherd is the Bishop of Chilaw, Rev. Dr. Valence Mendis who officiated at the Holy Mass at St. Anne’s Shrine under trying circumstances, for devotees had to follow the prescribed health guidelines to protect themselves from the spread of Covid-19. But there were a number of Holy Masses enabling all devotees who came from all corners of the country. Bishop Valence Mendis was joined by Bishop of Batticaloa Rt. Rev. Dr. Joseph Ponniah at Mass.
There was silence as Bishop Mendis rose to speak. He explained that one’s faith is like a river. “Are you going cross the river and be saved. There is peace and hope awaiting us. We must not lose hope but be strong in the compassion of Jesus who is ever ready to save us. We are deemed to do our part as Jesus expects. Be not concerned only about yourself, but about others too, especially the ones who are fallen and need to get up. A fine example is the destruction of the Church at Kochchikade where hundreds of innocent worshippers were killed for no fault of theirs by a single bomber not caring for his own precious life that God had given him, leaving many homeless, orphaned and widowed. This heinous, diabolical, criminal act can never be forgiven.”
“Did Jesus die on the cross for people like this? While all answers would be ‘no’, but not for our compassionate Saviour who forgives one and all if they repent. Search your hearts for the truth, it is there,” Bishop Mendis said.
One who comprehends the heartbeats of his sheep, resonating the very pulse of each and every mortal and trying hard to empower futility to reality in a world torn apart by Covid-19, drugs, depression and hopelessness among the helpless. “The apostles came back and told Jesus everything they had done. He took them with him and they went off by themselves to a town called Bethsaida. When the sun was beginning to set, the 12 disciples came to him and said, “Send the people away so that they can go to the villages and farms around here and find food and shelter because this is a lonely place.” But Jesus said, “You yourselves give them something to eat” and they answered, “All we have are five loaves and two fish.” There were about 5,000 or more. Jesus asked his disciples to make them sit down in groups of about 50 each. After the disciples had done so, Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up to heaven, thanked God for them, broke them and gave them to the disciples to distribute to the people. They all ate and had enough and the disciples picked up 12 baskets full of what was left over.” (Luke 9)
Still on his mission, Jesus told his followers, “Foxes have holes and birds their nests to roost, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head,” and Jesus continued his journey with his disciples.
Continuing his sermon, Bishop Mendis spoke about development and politics. “No country can survive without a clean administration in today’s context where life is moving fast towards development. There have to be good and honest politicians to direct its course and bring relief to the poor and the underprivileged. People have to live in peace and harmony. There should be no war or strife. No plague nor sickness. Above all, people must learn to care for the dumb animals; wildlife is God-given and is our duty to protect and care for them as much as we care for ourselves.”
The gentle shepherd continued and spoke of the meaning of love. “No one can ever live without feeling love upon them, that is, mother and child, husband and wife, brother and sister or for that matter, friends and relatives. They all are bonded by love. All God’s children know the meaning of real and spiritual love that strongly binds everyone in the church or at prayer time. We must use the power of love to help eradicate poverty, drugs, disease, all catastrophes that arise from civil war, ethnicity, not forgetting storms and volcanic eruptions that destroy lives,” the Bishop said.
On the golden sands of Talawila in the diocese of Chilaw, the St Anne’s Church attracts thousands of devotees from around the island as well as from South India. Ably assisted by the Navy personal and directed by the Police, this year the statue of St. Anne was taken round the church premises due to restrictions and gloriously ended with an aerial view for those who watched from afar. The shrine is on its 258th year.
Both Bishop Valence Mendis and Bishop Joseph Ponniah blessed the departing devotees.
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