REFLECTION
Biblico-Historical Workshop
ISA-IFRS (Facilitator: Fr. Bernard Roosendall O Carm)
March 9-11, 2012
By ignaci
What comes with the word
“salvation”? Way back to the history of Israel – the story of salvation in Old Testament, it is meant to be liberation.
It is when the Israelites were struggling to fight slavery from Egyptians.
However, that is not sufficient enough to explain the meaning of salvation. It
should be rooted on the history of Israelites before the oppression from
Egyptians ie. the story of Abraham.
The elements of salvation
should be grounded on the active response of Abraham to Yahweh. He responses
God’s call through total detachment when he should leave his country, family,
and all his belongings for the promised land – Canaan. Salvation in that
context is to response God’s invitation through experiencing total obedience.
The journey from Ur to Canaan is not easy for Abraham. It is a very long
journey which cost in strengthening his faith. There is no doubt for Abraham to
just follow God’s “instruction”. However, it is not blind decision for Abraham
to just follow his ego. There is humility behind his decision to listen what
God’s saying to him.
Salvation from this
perspective is assurance the presence and existence of God through capacity to
listen to him. Listening to him is not just rationalizing the positive or
negative impact of what he is saying. It is more on listening through our trust
and heart. Being trust in him for Abraham is to follow God’s call through
non-negotiable obedience. The meaning of salvation is not meant only to save my
physical belongings but my faith. In Abraham’s story, journey of salvation is
not simply about the Promised Land ie. Canaan rather a process of encountering
challenges along with his travelling from Ur to Canaan.
There is also another story of
salvation which brings the element of settlement. It is when Joseph son of
Jacob made reconciliation with his brothers who betray him. Salvation is about
to reconcile with selfishness and to make peace with our brothers. God’s
promise to give abundance of blessings is true when I realize myself as part of
his whole creation. When he started his creation through his loving and
kindness motives it is really unacceptable to blame him for our sinfulness. To
be free from sin is really my own active decision when I take the initiative to
walk in his pathway, and it is not dealing with myself rather for the sake of harmonious
living with other, realizing also that my social presence may contribute faith
growth for others. In the history of Israelites there is no word for individual
but more on the people. The power lays on the flock when people are gathering
following the sense of solidarity to work together for the single purpose.
The figure of Moses reflect God’s
power and strength. Moses is the figure of chosen man who leads Israelites to
be free from Egyptians’ oppressions. He is a figure of liberator. From Moses I
come to know how God chooses his man. The burning bush has opened his ear to
the cry of Israelites that he needs to do something “revolutionary” for his
people. There is element of listening and obedience. Burning bush is also a
sign of “burning your heart for something important has happened”. Believe and
use your faith to see that “I am really your God”.
During Moses’ time God’s
covenant has been established as engagement of commitment through Ten
Commandment. The Ten Commandment has social implication to guarantee a quality
of relationship. It deals with relationship with other people, harmony of
living with others. It rules how to deal with other people. On the other hands,
it is not intended as punishment. The commandment is not an expression of anger
of the “commander” rather a reminder. Accepting the Ten Commandment is considering
it as a light which is used to encounter darkness. Commandment in the context
of Israelites history is God’s will and invitation for salvation. And, that’s the early Christian setting which
is not institutionalized. There was no religion at that times but confederation
for the same solidarity and purposes. For the actual experience of being oppressed
by Egyptians. Indeed, demand for liberation is listened by Yahweh. At the end,
Yahweh, God of Abraham, fullfiled his promise to bring Israelites to Canaan –
the promised land. And, that’s the biblico-historical background for
non-institutionalized Christianity which should be the root or source of
reference for any question about Christianity. Actually, the 5-book of Moses
(Pentateuch) found in Old Testament is also root or source of reference for other
religion ie. Judaism and Islam.
The main setting of New
Testament is the coming of Jesus. He is not a prophet but represents himself as
Son of God. New Testament talks about human God. It contains story of reflection. Jesus is the
main theme in New Testament. His life and words are used as object of
reflection. Christianity is still non-institutionalized. All the New Testament
writers are Jews. Jesus himself is a Jew. He is not a Christian or Catholic. So
far, from this point reveals that our understanding have been conditioned by the
false environment.
The idea of dualism ie. body
and soul came out during the time of Plato and Aristotle. This would influenced
most theologians’ thinking. Consequently, salvation can only be referred to
salvation for the soul which is far different from the context of Old and New
Testament (Biblico-historical). As we know that from the context of Old
Testament, salvation covers total human – unseparated human.
Christian was declared as an
institution of religion ie. state religion in 313 by Constantine the Great.
There comes Christianity under Roman Catholic Church. There were times of
persecution for those who practise anti-Christian. As Church became a (legal)
State religion, it had the same hirarchy in monarch system where Pope was
equally having authority as King. In the history of Catholic church there were
some saints who opposed and were very critical against the Church ie. St
Francis of Asisi (1100 AD). Church was experiencing exclusiveness as state
religion. Indeed, Christianity and church have stayed out from its root. They
are out of hope and dream for their people. They are no longer an inspiring
ideology for liberation but contain set of rules or dogma. The industrial
revolution in 18th century even polished the way of thinking into capitalism.
Throughout history, church has been very close with power and capital. However,
significant changes happened when Pope John XXIII (1962) took over leadership
in Catholic church, with his simplicity and humility style he has brought
church as servant of God. He has inspired church going back to its root.
In general this workshop has
become reference to find better angle viewing christianity and church. In
addition, It has invited me to the Bible as the source of truth. Christianity
and church as institution have played important role in reshaping human
civilization. This really reflects me on becoming more aware with secularism in
the name of religion, organization or institution. The more we become organized
within the language of effectivity and efficiency the danger we might have in
our perception to see christianity and church simply as object of capital. History
has told much on this. To completely avoid capitalism in today’s context might
be impossible. A new form of “radicalism” which start from “inside” might be
feasible enough to create “free capitalism mindset”.
As a Catholic my truth is only
in the Bible which shouldn’t frame and limit my understanding towards human and
humanity. Heaven or kingdom of God is basically in the now and here. Through
proportional understanding of salvation I encourage myself to be more
reflective, and in a creative way always take initiative to experience
meaningful life. I become more responsible to have myself as in “harmony” with
the social environment. Finally, workshop facilitator, Father Bernard
Roosendall O.Carm, closed the session by extending invitation not to forget to change
(also) from “below” – with the people/neighbours whom we are living with. / ignaci_2012
