I refer to the news item in The Island of Friday 1st June, in which it was stated that Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena had appealed to the Secretary General of the UN Ban Ki Moon "to declare the area around the holy shrine of Madhu a Zone of Peace", in view of the escalation of the prevailing armed conflict.
Churches and Shrines
I do not say that Dr. J. J’s appeal was not based on a spontaneous gush of religious fervour. Yet, I think that this gush must be stanched in deference to facts that need to be acknowledged and interpreted in a proper context. The First Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed by king Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon in 586/587 BCE. It was rebuilt and destroyed again by the Romans in 70 AD. Jesus Christ visited this temple and on one occasion drove out money-lenders and pigeon-peddlers (Matthew 21: 12). He also made the momentous statement to the Jews, "Destroy this temple and I will raise it up in three days"(John 2:19). In this statement he referred to the destruction of his body, his resurrection and the enduring deposit of his teaching. He made another astounding statement when his disciples told him, " Look teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings! He replied in the following words, "Do you see all these great buildings? Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down." (Mark 13: 1-2). Why did God permit the destruction of a Temple dedicated to his honour and why is the only remaining part of this edifice, known as the Wailing (Western) Wall, a subject of dispute between two parties who both believe in Him but with differing opinions on how he should be accessed here on earth?
The True Church
The word rock is used as a symbol of stability and durability as was the case with the wise man who built his house on a foundation of rock (Luke 6: 48) and Peter the leader of the disciples (Matthew 16: 18). It is also a symbol of infertility as was the case of the seed that fell on rocky ground (Luke 8: 6). I would say that the true Church of God is not built on the inanimate rock of smug religiosity but on the shifting sands of the human predicament, in the course of which permanence of faith in God heroically faces the impermanence of the transitory world. If one gathers a fistful of this sand in search of the single luminous grain of the Truth that is Jesus Christ, one is more likely to see the grimy dust of irony that insecurely binds his followers. The Romans destroyed the Temple of Jerusalem but by a curious twist of ecclesial destiny, the Church, which administers the Madhu shrine, has its headquarters in Rome. The ‘massive stones’ and the ‘magnificent buildings’ that Jesus Christ referred to, are found in churches and cathedrals especially in Europe. But alas these cavernous structures are untenanted. There are few worshippers. While religion may be a binding factor within groups, it is also a fissile factor between groups. There is a common misconception that religious fervour that is centralised in shrines and churches will induce peace to descend on earth in the form of a celestially anaesthetic mist. This has not happened and will not happen. This is what the ultimate authority on Christian teaching has to say: "Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword….A man’s foes will be the members of his own household" (Matthew 10: 34, 36). What this means is that Jesus Christ came, not to deliver peace as a commodity for mass consumption but as the gift of inner-peace to individuals, who were willing to adhere to his teaching. It is evident therefore that attempts by the Norwegians, the international community, the UN and others to deliver peace as a commodity for mass consumption is bound to fail.
The Madhu Shrine
This shrine, which is dedicated to the Mother of Jesus, is a hallowed one that is venerated especially by Christians of the Roman Catholic rite. Yet, Christians, just as much as they are told that they do not live by bread alone, do not live by shrines alone. Even if all the shrines and churches are destroyed the message of the Christian gospel will not be wiped out. This is true of other religions too. Neither the Portuguese nor the Dutch nor the British coming together in processional succession were able to wipe out Buddhism. If I may borrow a phrase used compulsively by professional peace-poodles, who cuddle themselves on laptops, it is evident that these mighty powers could not prevail over what they now deride as ‘majoritarian lust’. Dr. J. J should realise that his attempt to get the UN to declare Madhu as a Zone of Peace, is a shocking admission that this organisation should step in where God has apparently failed. Politicians have meddled with and muddled the polity and the economy and by doing so have ruined the lives of millions of Sri Lankans. Let them not tinker with religion in consort with mitred folly.
(http://www.island.lk/2007/06/09/opinion1.html)
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