Magyar Egyház, 1973 (52. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1973-04-01 / 4. szám
MAGYAR EGYHÁZ 9 This was the heavenly message to the women, who went out to the cemetery on that first Easter morning, when the angel said: “Do not be afraid!” for Christ is not in the sepulchre he has risen, but “go and tell His disciples “that He has risen from the dead! The apostles felt, that they were all witnesses of this unusual event. This was the central point of their preaching. This was, what they wished to communicate to others. Paul in Athens preached “Jesus and the resurrection”. Ever since that time how many Pauls, how many missionaries and servants of the Most High preached the same message and they all bore witness of this resurrection, which took place on that first Easter dawn in Jerusalem. Leaders and members of our churches, fellow Christians everywhere, there is no other name, whereby we can be saved, except the name of Jesus Christ: no other Mediator through whom we can go to our Heavenly Father, except by our Lord. No one else ever conquered death but our Savior, who became victorious and lives for ever. Let us not only gather together in our Churches at Easter to worship His name, but always; for He can grant joy into our hearts. Our ancestors lived and died in this faith and learned how to bear witness of Him at all times. Let us praise God who did not let our Lord remain in the grave but raised Him from the dead, that through faith in Him, we too shall live forever. Dezső Abraham The Women at Jesus’ Sepulchre. Mk. 16:1-8. FINDING ONE’S ROOTS Father Andrew M. Greeley, Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Chicago, concluded an article with this story: “I was standing in front of a church in the west of Ireland, camera in hand, attempting to record the church which I thought just possibly was the place of my grandfather’s baptism. The parish priest, who was out cutting his hedge despite the rain, approached me, noted that I was a new man around here, and introduced himself. I must say I was a bit surprised when, on hearing my name, he remarked, “Ah, yes, you’d be the sociologist fellow from Chicago,” and then added, “Would you be wantin’ your grandfather’s baptismal record, now?” I admitted that the idea hadn’t occurred to me, and he shook his head in discouragement. “Ah,” he said, “fine sociologist you are.” “Do a lot of people come seeking such records?” I asked. He shook his head gravely. “Indeed they do,” he said, “indeed they do. Those poor people, you know, they’ve been in the states now for three generations and they come seeking roots; they want to know who they are; they want to know all about their past and their ancestors. The poor people, I feel so sorry for them. Well”, he continued, “the least we can do is be of some help to them. That’s why I had all their baptismal records put on microfilm. It makes it a lot easier for people to find their roots.” This search for roots is engaged in by all sorts of people. At a dinner I attended recently I spoke with a man whose name was completely Anglo-Saxon. He remarked that his grandfather had come to this country from Poland at the turn of the century and promptly decided to become a real American. He changed his name, prohibited the use of Polish in his home, and broke off contact with his relatives and neighbors from the old country. Now his grandson, as American as Plymouth Rock is desperately searching for his roots. There are many people who claim that the nationality congregation has no reason for being. They hold that Christianity is universal in its appeal and thus is best expressed by what they call community churches. We of the Hungarian Reformed Church most emphatically disagree with them. Our tradition is based on the Calvinist Reformation. It is no coincidence that the intellectual and moral strength of Hungary was based on a viable Reformed faith. The religious kaleidescope of America needs our unique and distinctive contribution. We know who we are. We recognize that we can be loyal Americans while retaining a deep love for
