Magyar Egyház, 1957 (36. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1957-12-01 / 12. szám
14 MAGYAR EGYHÁZ with a sigh of resignation? No, it is not. Christ did not come to us to point at something which is impossible, just to make human misery greater. If he told that the meek or the peacemakers were blessed he told it because it is possible for a man to be meek and to work for peace. If he told that we should forgive he told it because it is possible to cast out hatred and revengefulness from our hearts. If he told that we should love each other he told it because he knew that this is the only way to attain perfect happiness. We may realize all this. One question, however, remains to be answered. How do we attain strength to make this change? The New Testament’s simple and glorious answer is ‘‘by faith in Christ”. At first, this may sound like a nice phrase without any practical meaning at all. But if we become conscious of what faith really is we shall understand that it is the answer. For faith is an active trust and commitment. It is a wonderful cooperation of man and God: a struggling, gasping effort on our part to open our whole beings and let God’s power flow into us. Like opening the heavy, long-locked door of a dark, airless house and allow the brilliant sunshine to flow in. All this cannot be explained. It must be lived, experienced. It begins with the Christmas story retold. Watch your heart as you hear it this Christmas. You may suddenly realize the birth of faith — the visit of “the dayspring from on high.” Andrew Harsanyi. OUR MISSIONARY The Reverend Alimuotil Joseph Mathew, a minister of the United Church of South India, has been with different Hungarian Reformed Churches while he was in the United States two years ago. He has been with us in Roebling, too. Our Sunday School children still remember him as a very fine preacher and a good narrator. He told us the very fascinating story: “How to catch an elephant?” Now, he is back to his Church and people. Mr. Mathew is teaching theology in a seminary of which institution he is the president, faculty and administration in one person. Besides these activities he is in care of five small congregations in his environs. His school and churches are located in the state of Kerala which, at present, is governed by Communists. The Communists want to take over all the fine schools which have been established by the Church and Christians are forced to fight for their schools, churches. Knowing Reverend Mathew personally, our children have not hesitated to help him in his work and service. We have now an extra collection every Sunday for this mission. Little children bringing their pennies learn how to spread Christianity and it is an exciting experience of Christian faith and fellowship to all of us, children, teachers, pastor. Our pennies are used for a Christian home for orphans. In the city of Bombay, hundreds of people die every night The King of Kings and the Humble Ass (An old Christmas story retold.) When Jesus was born in Bethlehem there were four animals in the stable. There was a haughty camel of some desert chief, a fine war horse of a Roman soldier, a strong ox of a rich merchant, and finally, there was the humble ass on which Mary had come into Bethlehem. Quietly eating in the silence of the night the four animals were watching Joseph and Mary and the new-born child laying in the manger. The ass didn’t say a word but the other three made some unkind remarks. The camel said: “Another poor child.” The horse said: “Child of a peasant.” The ox said: “And not a very strong one either.” This was all they had to say. They went on eating and did not pay any more attention to the child or to his parents. The humble ass felt sorry for the child. He had such a sweet smile around the lips. He wished the child would open his eyes. Then the ass heard voices outside the stable. He pricked his long ears to hear what was going on. “They are looking for a new-born King” — the ass turned to the others. “Listen, they are coming in here!” At once the camel declared: “Then he will need me. I shall take him across the desert on his visits to far off lands.” The horse spoke up too: “He will need me. I shall take him into battle and help him conquer his enemies.” The ox retorted: “You are both wrong. Me will he need the most for I shall carry his gold and silver.” The ass did not join in the argument. The child just opened his eyes and they were so beautiful, so clear, so shining, so warm. He looked up as he lay, and — the ass could hardy believe it — his eyes were fixed at him. The humble ass was never so happy in his life. He did not say a word but he thought: “If he only needed me ...” Many years passed. None of the four animals were alive anymore. Yet the secret sigh of the humble ass came true in a way, for it wasn’t a camel, nor a horse, nor an ox on which the King of Kings rode into Jerusalem. It was on the back of an humble ass. because of starvation. Nobody cares for them; yet for two dollars a month, we can save the life of a little orphan who receives Christian education and can be saved also for a higher glory. Our mission-pennies are also used for theological books in the Maleyalam language and finally to help Reverend Mathew whom we consider our “own missionary”. It is an excellent experience for all of us to have personal contact with the great Christian mission field. Children cannot do much, but still, in a way their sacrifices and love for the service of missions challenge the adults of our Churches to realize that Christianity is not confined to money-raising projects for our own use but, first of all, for the spread of the Christian Gospel, in accordance with the Gospel: “go ye and teach all nations of the earth”. Aladar Komjáthy
