Quintessence of Religious Doctrines - Malankarasyriac Voice

55On the Prayer for the Departed 109 110Quintessence of Religious Doctrinestime-scale. These conceptions, based on the principles ofpast, present and future of human beings do not have anymeaning for God who exists in the spiritual time transcendinghuman time. In other words, earthly and spiritual times aretwo different categories and may not coincide.2. The main subject of Christ-events is for a reconciliation withgrace and justice,Ref: 1Pet. 2:24. Christ himself carried our sins in his bodyto the Cross, so that we might die to sin and live forrighteousness. It is by his wounds that you havebeen healed. (G.N.B.)CommentSalvation history is presented from another angle orperspective. It is to effect reconciliation for the estrangedmankind, that Salvation history is unfolded. Following theeating of the fruit of the forbidden tree, Adam incurred theestrangement from God’s grace for himself and the progeny.Consequently God ousted our first parents from Paradise.This punishment was the outflow of God’s Justice. But thecompassion and grace of God, exemplified in Jesus, thesecond Person of Godhead ultimately superseded God’sJustice. This is what is seen in the Christ-events with thefinale on the Cross. It should not be forgotten that the wholegamut of Christ-events is meant not only for the living butalso for the departed. Also it may be noted that the initialjustice and the subsequent grace are all subject to thedoctrine of Perichoresis.3. And to set a pure and perfect example to all the mankind.Therefore, in compliance with the characteristic of love we shouldwish and pray for all humans from Adam downwards, as wasexemplified by our Saviour.Ref: (a) 1Pet. 2:21. It was to this that God called you, for,Christ himself suffered for you and left you anexample so that you would follow in his steps.(G.N.B.)(b) Jn. 13:15. I have set an example for you, so that youwill do just what I have done for you. (G.N.B.)CommentThe crucified Christ expects every one to emulate Him. So,His love and prayer for the living as well as the dead arewhat we, at least, ought to follow. To express in other words,we should pray not only for the living ones but for the departedsouls as well. This is true imitation of Christ. Undoubtedly,Christian life, which for all practical purposes and intents iscorporate in nature, becomes meaningful only when eachone prays for each other, whether living or dead.4. Considering all humans, from Adam downwards to the lastperson as constituting His body, Jesus the head looks to theneeds and responds to the requests of each one. Likewise, it isnecessary that everyone from the first man Adam till the lastman shares the burden of everybody else and prays for eachother since each one is an organ in the body of Christ. Is itbecause of the consideration that we would lead a righteous lifein the future and hence as a sequel obtain forgiveness of sinsthat we pray for their remission and those of our brethren?Similarly when we ask for forgiveness of the sins of those sickwho are too serious as to deter us from entertaining any hopeof their retrieval to normalcy, it is not because that they will leada righteous life if they come back to active life, that we pray forthem. On the other hand, it is a supplication to God, to remit thesins of the sick ones out of His mercy, without considering at allthe possibility of the sick surviving. Likewise the prayer for ourbrethren who are dead is a supplication to God to forgive theirsins out of His compassion. The decree of God that the periodtill the day of judgement is to be deemed as that of grace is notonly for the living but also for those who are on the death bed.Ref: (a) Eph. 5:23. ...Christ is the head and saviour of theChurch which is his own body. (L.B.)(b) Eph. 5:29. None of us hate our own bodies; we