The Context of Deluge in Chennai:
The torrential rains,
followed by deluge in one of the oldest metropolitan cities in India, Chennai
in the season of Advent in 2015, came with a cost of 270 people dead, several
thousand injured, and several hundred thousand becoming homeless soaking under
the grips of water. The city which has seen these unprecedented rains and
floods is slowly coming back to its terms, though life is still in its uneasy
calmness. There have been several stories of victims of survivors of these
deluge being shared, stories of people helping in the floods, stories of
resilience, pouring of philanthropy from across the globe, actions and
reactions on social media, some being able to mark safe on facebook, scientists
attempting to trace the reasons and analyzing the context, politicians trying
their best in scoring a point through their relief activities (some
photoshopping the pathos, while some imprinting their photos on relief
materials), journalists busy capturing the moments and penning down editorials,
some religious institutions opening their doors for temporary hospitality for
the flood affected people, NGO’s and churches getting busy with their relief activities,
some Churches cancelling their Christmas celebrations in solidarity with the
survivors of the deluge, etc. all happening around the context #chennaifloods.
There are several
questions that go unanswered, like who is accountable for the deluge that
happened? Why is the State not prepared in its disaster preparedness? Are there
any lessons that we learn from this situation? How to rebuild the lives of the
people in the context of crazy development? How can life be restored to
normalcy? The list of these questions goes on and on, with very few answers or
no answers left for us. The irony of the situation is that when people were
dying in the floods with life coming to a standstill, the global leaders were
meeting in Paris to settle climate change talks and negotiations. At the end,
the State neither addressed the local Chennai deluge nor solved the global puzzle
of climate change, and got back to business as usual.
Christmas as the Birth of Living Waters: Living Water-Mas
When the whole world
is busy during this season of Christmas with their celebrations, carols,
decorations, shopping, parties etc. does a situation like this have any relevance
to us as faith communities? How should we understand the birth of God becoming a
creature in Jesus? I heard some preachers say that such natural disasters are
the signs of end times, and this is a sign for ‘rapture’ to happen and
therefore let us get prepared to meet the Lord. I only thought how eccentric
and selfish we Christians have been, thinking all about our own being ‘taken
up’ when the rest the world is fighting against death, still struggling under
pains of homelessness and deluge. It also irritated me to hear some Christians
invoking the story of Noah, and how they and their Churches have been kept
protected like in an ark, out of deluge.
I was further infuriated to read one of the forwarded prayer requests
for Chennai mentioning ‘to pray for all gospel activities and revival meeting
go uninterrupted during this time.’ Such requests only reveal our insensitivity
towards our neighbours, cities and creation and expose our fundamentalism
nakedly. I leave this discussion for another occasion as there are several
themes that emerge out of these perspectives, however for want of time, allow
me to engage in a much serious issue of this season, what it means for Jesus to
be born in a context of deluge? I would like to read the birth of Jesus, as the
birth of living water in the context of a deluge, for as living water, Jesus
was born to give life, life in all its fullness.
People may ask, how this
‘birth of living waters’ is relevant for a context of deluge? This context
challenges us to change our discourse of Christmas story from more triumphalist
and paternalistic understandings of the birth of a baby Jesus. The context of
deluge demands and creates a situation to interpret Christmas as the birth of
living waters that saves and quenches the thirst of people dying in floods and
in homelessness. On one hand the birth of living waters is a hope to all those
who have been washed away by the floods, and on the other hand it is comes as a
critique to all those who have been insensitive to the creation, for here comes
saving waters, addressing the greed of human beings over creation and paving
way for liberation. All those who adhere to the reality of the birth of living
waters, are called to become tributaries of such a spring of living waters and
address the dry, wet, soaked and washed away lives by providing life to all.
‘Born is a little living water called Jesus to save our creation from all human
greed and pride.’ As Churches we are called to observe ‘Living Waters-mas’ in the season of Christmas.
The other way of re-telling
the Christmas story is that, Jesus is born as homeless, just like those who
have been forced to be homeless because of floods and therefore, in that
homelessness, Jesus as living waters identifies with all those who have been
made homeless, and brings hope by promoting life in the context of contaminated
waters made by the (post) natural flood situation.
The birth of Jesus,
the Messiah took place in a context of Roman Empire, where exploitation and
greed were at its pinnacle. The reason for the floods in Chennai have been
zeroed on ‘unregulated urbanization’ which has been a result of exploitation of
natural resources in Chennai, with several water bodies have been destroyed to
make them into concrete jungles. Therefore, it is into such a context that
Jesus, the living water is born. The message of hope to Chennai is “it is
living waters” that is born during this Christmas. The context demands us to
re-tell the Christmas narrative in a ‘living waters’ discourse, and here is an
attempt to show a tributary of it flowing. This attempt of the presentation of ‘born is
the Living Waters’ is very tentative, introductory and needs more application
and analysis in utilizing this metaphor of ‘living waters’ in the context of
floods as a Christmas theme. The metaphor of ‘light’ born in darkness is more
evocative, where as ‘the birth of living waters’ in the context of floods need
more attention and application. However, the birth of living waters is to save
the creation from all forces of death and inspire people for life.
1.
Re-Telling ‘The Living Waters’ Incarnation
Narrative:
Jesus Christ as the living
waters, who held the Sprit of God upon himself, came down to the earth
incarnating into human form, as a living spring flown into the nations. When
the divine logos became flesh and dwelled among the nations, the streams of the
living word flown from the divinity into human form and has flown as living
waters. To understand the incarnation of the living waters from heavens into
the nations, St. Augustine’s understanding of incarnation comes handy.
According to St. Augustine, “the meaning of Word being made flesh is not that
the divine nature was changed into flesh, but that the divine nature assumed
our flesh.”[1] Therefore
when the living waters which was the spring of all creation when was being made
in to human form, the living waters of creation did not change into the human
form, but the spring of creation assumed and continued to flow as living spring
according to the currents of the nations. How do we understand ‘flesh’ (sarx)
in the context of living waters? When the spring of creation, Jesus Christ
became living waters, moreover being made as flesh, the living spring assumed
our waters, for flesh is to express life in this world. Flesh takes life only
in combination of blood and water, for flesh cannot exist on its own. Therefore
John records, "This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ;
not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood. It is the
Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. (I John 5: 6) The living
waters came into the world by water and by blood that is to be in flesh. This
is further warranted and testified by the Spirit, which is truth. “The Spirit
and the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement." ( I John
5:8)
The incarnation of
the living spring into the living waters can be further understood by
re-narrating Pauline Christology as explained in his letter to the Church at
Philippians. Jesus Christ as the living waters were the very nature of God and
that nature is life giving. But as living waters, Jesus Christ did not ever consider
equality with God, for always upheld God for God’s creative spirit, and
continued as the waters that carried upon himself the liberative Spirit of God
upon him. As living waters, Jesus Christ always preferred to be the carrier of
God and God’s spirit, and always waited upon God for the streams of life in
him. The living waters not only did consider him as equal with God, but also
made him nothing. The living waters, which were full of streams and life
self-emptied and became a dry spring, even unto the point of crying that he was
in thirst from the Cross. The living waters took the very nature of a servant,
for he served every community and creature with waters. When the living waters
served the humanity by quenching their thirsts and watered every generation and
history with his streams, the humanity made a dominion over the streams of
living waters. The living waters as serving streams bore that dominion, for the
humanity have been polluting his streams, misusing and abusing waters and were
responsible in drying those streams out. The living waters though was made in
human likeness, once again life as the common likeness, the men in particular
oppressed and marginalized the living waters. The living waters being found in
the appearance as a human being in life generating nature, the living waters
humbled him and became obedient to death, even unto a murder on a Cross, where
the streams are nailed to become dry. The living waters thus incarnated into
the nations and have flown into every generation and history giving life to
all. The living spring incarnating as living waters is all inclusive paradigm,
for they give life to anyone irrespective of their identities of religions and
affirmations. Such an understanding of incarnation also goes against all the
exclusive claims of and in Christology.
2.
Re-telling ‘The Living Waters’ Birth
Narrative:
There have been a lot
of controversies around the virgin birth of Jesus Christ. However, mother Mary
carried Jesus in her womb for about ten months, and had to deliver him in
Bethlehem, similar to other childbirths. Jesus Christ as living waters, like any
other foetus grew in the womb of his mother in a sack of amniotic fluid, which
is the water that surrounds the embryo of the mother. From the gush of that fluid, Jesus Christ,
the living waters came into the light of the world. Jesus is Christ the anointed
because, he held the Spirit of God upon his face at the time of creation.
At Bethlehem, the
house of Bread, when Jesus Christ the living waters were born there was no room
for him in the inn, and had to be placed in a manger. The origins of most
rivers take place at high altitudes in all liberty and freedom, and from the
origins their course of flow is determined. For this Jesus Christ the living
waters, his origin was from a manger, probably a low lying area and had to take
his course of flow from very humble beginnings. (There has been a finding that
the Greek word kataluma which is
usually translated as ‘Inn’ is the same word used for ‘Upper Room.’)[2]
The angelic pronouncement to the shepherds as Jesus Christ the living waters
were born is, ‘do not be afraid, I bring you good news of great joy that will
be for all people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born; he is
Christ, the Lord.” (Luke 2: 10-11) Jesus Christ, the living waters birth is
certainly good news of great joy for all people, for as living waters his birth
shall make all people irrespective of their identity and region merry and
joyful. To hear a birth of living streams in the context of deserts was indeed
a matter of great joy, for everyone from the child to the old shall enjoy the
taste of the sweet streams. The living water is anointed one and is the Lord
for no one can contain the force and ferociousness of the waters. The birth of
Jesus Christ the living waters is peace on earth and goodwill to all humanity,
for water builds peace and will benefit all humanity.
At the birth of Jesus
Christ, the living waters, certain people like Herod were disturbed, for they
could not think of any other king beside him. Many other streams till the birth
of living waters enjoyed the sacredness and power by their depth and length,
and the birth of living waters was an eyesore in their lives. The magi were led
by a star, who had to travel crossing several rivers and seas to see the living
waters. On seeing, they offered gifts to the living waters, for they were
filled with awe and wonder to see the streams so pure and life giving. Baby
living waters had to undergo the purification rituals according to the law of
Moses, and people like Simeon have seen salvation in that pure and transparent
stream. The tiny living waters grew in wisdom and stature, as it continued its
course of flow and also grew in favor with God and in favor with humanity, for
those waters were thoroughly refreshing.
Drops of
Relevance:
·
When
Jesus Christ is understood as living waters, for he identifies with the waters
and rivers today, it is the duty of the Church to take on the saving nature of
the waters and to save waters, for the Church is one of the tributary of the
living waters here on earth. In the situations of climate change, particularly
in the context of deluge in Chennai, where several water bodies have been
destroyed for greedy development, let us make a pledge to save our rivers,
water bodies, lakes, ponds etc. If we are not conscious of this fact of taking
care of these water bodies around us, we may again crucify the living waters to
the Cross. As a tributary of the living waters, we are called to rebuild the
lives of people who have been washed away by the waters of greed and domination.
May we as Churches launch a campaign ‘water saves, and save waters’ and create
awareness on saving water and water bodies.
·
This
Water Christology is an all-inclusive model. For irrespective of any creed,
identity, religion and gender can feel at home with the understanding that
Jesus Christ is the living stream. Such a model can build a community, where
everyone can be at peace by protecting our rivers, waters and our nature.
·
This
Christology calls on the disciples of Jesus Christ to become like that living
waters in our contexts in providing safe and drinking water to all that has
been denied. Each of us should become a living stream in our context.
·
This
Christology encourages liquidity in the adherents of faith, for such a nature
can beat out the exclusive, stubborn and absolute claims of our faith. Such
liquidity will give a chance to seek and explore newer Christologies for
particular times.
·
This
liquid Christology defeats the ‘imperialist’ creedal formulations of Christ,
for ‘living waters’ is authentically contextual and ecumenical, inspiring
people to work towards a water theology.
·
In such a context, the role of our
communities is to resist every move to commercialise water, first by bringing
awareness about the sensitivity of water, then by applying that in our
lifestyles by saving water and desist to wasting waters at homes and colleges.
We also need to discourage buying bottled waters and encourage drinking water
by purifying our waters through our indigenous methods. We also need to fight
against denial of access to water to Dalits and Tribals, for water is life and
she is for all.
·
Our call for way forward is to make our commitment
for water justice, when justice is being watered away in many
contexts, like that of in Chennai. Let us organize public awareness on
the plights of the urban poor, who are denied water, and who have been
washed away by the waters of greed and pride. Let us raise our voice against
all moves of the government on privatization of water,
for water is our right and our life and against the filling of water
bodies by greedy developers. Let us imbibe a water discipline, where
we do not waste the precious water we have, and conserve
the water resources in our localities. Let us collect
the water testimonies from our contexts, stories of struggle, stories
of victories and how the communities organize the water audits. Let
us be water sensitive, and try to reflect the outlook of life from
the perspectives of water. Let us join hands in solidarity with other
civil society movements striving for water justice, for Jesus the living water
inspires us to do so.
Who knows the
pains of deep blue waters,
For her tears wept
and kept within
What’s for a man
but domination that matters
For his power
swept and crept herein
When she tries to
quench the thirst of the poor,
He grabs it from
their mouths for sure
For he dictates
that water is for money and not for any
And pours her in
the rich houses for waste
Arise O waters,
Arise O people,
Water for
life and water for all
Injustice to water and
injustice to people
Speak out and
speak aloud
For man’s
injustice to be watered away
And justice to be
for waters again
Let Waters roll
down in justice and
And let the
streams be ever flowing to all in righteousness.
May God bless our initiatives
for water justice and let justice roll down like waters, let
righteousness flow like a never ending stream!
Raj Bharat Patta
17th December 2015
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