July 30, 2002

Dearly Beloved in Christ

I am happy to speak to you through this magazine. I appreciate the ministry of Light of Light. I am sure in the days to come God will powerfully use this magazine to reach out the people.

Jesus said "You are the salt of the earth, You are the Light of the world" (Matthew 5: 13ff). It talks about the uniqueness of God's people and also their responsibilities. We are precious to God and we are called to participate in God's work. We are chosen not to remain as an exclusive community to enjoy certain privileges but to facilitate the realization of God's Kingdom in this world.

Salt is used to add taste; it gives zest to the things it is added. Likewise we are called to add taste to any given situation. Jesus changed very ordinary things and situations into very powerful experience. He was borne in a manger, a lowly thing on earth but it was made something very significant. He opted to travel on a donkey, an animal we looked down. But Jesus could transform its status. We are ordinary people called to influence ordinary situations to make them relevant and authentic.

Salt is used to preserve, it act as a preservative. This is one of the major tasks assigned to His people. We are called to preserve the values of the Kingdom of God. For this, we should be well aware of the Kingdom values and then should strive to implement that in this world. We can see the moral degradation all around. Often we feel that we also should identify ourselves with the trends of the world for recognition and acceptance. The world is desperately looking for models but unfortunately we too have lost our witness because of the mask that we put. Our children blindly copy the trends and fashions of the world and lost their potential to witness. In the midst of such corrosion we are called to preserve God's eternal values and truth.

Salt though highly essential for giving taste and preservation are placed among ordinary things in very ordinary vessels. Likewise Christians are ordinary people placed in ordinary unassuming situations but the effect can be very powerful. We don't have to complain about the simple and ordinary place where we were borne. Jesus was borne at the lowliest of all places but he could transform the whole world. As salt of the earth this is a reality of all of us. It is my wish and prayer that we will pay heed to Jesus' expectation of every believer and lead an authentic life bringing glory to His name.

May God bless you all

Rt. Rev. Dr. Euyakim Mar Coorilos
Diocesan Bishop