Commemorating the 75th anniversary of Bandra’s consecration to Christ the King

MUMBAI, Feb. 09, 2010, 09.40 Hrs (Nirmala Carvalho / AsiaNews):

More than 5,000 priests, religious and faithful took part yesterday in a ceremony at St Andrew’s School commemorating the 75th anniversary of the consecration of Bandra (Mumbai) to Christ the King. After a day of adoration, the Holy sacrament was carried atop a flower-covered carriage in a procession along the decorated streets of Bandra accompanied by the joyful singing of psalms.

Card Oswald Gracias, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, led the ceremony. In a vibrant speech, he urged all the faithful not to be afraid of bearing witness to the Kingdom of Christ, source of peace and harmony, and of praying at home and in the family.

The prelate invited those present, “not merely recollect but renew the consecration. What does it mean to have Christ as our King? A King is one whose law is followed; a king is a leader who gives the direction. Today, kings are no longer popular, but Christ is a King. As the Gospel says, His Kingdom is not of this world. Christ desires to be the king of our lives, our hearts, our homes and our inner space. When we accept Christ as our King we accept his Gospel teaching; we accept an invitation to follow Christ completely.”

Speaking about the Mahatma Gandhi, he remembered what the Father of the nation said when Stanley Jones asked him what Christians must do to be true Indian citizens: “You Christians must follow Christ fully; you Christians must not water down the Gospel; you Christians must live with love as your motivating force”.

In his address, the prelate focused on the family, an institution that must be protected from the many threats of modern society.

“The family is the sacred unit created by God; as such it has to be protected and the most effective way is by bring prayers home into the family.”

“It is our responsibility to make Christ the king of our homes, of our families. Because of so many demands on our lives in the financial capital of India, it is sad that praying as a family has diminished, and this is to our own disadvantage. Praying makes God present in our homes, praying gives strength, praying brings God’s blessing into our homes, praying fosters unity and love in the family, praying protects us from harm. Proclaiming Christ as King will be meaningless if we do not take steps to make Christ the king of our home.”

“We live in a non Christian environment. It is quite possible that the only Light of Christ people will read is your life and my life. The only exposure that the teeming millions will have to the Gospel is your life and my life. The life of a Mother Teresa, who showed people the face of God and the life of our dedicated missionaries selflessly serving people, both in cities and remote rural villages across the country, show people what Jesus taught us. This is our vocation and mission as well, both for the religious and the laity: showing our love for each other and outsiders as well.

“Our Life, Our Work and Our Word must bear witness of the teachings of Christ. Our work must in the service of others. We must be true disciples of Jesus, truly devoted to Christ. Our institutions and homes must be places where we can serve. Our parishes should be instruments of service, not just for parishioners but for the human family as well. This is the meaning of having Christ as our king.

If Christ is our king (and He is), it is our duty to promote the Kingdom of Jesus, the Kingdom of the Spirit, of love, peace, joy and justice.”

“I invite you and challenge you to renew you commitment and much more; find ways to renew the kingship of Christ and encourage his kingdom, make peace and harmony present; make His love effective, make Jesus known, loved and followed. This is the call to each of us as we recollect, renew and rediscover ways to live the kingship of Jesus.”